Picked up some 400 grit PSA paper yesterday, used it this evening to get the tail gate finished to 400 grit, next week we'll wet sand to 600 grit. Nephew Chris came over and helped Kyle and I get the frame off the rotisserie and back on the floor.. With the rotisserie freed up, we now have a new paint fixture... Parts prepped for epoxy primer tomorrow... While I was getting these parts taped off, Kyle started blowing apart the rear end for media blasting..
Today Kyle worked on getting the axle pads welded on.... .....while I was spraying some SPI epoxy.... .....and while I had some epoxy mixed, we poured some inside the tailgate to seal the inner and outer skins .. Axle pads done, then heated the opposite side to counter the weld shrinking... It's real close, just a little more straightening to do... other parts from the booth today.... ....and then sprayed some silver metallic Imron on the A-arms..
No problems painting the rubbing surface of the rotor hats? Sure would save me a lot of taping time if that doesn't cause problems.
The paint wasn't concentrated on that surface, we got it cleaned up today using a 120 grit 3" sanding pad... Getting the front end put together... ....and more blocking and hanging parts in prep for the next round of epoxy... The doors are getting real close to needing wet sanding..
Here's a video taken yesterday using the 36" AFS sander. Note how the sander is grasped and the fact that this promotes letting the sandpaper do the work without "leaning" on it. Applying downward force through your palm to get the job done more quickly runs the risk of deflecting the sander downward at that point, causing low spots...
Well Kyle was mostly on his own tonight as I had some repairs to do on the wife's vehicle.. New U-bolts came in yesterday, they have a pretty good selection on their web site if anyone needs some.... Threads taped off and all the parts media blasted... Then Kyle got the rear torn down for media blasting as well. Blast cabinet just the right size..
Some Hoosier Profile parts showed up for the new wheeling machine.. Joe Andrews does some real nice work..
Getting things ready for the next round of SPI epoxy, here hanging the 9" rear on the multi-purpose rotisserie a-frame.. We had this bare spot after the last time we blocked, and had bumped it a bit with the flat body hammer. Doesn't look like it did much to rectify the issue, let's look further.... Looks like the rear end of the inside bracket is pushing a bit on the skin, no wonder the hammer didn't do much. Time to find the tool for the job, a pair of crimping pliers for stove pipe/ductwork..... That should give us some breathing room, and bumped it again with the hammer. Put the SPI in the paint shaker, should have tapped the lid a bit tighter.. More parts ready for spraying.... After 3 coats of epoxy.... Here's some of the "restraint" methods for painting the small parts.... Here clamps for the tie rod ends are held in a twisted loop.. I think the fenders should be good for wet sanding after this go round: .
Well after the weekend off for the Snowmaggedon, back at more parts prep for the next round of primer.. Kyle did some media blasting on the steering box and other parts while I blocked out the inside of the hood and the hood brace.. Then Kyle worked on degreasing and scuffing the trans...
I started some engine assembly this evening, getting the flex plate bolted on and torqued down, starter installed and checked for clearance, and checked clearances for the header.. Kyle blocked out the doors, it looks like our "adjustment" with the stovepipe crimper pliers did the trick to remove the high spot...
We worked Sunday this past weekend, Kyle got a few more pieces media blasted so we could get some epoxy sprayed.. Then, as I was spraying, Kyle gave the wagon a Scotchbrite scrub with some soapy water to neutralize the soda... Doors moved out of the way.....for now.. Sometimes the part has no holes for securing for paint....
Tonight's update, Headers installed using stainless socket heads.... Trans and driveshaft installed Exhaust installation... Steel donut gaskets.... Exhaust that will be heard but not seen.... Header clearance issues to the steering box... Header clearance tool for tube #3... Drum sander clearance for tube #2... looks like we have some touch up painting to do.. Much better...
Love your project , you are a true craftsman and with a great young man helping you while learning. I too used the SS header bolts and after being heated up from running and retiteing marked the top center and removed one at a time , drilled small hole , then safety wired with SS wire . Got tired of lose bolts and the wire looks ok . Blue
Working on another header clearance issue... Removed the factory carriage bolts, they will be replaced with some grade 8 hex head bolts, and to add more clearance we'll get rid of the nuts inside and use some locking heli-coils.. ....for much better clearance. More parts added....
Well the stainless lock nuts showed up today, so we pulled the third member, cleaned the mounting surfaces, installed a new gasket and torqued things down. We also had taken delivery of the Explorer brake kit that gives us shoes inside the rotor for the parking brake. So we have some Lincoln Versailles parts if anyone needs some... Went digging through the brake hose selection at the local Napa store, Guy Auto Parts. This should work for the rear, front hoses should be here Saturday. Now we need a bracket to anchor the hose end... We came up with this design using 16 gauge CRS, and planned to clamp it under the U-bolts... Now looking at it, I'm not sure I want the U-bolts off the axle housing, and may just cut the ears off and plug weld the bracket to the housing. Thoughts?
Epic. I have enjoyed this build so much. And I hate to comment here, (kind of like a blind man critiquing Michelangelo) but how about some finned rocker arm covers on that engine?
No, I agree with you. She's been ordering chrome with bowties as hard as she can. I've been sending them back whenever I can.
Hey Robert, I still look forward to seeing your posts nearly every day. You have done more for my metal fab capabilities in the past couple years than everything I learned by trial and error over the previous 45 years. Thank you again! As for the brake line bracket, go with you gut instinct. I wouldn't put anything under the U-Bolts either. If the bolts are as tight as they should be they'll crush that 16 gage CRS right out of the sandwich, IMHO.