Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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hey Don,

When you get to mounting your body on your frame can you post some pics of where and how you mounted it.

Thanks,
Z

Sure. Basically I just welded 6 pieces of flat stock to the top of the frame rails and drilled and tapped them for 3/8 threads. Then I drilled corresponding holes into the plywood floor so I could pass 3/8 bolts down through into the frame. I am going to put rubber washers that I bought at the hardware store between the body and frame to insulate and quiet it a little.

On my Son's T, Total Performance does something that I do not understand. They actually use those rubber expander plugs that you slip into four holes in the frame, and when you run bolts into them they expand and hold the body down. I really didn't like the idea of the whole body being secured by four little rubber plugs, so we drilled and tapped his frame like mine in 6 places (3 per side down the length of the body) and will bolt it down just like mine.

Maybe these pictures will shed some light on how we did it, and as you have asked, I'll post some pictures when the body goes on for the last time. On the gray frame pictured, you can see the 6 little steel pads welded atop the frame rails behind the steering box mount. On the green frame, you can sort of make out the same 6 holes drilled and tapped into the top of his frame. That is where the bolts go to hold the body down.

Don

Don,

Thanks, I am getting closer and closer to getting my frame from paper to metal. There are so many things to remember.

I have decided to use a 32 front end, coilovers in the back and am contemplaiting putting the rad in the bed.

Thanks,
Z

PS are you going to use carriage bolts??

Really sounds like a good plan Z. Coilovers are a piece o cake compared to some of the other stuff, and I saw a T bucket at Daytona a few years ago where they mounted the radiator right up against the back of the bed and cut a grille in it for airflow. It actually didn't look too bad either. For a while we had considered a rear mounted radiator in my '39 Dodge truck because we thought a moon tank up front with an empty grille shell would give it a dragstrip look.


Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

On my Son's T, Total Performance does something that I do not understand. They actually use those rubber expander plugs that you slip into four holes in the frame, and when you run bolts into them they expand and hold the body down.
Don

Those are known as Well Nuts, or Rawl Nuts; http://www.aerobolt.com.au/Products/...Rub_Nuts.shtml

Yep, we sold them when I was in the marine business. Great for mounting things like windshields on boats, but I sure would be hard pressed to mount a body with them. We had them pull out on even light duty applications.

Don

This is very interesting, those 2 frames couldn't be more different! I think that is cool, 2 different ways to get the same result, happiness! Well done guys!

Thanks Brick. Yeah, the two frames are pretty different, huh?

Boy is it good to have CHR back up and running !!


Last Wednesday night we got Don's frame sprayed blue, and it turned out pretty good. However, a couple of stray bugs landed in it, and I got two little runs, so today I decided to wet sand them out , then compound and glaze it. Well, that didn't go so good. I cut through the paint on one corner with the buffer, so I sanded the entire frame with 320 and am going to shoot it all over again tomorrow. I felt like an idiot, but it is a blessing in disquise as the frame is going to be much smoother and better now because of the additional wet sanding I did. It is now as smooth as the proverbial baby's behind.

Here are a couple of pictures of it after we got it sprayed. Hopefully by this time tomorrow PM we will have it and lots of the suspension also in blue.

Don


Ah, what's up with the pictures?????? Coming up "not a valid picture file" Always worked before the crash.

Don and I had the whole day today to get his frame resprayed and also prime and paint some other parts like the front spring, gas tank, steering column, etc. Things were going pretty well, then our shop compressor wouldn't restart. Found we have 220 volts to the motor, but nothing is happening, so tomorrow I will be on the phone with Eaton Compressors to see what's up.

So that the day wouldn't be a wash, we went to Harbor Freight and picked up a 3 hp compressor and that put us back in business. It actually did a pretty good job of keeping up with the spraygun, so for $ 149.00 on sale it wasn't such a bad deal. We will keep it for a back up in case something like this happens again.

But, we did get the frame sprayed and I am so happy that we redid it. Now it looks like it should, nice and smooth and evenly shiny all over. I did the frame and Don sprayed everything else. He really did well for the first time he has ever sprayed anything, and all the parts he did came out fine. Now we can start assembling stuff to the frame after it cures for a day or two.

Here are some pictures of where we ended up tonight. (nice to see the picture thing is back up on the forum )

Don


Monday morning update.........just got off the phone with Eaton Compressors. They are sending a brand new 5 hp motor out today at no charge. Wow, these guys are unbelievable in their customer service and attitude.

Blue and Orange cars are those florida colors or florida state. LOL
Looking good Don
Brad

Originally Posted by BradC

Blue and Orange cars are those florida colors or florida state. LOL
Looking good Don
Brad

Thanks Brad. Maybe we can get seasons passes if we tell them we did those colors on purpose.

We are down to a fun part of the build, bolting stuff on the newly painted frame. There is still a rear axle and some radius rods to paint, and some minor things like that, but for the most part it is coming along pretty well. Got the front spring and axle hung tonight, plus the gas tank, fuel pump and filter. Needed to do some of that to give Don a shot in the arm. He has been doing nothing but spending money, so seeing it start to look like a car was a morale boost for him.

Here is where we ended up tonight. We would like to have the car as a roller by Sunday night, maybe even with the engine and tranny installed.

Don

Don, the Grabber blue looks good on there. Is the body going to be the same color?

What's the latest on your body? Is the paint guy making progress?

Only 7 weeks to Turkey Run!

Thanks. Yep, same color, but in bc/cc. I have to stop by the body shop this morning to see how they are both coming along. It was 3 weeks yesterday that I took them in, and I have tried to stay out of his way and not bug him, but time is running out.

Don

Grrrrrrrrrrr !!!! Just went by the body shop.........they haven't even started on either body yet ! My buddy wasn't there, but I told his partner I wasn't real happy and that I might have to pull them out and make other arrangements. I tried to call Brent on his cell, but he hasn't called me back yet.

BODYSHOPS !!!!!!!!!!!! And this is a guy who I have done a million favors for over the years like getting him all his boat parts at my cost, etc.

Time to have a heart to heart with him today.

Don


He just called me back. Usual BS, lost a painter, working til midnight every night, etc. Told him I am in trouble now and frankly disappointed. He promised to have at least Don's done by this weekend (his needs paint, I can go in primer, I don't care) I also told him I don't want a rush job, but a good one. I sure hope he comes through.

I think sometimes you are better off going to someone who isn't a friend because you get better service and can lean on them more. Really discouraging.

My Son and I just went to the bodyshop and picked up both bodies and took them to another shop. I am really disappointed in someone I thought was a good friend, and for whom I have done countless favors over the years.

They were a little surprised when we showed up with our trailer and said if we left them there they would knock them out this week, but they had their chance........first time shame on them, 2nd time, shame of me. I was not going to trust them again. I had to tell him frankly how I felt, and didn't even say goodbye when we left. He and I are done.

The second shop has the best reputation in the area. When I worked at West Coast Collision it was said by everyone that we were the # 2 shop in the area, and that the shop where we now have our bodies was number one. Good downdraft booths (5) and the price was about what my "buddy" was going to give us a deal on. We told both shops the same thing, we aren't looking for cheap, we want good. Plus, my Son graduated with the owner (we found out after getting there) and they were personal friends. (hope this friendship turns out better than mine ! )

Supposedly, mine will be done next week since it is further along, and Don's will be done the week after. We still have lots of other stuff to do, so that won't put us too far behind. Sure glad I went into the shop today.......God knows if he would have ever called me on his own.

Sorry if the tone of this post is somewhat angry, but I am angry, and disappointed.

Don