Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Originally Posted by cffisher

I'll be glad when they get these stones out.

Hey i've felt your pain (5 times) Had lithotripsy last time, pee'd gravel for a few day's but at least it was painless. If anyone out there has never had one thank God right now .

Thats what there going to do the 22nd (lithotripsy) Last time they had to go in and break them up took two trips to the hospital. O joy O joy.

What a great Christmas present.

Ok, you guys can't call me a slacker anymore. It's after 3 AM, and I just got in from helping Dan build Don's frame. We started about 2 this afternoon, and I am really feeling that 13 hours of lifting heavy pieces of steel.

We laid out the pieces we had cut last week, and got the rear kickups welded up, then moved on to the side rails. Here are a couple of pictures of that part of the build.

After that we dragged out the frame jig (thing must weigh 300 lbs ) and clamped the frame to it. We got all the side rails welded up.

Dan wanted to try a new way to mount the front crossmember. He had seen a guy on the HAMB do it this way, and the feeling was you got a better weld because you do it not only on the inside portion of the frame, but on the outside too. So, instead of just punching a 3 inch hole through the inside wall of the frame rails, you go all the way through. Then you cut a round plate, the exact diameter of your tube crossmember, and weld that plate to the crossmember sort of like a cap. Once that is done you slide the entire assembly into the frame, flush with the outside of the frame rails, and fully weld it at that point.

Here are some pictures of that process.

Then you bend the top and bottom pieces around the front of the tube crossmember, and weld it all together. With a little grinding you never know that portion of the siderail was cut out. After seeing it done, I have to admit it does give you a much stronger frame, because both the inside and outside rails are welded solid.

Here are some final pictures of what we ended up with. Dan and I are going over after work this week and finish the front perch, rear coil over mounts, etc. and set it up on wheels. I am going to call Coker Tire Monday, and start inquiring about some chrome reverse wheels and whitewall tires. We figure if we get him the wheels and tires it will get the theme of the car started, and once he sees them on there he hopefully will like that look. If not, I will have some wheels and tires for my next project.

Don

Looks good!

Thanks. I think Don is going to be surprised when he sees it. Dan really is doing a nice job on it for him.

Well, just grabbed a shower and late night snack, time to hit the hay. Glad tomorrow is Sunday, and I can sleep in. These late night thrashes are a killer.

Don

Perfect welds.

Thanks, I wish I could weld like he does.


Tonight we went to the shop and held Christmas a few days early for Don. He told us he was going to go over there after work, and do some things to the T. As far as he knew, he still was using the old frame, so Dan and I had to make a decision. We beat him over there and surprised him with the new frame, and some of the parts that came in today from Speedway.

The three of us decided to hang the front end, and while Dan was welding on the front perch, Don and I bolted the radius rods and front spring on the axle. Then we welded up the rear radius rod brackets, after dialing in about 3 degrees to the front end. Chevy front axles like about a 4 degree king pin inclination, so we set it at about 3, figuring the weight of motor, etc will set it down another degree or so. We have enough adjustment in the rod ends to lose or gain a few more degrees, and we figure we are close enough for now.

Saturday I am going to dismantle the old frame mock up, and get us ready to hang the rear axle. These T kits are the best. Both Dan and I said if we would have built one of these instead of our current projects, we could have been on the road in about 6 months. Everything is just going together like an erector set.

Here are some pictures of tonights progress.

Don

Nice project and good progress. It is great from a fathers standpoint that you get to work with your boys on a project that all are interested in. Good deal Don

Last night was like old times Charlie. Since Don got married last year, we rarely get to see him, so it was really nice for the 3 of us to be able to spend some time together again . Maybe now that he has this car there to work on we can get to do this a lot more often. I hope so.


What is the old song, "Those wedding bells are breaking up that old gang of mine."

Don

Yeah
Its hard to let go. All you can do is hope you did the right things while they were coming up. A new ride should spark some interest

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

What is the old song, "Those wedding bells are breaking up that old gang of mine."

Don

That's as may be. Also be aware of:
"Lord help the mister
who comes between me and my sister,
and Lord help the sister (or brother or father)
who comes between me and my man! (Or wife!)

Dang! I'm showing my age!

That car is looking a right treat Don, you're all doing a terrific job, and I have found it fascinating to follow your projects. I have also learnt a lot.
Thank-you.

johnboy

We held our family Christmas last night at Don's house, so that freed Dan and I to go to the shop all day today. Well, not actually ALL DAY, because we slept in and got over there early in the afternoon. He and I never get a chance to sleep in like that, so it was kind of a treat.

When we did get to the shop we started messing around with Don's T, and got so deep into it that Dan ended up giving up his day to play with his TIG welder, and instead we worked on Don's car all day. I felt bad, because time just slipped away, and before we knew it, we had spent the whole day. Sorry Dan, next time you go over there I will stay away and leave you time for yourself.

But, we did get the rear axle all hung, including the coilovers, radius rods, and panhard. I repossessed my slicks, because Don was getting too comfortable with them , but I did pull the rear tires off of my '27 for him to use as mockups. The backspacing on my wheels are too far in, but at least it is now resting or back tires, with NO JACKSTANDS. That is always a milestone, isn't it.

Don was spending the day with his family, so he has no idea that we got this done for him. Should be a surprise when he gets to the shop some day this week. Next step is to get his spindles and front wheels and tires on (looks like I will be loaning him my '39 Dodge front tires for this part of the mockup. After that we can put in his engine mount crossmember and then build a crossmember for the transmission.

Here are some shots of what we got done today. This week after work I plan on working on MY T for a change. Otherwise it will be another year with no running hot rod.

Don