Hot Rods The "Whatever" project

I want to take the local course
Stinks that the fall semester Starts toward the end of August, when it's still nice driving. Thinking I might get the bed, headlights and grill shell done first. That means doing the floor and the bracing before bodywork, which means it's dead in the garage then. One day a week in the school, the rest done at home. I could shoot primer at home, but don't want to do it in the garage and it's windy here.

and use TPC Global stuff.
A gallon of primer which is good stuff (used the 2k stuff before) is 131
https://tcpglobal.com/collections/urethane-primers/products/upo-2253v-kit-std
paint is 210 for the kit
https://tcpglobal.com/collections/acrylic-urethane-paint-boulevard-black/products/rsp-au1905-kit-m
The body stuff should take half that, but it leaves extra for the frame and chassis.

I guess a case of aerosol would be cheaper, but I'd rather get the layout a gun gives you. @Tim_with_a_T is probably going to do a full-on pro-style job in his lean-to on the driveway. I just hope he's happy with the first attempt!

P.S. took it out with the new tie rods and no wobble at least to 40 or so!!!

EDIT: just had a fierce dust devil roll though to remind me a pop up garage for shooting is not smart here!

 

Well, you and Tim will get done so much sooner than I will. I'll keep watching to see what you do. Hopefully some of the technique will transfer thru the internet and I'll be able to make an attempt at the finish. Otherwise you both might have to take a road trip...

 

With that start time, I may postpone it until the spring. Dec. is the end of the fall so the spring should start in Jan. Much better timing.
BTW, Black is a great base for metalflake, you just keep shooting until you can't see the Black! It might as well scream fiberglass, right?
https://tcpglobal.com/pages/custom-shop-flakes

Of course, the clear is another layer and you need a bunch, plus another round of blocking, followed by cut 'n buff.
https://tcpglobal.com/collections/clear-coats-cus/products/cus-kit-kc2010-gl

 

How about using a roller? That's more my style... but is there ever an end to the block sanding?

 

The end of block sanding is going to be the hairpin mounts on the frame. Everything behind that is covered by the body!

 

I think block sanding ends around 3000 grit or so, unless you're trying for that Lost in Space depth...

 

My block sanding ends around 600 grit!

 

Well sure, if you have a life outside of sanding and aren't getting paid for it, and/or don't care how your finish looks under a microscope, you can stop at 600. Makes those who stop at 800 grit look even better!

 

Block sanding? We don' do no steenkin' blocksanding!

If I had used a real body instead of the plastic one, I'd just use the jitterbug on it, and leave it in bare metal. I'd use that oil everyone talks about...

On another note, soon onto the carburetors.

 

Been collecting parts lately and got some pictures of the stuff that has collected. I'll start with today's acquisition, an aluminum case Powerglide. Thanks Walt! Rest that back, and get back to the garage soon.
It's not greasy and grimy, just has that fuzz that old aluminium parts all seem to grow. No cracks, everything seems to turn. Haven't looked at the fluid condition yet, to see , as the First Edition song sort of went, what condition my transmission is in...

Oh that was bad! I'll try not to do that again. While I was checking it out, I took a few minutes with a small wire brush and gave the case a bit of a dusting to see how difficult it was going to be to buff up the case.
Here's the results. Between a brush and some Scotch pads, I think it's going to clean up good when I freshen it up. It's been since the late 70s that I took an automatic transmission apart. Think I better get a manual...

Next, a pair of Buick aluminum brake drums. They were painted, and they are in great condition. I miked the id and they are 12.022 to 12.025, with smooth surfaces. A light scuff with a Scotch pad and a soda blast and they're ready to use. Here's pictures of one. I know, that 2nd drum picture sucks! No talent, that's me!

And finally the 3 deuce setup. I think I have enough carburetors to build up a set, I've got 4-1/4 2G Rochesters.
But wait, you're saying, there's not 4 there! WTF? Well, the 4th one is still on the 283. I'm going to leave it on there, so it's still a runner. And the new manifold:
Isn't that manifold purdy? And those ports are certainly small! So now all I have to do is get back out there and turn some wrenches!

 

They do have etching chemicals for aluminum, but tread carefully.
There have been a few threads here about getting cast back to original looking, but there wasn't a general consensus on that mystical cheap, easy, safe solution, IIRC.
Good to see you still plugging along.

 

BTW, what do the cooling holes in the case indicate wrt the application and low gear ratio? I'm being lazy here, and not wanting to get out in the garage and look for numbers. I just know that everyone here has already started to figure that out...

So do the cooling holes in the case give any clues? Thanks

And yes, you can all verbally abuse me, and harangue me unmercifully. I wouldn't expect less!

 

Powerglide case with converter vent holes?? | Yellow Bullet Forums

Aluminum Air cooled powerglide case VS. standard aluminum PG case | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
looks like it will need mods or at a minimum a convertor with cooling fins or else it will burn up quickly

 

Thanks Walt. I took a look at the case. It has the bosses for external oil cooling, but more searching seems to show that I may have to do a little bit of work to make it work without an air cooled converter. On the positive side, if I get a Vega torque converter, I'll get a little bit higher stall speed and the air cooling!

