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

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Looks great so far Matt! Just a suggestion...Before you start doing a lot of bracing and crossmember buildin, might want to make sure the frame is all squared up by measuring in an X fashion from corner to corner...easier to tweak it around a bit now then when more pieces are welded in... Once you get everything square, use some small pieces to make a brace for each corner and attach them with some good, solid tacks...leave them on till you have at least a couple of the crossmembers put in....

Will do.. wouldn't be cool if it dog tracked going down the road

Originally Posted by pro70z28

I've been runnin' the lathe off & on the last few days & got the V-Band clamp flanges done.



Assembled and ready to TIG together



one more check to make sure everything fits like it should.

Looks good. that should hold good

Originally Posted by Matt167

Will do.. wouldn't be cool if it dog tracked going down the road

All it takes is a 10" to 12" piece tacked on each rail at a corner to hold things in place till all the permanent bracing and crossmembers are in.... Also, don't get in a hurry welding anything solid!!!! I seldom finish welding anything till the majority of the structural pieces are all in place and I can brace and clamp everything to hold it in place for the final welding. Even then you have to scatter your welds around to different areas so that you don't get too much heat and start warping things..... Learned all that the hard way!!!!!

I'll do that. I also plan on using some 1x1x11ga square tubing right near the rear kickup and on the rear kickup, welded flush for extra support under the rear floor and bed. I'm still trying to figure out is how many inch drop my trans crossmember needs to be.. the frame was built as a longer version of the Spirit industries T chassis ( the plans are free on there site ), but I'm going to use speedway's tubular crossmembers, because Spirit has a huge bulky trans crossmember, an seperate motormounts. I'll get 2 tubular crossmembers and there cheaper anyway. just peice of mind having the full crossmember in the front.

Good looking frame, Matt. Keep the progress pics comin.

Those flanges are too cool, Pro. Do you custom make parts to sell? You could make a mint with quality like that.

I took the ice cream truck for a shakedown cruise before I started tearing it down. It did OK but developed a bad miss; I pulled the valvecover and found a mangled pushrod. I guess the valve stuck so it looks like a V8 is in order. I'll have to see what I can get a good deal on that's running with a good transmission. Maybe a 472 Caddy, big Ford or Mopar; just have to see what's on Craigslist for a good price. No SBC on this one.

Originally Posted by falconvan

. Maybe a 472 Caddy.

THIS one may still be available.

Thanks Joe, I'll look into that!

Looks like there's plenty of room in here for a bigger engine!. Here's what happened to the valvetrain. Weird; it had good oil pressure and sounded good. I guess sitting around for so long without being started.

Oh yeah Falcon maybe think of 2 big blockes in there all coupled together. I can also see a section in this truck tapered down toward the front bad machine .

Sounds good; it'd make for a wild looking holeshot, for sure.

Did a bit of work on the 'maro.... Lowering the car so to keep the suspension where it belongs in respect to the geometry I had to raise the height of the upper mount and do some reinforcing as well...Besides the upper mount for the strut it will be the upper seat for the coil over.... Also added some 11ga. plates where the front engine plate will be mounted, and a small plate on the back for welding in a tube from the bar under the dash to the strut tower.... Just that little stuff that takes you all day and it doesn't look like you did anything!!!! Oh yeah, my latest idea on a dash--still subject to change...

Cool headers, Dave!

Originally Posted by falconvan

Cool headers, Dave!

Thanks, I have to build them.....Would you believe nobody lists fenderwell exit headers for an '82 maro with the engine setback a bit?????