Thread: Dragster body

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Rear end back in place.
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The bottom hangers for the Dzus fasteners are visible here.
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Rich

Side panels are done.
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There are 3 fasteners holding on this panel. complete the center fastener first. Drill, and
counter sink the outer fasteners on the car. The slightest off set of the counter sinks
will cause puckering between fasteners.
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Rich

Notice yu have a few vise grip clamps!!!!!!!!!!


Dzuz spring adjustment tip is nice--------never did that, just always had buttons and springs for the various combos of material thickness---biggest diff was when using fiberglass as much thicker especially when doubled-


Nice work!!!!!!!

Thank's! Never have enough clamps!! LOL It was a learning experience with the Dzus fasteners, I had never used them before. Now I'm
trying to figure out where I can use them on my Coupe!

There s also a handy piece that is like a dzuz button but is a blank with a center punch in it for marking panels for the holes--drill to size, dimple it and perfect!!!!!!!!I also like the captured ones, especially like for pro stock hoods-too many to have to deal with loose buttons---like going from buttons to a zipper!!!!!!Too bad that's not a hemi

First let me say thanks for making all the time to post all the pics! I know firsthand what it takes and wanted to let you know it is appreciated.

Next - Thanks for sharing the project.. it'll be a wonderful piece once completed. It's great to see what's involved in a build like this.

Rich, from my Navy Aircraft Mech days, Dzus buttons come in different lengths. Not sure if they are in 1/16" increments or finer, but your "teak the spring" method works for small adjustments for sure. They have a super thin conical washer that fits over the button shank, after it's in the panel to be retained, and then is deformed to keep the buttons in place when the panel is loose. Lot's handier than having the buttons loose and scattered around, especially if you have different length buttons for the different panel thicknesses.

Jerry:
I have seen that tool to center punch the panel. My problem was with two over lapping panels, I could drill them together so the holes were lined up perfect, but if
I did not counter sink them over lapped together they may be slightly off. The counter sink tool had just enough slop to cause a slight misalignment. Not much, but
I'm probably to anal to let it go! LOL

Thanks Mike!

Roger:I have seen protective washers, but not what you mention. There are so many Dzus fasteners offered that I just went with the most popular size, and made the work.

Mocking up rear panels.
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Inside view.
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Rich

Where the two panels join, and roll under the car is a real pain to get a good
joint. Having to bead roll one changes the panel just enough to create a
lot of fussing around to make them fit together properly.
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Hangers for the rear side panel.
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Rich

I did later fab small pieces to close off the axle housing panel.
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This is how I transitioned the 3 body panels together.
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Rich

I added one of the wood bucks to the front to start mock up.
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Another view.
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Rich

Both sides ruffed in, and the over lapping joints fine tuned.
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The edge of the front panel is stepped to make them flush. Having never done this before, it was figuring out the panel transitions that caused some head scratching!
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Rich

so this is a current project? when do you have to be finished? I think I want to let my wife and mother in law go on a road trip to Amish land and I can come see?

I shaped a piece of 1/4" plate to use as buck to form the corner.
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A piece of 4" pipe for another buck.
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Rich