Kathy it was great seeing in person....your doing a fantastic job on the build.......keep it up......your making lots of us guys jealous..thanks for the Push Bar chip
Wow, it looks great! I should be able to swing by tomorrow afternoon to play i'll call ya before i come by. Do i still have a hood over there?
Shit Kathy I don't know where to start. I guess on a light note; I still can't get used to refering to a car, or any machine, as "He". Ha Ha Ha. That said, I think you are doing a fantastic job. If I wasn't so busy around here, I'd be over there helping out(drinking your beer, giving worthless advice). I had my doubts as far as the steering box placement, but looking at the classic (iconic?)photo again, I see that's how it was oh so long ago. I believe once the springs settle, it will have about the same stance. I keep rolling back and forth between these two pictures: I really want to see it with caps and whites all around. The tree at the ass-end almost lines up like the old photo! No accident, I'm guessing? I bet it was really exciting to roll her out(oops, him)for the first time. I can write a poem for ya, if need be. I think you are familliar with my work?
Thanks yous guys (my attempt at a northern accent)! Danny, thanks for all the phone support and answering all 10,000 of my questions! Skotz is another big phone supporter! I begged my neighbors this morning and got the body off the frame. Did the rest of the welding needed on the bottom of the subframe. Then I wheeled the frame outside. Louie, I am trying to blast the frame right now, so we can have some good metal to do final frame welding. Come over if you can, hopefully I will be done. I have a list Brother Louie! Richard, we noticed the tree too but only after we looked at the pictures. Kinda spooky. Maybe you could write another poem?? I think the reason the steering column was on top of the frame was a clearance problem with the stock manifolds and or starter? Jeffrey, I stand corrected on the tire size. I started thinking about it and remembered that I had to go with a little bit bigger to get the right width size whitewall. Seems like 15" wheels have less to choose from. Are your eyes that good?? Oh to be young again!
Rusty, yes it's 1/2" X 1". I think it's going to be fine with the 16 gauge and it was easy to work with. Body off, I welded the bottom side of the subframes and ground them down. Ok, I decided to blast the frame myself (probably won't ever do that again). My thought was to start early, in the shade, and before it got hot. I wasted 1/2 day fighting with the blaster. Had to make another trip to the store for different ceramic tips. Second day, I was feeling kinda sick but I wheeled the frame out again. Wasted another 1/2 day when the air compressor quit. Really thought I was going to have to buy a new one. Finally figured out I had 220 to compressor and to the motor. It had overheated and tripped the motor reset. Apparently I just wasn't pushing the reset hard enough. Anyway I got most of it done and then ran out of sand (yes I had a good respirator on). Quit early today, too hot in the sun with longsleeves, gloves, hood and respirator on. I try not to complain about the heat when the men and woman protecting our country are facing far greater conditions. Anyway the sunset was beautiful! Ray of Sunshine for Tuffy! Back in the shop. I will finish what little is left by hand - no more blasting for me. Now ready for some final welding and boxing, when I get the rear end back. Back to the body now. I have decided to leave the body as is for now. I will paint the frame and suspension. So I started the floors. It was like kindergarden all over again, but no paper dolls here~ My baby girl showed up about that time and I put her to work. She never and I mean never gets dirty! But.... Final fit came out good and I am happy with it. Next I will start on the door area, but I need to make another trip to the steel supply store.
The point to where this car is channeled in this pic looks like a joke. That's crazy!!!!! Great work so far! I love this thread!
X2, My A is channeled 4" and had a hard time making things comfy to drive, I couldn't imagine that much^^.... Sure looks cool though, I love that car.
Another small update. Not getting much time off at work so progress it slow. My next thought was to try and get the inside sanded and spray some primer so I could install the wood before I finished the side floors. The metal was really clean with minimal surface rust. I decided to put this on hold until I can do it all at once and spray some epoxy primer. For some reason I got sidetracked on clutch/brake pedals. I spent a whole day messing with some 66 Chevy PU pedals. At the end of the day I opened the shop door and threw them as far as I could. They just didn't look right. A couple of days later Bill "Brokenspoke" delivered some Ansen style pedals. Thanks Bill - Love you - mean it! I built a reinforcement bracket that I will weld in when I get a little further along. I am planning on building a catch tray under the master cylinder. Also drilled a million holes in the floor pan. I realize these pedals are not for the Chevy PU master cylinder, but does anyone know which master works? I am guessing 39-48?? I wanted to put some more thought into the pedals, so I jumped back on the frame. I got the body mount bolts welded in (Grits Style). I cut up a bunch of angle iron (1"x1") and welded them flush with the inside of the frame every 6" and then started tacking in the boxing plates. This took forever and was done slowly over a couple of days since I am without a frame jig and I was concerned with warping the frame. After a ton of grinding. Mounting the boxing plates flush was a lot more work but I would do it again. The front boxing plates will be next and I am hoping the rear end will be done by then. I ended up picking up the engine after two months since nothing had been done, I was really disappointed. Anyway I have found someone else but it will be three weeks before he can start. Which is ok because I really need one more mockup to check the exhaust manifolds and steering column. This week will be one year since I picked Tuffy up.
Kisam, I'm sure enjoying this build thread, you sure are honouring the original builders enthusiasm and vision. Thanks for taking us along for the fun.
Thanks everyone - you keep me going! Levi, I feel better than I have in years. I guess having a consistant heartbeat is important Woog, my Dad owned a small body shop "Sutton's Body Shop" - it was my favorite place to be. Spent many days setting on a milk crate watching him and handing him tools. The rule was no talking, so I had to figure out what he was doing and why. He is now 84 and I can't wait for him to see Tuffy finished.
The Jalopy Journal
