Metalwork cont.
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'69 Ford Mustang - This Mustang had what I thought was a small hole in the floor, but as I pulled up the carpet, it kept growing larger. Unfortunately, it went through the toe kick into the top of the torque boxes. I could have bought replacement panels for these locations, but wanted to practice my sheet metal shaping skills and didn't want to wait for shipping. The lines in the floor aren't perfect, but I put them in by myself with a hand crank operated bead roller and using a block of steel as a punch. I fabricated the top of the torque box with two layers of 18 ga. plug welded together.
'69 Ford Mustang - This Mustang had what I thought was a small hole in the floor, but as I pulled up the carpet, it kept growing larger. Unfortunately, it went through the toe kick into the top of the torque boxes. I could have bought replacement panels for these locations, but wanted to practice my sheet metal shaping skills and didn't want to wait for shipping. The lines in the floor aren't perfect, but I put them in by myself with a hand crank operated bead roller and using a block of steel as a punch. I fabricated the top of the torque box with two layers of 18 ga. plug welded together.
Just Cool:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Smoothest parade run yet! Soon the entire car will be bare metal, but now you can see the direction I'm headed. 1st place Best Vintage Vehicle in the Madeline Island 4th of July parade!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Smoothest parade run yet! Soon the entire car will be bare metal, but now you can see the direction I'm headed. 1st place Best Vintage Vehicle in the Madeline Island 4th of July parade!
Just Cool:
'61 Ford Thunderbird - I didn't need another car, which is the perfect time to go shopping for another car! This is the newest addition to the fleet, adding a bit more class. It will need some metalwork to be solid as new, but that's what I'm in the business for! The exhaust manifold needed to be milled flat to sit tight to the engine block, It needs some new emergency brake cables and attention in other minor places, but you will probably see it on the streets for summer cruising before it gets confined to the metalwork shop.
'61 Ford Thunderbird - I didn't need another car, which is the perfect time to go shopping for another car! This is the newest addition to the fleet, adding a bit more class. It will need some metalwork to be solid as new, but that's what I'm in the business for! The exhaust manifold needed to be milled flat to sit tight to the engine block, It needs some new emergency brake cables and attention in other minor places, but you will probably see it on the streets for summer cruising before it gets confined to the metalwork shop.
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Taking the car down to bare metal. Soon I will go to Valhalla shiny and chrome.
'38 Dodge Coupe - Taking the car down to bare metal. Soon I will go to Valhalla shiny and chrome.
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Smooth running boards will be a nice change. Originally they were covered with a rubber pad that had decayed a long time ago, leaving all the mounting holes exposed. Not a very clean look. Since I had the running boards removed to access the panels under the doors, might as well get started!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Smooth running boards will be a nice change. Originally they were covered with a rubber pad that had decayed a long time ago, leaving all the mounting holes exposed. Not a very clean look. Since I had the running boards removed to access the panels under the doors, might as well get started!
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - There used to be gaps under the doors that were distracting, so I fabricated some panels to fill the gaps and give the body a sleeker profile. Same as the fender skirts, I decided to use my TIG welder on the exposed seams and I really like the results.
'38 Dodge Coupe - There used to be gaps under the doors that were distracting, so I fabricated some panels to fill the gaps and give the body a sleeker profile. Same as the fender skirts, I decided to use my TIG welder on the exposed seams and I really like the results.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - Unfortunately the bottom of the windshield frame had rusted over the years. The metal was so thin in some places that a utility knife could easily pierce through. New metal took care of that!
'63 VW Transporter - Unfortunately the bottom of the windshield frame had rusted over the years. The metal was so thin in some places that a utility knife could easily pierce through. New metal took care of that!
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - Floor is installed and solid as ever. Soon this project will be ready for the streets again.
'63 VW Transporter - Floor is installed and solid as ever. Soon this project will be ready for the streets again.
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fender skirts are completed and bolted in! I added a lip to the bottom of the skirt to help it hold its shape. I think the time I invested in this project was well worth it.
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fender skirts are completed and bolted in! I added a lip to the bottom of the skirt to help it hold its shape. I think the time I invested in this project was well worth it.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - Both front fenders, or doglegs as VW calls them, have been replaced. The bottoms of both B pillars needed to be replaced as well. Now the door gaps are tolerable and there is enough solid metal to install the floor.
'63 VW Transporter - Both front fenders, or doglegs as VW calls them, have been replaced. The bottoms of both B pillars needed to be replaced as well. Now the door gaps are tolerable and there is enough solid metal to install the floor.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - The lower nose panel has been replaced, and two new front door skins were installed onto new door frames. This project is looking way more solid already! Up next will be the panels underneath the doors, and then the front floor.
'63 VW Transporter - The lower nose panel has been replaced, and two new front door skins were installed onto new door frames. This project is looking way more solid already! Up next will be the panels underneath the doors, and then the front floor.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - I started out by replacing the bottom of the A pillars, and the center piece that connects the pillars to the rest of the uni-body frame. Unfortunately I found more rust in the lower part of the nose, so a patch panel was bought for that. Most pictures show that I have no gap between the old and new section of A pillars. I tacked them in place with no gap, then cut the gap wider for a proper weld.
