Customs Finally starting on the wife’s 56

With a PS pump an AC compressor robbing torque, which a283 doesn't have a lot of.. I'd go with the 350 an a 700r4. I used to ride around in a 59 nomad with a 283. It couldn't peel the skim off of pudding.

 

I guess theses are the kinda gaps these cars have

 

Compared to the cars I have, those gaps are perfect. Hurry up and get it done, momma's waiting!

 

Nice work, that wagon is going to be sweet!!

If you go with the 350, how hard would it be to dress it up as 283? If you ran some stamped steel script valve covers, breather/oil fill in intake, rams horn exhaust manifolds, grind off the unused bosses and numbers, paint AC compressor satin black, and toss on a stock style air cleaner, I would think it would trick most people.

 

It’s already got early or “camel hump” heads. I have an early edelbrock intake with the breather tube. I guess the harmonic balance would be the give away.
I have some early fined valve covers, edelbrock and cal-customs. But I really like the Chevy script.
I think the 56 engines were red. I kinda like that.

 

Yeah, the red looks great, especially with just the few black mechanicals

 

I’ve located a factory air cleaner. Might grab it.
They look cool

 

Inner B-post was soft. Made a new inner lower piece.

Hammer, hand shears and vice grips.

 

Looks good. HRP

 

I like it, I like it. Lemme guess, momma’s got you on a short leash doesn’t she?

 

Anthony - Darn near any Tri 5 that isn't a stock restoration has some type of aftermarket valve covers. I say run the script style. They're so ''square'' that they're cool! Like you resisted the urge

 

darn 16 gauge is fun

 

Nope.
But the more I get done on this one, the closer I get to mine.

 

Anthony, when you hit car's with a hammer's, it look's amazing. When I hit car's with hammer's, it look's like I hit a car with a hammer! (And possibly a shotgun!) I'm jealous, and at the same time, I'm still jealous!!! Your hammer work is absolutely Awesome!!!

 

Thanks.
It’s still a little crude compared to some of the other guys here.
I’m getting back in the “swing” of things. The last piece turned out great.
I haven’t done this type of work in a couple years. I’m a little rusty. But, this is how I grew up doing this. I didn’t have money for parts, had very little tools. Now I have a little money and a few more tools.
I’ve got to do all this again if I ever build my Merc. So I guess this is good practice. My hands have been sore, the wife noticed, I suggested a good planishing hammer would help that

 

I need a couple of those pieces too, thanks for the pictorial, and confidence.

 

Anthony, there was an expression not too long ago.

YOU DA BOMB

 

Just a guy with a hammer.
I got tickled a few minutes ago. Needed to bend something and my 4 foot break is clamped to my flatbed cause I haven’t built a stand for it yet.
Looks like the Beverly Hillbillies fab shop

 

Lower A-post handled.

 

Shout out to my Uncle John. (RIP)
former machinist for the railroad. Made this for me 25-30 years ago.

use it a lot.
Thanks

 

That I like! I'd use the crap out of that.

 

Anthony, I think you are a metal God! Even your cuts are nice and even and close. Your bends are spot on. I wish I had a mentor like you. I can’t wait to see you build that Chevy school bus next.

 

Just a dude with a hammer. There are some guys here much better.
That bus is a while down the road.
Even if I do it.
I’ve got about 4 or 5 in front of that.

 

OH YEAH. you're getting after this, keep posting the forming pics, interesting to see how you approach it.

Tools I've bought specifically for bodywork that I think are worth it:
Spot weld breaker - have one at each shop
Spot welder cutter - totally worth it
Kett shear - worth the money
Air saw - tight spots, nothing else does it
Multiple 4" grinders - cut off wheel, grinding wheel, flat abrasive wheel, wire wheel. Worth it to have all set up and not have to change over.


That punch and form kit is nice. I have a box of pipes, bars, shapes that I use, also a chunk of railroad iron - not as refined as yours. Several pieces of flat bar with different radii with a pipe welded on to put in features.

 

Keep hammering Tony! Nice work!

 

Goes to show you….just can’t be scared to hit stuff. As undeniably talented as Anthony is, anyone can do this stuff, just have to pick up a hammer.

 

It’s just hammers. And a few HF tools.
Everyone needs to see pics and videos of guys building Ferrari bodies in the 50s. Guys with hammers wrestling panels over stumps. All the older exotic or hand built cars Ive ever dug into has one common denominator. Hammer, file and tool marks. Sometimes you might find a faint grid for either a power hammer or English wheel on the inside of panels.
First Lamborghini I ever touched, once you got past a hefty primer, had all kinds of marks in the sheet metal. I was in a shop, probably 20 years old, and we had a damaged Aston Martin. The new nose piece was hand made. Some guy in England pounded out a new half fender and half nose. You could see how it took different pieces to make that part. I learned early on that no matter how expensive or nice the car is, it involved someone swinging a hammer.
I spent the next 15 years building expensive wrecks. Did tons of metal finishing. The rich folks liked me saving their “originality” or I saved all those vin stickers cars were covered in.

Later I got the privilege to work with a talented group of guys. I watched, asked questions, stayed after work and learned all I could.

It’s still hammering. Nothings changed.

 

This floor detail. All hammers.

this is the rough forming stage. It ain’t pretty. Ya have to beat it into submission. But, steel will let ya know if it doesnt want to move.

 

The other thing I’ve learned is to forget about perfection, do a nice job and drive the damn things.