thanks BT, my pleasure rear shocks went in today, I had this old tube shock kit for 1939 Ford front kicking around for a while very compact, figured they should fit the bill fine. chopped the tower brackets and welded the top mount to the frame, then cut some lower brackets from what was left of the tower, bolted the shocks in and tacked the lower brackets in place, took the shocks back out and welded the brackets to the wishbones, let it cool to the touch and bolted the shocks back in.
More often than not, If the end result is to imply simplicity, the more thought in planning and effort in execution is required.. Spent half the day on something so simple it should have taken five minutes.. Maybe that's what I like about it
That's what I'm talking about, Your friend was able to refine my three paragraphs Into three simple words.
Great idea on the rear shocks. I have those same brackets kicking around here someplace. I am going to copy this great idea. I will give you credit for the idea though. It saves me a great deal of head scratching on mine. Now I just need to figure out the cantilevered front shock mounts.
made a few body to frame mounts today, eight points of connection, should be enough. here's a few pictures this is a typical fab scenario
Make sure you leave room with the mounts so you can shim the body, it helps the doors to open and close. JW
I only allowed for one eighth shim at the firewall mount but three eighths on the rest. I fit and welded all with solid steel shims, replacing the steel shims with rubber after cool. Of course these too are temporary as the whole car is about to be completely blown apart for final finish. I hope to have the chassis done and finished soon, the body may have to live in a semi finished state for a while as I'm getting anxious to have a car on the road this summer.
modified the trunk floor I had made earlier, when I made it the plan was to run the exhaust outside and shocks behind the axle. now that those plans have changed some of the work in place needed slight alteration. the two boxes I had sunk into the trunk floor (battery and what-not) needed to go, they conflicted with both exhaust and shocks. and some minor changes to the substructure of the floor needed adjustment, now it fits fine. I may have to eliminate the two trap doors, they serve no purpose now, unless I make some smaller boxes for storage. and I will have to find a new location for the battery, maybe under the passenger's feet? I'd really rather not take up any trunk space.
final tear down today, well hopefully final for the chassis anyway. body off, engine out, engine hanging with it's Olds buddies one last time bare frame, and frame clamped to the frame table ready to finish up the last bit of welding
Thanks guys, All major welding done, just a few small holes to fill. And a few more to drill and tap. If the weather holds maybe paint tomorrow..
break in the weather today, rolled the frame outside and started prep work grinders, wire brush and safety gear you only have so many lungs, ears, eyes and skin and you might need them later. a good mop with phosphoric acid will take car of what little "surface" rust is left. paint will have to wait for tomorrow then finally maybe start reassembly
Got some paint on the frame today, Coat of red and a coat of semi gloss black. Using Zero-Rust brand here.
Zero-Rust is a one step primer/paint, I went two coats because I wanted the extra protection and two colors because I didn't have enough black to do it all in one color. Plus now when it gets chipped I get to see red. It looks a lot like the old "red lead" primer. Still on the fence about the semi gloss, it may get a coat of gloss black too..
The Jalopy Journal
