Thread: Bad Ast Astro Van Build

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Yup times three great picture too. Really makes it easy to see how to go about doing stuff like this, makes one aware of mistake posibitlities before actually creating them. I wish more people here would take the time to help people new to metal working and shaping went thru the same effort you and a few other members here are doing on a regular basis. Some of the current threads running here over the last year have gone above and beyond helping us wood workers become metal workers! Thanks again

Got sidetracked a bit Sunday helping out a buddy. He is building a '67 small window C10 and wants the rear window to go up and down. He brought his window and gasket material and we bend up some "L" pieces so he can build the new window channel. Ran them thru the HF 3 in 1 to get the bend and then thru the shrinker\stretcher to get the curve. Took about three hours to get them to a point he can sweeten them up and get his channels made.
http://images59.fotki.com/v1640/phot...MVC002S-vi.jpg


http://images51.fotki.com/v1638/phot...MVC005S-vi.jpg


http://images51.fotki.com/v1638/phot...MVC006S-vi.jpg


This truck is going to be a cool build.

Got a few things done in the last couple of days. I got the tabs welded onto the stab bar and got that mocked up.
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...MVC031S-vi.jpg
[img]https://images12.fotki.com/v1641/photos/5/904975/14233327/MVC027S-vi.jpg
[/img]
https://images52.fotki.com/v1639/pho...MVC032S-vi.jpg
https://images45.fotki.com/v1636/pho...MVC033S-vi.jpg
Mocked up on the stands with bushings.
https://images52.fotki.com/v1639/pho...VC001S3-vi.jpg
https://images45.fotki.com/v1636/pho...VC002S4-vi.jpg
Thanks for watching.
Mark

I got around to ordering the springs for the coil overs this week. Got them thru Speedway, they were on sale and, with free shipping, I saved a bit of cash.
http://images59.fotki.com/v1640/phot...MVC025S-vi.jpg
Mocked up on a shock. I also got the Thrust bearings that go between the spring and lower seat.
http://images52.fotki.com/v1639/phot...MVC026S-vi.jpg
Instead of welding on the brake tabs I decided to go with these bolt on guys. I think this will be a lot cleaner on the frame. As you can see I have them bolted down already.
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...VC011S2-vi.jpg
https://images46.fotki.com/v1637/pho...MVC014S-vi.jpg
I did have an issue with these though. As received the hole for the brake line was to small. I had to drill them out with a 5/8ths bit to get the line to go in.
This was one of the straight tabs I had been using.
https://images45.fotki.com/v1636/pho...MVC020S-vi.jpg
This was the hole size in the new tabs...
https://images12.fotki.com/v1641/pho...MVC019S-vi.jpg
.025 makes a big difference here.
Mark

Nice work and nice new parts. Where did you get the line tabs at?

Hey Ryan, I got the tabs thru Speedway. 9.99 a pair. Removable Brake Line Tabs
Working with Craig at Bowler we have the PCS Shift Controller and Paddles on their way. PCS has downloadable files available so I downloaded an IGES file of the paddles and added them into my Steering Wheel File.
Getting the paddles to work will require a fabbed adapter to go thru the paddles to pick up the steering wheel bolts. No biggie, I have a lot of 2 1/2" alum bar stock to make it out of.
https://images46.fotki.com/v1637/pho...OLUMN13-vi.jpg
With the 2" extension, the .81 thick paddle assembly and the 1/2" thick cover I am moving the steering wheel about 4" in the right direction. This should work well with the moderate set back of the driver seat.
Looking down the column.
https://images51.fotki.com/v1638/pho...COLUMN8-vi.jpg
here is the stack from the passenger side. The little silver part is the adapter I have to make. Everything else I will have.
This remote shifter thing was a bit spendy but it was something I needed to do to get the engine cover cleaned off. Too much stuff going on in too small of an area.
https://images59.fotki.com/v1640/pho...OLUMN14-vi.jpg
Hopefully the PCS stuff will get here in a timely manner.
Mark

Thanks Mark. The PCS stuff is very nice. I've used a couple in diesel conversions.

Cool cad images, nice to be able to make your own stuff

Thanks guys!
Got a big box from PCS yesterday! The parts look great. I'll get pics but I didn't have time last night.
Mott Community College and Back to the Bricks are collaborating on a program they call Hot Rod High. This program allows high school and college students the opportunity to get their hands dirty actually building a car.
I was asked to be one of the mentors in the program and we had a meeting last night. We are working on a '30 Model A 2 door coupe. The body is a pile and the chassis and suspension are from Speedway.
It's pretty cool working with the kids. Some of them know a few things but most of them are clueless. It's nice to be working with kids that are there to actually learn and gain some knowledge.
Mark

Not to many of them out there today

That sounds like an awesome project! That's pretty cool you got asked to mentor it as well. Congrats!It is ridiculous how many school systems have ditched the shop classes. What trades will these kids learn besides how to fly a drone or design a living room set?

Yes, it's good to see the young guys and girls wanting to get their hands dirty working on an old car. Hopefully taking this class will light a fire. We need the younger gen to take over for us someday.
Contents of the boxes that came last week.
The Paddle Shifter Box
http://images54.fotki.com/v1642/phot...MVC016F-vi.jpg
http://images45.fotki.com/v1636/phot...MVC005S-vi.jpg
The Remote Shifter Box.
http://images54.fotki.com/v1642/phot...MVC024F-vi.jpg
http://images59.fotki.com/v1640/phot...MVC020F-vi.jpg
As you can see, the paddles have a circuit board right where I was planning to mount my fabbed adapter. No biggie, The adapter will be a bit different, that's all.
I have it remodeled now and detailed so I can make it on the mill.
Mark

Been a while since I got any reportable work done on the van. Getting sick for a week put a real crimp on my energy level and I am just now getting back to a feeling good point.
Went out today and finished setting up all of the rear stab bar components. Centered the rear housing in the chassis and got all of the links and brackets mocked up. Marked everything for cleaning up the weld areas of paint and broke out the flap disc grinder.
With everything cleaned up I got the welder fired up and welded on the stab bar towers.
http://images40.fotki.com/v992/photo...MVC011F-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v1221/pho...MVC003F-vi.jpg
With those finally in place I set the stab bar back up and got the rear brackets welded on.
http://images46.fotki.com/v1637/phot...MVC005F-vi.jpg
http://images52.fotki.com/v1639/phot...MVC007F-vi.jpg
It all looks good with the links bolted back in.
http://images12.fotki.com/v539/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v1221/pho...MVC014F-vi.jpg
I also did some work on the steering wheel adapter for the PCS shifter set up. Got a chunk of 1/2" aluminum cut out and marked to start making it.
Got a lot done today, thanks for watching.
Mark

Good to see you back at it... good to hear you're feeling better too.

Man what ever is going around sure knocks the crap out of you