Projects Prefect / Willys /Kadett/Thames Gasser Build.

Well today didn't go as well. The pin in the hinge crumbled/ and the mandrel in the hinge press broke off. I chucked the mandrel up in the lathe but ran out of time. So I am down to one pin / as soon as I get the lather work done so I can get the hinge press back up I'll finish. If all else fails I'll drill it but to prefer not to. Think I will quick pin the trunk hinges also

 

Had the same thing happen, last door hinge pin on my coupe. Could not get it out to replace it, soaked it with lube for a day or two, and after a struggle and some loud bitching and yelling I got it out

 

Today didn’t go much better. Apparently my lathe selector switch decided to die. Until I get a switch it’s doa. So I’ll just get another grade 8 1/2 inch fine thread and try to drill the end for another mandrel. I hope. Lol

 

Holy crap, I'd hate to see what you did before you retired! Those are some nice builds but that Willys is a work of art.

 

Thanks for the kind words. Fact is that we are able to do what / where / when we do because of the collective group. We were once many( 10) - now down to 3. Wes is one of the few formally educated engineers that I've ever seen that could back up every thing he ever said or implied( as in he could actually do it NOT just talk about it ) . Micky like so many is self taught and built many a chassis ( SFI spec no less/ NHRA / IHRA/ dirt etc) and did it for a living for many years after running Bryan Foods Truck/ Motor Fleet for many years.( We have made more than one trip to Monroe LA to get Wesley Robinson to inspect a car - And he gets his fee wether you pass or not lol).
I was in way over my head and we were usually just barely keeping a car on the track using everyone else's cast offs. We were just happy to be there.( A kid that didnt know how much we didnt know) but we were always entertaining according to Mike Franks and Bear Watts.
The story of how I was Adopted by this group is a funny one. ( there is a decade between Mick and I / and damn near two between Wes and I ) The dirt track wars here in the south during the early years kinda set the stage. When it got to where you had to have a store bought car to compete we bailed. Mick , John L, and Wes were the last of the hold outs. We then went to the Drag Strip. That was even funnier at times. Its been a Journey. And I am thankful everyday for it ( even the bad shop days lol). Living the Dream so to speak. Build All You Can While You Can.

 

Ok success. Both on the prefect hinge and the lathe.
Tried heating hinge and a new mandrel press on hinge. Still NO MOVE. So I simply used the cut off wheel and cut the pin. Then the fun began. Drilling the pin out of the door hinges went slow but steady. Small to large until I was able to drive the remains out. All good now. I was suprised to find brass shims.
The lathe kinda gave a hint. Now I have to learn to read Chinese. So I can match the switch. Not a single number or label. Maybe Mac master Car/or Grainger - anyone recognize it? The switch literally came apart.

 

All I am going to say is the switch is back together and working /lathe is up and running. But this epoxy weld stuff is bad to the bone. I would have never dreamed it was this good.

 

Decided to start working on the tilt body and interior changes for the Kadett. Wes came over and we actually removed the body and planned the tilt mechanisms and other issues.

 

Ok. Have the body /rear tilt laid out and designed. It will allow me to use the rear bumper and body mount to line up until I have the cross bolt hole for the rod ends drilled ( will also mill out the bottom of the frame tubing so it can rotate a full 90 degree/vertical if needed).
after that I can trim the frame ( 90 degree tabs ) and will leave that extra layer for wall thickness. The female heim ends ( 1/2) will bolt through the bumper plate /and body panel. It will line up perfectly /and be centered. The body lift mechanism will be an electric actuator. Have designed one before for a truck puller using an electric trailer jack. Used a z link to give enough travel.
The body tilt on the puller ( full size ford pick up ) was at about 65 degree. I don’t think it will be an issue. And again this is the plan. We will see.

