Projects Chopped it.......she's still too tall.

I'd skip weld in the areas of low/no crown, and run it continuous once I hit the crowned area. A line of wet shop rags, say 4''-6'' from the fire scale area, in the dead flat areas, would serve as a heat sink, and some cheap insurance against heat build up.

I'd run this with a Meco or small aircraft type torch with a OO or smaller tip and with as little filler rod as possible.


" Meanwhyle, back aboard The tainted Pork "

 

If you want that bumper, give me a call and you can either pick it up or I can drop it off.

 

Finally some new sheet metal! Getting tired of cutting her up. Nice to be going the other way for a change.

Started with poster board and tape Made two pieces from the patterns. Used a break and slip roll.
Fit,cut and tacked! I'll build up from here.

 

Looks cool!!!

 

Nice metal forming of the roll pan pieces. The way the hood meets the grill (flush or maybe with a protruding lip) that's what people are going to judge the design by. In other words, might be good to be able to move your grill/pans forward or backwards depending on how the hood/fender/grille meets up.

 

Thanks Mike, the pan was pretty easy. My plan is to make the opening with a fairly sharp edge and a lip. The hood will come down with about two inches to the opening. Much like your merc in your avatar, with a little more rolled lip(if that makes sense). The hood will be peaked to match the grille and the opening.

 

Sounds good! The 2 inch gap I think will work, reduce that large yellow area in your avatar.

 

The photo shop is with the olds hood, and not really how it's going to look. I'm keeping the stude hood so it will be pretty narrow. I'll have to change my avatar!

 

There, thats stock with just the chop.
<<

 

Looks great. Maybe I can stop by one day and check it out in person?

 

Looks great, man! Been practicing the gas welding, but I'm not sure I'll get it in time to use on my quarter panel. Thanks again!

 

Give me a call, come by and hang out. I'll probably put you to work!

 

Keep working on it. As soon as I get this house done and up for sale we'll do another shop day.

 

I'd clamp the peak strip right where I want it, use the thinnest cut off wheel i could find and trim 6-8ins at a time ,starting at the transition where the hood starts to roll over the front. I'd place a few tack welds there then move 6-8in at a time in each direction towards both front and back. I'd do both sides at once too.
Then I'd tack weld at 1in apart all the way along the seams. 1st one ,then the other.
When all tacked up, I'd either (depends on how the metal is wanting to move) hammer weld from one end to the other,OR... starting at the transition again hammer weld from tack to tack moving along towards the edges of the hood.
I reckon I don't need to tell you this bit, but for anyone else reading...its important to tack up fully and planish the panel to within 95% of its final finisned shape before commencing to fully weld a seam.
The advantage of starting in the middle is that it tends to 'play' the heat out to the edges rather than soaking it into the panel.
I have used a method (used by Mindover on here too) of welding ( once its all tacked and hammered up)continuously from one end to the other with NO stops. This works ok but I found gave me less control over distortion. Doing it this way requires real discipline not to planish outside the HAZ. But it DOES work and can be much quicker too.
These are just my opinions Tinbender , don't know if they'll be of any use!
Good luck with it!!

 

Thanks Fleet! I'll be doing as you described. I've been working on longer runs end to end, with pretty good results. But, I think I'll correct as I go on the hood. I'm a little worried about it getting too far out of shape. I have 4 full length welds on the hood and two on each apron, along with fabricating the front of the hood, and the grille opening.
I guess we'll know if I can weld when this is all said and done
Thanks, both the advice and encouragement are very much appreciated!

 

No problem! I forgot to mention I'd stick some bracing across the bottom flanges too.
I've seen guys try and do these without supporting the thing properly and ensuring everthing is nice and true/level and end up with a twisted mess!!
From what I've seen of your work ,I'd say you'll end up with a great result tho Tin bender

cheers ,Paul

 

Love it!!!

 

Thanks so much guys! I have been able to squeeze in a few hours her and there. I think I figured out the leading edge for the grille opening. I don't want the conduit "fish mouth" look. I wanted it to look stock. Bent up a 90* flange....didn't like it.
Bent up some 3/8 round rod...better....but not what I had in my head.
So I formed the 90* angle edge around the 3/3" rod, and ended up with this.
This is working for me. What do you think?

Chris, I'll see you at the Winfield cl***!

 

^^^ that looks good

 

I really like that too ^^

 

matches the shape of the grille bars, it's perfect.

 

When are you going to be doing the peak? If I'm free I'd love to stop by and watch, hand you hammers or an O'Douls...whatever!

 

I think you may have been to my thread and offered encouragement as I cut up a old chevy ... Go for it! I want a project... not a car! But I'm looking forward to my finished project. Looks good.

 

I think the hood peak will end up being one of the last things on the front end. I'm working from the bottom up, and that seems to be working out. Even though I started with a "plan" I've had to change focus as things come together. Part of that might due to my ADD But we'll do another shop day soon. that was fun!

 

Eric, the grille and all the surround are looking awesome. I know you've seen this before, But I swear I would try either a similar method or a bead roller before cutting and welding along the hood. Given the absence of any heat, I think any distortion is much more controllable/virtually non-existent. And if it doesn't turn out like you want, then cut it apart...

 

^^^ could possibly work if the hood is one piece stamping...but I've a feeling its got a pinch weld down the centre?
You'd prob be best to pre-stretch the area in wheeling machine first, or risk ****ing some of the crown out of the panels if you go this way. Certainly worked good on the 55 hood.

 

I found some pics on google...has the hood got a rebate down the centre for the moulding?

 

Some great farbrication work going on, keep it up...

 

Yes unfortunately the hood is two piece with a large rebate for the moulding. I wish I could press in the peak. That looks great! I think welding in a strip is my only choice. I think it will be fine. I have an Idea for a hinged stand for the hood so I can weld it with my planishing bar under it. Hard to explain, but I've had good luck welding parts on the bench, and planishing over various fixtures rather than hammer and dolly. Thanks again for the encouragement. It's starting to come together! No progress today, I have to work on the north house

 

And here I looked at your hood pics about a dozen times last night trying to see if it was a split hood.. Then I saw the molding hole towards the front and figured it was one piece. Time to get the eyes checked...