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RPU tunnel of love & hump pics

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by dodgerodder, Jul 29, 2008.

  1. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    Well I got one more hurdle jumped in getting the rpu body done. I had to get the tunnel & tranny hump done. I was really dreading building the hump, for lots of reasons. #1 reason is that I am not Fay Butler by any stretch of the imagination-sheetmetal fab work is one of my weak areas for sure. Plus the hump had to be pretty big because the tranny is pretty high up in the body due to a lower ride height-here's what I have to cover:
    [​IMG]

    So I decided to make a form out of 3/16" solid rod to skin with sheetmetal. It is easy enough to bend with a little muscle. Here's what I ended up with-not shown are the final pieces to join the hump to the firewall:
    [​IMG]

    Then start skinning.........piece by piece, we cut them out & tacked them to the form:
    [​IMG]

    And after what seemed like FOREVER, it was all skinned & tacked in place, ready to do 1,782,175 feet of welding:
    [​IMG]

    After what seemed like 8 days of grinding, I swore I would never do this again, but I had a hump, and tunnel....It will need a skim of filler to finish it off, but all said & done it is acceptable:
    [​IMG]

    I also finished welding the seat mount crossmembers into the subframe, & bolted the front seat mount risers that I made to the subframe so the seat mounting is all done too. So it was slow progress, but still progress. All I really have left for interior fab work is floor panels & minor stuff like an under dash rail for a steering column support, some bracing to the master cylinder mount, etc etc.....One of these years I might be done:p Thanks for looking!
    Dan
    :
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2008
  2. www.acerodshop.com
    Joined: Jul 29, 2008
    Posts: 5

    www.acerodshop.com
    Member

    Looks bad ass. I think it was definately worth the time. -Amos
     
  3. fuzzy bunny
    Joined: Feb 28, 2007
    Posts: 448

    fuzzy bunny
    Member

    That looks killer!
     
  4. llonning
    Joined: Nov 17, 2007
    Posts: 681

    llonning
    Member

    Dodgerodder, I have read everything on this build. Simply amazing!! The only problem I would have, would be getting in and out. I hope my PU will look some where's near close to what you have done with this. Keep up the good work!!! Looking forward to when it is done.
     

  5. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,418

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    dam nice..you sure you dont wanna make another one?..sure?
     
  6. 30roadster
    Joined: Aug 19, 2003
    Posts: 1,793

    30roadster
    Member

    Your not serious about your weak area being sheet metal work are you? ...good grief your a friggin pro! WOW!
    I have great ideas for my tunnel now.....but I doubt i'll be showing pictures of mine after your post! :D
    Really nice job!
     
  7. racemad55
    Joined: Dec 14, 2005
    Posts: 1,149

    racemad55
    Member

    You are a craftsman!
     
  8. chaddilac
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,021

    chaddilac
    Member

    I was just wondering how I was going to tackle mine... glad I let you pave the way!!:D

    Very nice job!!!
     
  9. Skirv
    Joined: Jul 5, 2006
    Posts: 1,183

    Skirv
    Member

    That's looks really nice Dan!!! I can't wait to see that thing in person.
     
  10. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    Thanks a tons guys, I appreciate it!


    Yeah, it is a little tricky to get in & out of-should be even more fun when the top is on..........
    btw, what are you building for a PU? Hope to see some pics soon, I'd love a pickup at some point, maybe another ten years & I'll have the energy hehe

    Oh, I am sure. Good lord, I said it about 1000 times while I was doing this-"there must be an easier way.....":eek:

    Thanks man, and believe me, I am dead serious! I wish I had the ability to form one with a slip roll or e-wheel, but I don't own either, let alone know how to use them.....

    Please do show pics! If it wasn't for people showing pics of their progress I probably wouldn't have tried lots of things

    Bill, thanks man! I hope I have it drivable in some form for Daytona this year. I will somehow, I really want to finally drive the freaking thing at some point......

    Hey, I hear vicious rumors that you have some really cool things going on with your coupe-don't hold back now.......................
     
  11. 29paul
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 267

    29paul
    Member

    Fab work is your weak area not from what I see looks good.
     
  12. 54chevy4door
    Joined: Oct 9, 2006
    Posts: 26

    54chevy4door
    Member

    So can you still see the skeleton from underneath? or did you remove it?
     
  13. Toast
    Joined: Jan 6, 2007
    Posts: 3,885

    Toast
    Member
    from Jenks, OK

    I am just starting to do my Hump, Now no mater what I do it will look like Crap next to that! VERY NICE!
     
  14. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    Thanks again guys. It's definitely not a piece of art, but it will work!

    54, the skeleton stays. Each welded seam is right on top of the wire, so it all gets welded together. It makes is nice in a way though, because it acts as a backer for the butt weld, and lets you burn it into the solid bar with no fear of burning thru the sheetmetal. It's a little(ok, a lot) time consuming but pretty idiot proof
     
  15. stretch 1320
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 1,861

    stretch 1320
    Member

    Looks really nice from here dude!
     