 

Ok plan got changed. The female heim ends are thicker than the inside width of the tubing so they got changed to male. Lined up drilled holes and welded a nut on inside of bumper/body bracket. Dropped a plum Bob and figured the pivot angle and drilled. Pretty simple.
The bumper will still bolt on the body panel but now the back panel/bumper will pivot as one. The outside tab was left on to be able to bolt bumper back to original frame base mount and guarantee that everything lined up. And it did. That out side tab will be cut off next session. That was simply the fastest way I knew to check if it was true and level.
I will sand and radius all the bottom cut away edges and make the uniform later this week.

 

Spent some time on Prefect today. Got every one of the rear fender bolts to loosen and not strip out.
This will allow me to literally take it apart and paint. Which is the next step.

 

It’s official. The Kadett is now a flip/tilt body. It will be a spring lock system so if it’s any one other than Wes you just use the doors like normal.

 

Wes and I clearanced the front rocker supports so I can weld in the top side of the lower rocker support. It will literally drop into place like a knife lock. We also worked on an idea for the new injector system for the blown motor. I gotta get a few more coins or get ready to go to night school so I am not in over my head. My mill is 100 times more capable than the operator.

 

Back body braces cut and fitted. Need to do final welding and one more diagonal brace then start fitting rear wheel tubs / body latches.

 

Tabs /and cross braces for the rear of the tilt body tacked in. Nothing special to look at. Made all the difference in the world.

 

Cleaned the bottom edges of the inner rear panels up ( area where wheel tubs will go). Wes and I bent the tubing that will be spot welded inside so there is strength /yet not much weight. ( 1/2 X1/2 square tubbing). This being a tilt body ( rear qrter area must be stiff). I’ve got to get this finished so I can sand /clean up frame and finish welding.
Removed tires and wheels for access. You begin to appreciate the true physical size of this combo. 15 X 15 sprints.

 

Awesome thread and as with all of your other projects I am loving the Kadett

 

Thanks for the kind words. Been trying to get more done. Again my advice to anyone on the HAMB. Build all you can while you can time is precious. And even the Billionaires are learning you can’t BUY one single second back. Again build all you can while you can.

 

May have found new driver. I ain’t as fast as I used to be. Maybe never was. Lol

 

Yeah... Judging from the look in his eye's, He's already laid claim to it, and you're gonna play hell changing his mind! LOL!!!

 

It was mentioned to me earlier to figure out how to put a rev limiter on a vertex. Like real soon.

 

Got a chance to look at the last major issue on Prefect today. Like most fiberglass front caps is has a bow in the midline. I want it flat and level.
Gonna make a truss out of aluminum Probobly .040-.060. Use the brake to make a 2 C channels and punch holes and flare them. Then rivet them together. Light and strong. Use a truss from the top side to pull into place ( flat -level ) rivet /bolt in place. Use either fiberglass /epoxy/or my favorite body seam / door skin adhesive. ( bottom truss will be permanent )
After it sets release the top side truss /remove bolts /rivets and then fill in the holes.
That’s the plan. Here is the starting point.

 

Kadett today. Finished the inner bracing for the rear quarters. Two other small tabs and that’s it. Take body and cap off and start laying the hand controls and seat /tracks for Wes. I know it doesn’t look like much but it got rid of all rear quarter flex and that’s what I wanted - also time to start the rear wheel tubs. Experience has taught us to mount the wheel tubs as high as practical . Better safe than sorry

 

