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Hot Rods Rich's Coupe - a ten year odyssey

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rich B., Nov 10, 2019.

  1. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

  2. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

  3. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    A friend returning my shrinking disk after
    chopping the top on his Chevy Coupe. He’s
    not afraid to tackle anything for the first time!
    Big block powered.
    upload_2019-12-1_5-4-35.jpeg
     
  4. Is that Harry Merkner?
     
    chryslerfan55 and loudbang like this.
  5. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Yes it is! He was having a little trouble with the
    sail panel area and I showed how to use the
    shrinking disk. He does nice work !
     
    chryslerfan55, loudbang and scotty t like this.
  6. I didn’t know him very long, we worked together at #2Qbop for the 8-9 months I was there. He is quite the character, I heard a lot of stories from him.
     
  7. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    He lived near me 20 years ago, we still keep in
    touch. That is actually his second chop, I forgot
    About a 34 Coupe he did back then.
    Rich
     
  8. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Here's some pics showing my cheapo body twirler. I didn't have enough ceiling height
    to tip it up. I used the rolll around cart I made for the body. I would have welded
    extensions on the rear, but I was out of square tube. It was the weekend, so
    I made do with what I had.
    DSC01405.JPG DSC01406.JPG DSC01407.JPG DSC01408.JPG
     
  9. I am amazed by what you can do in your small shop! It’s very well organized and utilized. You’ve seen mine maybe The same size but not organized as well. It is a lot cleaner than when you were here!
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2019
    loudbang and Rich B. like this.
  10. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    one thing for sure ..... rich is always thinking..... :cool:
     
  11. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    It's visible in some of these pics thatI had bolted all the wood body mounts to
    to the body using carriage bolts. It made taking body on , and off frame a lot easier.
    DSC01411.JPG DSC01410.JPG DSC01412.JPG DSC01413.JPG
     
  12. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    This really worked well, and the balance made it one man operation. It's
    hard for me to block vertical panels, so while rolled over I went back over
    the sides of the car with my long boards. Everything was shot with epoxy.
    DSC01419.JPG DSC01421.JPG
     
  13. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    DSC01435.JPG DSC01425.JPG DSC01424.JPG DSC01423.JPG This first pic of the visor is where I used seam sealer all around to stop any migration of water
    while driving in the rain. The other pics show the finish blocked panels. The old gas tank
    and cowel seam was later seam sealed like the visor. I run a strip of masking tape on both
    sides of the seam 1/4" away leaving a 1/2" wide strip. Then I fill the seam, and wipe it
    with a damp rag leaving it very even.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2019
    nunattax, chryslerfan55, OFT and 3 others like this.
  14. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Here's some more pics of the crappy fitting fenders on the pass side.
    DSC01036.JPG 021.JPG DSC01038.JPG DSC01043.JPG DSC01039.JPG DSC01040.JPG
     
    Vic Walter, brEad, mkebaird and 11 others like this.
  15. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Found some pics of the wood body mounts. I had the body off, and on so many times
    I bolted them to the body. I used carriage bolts with the rounded head inside keeping the
    floor as flat as possible.
    DSC01414.JPG DSC01416.JPG DSC01418.JPG
     
    Vic Walter, brEad, mkebaird and 8 others like this.
  16. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,140

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Nice stuff Rich and very creative.
     
    loudbang, Rich B. and Thor1 like this.
  17. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    I have stripped the wood from the body twirler, and will take a break from
    the Coupe for awhile. A friend want's some work done that I can't say no to.

    DSC01438.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2019
  18. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    This is a project I did last summer. A friend of mine was recreating
    a 60's era Chassis Research dragster which was sold in kit forrm back in the day.
    He had done a great job on the chassis, and drive train, and needed a simple
    body of the type in vogue at that time. I had always wanted to try forming
    a dragster body so I agreed to give it a shot. There won't be much metal
    shaping as these are simple bodies, I'm just an amateur at this so it will be
    learning experience.
    I'm using .063 aluminum which is heavier than the .050 commonly used, but
    holds it shape better. The owner isn't worried about this, it's just a fun car
    not a record holder. Not having a radius break I decided to use my slip roll
    2" x 36" rolls. I fabbed an extra large handle to make job easier. I'm only
    rolling an 8" strip of metal to form the body shape.
    DSC00806.JPG d1.JPG
     
  19. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Here I'm finishing fine tuning the middle section. I had already used a 2x4 wrapped in a
    towel to beat on while it was still in the slip roll. I got pretty good at this before the job
    was over.
    d2.JPG
     
  20. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    The owner wanted the firewall seperate from the engine like many cars back then.
    formed a 1/4" firewall from alum. that will be sealed to the engine later.

    I drilled, and tapped the frame for recessed fastners. The first Dzus fastener is visible
    at the top center of chassis hoop. d3.JPG d4.JPG
     
  21. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    I welded a piece of angle to the rear main hoop to mount a Dzus clip at the desired body
    panel height.

    These 2z4's are the hi tech spacers used to set panel height. There is a sample try piece
    laying on the cowel to help visulize the wind screen shape. d5.JPG d7.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2019
  22. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    dam you do nice work!!!!:rolleyes::cool:
     
    scotty t, kidcampbell71 and loudbang like this.
  23. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    Rd Martin is the owner of this little rail. He is
    A real historian of early drag racing. He is currently
    Showing a Dave Crane comp Coupe at several
    Shows around the country. They were great friends.
    Rich you can jump in here any time, and add pics
    Or discuss Cranes history
    upload_2019-12-5_21-11-15.jpeg [ATTACH=full
     
  24. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    quite a few people on the hamb knew david. he was a chracter! a flagman and tech man back in the early days of dragracing and a great historian of the early days. him and i had a lot of long conversations on those early days, and i wish i could have been there with him. his storys will live with me and anybody that really knew him. thanks rich. great thread you have going here, your teaching alot of us patience! will get it done!
     
  25. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    This piece needs the hole cut for the steering shaft, and the cowel shaped for the wind screen.
    d9.JPG
     
  26. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    I have made a wooden buck to shape the cowel wind screen profile.
    The next pic shows the finished piece metal finished to remove hammer marks.
    d10.JPG d10.JPG d12.JPG
     
  27. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    I was going to make the wind screen out of engine turned allum. but changed my mind.
    Notice the Duzs fastener in front of the wind screen. d13.JPG d14.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2019
    brEad, mad mikey, AndersF and 4 others like this.
  28. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    A tool is avable from Summit to counter sink the hole for the Dzus fastner.
    I ordered the weld plates from Summit Sum-G1624. The flush mounted
    fastners Sum-G1640. d15.JPG d16.JPG
     
    mkebaird, mad mikey, Thor1 and 3 others like this.
  29. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    d18.JPG The spring determinds the tension on the body panels I adjust the tension by
    either tighten ,or loosening the grip of the fastener. The tension varies since
    some panels over lap needing a different tension. Bend the spring evenly on both
    sides of the rivet.
    I adjust the spring before welding the plates on, and use a small tab to simulate
    the over lapping panel. It's easy to bend the plates so I do it the vise, and make
    small adjustments on the car. d17.JPG
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2019
    Vic Walter, brEad, mkebaird and 7 others like this.
  30. Rich B.
    Joined: Jan 23, 2008
    Posts: 761

    Rich B.
    Member Emeritus
    from Portage,IN

    d19.JPG This shows how bending tthe plate keeps the finished panel clear of the
    weld, or hanger.
    Mocking up to determine side panel that will have 3 sides attached.
     

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