Pat - I've loved your roadster since TRJ article. I had a 27 modified at the time with a Chev 6 in it. Man you're doing some great work!! Keep going with the updates! Rick
View attachment 3262023 I cut off all the mounts and the framing that supports the windshield across the cowl to run my homemade Hallock. After I unchanneled the 29 I decided to change the windshield back to a flat style. I came up with these pieces so the cowl will match the stock windshield frames lower curve. 1/8 flat stock welded together. View attachment 3262020
The Miller built V-16 L-29 Cord front drive prototype. The firewall mounted spare spark plugs gave me the idea to do something similar. Originaly intended for the firewall until I realized it wasn't gonna fit. Ended up using it to fill the empty void of the drivers side door panel. Basic hammerform. Sure this has been covered on here many times before so I won't go into detail.The only thing I can add is after it's roughed in the pick and file and hammer and dolly patients make the difference between a good looking part and a not so good looking part!
I found a good shot of the windshield post being welded together. 1/8 flat steel. Hard to see, but I curved the front and side of the post with a 3 lb sledge before I welded the sheets together to get a slight curve. Fully welded and ground. Side view.
More front end construction shots. The photo above shows where I welded the nose together. Didn't mess with grinding the center, grill cutout coming soon! 4 main pieces then added the frame blisters. Side panel blister just welded to the side panel. Aluminum really is the friendly metal. It's easy to planish and I hammer and dollied the warpage out with no shrinking. If you're on the fence about using it. Just do it! once you get past welding it you can make just about anything with it. After I roughed out the nose I felt it was to short length-wise. So I added an extra 3" strip along the back edge. An added bonus was I pre stepped it where the hood top and sides will meet with the H.F. bead roller before I welded it on. I was sure I would mess the nose up trying to step the back edge. Dash was made with a hammer form also.
Detail shots of how the hood latch works. One hook in front and one in rear. Pointing towards each other to keep the hood centered. On the upper part of the center bell crank I added another rod that goes into the firewall with a knob.
Pat, You are a talented man. I love the car as it was, but I have a feeling I'll like the finished version even better. I have a couple of questions: Would you mind explaining the process you used to form the transmission tunnel trim piece? Also, what drivetrain do you have in it? From my understanding, it's a GMC inline 302. What trans? Thanks for sharing with us. Ed
Thanks! So I got a scrap piece to show you. Bent to about 90deg with the brake. Woodward fab shrinker-stretcher with the stretcher jaws. All the cheap ones work the same. Keep stretching evenly across to get the curve you need. I made a poster board Template of the curve I needed and held it to the trim until it matched. Word of caution, it's better to creep up on the curve than to go too far. Real pain in the ass to undo too much! Then it's filing and sanding to get a nice finish.Engine is a .080 over 235 Chevy 6 with a muncie "short box" 3 speed. Rear axle is a ford truck banjo that had open drive. After my drag racing mishap I built a halibrand q.c. center and safety hubs. I'm building a 54 261 short block with gmc rods,Ross Pistons and Dema Elgin cam to swap out soon.
Hello Pat you have fantastic metal work skills and your ideas are fantastic to you´r the Man and sorry for my bad english
This is a fantastic automobile!! Such great work and attention to detail! I got to be honest, you've given me a much needed inspiration boost. Although I feel like a blind monkey with a hammer most of the time ...
I'm trying to wrap up interior pieces. I couldn't decide on the quarter panel trim. Either upholstered piece that ties into the roll on the bench or aluminum trim to cover the top edge of the inner panel. I decided on aluminum trim. I glued plywood together then cut it to the profile to fit the quarter. I would have it padded and covered to match the seat , still might. Plan b was the trim cover. Starting the bend with a vice and mallet. Further shaping on a piece of track I scored at a job site last week! Bent fully now. Tricky because the quarter panel top is curved and not flat. This step took some time. Giving the outside edge a rolled lip to look finished. Track edge worked great. Filing to find highs and lows. Next is pick and file. Pick end of hammer to raise the lows. I do this on dolly meaning dolly directly behind hammer. I had to repeat this a couple times. Sanding is next. Hand is best but time consuming. 3" grinder with scotch Brite pad can speed things up but it's got be pretty straight. They seem to make high s and lows worse sometimes. Finished trim. Took a while to make in one piece. If I had a edging die on a bead roller that would really speed up the process. I might make the other side in 2 pieces, it's kinda cheating but easier!!
Holy Crap!! This build is cool.The metal work should inspire everyone here. I love handbuilt stuff with a custom flair.Not only functional but very creative and unique. Fedco
Those windshield post are made from flat steel?!? Holy hell man And yes I'm inspired. But I lack the talent to pull anything like that off.
Really like the three eared wing nuts you made for the windshield posts, and the trim pieces around the back of the cockpit. Jeez, I like it all!
Nah,The only way you are gonna get to any point is just do it.You can beat a piece of metal over a rock to get a shape.Inspiration is where it starts. Fedco
Very well said! I am in the process of trying to refine my skills in this area right now. I am lucky in that I have a spiritual guide, and that speeds the process a lot, but in the final analysis, you just gotta get in there and start bending and shaping. Get a big bin of scrap pieces and start hammering. I am a hell of a long ways from Pats level, but I'll sure as hell never get there by sitting back and saying "wish I could do that". Totally 100% agree with Pat about H3003 too, I LOVE working aluminum.