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1973 Gremlin Project.... "The Demise of Sanity" |
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BrotherBamc 
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Joined: Jan/22/2009 Location: Lewiston Status: Offline Points: 2248 |
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 Posted: Apr/30/2018 at 11:48pm |
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Let the fun begin... 
This is a mess... Maybe I should try a flat piece first..  Oh... that's how it works...  It's a work out with 18 gauge but it's do able. I think with a little more practice and make a pattern this shouldn't be "too hard".. Right..???   |
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farna
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Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19675 |
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Posted: May/01/2018 at 6:19am |
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Try 20 gauge next time. Modern 20 gauge is just as strong as the old 70s 18 gauge, maybe stronger. Those new 69 Camaro bodies (they still being made?) are actually a bit lighter than the originals yet stronger due to a bit lighter gauge, but better quality, steel being used.
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Frank Swygert
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BrotherBamc
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Posted: May/01/2018 at 11:08pm |
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Thanks Frank.. I might try that when I have the time. The 14 hour days of spring planting are putting a hamper on things right now. More worried about welding then anything. I would think that the lighter gauge steel would or might be a little bit more difficult to weld... And we've all seen my welding skills...
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farna
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Posted: May/02/2018 at 6:02am |
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Not that much difference. Just turn the welder down a bit and don't weld as long a bead to prevent warping. I usually weld about 1/2" then skip 3-4", weld another half inch or so, skip, etc. If the weld is long enough the first has cooled down before you get back to it and repeat. If not, take a break before starting again.
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Frank Swygert
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BrotherBamc
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Posted: May/10/2018 at 11:24pm |
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Purchased a 30 inch bench brake and made a little progress tonight. Not a lot, but progress is progress...!!!    The "Battle's" continue on...
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BrotherBamc
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Posted: May/21/2018 at 11:46pm |
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What's the old saying...??? Almost only counts in... Horse shoes, hand grenade's and small nuclear bombs... ????   Have the curve the right way this way...  But not this way... I don't like it. It's too straight to my eye. The red line is a visual to me as I need to try to make this have more of a curve. But I am not sure how to make it... And I don't think that the 90 degree bend is sharp enough. Or should I say have a sharp enough corner or edge... I don't think that the bench brake makes a very distinct or sharp enough edge... Need to work on that also... WITH A HAMMER...!!!  Needless to say, I cut it out and have to start over...  Call it the "learning curve"...
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farna
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Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19675 |
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Posted: May/22/2018 at 6:15am |
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A little hammer work in the center of the curve and you'd probably have been able to get both the curve and sharpness... closer. "Close enough" is relative, but in manufacturing that's usually what you get. Things like McPherson struts. They are just "close enough" for mass produced front suspension, but quick to install as an assembly, and fewer moving parts. Remember, no one is going to get on their hands and knees and inspect that area. While striving for perfection is a noble goal, you'll be at it forever. Once painted it will show even less. So do the best you can, but keep it within reason... not "perfect". You see a lot right there a few inches away that no one will ever notice 2-3 feet away, and will probably never be that close to it. The guy putting tires on might see it, but doesn't care enough to notice...
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Frank Swygert
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BrotherBamc
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Posted: Jun/01/2018 at 12:12am |
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Close enough... Between work and more work there hasn't been much able time for this. But I have been able to score some nice parts for the motor because of all the work. But, this is what I have got so far... I started at the top and I wasn't too happy with the results, but I trudged on. Second piece fit well...  And I was able to get the third piece to fit nicely also.  I didn't like the very bottom of the first piece I put in. So I cut that out and made a new piece.  I still need to do some hammer work to get the curve that I am trying to get right. No welding until I can get the curve that I am seeking as close as I possibly can get it.  I see now why metal fabricators get what they get for what they do. This has not been an easy task and I am glad that this part of the restoration is coming to an end. 3/4 of my sheet metal has gone in the recycle bucket.. This weekend plans are to mock up the rear end so I can accurately find where the torque links will go through the frame.
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BrotherBamc
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Posted: Jun/23/2018 at 11:45am |
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Got this big chunk of steel from Easydean a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Dean..!!! Did a little research and I was worried that it was the wrong one as this might of been one from the later production(s) and wouldn't be either deep enough or one made for a Chebby…  While I was cleaning off all the old powder coating I found this number... #1540 I had a new block plate made as the one that I got with was warped I measured the depth and it's 8 inches. Good to go...!!!  Sand blasted and painted engine color. Now the trick is to line it up and make it concentric. Hopefully that won't turn into a major project.  Next part of the project is to cut this up and make it fit. It's off of a Spirit. I threw all that other stuff I did in the recycle bucket. I wasn't happy with the way it was looking or fitting.  |
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farna
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Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19675 |
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Posted: Jun/23/2018 at 3:19pm |
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Well, at least you learned a bit about sheet metal fab and welding!!
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Frank Swygert
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