Chassis Fabrication
Most all these projects contain structural welding, chassis fabrication, or at the least chassis modification. All suspension fabrication and ride height modifications are included here. All projects except one were TIG welded.
Chassis Fabrication:
'69 Chevy Camaro - Technically this isn't a chassis, but this framework is a jig that attaches to factory points on the Camaro uni-body to make sure everything stays solid while I cut so much metal out of it. I will also be able to use this jig to weld the new metal into the exact spot it needs to be. So even though it is temporary, it serves the same purpose as a vehicle chassis - not to mention having the same amount of metal as one!
'69 Chevy Camaro - Technically this isn't a chassis, but this framework is a jig that attaches to factory points on the Camaro uni-body to make sure everything stays solid while I cut so much metal out of it. I will also be able to use this jig to weld the new metal into the exact spot it needs to be. So even though it is temporary, it serves the same purpose as a vehicle chassis - not to mention having the same amount of metal as one!
Chassis Fabrication:
'78 Fire Truck - Needed a good, reliable, long range hauler. Enter the Town of La Pointe's '78 fire truck bought from the town equipment auction. The bed has been removed and I found out that about 8" of the frame had been cut off the rear of the truck to fit the water pump and box onto the frame. Luckily the guru Scott G had a donor truck for the missing frame section. A Handyman jack and a few pieces of 3"x3" blocks kept the frame rails spread apart to the proper dimensions while I welded on the new section. Now all I need is a dually pickup bed and I will be riding in style.
'78 Fire Truck - Needed a good, reliable, long range hauler. Enter the Town of La Pointe's '78 fire truck bought from the town equipment auction. The bed has been removed and I found out that about 8" of the frame had been cut off the rear of the truck to fit the water pump and box onto the frame. Luckily the guru Scott G had a donor truck for the missing frame section. A Handyman jack and a few pieces of 3"x3" blocks kept the frame rails spread apart to the proper dimensions while I welded on the new section. Now all I need is a dually pickup bed and I will be riding in style.
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - It was finally time to make the rack and pinion more permanent. I got to practice my overhead TIG welding with this project!
'38 Dodge Coupe - It was finally time to make the rack and pinion more permanent. I got to practice my overhead TIG welding with this project!
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Even after new lower arched leaf springs the '38 Coupe still looked too high in the rear. 2.5" blocks will make it sit just right. Blocks for now, Z''d frame later?
'38 Dodge Coupe - Even after new lower arched leaf springs the '38 Coupe still looked too high in the rear. 2.5" blocks will make it sit just right. Blocks for now, Z''d frame later?
Chassis Fabrication:
'42 Tow Truck - New rear spring pack for this cool old truck and cleaned up all the nasty brake baking plates and shoes to have this truck ready to roll in the shop even in the dead of winter.
'42 Tow Truck - New rear spring pack for this cool old truck and cleaned up all the nasty brake baking plates and shoes to have this truck ready to roll in the shop even in the dead of winter.
Chassis Fabrication:
'62 Willys Jeep - As you can see there wasn't much left of this jeep bumper! Luckily there was still enough to make a pattern and fabricate a new one.
'62 Willys Jeep - As you can see there wasn't much left of this jeep bumper! Luckily there was still enough to make a pattern and fabricate a new one.
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Less than two weeks until the 4th of July Parade and I decided to take a break from all this sheet metal work and get this baby runnin'! So much to do so little time! I started with brakes, custom bent lines, new radiator mounted, aluminum 4 barrel intake, very temporary exhaust, rebuilt carburetor, custom made alternator bracket, metal fuel lines put in... if you can name it I'm doing it! Big thanks to Scott G, Andrew, and my dad for helping me get it ready a day early!
--- And it was all worth it, cause the coupe won Best Vintage Car in the 2016 Madeline Island 4th of July Parade!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Less than two weeks until the 4th of July Parade and I decided to take a break from all this sheet metal work and get this baby runnin'! So much to do so little time! I started with brakes, custom bent lines, new radiator mounted, aluminum 4 barrel intake, very temporary exhaust, rebuilt carburetor, custom made alternator bracket, metal fuel lines put in... if you can name it I'm doing it! Big thanks to Scott G, Andrew, and my dad for helping me get it ready a day early!
--- And it was all worth it, cause the coupe won Best Vintage Car in the 2016 Madeline Island 4th of July Parade!
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - I ordered a "Column Saver" so I could use the '53 Coronet steering column with the newer steering rack. I found out after it arrived that they don't make one the size I need! I decided to get practiced on the awesome metal lathe that Scott G hooked me up with. I think the results speak for themselves! Thanks to Leroy and crew for keeping me moving.