As testament to build all you can while you can - may be away from the builds for a while.
Mick is in the hospital. Serious but stable at the moment. I’ll check in and such but until we know what we are looking at /how long I must take care of the one that gave me so much of this life style.
Be safe.
Build and race all you can.
And Above all for those that you choose to have around you tell them everything you can when you can.time is precious.
I used to laugh when we refused to say Good Bye. The late great Pat Foster was that way. I actual had the privilege of meeting him at Bowling Green along with some of the other great builders/racers( Hanna/among others I think possibly Cindy Gibbs).They would leave the motel gig when they did that and come back to the track and literally sit and talk amongst themselves. I was amazed that they didn’t mind a nobody sitting in on and taking it in. I wished I had recorded it all. Got to be a one of the reasons for going back. I was always impress with him his style his attitude about time. Best BS filter I ever saw.
Mick has never made a single trip to Bowling Green. Heath didn’t allow him to travel comfortable and he refused to hold us down or slow us up.
I had so often wished be fore we got out of FEDs that he would make one. He has given me a life style and a set of life lessons about loyalty /love /endurance /and humility. The kind you don’t get from a book. In later years as things turned he made it clear that his racing days were over but ours were not. He also made it clear that we would do things differently. No more just getting by. So in 14 the plan was devised. With in months it worked as we had hoped. All the feds left and the hemi stable liquidated. He said we cans go anything other than traditional standard and stay financially afloat. So back to the traditional sbc. And he was right. Per dollar it’s just hard to beat. We still have a lot of the nicest stuff ever but for pennys on the dollar compared to the 392/a donovan. ( remember we had the 33rd one that had ever been. Mike Kuhl all over it. Literally stamped. lol
The prefect was secured. Then he had always wanted a Willy’s ( so I sold the 51 international shop truck a perfect one /still ugly but cool ) and bought one to build. No it’s not steel but as bodies go the an and c is about the best. The Opel Kadet shows up later and this build page explains it’s all. I was amazed when we finished the Willy’s. I’ll stack it up against any in the nation. ( I have some orange peel in the clear but that’s on me and can be buffed or re done). Highlander actually saved my ass on it because it had been 28!years since I had done a total paint job and I made a mistake. Other than a couple of spots it did as well as I could hope for. And again those can be fixed. But it is finished. Only took 9 years. If I could figure how to load videos I would. It’s a beast. Maybe the best single sbc I’ve ever built. And it sounds as like I had always hoped.
I learned in later years never say I wished we had this or that for tools. It literally showed up. Mick always said he out worked everyone else during the dirt track wars because they didn’t have the means . And they won a lot. But he got tired of always being broke / the rat race you go through when you have to race that way. Never again he said.
This morning is a tribute to him. He is in for the fight if his life. He’s still laughing about it. It’s not the first time he’s been in this position.
He’s not mad or honestly that I can tell Sad. As he has said. He’s lived on his own terms all of his life. Should we all be so lucky.
How do you say all that you can about the one that believes in you and literally gives you a life style and the great opportunity’s we have been blessed to have.
The big wins at least for us. . (Bowling Green and several others of which he never got to travel with me on. )
Meeting and teaching and watching the legends.
Learning the difference between those that get it /loyalty/morality/dignity /and even humility.
Trying to learn everyday and being as self sufficient as possible.
And for those when opportunity comes to pass it forward.
I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone on the Hamb that ever helped us. Posted a like. Helped solve an issue. Told me I Xxxxxx up when I did. Helped us finance much of this (Because the Fact is we sold every bit of the hemi inventory /and one rail on the Hamb Board)
Glass Thames Doug / Squirrel /Loudbang / 402 Boss man /Highlander/ you saves my rear many times here over the years.
How Mick and I actually met is a funny deal. In 93-94) Barry Johnson another very accomplished racer, is the only witness to it. I’ve always wanted him to tell the story because no one would ever believe it.

 

Here is the final statement of the morning. For those of you that inspired so many. Thank You.
Remember to tell these people every chance you get. The time will come when you can’t. And I wish I had isn’t worth a shit.
Remember build all you can while you can.
Remember to help those you can. I have no idea how long it will be before I am back in the build /shop. I need Prayers for Mick but no sympathy please. Would piss him off something awful.
Sorry for the ramble and the length but I figured you guys were owed a Thank You and if you are ever in our part of the world the door is always open.
Later

 

I for one want say thank you for taking the time to post all you have I look forward to what you do next on every one of the builds you guys do prayers for mick for sure I know we have never met in person but seems like I know you guys well keep us updated on mick please and thank you

 

Prayers for Mick on the way

 

Prayers heading your way

 

Thank You. All of you. We have some answers to a few problems. No time scale and not a lot of direction still. But none the less above all Thank You.
Build all you can while you can.

 

Thank you for the prayers. As of right now we are at home. Things are far from over. Pretty close to around the clock care.
Build all you can while you can. Time. Precious Time.