'63 VW Transporter - I started out by replacing the bottom of the A pillars, and the center piece that connects the pillars to the rest of the uni-body frame. Unfortunately I found more rust in the lower part of the nose, so a patch panel was bought for that. Most pictures show that I have no gap between the old and new section of A pillars. I tacked them in place with no gap, then cut the gap wider for a proper weld.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'63 VW Transporter - As you can see, this cool little VW Transporter was in need of some more solid metal! Luckily the ice was thick enough to bring it over to my shop. This project will entail A pillars, front floors, new doors, and a few other little patches.
'63 VW Transporter - As you can see, this cool little VW Transporter was in need of some more solid metal! Luckily the ice was thick enough to bring it over to my shop. This project will entail A pillars, front floors, new doors, and a few other little patches.
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fender skirts are almost finished. I wanted them to look like bubble skirts, but flush mounted with the fender. Similar design as a Lincoln Zephyr. I put metal pins in the top lip of the skirt that key into the lip on the fender. Two or three bolts at the bottom of each skirt will hold it up, and the metal pins keep it in place. I decided to TIG weld all the seams which is a more difficult and time consuming process, but I can achieve better results than with MIG (aka wire feed). Using a flat file instead of my air sander on all the exposed welds is going to give me a proper metal finished look!
'38 Dodge Coupe - Fender skirts are almost finished. I wanted them to look like bubble skirts, but flush mounted with the fender. Similar design as a Lincoln Zephyr. I put metal pins in the top lip of the skirt that key into the lip on the fender. Two or three bolts at the bottom of each skirt will hold it up, and the metal pins keep it in place. I decided to TIG weld all the seams which is a more difficult and time consuming process, but I can achieve better results than with MIG (aka wire feed). Using a flat file instead of my air sander on all the exposed welds is going to give me a proper metal finished look!
Sheet Metal Fabrication:
'69 Chevy Camaro - I had to fabricate lots of panels throughout this project, but these I'm the most proud of. I was able to eliminate a factory seam and a nasty seam from the last time the quarter panels were replaced. Very limited space to get behind these panels and knock out any mistakes, so it had to be right the first time. I think I nailed it!
'69 Chevy Camaro - I had to fabricate lots of panels throughout this project, but these I'm the most proud of. I was able to eliminate a factory seam and a nasty seam from the last time the quarter panels were replaced. Very limited space to get behind these panels and knock out any mistakes, so it had to be right the first time. I think I nailed it!
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'69 Chevy Camaro - Rear seat divider installed, rear bumper brackets installed into the trunk, convertible B pillar brackets installed. This thing is looking finished! I welded a few factory gaps closed that would normally have been seam sealed to avoid using filler.
'69 Chevy Camaro - Rear seat divider installed, rear bumper brackets installed into the trunk, convertible B pillar brackets installed. This thing is looking finished! I welded a few factory gaps closed that would normally have been seam sealed to avoid using filler.
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'69 Chevy Camaro - Taking time to do all the little patches that I might have missed during the project. Soon there wont be much left to do but deliver it to paint!
'69 Chevy Camaro - Taking time to do all the little patches that I might have missed during the project. Soon there wont be much left to do but deliver it to paint!
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'69 Chevy Camaro - The floor is in! A major milestone. I was able to raise the jig up off the ground to give myself more room to access the plug welds along the bottom of the floor pan. There was a lot of overhead welding involved, but I'm happy to say the floor is solid as ever and looks good!
'69 Chevy Camaro - The floor is in! A major milestone. I was able to raise the jig up off the ground to give myself more room to access the plug welds along the bottom of the floor pan. There was a lot of overhead welding involved, but I'm happy to say the floor is solid as ever and looks good!
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'69 Chevy Camaro - After a long break from doing things that are cool, I'm happy to be back on the Camaro project! Both toe kick panels have been welded in, and now I am all ready for the floor pan to go in. Early next week I will have the last major component installed. Looking forward to completion!
'69 Chevy Camaro - After a long break from doing things that are cool, I'm happy to be back on the Camaro project! Both toe kick panels have been welded in, and now I am all ready for the floor pan to go in. Early next week I will have the last major component installed. Looking forward to completion!
Sheet Metal Replacement:
'69 Chevy Camaro - Getting the floor fit into place. I welded the under floor braces to the bottom of the pan while it was removed from the car, similar to what I did with the trunk floor. Save the overhead welding for when there is no other option! Need to do some work to the bottom of the firewall before the floor is ready to get welded in, but it is looking good.
'69 Chevy Camaro - Getting the floor fit into place. I welded the under floor braces to the bottom of the pan while it was removed from the car, similar to what I did with the trunk floor. Save the overhead welding for when there is no other option! Need to do some work to the bottom of the firewall before the floor is ready to get welded in, but it is looking good.
