You were right on the money JW! It had been a couple of busy days. After removing the panels from the molasses bath I set to with sander, wire wheel, scotch pads and stripping wheel. While the hood went in the molasses looking like this...... ...After mechanical and chemical intervention it now looks like this! I have broken the hood down to its component parts to enable the application of paint and removal of flash rust behind the frames. I am really impressed with the job the molasses does and the over all condition of the panels, dented all over the place but not so much as a pinhole of rust right through any panels. This afternoon I have done a rust kill acid wash over all of the panels and wiped them down ready to apply etch primer tomorrow. A little bit of lead in a couple of spots, a few holy patches where the screws have been used to straighten! So, etch and epoxy going on in the morning.........
Today we picked up the chassis from the painter. So after a major shuffling of the deck chairs it is back in the shop, down side up on stands so I can add the UHMWPE strips to the underside of the rails without having to lay on the floor. Black, shiney and coated in dust from the unpaved road. The package of UHMWPE turned up on the courier as I was unloading the chassis. Slung on the hook to get off the trailer. All the associated pieces in the back of the ute. Back on the stands ready for the strips to be fitted. One side done.
High density polyethylene for when the bottom side of the chassis inevitably comes into contact with the ground when around speed humps I can happily drag the car over them without damage to the car.
I had a couple of pieces of off cut material, so made a couple of narrow strips to go under the center cross member as well. All done with the UHMWPE strips now so time to flip it over and get back on the job. First up is sorting out an issue on the diff then blow some paint on it before final fit-up.
Time for a catch up. After a full epoxy rebuild, the diff is back in its spot, rear bumper and trailer hitch receiver bolted on, rear engine mount bolted to the frame, front cross member and swaybar/radiator support mount back on. To hold the diff cradle onto the frame is 4 x 14mm bolts with 6mm rubber under the washer and between the chassis and cradle to minimize transmission of noise, I also put a layer of heat shrink on the shank of the bolts to also try to avoid direct contact with the chassis. With the diff done, for now, I moved my attention forward to the front cross member. Once I bolted the cross member back onto the frame I started to reassemble the arms etc. Getting the main pivot back through the cross member and lining up the washers was made a lot easier with this bullet that threads over the nut end of the shaft. Machined and tapped to fit over the 9/16" thread. Once the shaft is in position the bullet simply unthreaded and landed in the drawer with all the other specialty tools One each of these 2 go between the bush and the cross member tube, then the small hole one goes under the castle nut. Continuing with the ifs parts, the obligatory reference picture for later. All the bits have been through the molasses bath and are now getting a comprehensive and thorough epoxy rebuild! Don't worry, I have ordered new top and bottom ball joints. More assembly tomorrow.
Apologies for the absence chaps! We took a week off and spent it laying on a few beaches in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! While we watched a few sunsets. It wasn't all margaritas and sunsets though. Back to reality now and back on the job getting the chassis ready for our indoor event 2 weeks away. Swapped another SBC with b&m blower on it into the chassis. Better looking than the mock up engine anyway.
Driveshaft painted, reassembled and back in the car today. Trailing arms painted, ready to go back on tomorrow. Then a couple more bits on the front so we can steer it at the venue for the show next week.
Delivering the kiwi goods today! A sneak peek for the team. On a set of borrowed wheels and tires from a club members 57 nomad. A couple of small jobs to do on the rear bumper over riders/tow hitch points. No front springs yet, just sitting on the bumpstops. Like a snow plow! I am painting the radiator support bracket and a 6 cylinder radiator out of the coupe to help complete the look.
Big day today fellas! On the trailer and on the way to the hot rod round up. All set up with the flock ready for the beady eyes in the morning. Nice little comparison, from run-about, to racecar! My friend set up his 27 roadster next to mine! The chassis looks pretty good too! Looking forward to a couple of days of talking crap and hanging out with our car mates at the show.
A great couple of days at the round up. All packed up now and back home in the shed. We had a great time shaking hands and talking cars. The chassis got a piggy back ride home behind the coupe. The fleet all out and about made the workshop look a bit empty. The club did an amazing job all weekend.
A good looking show and no doubt you will get some more well deserved ink in one of our Mags. For those who don't know ,Wade and better half are front left. JW
The Jalopy Journal