  16. Dirty2
    Joined: Jun 13, 2004
    Posts: 8,903

    Dirty2
    Member

    Very nice and well worth it !
     
  17. scootermcrad
    Joined: Sep 20, 2005
    Posts: 12,382

    scootermcrad
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    FINALLY!!! JEEESH!!! I was WONDERING what the hell you were up to!!! Looks fantastic, as always man!!
     
  18. llonning
    Joined: Nov 17, 2007
    Posts: 681

    llonning
    Member

    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244830

    Here are some photos when we got it home. I have it stripped down to nothing at the moment.

    I have a question though. Did you condsider having it removable? I just like to think ahead on things (somtimes too damn far and complicate what I want to do).
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2008
  19. vexner
    Joined: Dec 11, 2006
    Posts: 126

    vexner
    Member

    Very nice welding what a clean job!How much room is there for your feet?
     
  20. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    Thanks guys! Like a friend once told me, "sometimes good enough is good enough":p

    Hey llonning, I love your truck, that is a great start! I would be very tempted to keep it full fendered too. I did think about making it removable, but there would really be no benefit though-there's really nothing there that I would need access to. So for once I tried not to over think it, and just get it done. Post up progress pics as you go, that's a great truck.

    vexner, it looks tight, but it's actually comfy for me. It's really one of those "it is what it is" kind of things. The tranny can't be mounted lower because of ride height, so you make the best of what you have & work with it. But even with the boots on that I work in, I fit in there fine, with plenty of foot room
     
  21. Florian
    Joined: Jul 29, 2007
    Posts: 219

    Florian
    Member

    very clean work man. respect
     
  22. VNCduke
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 659

    VNCduke
    Member
    from Washougal

    shit, theres some really top notch fabrication being done on here lately. keep up the good work. you just inspired me to be less of a lazy ass with metalwork hahaha
     
  23. hemifarris
    Joined: Sep 30, 2005
    Posts: 2,321

    hemifarris
    Member

  24. looks killer dan..
     
  25. GizmoJoe
    Joined: Jul 18, 2007
    Posts: 1,299

    GizmoJoe
    Member

    Hey Dan.
    As usual, you do great work... and prove you have a lot of patience!
    Yes, the wire-forming is time consuming but, as you see, it has it's place and adds a lot of strength to the piece when you leave it in or helps you repeat the piece if you don't weld directly to it.
    Ever thought of building an English wheel and give it a try? Just watch the thumbs! ;)
    I threw one together out of scrap I had around and some heavy-duty casters with needle bearings (7" top wheel and 3" anvils I ground to shape). It's butt ugly (round and square tubing, any old sizes that I had) but it works.
    I work with little to no money and am not too proud to have a crappy looking tool if it does the job.
    Next I'm going to make it convertible to a plannishing hammer.
    I can only imagine the projects you'd turn out if you had the same confidence in sheet metal as you do in your other fabbing skills.
    Joe
     
  26. LeadSledMerc
    Joined: Nov 29, 2003
    Posts: 4,105

    LeadSledMerc
    Member

    Real nice, Dan...thanks for the update.
     
  27. Fish Tank
    Joined: May 22, 2008
    Posts: 550

    Fish Tank

    For those that love metal work, yours is absolute porn.;)


     
  28. llonning
    Joined: Nov 17, 2007
    Posts: 681

    llonning
    Member

    dodgerodder, I appreciate that! I will be keeping the fenders. I would be further along, but the power company insisted that I bury the wiring going to my barn. Took too long. Also took the money for the project with it for a while. Keep going it really looks good!
     
  29. bigdreamsnobux
    Joined: Oct 6, 2005
    Posts: 222

    bigdreamsnobux
    Member

    Uh... wow. I just used some sheetmetal and my leg for 'mock' purposes. You inspired me for my bracing, think I will do the same just in reverse order.

    Great job....
     
  30. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    Joe, I would love to spend some time to learn to use an e-wheel. Post up pics of yours if you can, I love home-made tools! One of these days(or years) I'll get better with the sheetmetal thing......:eek:

    Wow, that really came out super! I wish I could have done mine that way, it just had to be to damn big on my car.....

    Your car is looking great man, keep up the great work!

    Keith, what's up! Thanks a ton. Speaking of you, I was just looking through the Streetrodder that you were featured in, that was really cool! How much for an autograph-do you offer an Alliance discount?:p
    I hope you are having fun with the car, it looks great

    For absolute porn I prefer Jenna Jameson............
    Here is a picture she sent me proving that she feels the same way about me though:
    [​IMG]


    I am very flattered at her obvious feelings about me:p

    Seriously though-thanks!

    I know what you mean. Sometimes the simple things turn out to be not so simple......

    Post progress as you go though-the truck is cool!

    I wished that I used my "english knee" about 1/2 way through haha, but it ended up working out ok in the end




    .
     

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