Finally decided my plan for the frame. I'm going to cut the front frame rails off 8 inches behind the cowl. Build a 2x3 box frame with 15" kick in the rear, and Z it to the last 5 inches of the original front rails... which will lengthen the front end 3" giving me a little breathing room for my Radiator/Fan combo. Not to mention the 4 inches of drop. Here's the Rails... I started on them today.
You can't see it in this pic, but the passenger side door frame is back together, and the chop is all back together on that side. Gotta finish up the drivers side, and I can get the body off the frame, and weld in my new rails. Pulled the old axle out yesterday.... Lookin good already, and the body still has 4" to go down, once the Z'd rails are in. Pix are in reverse order... Wheels just sitting there for effect.
Thanks Kensey! I really planned on having a lot more accomplished than this, but I've been getting a ton of stuff done just the past few days. I really think I'll have it finished up before the end of the summer. Maybe I'll drop by, and visit you, and the LeSabre!
Well, as cool as it was looking mocked up in the last pic, Lot's of work needed to be done to the chassis, so the body needed to come off. Here's my 70 year young father hamming it up for the camera... Pulling the body off single handedly!
Time to do some surgery on the frame.... Man I never realized just how nasty my garage floor was underneath this car! YUCK!
And here are the new frame rails tacked into place with a couple crossmembers tacked in to keep it from moving around after i spent the time to make sure it was square. I'll be boxing the front frame stubs, and angle cutting the Z joint next. Not bad for an afternoon though.
Love this build ! Thanks for posting all the detailed pics as you go. It's a big help for us new guys building cars.
Stay on her Jade and it`ll be done before you know it. Everyone always asks how I get projects done so quickly and I tell them the secret is to do something each night no matter how small and the finished car just sneaks up on you. Looking good. Bill
Bill, That's excellent advice. I was just telling someone how much progress I had been making, by doing just what you said. Thanks!
Man, I just got done reading your build thread..... What an awesome display of fabrication! If mine turns out half as nice, I'll be happy! Thanks for the inspiration!
So, I figgure before I spend too much time buttoning up the front of the frame, I should at least mock up the rear suspension to make sure I don't get too far along, and then realize I need to cut everything back apart. I made a trip to JEG'S today... Nice having them semi local. Planned on picking up a set of ladder bars, and crossmember kit. No dice. Not in stock. I would have to wait till Tomorrow. I didn't want to wait till tomorrow, so I got out the computer, and designed my own. Here's what I've got so far...
My plan is to weld in a 2" aluminum sleeve in the front that will hold a set of urethane bushings, and bolt on the steel axle bracket to the back. I need to get that tacked in crossmember out of the way to see how it looks in place, but it's getting close to bed time... I'll get back at it tomorrow.
I didn't have any 2" OD, 1.5" ID aluminum tubing laying around, but I did have some 2" bar stock. I just bored it out on the lathe, and shaved the OD a bit so it fit just right into the mating holes.
And here's the steel axle brackets just out of the mill. I can't complain, but I sure wish I had access to a water jet.
And here they are bolted together, and sort of sitting in place. Energy Suspension urethane bushings installed. Next step will be a crossmember...
All told these ladder bars cost me less than $50. $30 for the Grade 8 hardware, and $17 for the Energy Suspension bushings. Not too bad! Of course I snagged the Aluminum, and Steel plate from the Drop bin at work!
Going to the Springfield Cars, and Parts swap meet this weekend... Maybe I'll find a deal on some coil overs. Speaking of good deals, I picked up this intake, and pair of Rochester "B"s. Thinking about making adapters, and putting the carbs on my flathead. What the heck, I got the whole setup for... wait for it.... FREE!!
The swapmeet turned out to be really good. For less than $200, I picked up the Crossmember with the hoop, the Panhard bar, and hardware, AND... a set of nice used KONI adjustable coilovers. The pair of coilovers I stole for....$45!!!! Gotta get the panhard welded in, and make some brackets, and a crossmember for the shocks. They'are just sitting there clamped in place to look pretty at the moment. Not having ANY luck finding a T5 for less than $500... which is ridiculous. I remember when you could pick those things up all day long for $100. Damn hotrodders driving the price up.
Working on the Hotrod at lunchtime. Designed an upper shock bracket that will give me up to 45 degrees of lean. I should be able to dial in my effective spring rate for optimal ride quality.
Hey Jade! I spied two T5 transmissions there Thursday afternoon for $250 each. Didn`t know you needed one. I snagged one with a standard speedo for Mel`s `42 Coupe. Sure wakes up a flattie. Bill
I think Mel would fight you for it... The later electronic speedo transmissions are more plentiful and are getting about the same money but require a tail shaft change I`m told. Anyone changed one over?