Body panels look great to me....besides we never got them right in the old days...looks a lot better than some of the stuff I built with a hammer and a rusty pair of snips.
The firewall pieces are .065 and an unknown aluminum, I think a 2024. The top, side and bottom panels are .040 2024. The back two panels are also 2024 but thinner at .025. I ran out of the .040 by the time I got to them.
Aluminum alloy that you should use is 3003H14 at a minimum of .040'' to .062'' in thickness. The thicker you use, it will keep its form better. 3003H14 is a workable aluminum. It will hammer, roll, bend and stretch to forming without cracking. Using a felt pin marker or a Sharpie, mark the areas that you are going to work, heat with a propane torch till the black lines go away. Let it air cool till you can keep your finger on it. Now that area is annealled, aka softened so you can work it. .040'' 3003H14 material is the same aluminum used for aluminum skin on RVs, trailers, and airplanes except it is already formed. I bought some flat sheet 48 x 48'' at Home Depot and it is called "Painted White Aluminum" Sheet. Pre-painted white.
Boy, I guess I should have asked before. This 2024 stuff is VERY springy and does not take shape well at all. I did try to anneal part of it but it wasn't worth the effort with this alloy. Someday down the line I will definitely redo the bottom panel. Very good to know about getting it at Home Depot. I picked this stuff up at a scrap yard . Beggars can't be choosers.
I used .062 3003H14 on my Top FOOLER. I bent the cowl around a 4ft x 4'' x .250 wall plastic pipe by hand. So that is the alloy to use. Keep up the good work and if you have any other questions, just ask and I'll see if I can help. Make all your patterns first with poster board and tape. It is alot cheaper than aluminum. On a different subject, I see that you are going to use a Weiand front blower cover with the idler pulley arm which is what I have on my motor. The two bolts that lock down the idler arm should be changed over to grade 8 studs, Loctited in. You don't want to strip out the bolt holes and have to put in heli-coils. Not the way to go. Make two 1/8 steel rectangular washers that are radiussed to fit over the adjustment groove to increase the clamping force and torque the Nyloc nuts to 30 ft Lbs
Easy, he is the WORLDS FASTEST MENNONITE! Looks good Kerry, hope I can fondle yer digger this summer.
that's awesome! i don't know what kansas is famous for except shoot outs, tornadoes and the wizard of oz, maybe there's something to draw from...
I tell ya John Wiebe would have to be the worlds fastest Mennonite. I could just be the man with no name. It worked for Clint.
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