Thread: Lethal Weapon, Project A-Bucket

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Originally Posted by stovens

lookin good!

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Mr Blue

Looks as good as any store bought! Nice work!

Thanks Don, Usually things don't turn out as well as I would like them. But I did have to pat myself on the back on this one. It's not perfect, but close enough, and it wasn't made in China...........

Well looks like the cad motor is out.......... The guy my son worked with was let go, something about borrowing customers and work from the boss.... And since he didn't bring it when he said he would I was loosing hope that he would come thru. No biggie. I've got a 65 283, rebuilt sitting on an engine stand. OK its just the block. I picked it up for free. It had been rebuilt many years ago and sat under a bench in a plastic bag. The assembly lube turned into a pretty nice glue. And someone had robbed one piston and rod. I took the engine apart and checked everything. Crank std and mic's right on the mark. All bearings TRW clevite 77. I found a matching piston and rod. New Old Stock.

So all I have to do is balance the pistons and rods, and assemble. I'm going to use some later model 194 valve heads. This way I can run the crummy gas we have. I was going to put this motor in my 66, but it's my work truck, I guess I'll just get a reman long block for it.

So here's the plan for the roadster. 283, 3 carbs on Edlebrock manifold. Will go with Stromberg 97's or Holley 94's to keep a more vintage look. They are remaking the Fenton cast iron headers. Made famous on the Black Widow. So a set of those. Either a mallory dual point or maybe a Joe Hunt magneto. And a set of aluminum Corvette valve covers.

I've decided on a chopped 32 grill shell and insert. Possibly a hood top. I neglected to elaborate on my main reason for the bucket body, instead of door's. Of course it's easier for me to fabricate. But my main reason is I intend to build the body as a cage. 3 - 1 5/8 DOM door bars in each side, with vertical bars, like the cage in a stock car. This will all be hidden from view but will offer some crash protection from the idiot's on the road. Yeah I'm turning into an old fart and worry about such things. I'll try to incorporate a hoop in the cowl as well. A roll bar will add to the protection and look as well. It won't be near as strong as a complete cage, but will certainly offer some protection in the event of the worst. I also will use this to teach my 14 year old daughter to drive. It should be easy to drive and have very good visibility. Probably will even put 2" wide 4 point shoulder harness in it.

Now it ain't gonna be no Lethal Weapon, Mouse trap......... I don't know. You guys name it....... I know it has been a little boring, but it should start taking off in the next week or so. I haven't had much to work with. Hopefully next week will entail a trip to Westbrook Metals for some steel and sheet metal. I am going to look for a rear end tomorrow, and have several lines on brakes and hubs for the front. So I can get all laid out and heights where I want to start the chassis.

Hey Charlie, how about this for an idea!

Yeah Bob, that's what I think I'd like to have. But trying to find one local......
Since I'm not gonna drag it, or probably ever run it really hard, a banjo rear would be fine, and look good. I don't know anything about them, but I'm sure I could find the info. I'm gonna try to go tomorrow to a wrecking yard, they have some older stuff from time to time. Used to have a bunch of pre 60 stuff but scrap got really high and they crushed every bit. He had a 50 ford shoebox, complete original, not in too bab a shape, very little cancer, curshed..................

Yeah, I saw your "want" ad this morning.

If you can be patient they show up. This one turned up a couple days before Christmas on C/L..........only about 3 miles from my house. Then a couple weeks ago a 9" out of a '57 Ford fell into my lap. Two hard to find and very desireable units in a couple months. Ya just never know. Keep your eyes peeled.

And they usually turn up when your not looking....... I don't think I'll get something just to get it. But if I run across one with the right dimensions and is an older rear end I'll probably snag it. I could kick myself for not picking up that olds rear end a couple years ago. I didn't need it and had too much junk. I just wasn't thinking............... I know where I can pick up a Franklin, priced really right, but still more than I want to pay for a rear end. And it would have to be narrowed and axle's changed. And honestly sometimes I can be a really cheap bast#*d..........

Well it's finally taking off. Picked up steel Tuesday, tires arrived. And more goodies coming in every day.

Here's some of the goodies. My UPS guy thought I was mad at him.....
because he has stopped so little in the last 6 months.

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Thats some of it. Didn't take pics of everything. I had to make some preliminary cuts in the steel so I could fit into the garage. They ended coming out really close, didn't waste more than 1/4 on each piece.

Ok the first step in the frame for body was to cut the radius for the rear corners. I used some 1/8" x 3" plate, cut then clamped together and ground smooth with a disc to assure they were symmetrical.

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The two finished corners.

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First I clamped the pieces to the plywood to keep them in proper alignment.
Then I began attaching the top and bottom rails. I used 1 1/2" box .120 wall for this. If you can see the outside edge is following the radius of cab side. This will allow me to attach sheet metal more easily. I'll probably plug weld to rails then weld the seams.

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Next I attached the rear top and bottom rails, followed by two 1 5/8" DOM door bars. And 1 spreader bar in the rear.

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I also temp. hung the dash. Because I moved the cowl posts inward I needed to remove the side mounts, which will later be trimmed and refit, so the dash attachés in the factory manner.

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This is a 32 style made to fit the 28 29 closed cab A's. Looks pretty nice. I've got a 49 Pontiac Silver Streak instrument cluster I hope to fit into the center.

I attached the front of the rails to the cowl posts. It looks like 18 ga. and I welded the tubes with no danger of burn thu, so I supposed that would be good enough. Still way stronger than the side of a stock roadster, but I thought I needed a beefier post. So I took some left over 1 1/2 and cut a couple of slots, with my 20.00 miter saw converted to chop saw. This allowed me to make it fit the curve better.

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Clamped them down to the table and welded them up.

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Finished posts

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Clamped them in place and welded them. The welding is not finished here. I'll finish weld and trim the post sheet metal when I disassemble, to cut out the gas tank, and patch cowl sides and reattach the pieces I trimmed out when I moved the posts in.

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And after that I decided to fab up the center section of the frame. I layed it out on the mockup floor. I made it 1" narrower so as to have approx 1/2" body hang over edge of the frame. The front u channel cross member is just a temp brace spot welded until I get the frame rails finished and a couple cross members in. I am doing it this way because I don't know how much rise in the front rails, so again I'll mock it up. Place body on center section of frame. With the frame blocked up at desired ride height, then place ft axle, engine, trans and rear end in place and then connect the dots.

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The back of the center section will have to be cut out, but this way it will stay together and square until I get the frame further along. Same with the rear lower rail in the body, may have to cut and make a loop for drive shaft. Although with the body on top the frame I may not need to in the rear, we shall see.

Well that all for today. It should move along pretty good now, as I have something to work with. I will try to take lots of pics as it progresses. I hope to have it a roller by April 1'st..............

Well here's about what it looks like after 6 days of cutting and welding. Almost a roller. Just a few more little things and I'll blow it apart and do all the finish welding and plating. I threw on some engine goodies for a look and a little inspiration. Haven't done much this week, a few gussets, and rear engine mounts. This pic was taken Saturday, started the Saturday before. I'll not bore you with all the pics and details of the construction of spring mounts and radius rod mounts, unless someone wants the pics and details. Then I will be more than glad to post those shots and construction details..........

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Great progress!
We have great hopes.... Keep it up.

Thanks Scooter, if anything it will go by too fast. I am building it mostly for something to do. I like the fabrication. So I should take more time, to stretch it out, make it last longer. But when I get my teeth into something it's hard to turn loose..........

Great stuff, keep the pics coming please