Not insurmountable obstacles, rather opportunities to excel! Glass is half full...

Being a retired professional engineer, I see that glass as being too big for the job!

Anyway, I have a bit of digging to do. I'm willing to bet that the inside is in decent shape, given that it probably came out of a granny-mobile with a 6 banger. And she only drove to church with it...

 

Been a while, been procuring parts and pieces. Let’s see, power pack heads, cast iron tach drive distributor, some old Ford wheels with 5x5 bolt pattern, don’t remember if I reported on the 3-deuce setup sort of. That’s a manifold and 4 plus 2GC Rochesters. Got some suspension parts.

But no bolt together progress. On the other hand I’ve managed to create a new mess in the garage again. And then snow! I’m tired of snow this year! Okay rant over…

 

Good Morning Brother! I took your advice last evening and read thru your Thread on the "WHATEVER" Project... WOW! You are Blessed with FANTASTIC FABRICATION SKILLS! I am Humbled! I suffered from Serious GARAGE ENVY as well! Clean... No Clutter... No JUNK... Just recently re-establishing myself here I had no Idea the magnitude of your Abilities. Awesome my Brother1 Go Man GO!

 

Hoo boy! Been moving cra… parts and materials around the garage, finally cleaning up the mess from last year. Amazing the components and materials that I uncovered doing this. No pictures yet, but by the end of the week, I should have the garage sorted and ready for further mischief and mayhem.

So far I have relocated some carburetor parts and the stuff to clean and modify them for a trip-power system. There are spherical rod ends, tie rod ends and those poly bushed rod ends. I was going to purchase some, but found that I had already bought some for the 4 bar systems that will be on the car soon. The bars are pretty much done, only one left to cut shorter and rethread one end. Gas pedal needs a little more rework, but it’s got to wait until I rework the clutch and brake pedals. I’ve got the parts and a crude sketch of what I’m going to make.

Now here’s some interesting information. Jeg’s has their own brand of American made coil over shocks, twin tube, both single and double adjustable. 2 of the single adjustable ones are coming this way. New for the back suspension. I currently have a set of Koni oval track shocks, which while being adjustable, only adjust the rebound. The ones coming adjust both at the same time. And are designed for the street much more so than the Konis.

Pictures later this week

 

I can relate to the thrash mess and needing to clean house. I almost bought a new master cylinder and then realized that I have 3 already in all different bores to tailor the system to be balanced.

 

It’s a bitch getting older, of course it beats the alternative. And it’s said that we loose 3 things as we age. The first is the memory. I forget what the other two are.

And therein lies the issue. I also found some tools that I thought had gone walkabout. Or as my wife and I have said many times, things just disappear in a black hole somewhere in our home. Today’s effort hasn’t started yet, I have a bunch of things to take down to make way for the shelving system. Best part of this is trying to figure out where to put stuff like that while the system is being modified.

 

Make you feel good when you find something you bought, thought you had it somewhere , could not find it then it appears when you are not looking for it. Yes been there.

 

Hey Don. How’s things going with you? Yeah, I found an in/out box… I knew I had, just where was the question. It’s bolted to an old Ford transmission to Chevy block adapter now. Got more done today. The outside wall is cleared off far enough to get the racks up. Made 3 risers for the inside legs so I can set them on top of the foundation, gaining approximately 6 inches of height.

You know how much of a mess it makes when you decide to rearrange your garage? Well right now I’ve got enough room to put the racks up, but not much space for anything else… pictures of the mess.


Yes the whatever is buried in there somewhere. The white stuff is the body. What a mess! But I’m making headway

 

The only problem I have with cleaning/reorganizing, is I go from "Where is it?" to "I know where it was."

 

Hi Pal. I am in the deep end of the pool as you wink! wink! Well I am sucking bondo dust. My bodywork lessons are coming along. As you I thought I would be farther along than I am but getting there. You know how life gets in the way of our master plans! My hat is tipped to all the bodymen here on the site as it all looks easy enough but takes time. My mentor is taking his time teaching me all the little tricks you need to get a body straight. Will probably hook up with you soon as camp will be opening up soon. I tune in every night on here to see what is going on. Take care.

 

Ooo, I got some storage space! Thanks to whoever made the comments about using pallet racks. Now while I didn’t use real pallet racks, these storage racks from Lowe’s fit dimensionally and will serve my purposes. They are going to be screwed to the floor, and are already lagged to the studs. This will keep them from falling over on me, and also stiffen up the system. There is no shake in them now. Here’s a picture:

I have only started to get stuff under the racks. I had to stop, the old back just didn’t want to go on today.

 

Come over and organize my mess!

 

Surely you jest? You want me to organize your stuff? I can barely make headway in my own garage…

 

Progress! Hoping for great things from the garage and mind of the Dave out east!

 

I’m taking the day off from the garage today. I’m a bit sore from the last few day’s efforts…

 

Great progress Dave! Now you will have to learn all the new storage spots or do like I do and just buy the same part again

 

And that’s why I have so many tools, hardware, parts and other stuff in the garage…