Bartster Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 This is a very exciting build. Can't wait to see it through!
Ace-Garageguy Posted May 28, 2012 Author Posted May 28, 2012 Nascar rear end assy. Reinforced Ford 9", but it just won't work as is. Modded crossmember, shortened arms, tunnel and floor being clearanced for driveshaft and pumpkin. All this is necessary to lower the car to where I want it, and still have pretend functionality. Have to make coil-spring pockets and shock mounts. New front lower control arms tacked in place. Crossmember will have to be modified too. Corresponding new upper control arms tacked, engine fitted to check for clearances. This will put the centers of the stub-axles where they need to be to get the stance of the mockup. Firewall is getting bumped back too, to let me move the engine back a little more. Patch in firewall is where HVAC unit used to live. If I angle the headers in towards the block just a little more, they will just clear the torsion bars when installed. Steering cross-linkage will most likely be replaced by rack and pinion.
1930fordpickup Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 This is a great looking project ! Must follow along to learn more .
Ace-Garageguy Posted May 29, 2012 Author Posted May 29, 2012 I deleted my original post of some content that was subsequently quoted in its entirety in a relpy. All the content remains, just not two copies. Hate to waste bandwidth for mutiple posts of the same stuff.
DR JAY Posted May 30, 2012 Posted May 30, 2012 Excellent work so far...you have shamed me into retiring the dirty pinecone I used to use for painting bodies and have forced me to look for one that might be a little cleaner--or perhaps even something different; like a hardly-used meat tenderizing hammer! Hilarious!
JasonFL Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 You have some really good patience, that thing would of been in the trash if it were me. Nice work, again.
Garagenous_Jim Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Really nice work, and the pics are great. Want to see more!
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 13, 2012 Author Posted June 13, 2012 Thanks to everyone for the comments. Glad you're enjoying it. After the repairs were done on both sides, I added a 1/8 inch layer of cotton flock / epoxy mix to the insides of the quarters. Enough structural strength in the fibers to allow me to reshape the lower rear of the panels without worrying about going through the repair. The original car had some protruding molded things to fair in the bumper, and I decided they had to go. Also made a splash mold of the Saleen Mustang hard tonneau, and made a duplicate, shown on right. Not perfect, but all I was after is the shape of the head-fairings anyway. Starting to work in a narrowed Pontiac-ish rear panel........ ...and with the hard tonneau, trying to bring out a little of the Jetsons feel without going over the top.......
Joker Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Thanks for sharing the "new" to me..panel repair with glass. The photos are bright and crisp.
Joe Handley Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Wow, this thing is going to be wild by the time it's done!
71datsun1200 Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 really cool project you have going there. can't wait to see more updates.
Mr. Moparman Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 That is some good repair work going on there! Keep it up!
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 Thanks guys. Right now I'm looking at windshield options, modern or more wrap-around, and a starting point for a front lower pan. Once I get those nailed down she should start moving pretty quickly. I've got some vintage Revell parts-pack rocketship taillights that may work too.
Beerman86GT Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 As always, very nice work sir!!! Love checking on this build!!!!
charlie8575 Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Wow, what a nice save. Very impressive fabrication work, too. Charlie Larkin
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 6, 2012 Author Posted July 6, 2012 Wanted to open the deck before I got into the restyle of the tail too far. This old body is as thick as resin, and extremely brittle. I thinned the deck cut-lines on the inside with a dremel to ease the process. The tube between the rockers is a temporary reinforcement to keep the body from cracking again through the front and rear cowl sections. The decklid sides were straight cuts with the razor saw, and the front cut-line only required scribing repeatedly to deepen it to almost the depth I'd thinned it to inside. Then it snapped out, fairly cleanly. Open hood and deck, body still intact thanks to the tubular reinforcement. Starting to repair the sinks in the panels, to get them in primer and see how well they fit back in the openings.
Ace-Garageguy Posted July 8, 2012 Author Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) Fiddling with the nose and tail. Thinking of doing a floating surround for the grille. The rear panel I'd started to use has moved to the front, and a similar panel, again sort of Pontiac looking, has grown on the rear so both ends will have some design unity. Also moving the windshield back a few scale inches. Mostly dechromed at this point, too. Edited July 8, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy
Custom Mike Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 Bill, everything you've done so far has worked perfectly, I'm waiting for more of your magic!
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