Fantastic work! Thanks for posting it. The video was great.......I see academy awards in your future!
Today I finished up the last piece for the Studebaker truck; this piece was to hold the heater/AC controls and DIN radio. The owner had made up a sample piece to make it from: I wasn't too comfortable making something to match this piece as I didn't think these corners and the elliptical radius was correct. This is what I get for someone not wanting to bring over the truck to work from.. :willy_nil Looking at the picture he had sent of the dash, the piece this was replacing appeared to have straight sides and about a 1/2" radius.... (the piece under the orange panel) So I had him bring that panel over today to have a "more accurate" sample so my work will have a better chance of fitting.. a bit different from his sample... What I could only guess was him wanting 3/8 hardware, was actually 10-24 studs with a 3/8 nut. You've got to love it! Here's the layout, and cut out on the band saw.... I use some modified lower dies in the press brake to fold the 1/4" flanges around the perimeter.... The folds were stopped shy of the corners, and a 1" diameter "anvil" was used to form each corner radius. The process is shown in this video on a similar piece.... http://s5.photobucket.com/user/rmccartney/media/1947%20Studebaker%20M5/Video158.mp4.html Finished radius....
Then, to add a radius along the bottom, I used the Baileigh magnetic brake, adding a 7/8" steel rod to form the radius... ....and then the front was folded up... The front was squared up, then sides were clamped, and spot welded in place.... Din hole cut in place.. Hidden studs added.... Note anti-seize on threads to prevent galling/stripping of the threads while the nut held the studs in the vise during welding. Welds for the studs cleaned up, and the radio test fit... Some holes will be added to the rear of the side panels to attach support straps for the rear up to the dashboard during install... For now, All ready to go!!
The Jalopy Journal
