Thread: 1985 Astro V8 "Ole Yellar" Project Van

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I didn't say the game plan for now is to repair the pitted floor pan once I drop the sub frame for the swap making much easier to weld from the bottom.

Doesn't look too bad, Gary. It should be an easy fix.

The hole part of it,I am really thinking I want to flange it so the flange part is to the inside and the patch panel is flush in the wheel well.So I would have to make a template to cut it out.I would need to buy a bead roller.I am guessing flange the patch panel while it's still flat.I don't own a English Wheel either.That is the tough part because they aren't cheap.Even the HP ones which are junk are in the range of $400.So I was thinking through that is the only way to get a nice smooth curve and still not sure if I can curve a flanged panel to drop into the hole tight.

You should be able to form your flanged patch panel with a domed forming hammer http://www.contenti.com/resources/library/hammers.pdf and a sand bag. If you don't want to invest in a forming bag (leather, shot or sand filled) get one of the tubes of sand made to toss in the back of trucks&cars for winter ballast. Instead of investing in a bead roller for such a small piece, you might consider a pair of flanging pliers Blair BL13229 - Blair Sheet Metal Panel Flanging Pliers - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Roger-I don't mind buying a bead roller.I do have enough work on other projects that I should own one and the shop in Buffalo is too far away to drive to just to use that one.Cool thing is we just got done talking about how to reinforce the ones from HF to make them work like they should.Oh,as the saying around here goes,I do own a pair of flange pliers.It seems someone else needed more than I do because they are MIA.So was my 100 cleco's which I just spent about $50. to replace.Grrrr

When I look at the E-Wheels at HP it seems they have alot of slop in the dies.I mean they do move around back and forth alot.I don't know how that effects the pc your working on??.I had heard the main reason why HP E-Wheels where junk was because the way they are built they twist and there again I am not sure how that effects the pc your working on.I do think I have a eye for metal working to pound out a curve,but in the same hand I also think it is very hard to get the same smooth curves you get with a E Wheel.So it isn't beyond the possibility of me buying one because it would get used with all the projects I have to do.