'38 Dodge Coupe - I ordered a "Column Saver" so I could use the '53 Coronet steering column with the newer steering rack. I found out after it arrived that they don't make one the size I need! I decided to get practiced on the awesome metal lathe that Scott G hooked me up with. I think the results speak for themselves! Thanks to Leroy and crew for keeping me moving.
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Another welding project that doesn't necessarily fall into the chassis or fabrication section - welding exhaust manifolds! I'm testing out some new TIG rod that is supposed to be better for welding cast iron than TIG rod with a high nickle content. One of the manifolds welded fine, on the other I could barely form a puddle. You get to see the nice one. The real test will be when they start breathing fire!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Another welding project that doesn't necessarily fall into the chassis or fabrication section - welding exhaust manifolds! I'm testing out some new TIG rod that is supposed to be better for welding cast iron than TIG rod with a high nickle content. One of the manifolds welded fine, on the other I could barely form a puddle. You get to see the nice one. The real test will be when they start breathing fire!
Chassis Fabrication:
Dana 30 Front Axle - This truss came as a kit so I didn't do a whole lot of fabrication, but there was plenty TIG welding involved! Welded the tubes to the differential, welded sleeves into the tubes, welded the truss onto the axle, welded stronger mounts for the lower control arms, and welded gussets in between the ball joints.
Now its ready for a monster truck...
Dana 30 Front Axle - This truss came as a kit so I didn't do a whole lot of fabrication, but there was plenty TIG welding involved! Welded the tubes to the differential, welded sleeves into the tubes, welded the truss onto the axle, welded stronger mounts for the lower control arms, and welded gussets in between the ball joints.
Now its ready for a monster truck...
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fabricated motor mounts, transmission mount, set pinion angle, custom driveshaft made in Duluth, 2nd mock up with the new stance for more inspiration!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fabricated motor mounts, transmission mount, set pinion angle, custom driveshaft made in Duluth, 2nd mock up with the new stance for more inspiration!
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Installed a weld on kit with stronger, updated spring mounts and lower arched leaf springs to help drop the rear closer to the height of the already lowered front.
'38 Dodge Coupe - Installed a weld on kit with stronger, updated spring mounts and lower arched leaf springs to help drop the rear closer to the height of the already lowered front.
Chassis Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Not so much fabrication yet as mock up... All good plans need to start somewhere. Previous owner almost completed the task of fabricating late 70's Dodge Cordoba torsion bar independent front suspension with disk brakes (better handling and good safety updates). I have a Dodge 318 motor and auto transmission to install. Lots of work needed on this one but should be worth it in the long run.
'38 Dodge Coupe - Not so much fabrication yet as mock up... All good plans need to start somewhere. Previous owner almost completed the task of fabricating late 70's Dodge Cordoba torsion bar independent front suspension with disk brakes (better handling and good safety updates). I have a Dodge 318 motor and auto transmission to install. Lots of work needed on this one but should be worth it in the long run.
Chassis Fabrication:
'52 Dodge Power Wagon - Rear pinion angle set and new spring perches added to Corp 14 rear axle and Corp 10 front axle. Front crossmember notched for clearance of new front motor mount plate.
'52 Dodge Power Wagon - Rear pinion angle set and new spring perches added to Corp 14 rear axle and Corp 10 front axle. Front crossmember notched for clearance of new front motor mount plate.
Chassis Fabrication:
'52 Dodge Power Wagon - Custom motor mounts fabricated to swap Chevy 292 inline 6, steel scatter shield, 4 speed trans, 205 transfercase onto original mounting locations on Dodge frame. Crossmember fabricated for trans/transfercase. Shop mascot not impressed...
'52 Dodge Power Wagon - Custom motor mounts fabricated to swap Chevy 292 inline 6, steel scatter shield, 4 speed trans, 205 transfercase onto original mounting locations on Dodge frame. Crossmember fabricated for trans/transfercase. Shop mascot not impressed...
Chassis Fabrication:
'31 Model A Sport Coupe - Custom made 1932 frame rails to go underneath the Model A body
'31 Model A Sport Coupe - Custom made 1932 frame rails to go underneath the Model A body
Chassis Fabrication:
'64 Ford Falcon - V8 & 5 speed swap, 8.8 rear axle swap, spring over axle lift in rear, Mercury Monarch front spindle/disk brake swap, updated 1965 steering assembly.
'64 Ford Falcon - V8 & 5 speed swap, 8.8 rear axle swap, spring over axle lift in rear, Mercury Monarch front spindle/disk brake swap, updated 1965 steering assembly.
