That’s a nice stand....normally I would have built my own stand. But with dealing with a house being built, my daily driver is in the shop, and my back up vehicle is now down for a complete brake overhaul....i haven’t had much free time.
I’ve not had a chance to work on the 51 lately. But my good friend Dan Cain hooked me up with this set of valve cover adapters his dad (Ted Cain) made back in the day. They will allow me to mount Y-block Ford/Mercury valve covers to my SBF. Now I need to decide which set to run. I have the Ford stamped cover (pictured below), a set of the Mercury stamped cover, and a smooth set. I also have access to a thunderbird set. Im also considering an aftermarket set with slanted fins.....so many options.
Just found this thread. Looks good. I love a good sheet metal repair thread. Sent from my smartass phone when it wants toThe H.A.M.B. mobile app
Finally moving to the new house...but my new shop has yet to be built. Currently trying to get everything moved out of my little prefab 12x24 building empty so I can get it moved to the new house.
No work progress on the 51...but I did get her moved to the new house...she is in here temporary home in the 2 car garage. Unfortunately the misses won’t let me work on the 51 in the new garage. Just more motivation to get my little shop building moved up here and to get started on building my new shop. I also have my dads roll cage in my garage. It is for his 1st gen. Bronco. I have to clean up his welds and make them look “Pretty” before the cage gets powder coated.
Have you got someone to powder coat that cage. Sent from my smartass phone when it wants toThe H.A.M.B. mobile app
Ok, I know Freddie, I was going to suggest my neighbor he dose a nice job I have some fender skirts and some other shoebox parts if you are looking for anything let me know I may have it.
Well....Since the 51 in the garage of the new house....and I have to walk by it every day...I can’t help but want to work on it. So I started laying out the new floor pan for the passenger side. I got the basic pattern laid out. I’ll get it cut out later this week and start bead rolling it. The passenger side quarter is pretty banged up but the metal is solid (except for the drilled holes). I think I’m going to cut out the panel and use the English wheel to smooth it out....worst case...if that doesn’t work I’ll buy a replacement panel from shoebox central. ....just in case I have to use a replacement panel....does anyone know how high above the wheel opening this panel goes.
I have an extra EMS quarter patch panel, because the company where i bought it, sent a drivers side and i wanted the passengers side. They sent the right one and let me keep the wrong one, because it would be too expensive to send it back to US. Thats great customer service, cant blame them. Anyway, its slightly over 4" with the lip for lapwelder guys. I cut off the lapwelding lip from the panel i used, i dont do lapwelding on spots like this. If you planish the lip straight before welding it, then there's an extra inch for the job.
Thanks for the information Finnrodder. That helps out a lot. I think I’m only going 2” above the wheel well so I should be good.
I got the bead ran on the passenger side floor pan. I still have to add a bend on the left side to connect to the trans tunnel. And I also still need to trim some of the old floor.
I finally got back to work on the 51. I removed the door, then welded in a support brace and started removing the rotted inner and outer rocker panel. Next will be to clean up the body mounts and start test fitting the new rocker panels
Started test fitting the rocker panel this morning. It’s fitting nicely. I have to get the inner rocker fitting correctly then I’ll get everything welded up.
Finished test fitting the inner and outer rocker. Now it was time to prep the 2 to be welded together. 1st I primed the inside of each panel after I had taped off the edges that would be welded together. next i sprayed a rubberized undercoating on the inside of each part parts welded together and finally welded into its new home.
Good progress on your floors. I dug out some of the parts and am making some progress. Found a new set of aluminum covers for those new rockers you just installed. Sent from my LG-LS777 using Tapatalk
Was able to get a little work done on the floor pan this morning before work. Started off by locating the original body mount spacer on the new floor pan and welding it in place. Next was lining up the floor pan and tacking it in. It is looking pretty good...in my opinion...especially for a novice metal fabricator. Lol
Just Scored a set of 52-54 ford fender well lips to grapht on to my shoebox for $3. Someone had drug in an old 4dr to the local scrap yard. Unfortunately there wasn’t a lot left worth saving on it But these fender lips should look great graphed on to my 51
I made friends with the owner of the local scrap as soon as he took over the yard....it really pays to have friends in the right places lol. But the key is to make sure it’s not a one way friendship ship...if he ever calls or needs a haircut after hours or on a day I’m normally closed I make sure to come in.
Got some time in on the 51 today. Did a small patch on the end of the passenger quarter panel. I also got some work done on the rear trunk pan. Ill get some pics up of the progress on it tomorrow. I’m also hitting up a local swap meet tomorrow...hopefully I’ll score some cool stuff.
The Jalopy Journal
