Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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That looks great, Don. I love the dash color, it's what my wife wants on the Plymouth. What color is that?
I've really been enjoying crusing my beater truck, had it out almost evry day lately. I got a piece of birch plywood and stained it for the bed, and added an old spotlight from the boneyard. I figured after selling of parts from the donor car, It cost me about $1700.00. Not counting labor, of course.

The color has a code for a paint mixer which I could get if necessary but really it was just a color I picked out of a chart of about 200 possibilities. The Haskins Body Shop called it "Haskins Merlot"

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Parts are on back order & one joint had to be returned.
So, I used the time this afternoon to make an aluminum housing for a pillow block bearing that will support the steering column at the firewall.



Worked on the dash where the intercooler had to be cut in. Little fiberglass reconfiguring.

ProZ, you can see in my pictures a very small drill press that my wife gave me for Christmas. I recently bought a two-axis moveable vise-stage that you can also see. I would like to occasionally do some some simple milling using slow hand-crank motion of the stage but I do not know where to get a milling bit. I think a 0.25" spiral mill bit should work with slight side pressure on the drill press chuck, at least for aluminum. Can you suggest a source or size for a bit? Maybe a 0.25" diameter bit is too large and I should be looking for a small diameter bit? At present, I usually approach small jobs with the hand held Dremel tool which can really cut but it requires a very steady hand! I am impressed with the precision of the X-Y vise mainly because it holds the position much more steady than I can by hand. Of course this is no CNC mill but with a general purpose bit I could probably carve out a few things, at least from aluminum. I know this setup is just slightly better than a toy but I think I could do some occasional milling with a suitable spiral bit?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

For aluminum I just use a carbide router bit. I did the pillow block housing with a 1/4" carbide 2 flute straight bit. I have a table top drill press/mill that I use occasionally. I use the same bits in it.

For steel I use a 4 flute end mill bit. I get them through the mail from Hemly Tool Supply, Inc. 1-800-445-1068.

Got the back half of the housing cut out today. Now all I need are those back ordered steering column parts.

I got one last thing done this weekend. I pulled the old dash out & used the glove box as a plug to make this mold. Got a couple little places to touch up and then I can make up a couple fiberglass glove boxes to finish off around the intercooler. The door has that imitation leather pattern, & the Camaro logo. They came out O.K. so far.

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

The color has a code for a paint mixer which I could get if necessary but really it was just a color I picked out of a chart of about 200 possibilities. The Haskins Body Shop called it "Haskins Merlot"

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Very slick choice, indeed.

Little steering column mock-up tonight. The Mark Williams quick release hub came today.

Truck is looking great Falcon, everything really came together well. Is it as fun to drive as it looks?

Maybe I shouldn't admit this but I went to a big box store today and bought a couple pipe couplings for column mounts. I turned the inside to size. That required shaving the top half of the threads out. I'll call the threads that are left "Knurling" :lol: :lol: Turned the outside down and left a lip on each side of the clamp to hold it in place. cut it in half so it's got the ''clevite bearing'' thing goin' on. Fits like a glove.

Pro,
You just never stop with amazing me on how you think outside the box!

Originally Posted by brickman

Truck is looking great Falcon, everything really came together well. Is it as fun to drive as it looks?

Just call me Jed Clampit; kind of sounds and rides like an old farm tractor but a blast nonetheless!
Great idea on that column mount, Pro! What's the clamp from?

The clamp is just a hose clamp from Big "R" Little heavier duty than the worm gear type and won't work loose like the worm gear ones do sometimes.

Well the weather is good and the garage is warm so I am in a "Git 'er done" mood until about June 1 when I have to get ready to teach an intense nine week summer course to earn some funds for a top and unholstery in the roadster. I always liked this picture which I copied from the CarNut site BEFORE they locked their pictures. Note the running boards. If anyone knows the owner of this neat roadster I would like to know to maybe compare notes. If my roadster gets to 85% of this apparently real steel original I would be very happy!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder