Alright it worked. Gorilla fisted it in the vice and got my 90* bend sorted out and finished. It’s got a wider radius than the other side but I can live with it. stuck the immediate flat section after the bends in the vice to flatten a bit and it all lays nice and flat now
Marked more or less the same spot on both sides for a clamping hole. Because the bends are slightly different the head of the drill couldn’t clear exactly the same spot but it’s close. And it’s just going to be pulling it together so it doesn’t matter if it’s slightly different. plan is to buy small carriage bolts and then drill up to size and file the square into the strap. If that seems like to much hassle once I get in there plan B is a low profile button head Allen bolt. The head will land behind the plate so I want it to be as low as I can get away with. shops tight so I had to space it in the vice with a wood block so I could... stick the other end threw the window haha
Clamped the plate to the first bracket with the edges matched up and leaned the whole thing back 50* like my mock up on page... I think 46. when I mocked it up with no straps/bracket I had it laying on the spreader bar about as low as I could go with out the plate over hanging. It’s probably going to take some sneaking up to it and mocking it up on the car to get just right but this is pretty close. Don’t think the plates are perfectly flat and I have not ruled out curving the bottom edge down to wrap the bar either. gonna find a “safe” long distance I can loop them off/ apart then I’ll mock both straps and the plate up together on the extra pipe. From there I’ll drill for the top bolts and start modifying the plate light to sit vertically closer to the plate and further back so the light isn’t hanging out from the face of the plate so much. still fun sure if I’m going to try to pry these open and push it over the spreader bar or cut the end of the bar free and slide them over the end while I’m tweaking some bar details. stay tuned I guess
You can make the hole square by heating the bar and driving something square into the hole. The tapered square shaft of a center punch works well. If it goes part way or even all the way through it it really doesn't matter. You may need someone to hold the other end while you hammer into a slot between the vise jaws.
That's a slick mount setup. I know it would likely be more work but I'd think sliding the mounts over the end of the spreader would go better than trying to spread them and slip over. Might not want to go back to the nice round shape you have them in now. Sent from my SM-G781V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Cut them all cut up tonight and was pleasantly surprised at how close shape wise they are to each other. I made them about an inch longer than I think they need to be so I can dial it in and trim them later basically it will lay out like this the bottom strap I’m holding will become an exhaust hanger/brace that holds the tail pipes together and then mounts off the back of the spreader bar. with the strap going side to side at the top it lets me put the license plate light where ever I want vertically and front to back as it feels like it stands way to tall and way far forward just bolted to the back of the plate. Should space it back 1/4 and I suppose I could add more thickness should it need to be more. This is roughly how I want the light to land. I’ll slide them both over the round tube and mock it all up, mark it, trim drill and see what I’ve got !
Steel is Real...that looks great!!...Slam Dunk...Good Day!!...no fouling on the light but close means max light to plate... Interesting the plate only has top holes...by design Montana is where my former A Coupe came from...
Steels cheaper than wood right now I bet...that's one of the cheaper parts of a build and metal bar is is available in small quantities nowadays...and good to the last drop...I repurpose metal and scrapyards were they have metal stock can be interesting...some call it junk...I call it treasure...
Yeah I made a list and went and bought all my Metal stock for the year a couple months ago after I noticed the price had not stopped climbing. Should be good for a good amount of projects before I need anything else. Well, hopefully anyhow
Is this for the rear Tim? I think you are overthinking things. You made a nice piece, finish it up and call it done.
Yup it’s for the rear. I’ve had this figured out for over a year just haven’t had time to actually make it till recent minutes and late nights. Need to make a few holes bigger and it’s there I think I may replace the spreader bar with new metal though. Noticed last night that the stock one has an open seam side to side on the under side. By the time I dick with cleaning it up and tweaking i could probably just make a brand new one
Got the holes knocked up to size and loosely bolted together! You can see in the second and third photo how far up the light would stick as is and how thick it is. It looks like an after thought and doesn’t fit visually so I changed it. I also decided to bring it all in tighter because of the angle I will have the plate leaned at. With it hanging far above the plate it would likely foul on the back of the body.
As far as over thinking things. I think it’s more that I over post small bits and thoughts. Partially because I enjoy the “standing around the garage” bouncing ideas back and forth, and partially because it’s me taking notes. Way easier to reference this thread than trying to find my notes even if I did get them all in the same note book. that’s why I add photos that include parts numbers and etc. my process does generally involve a lot of options and thinking and then ultimately finding the simplest solution. I need things to function correctly, look correct, and be easily serviceable. I’m not really ok sacrificing any of those so I do generally start with a convoluted plan before I find the easy simple answer. so I guess maybe I’m making it complicated or “over thinking it” but I’m just making sure it ticks all the boxes,. It’s not wavering, being insecure in the process or trying to make it more work than it has to be. I’m just working threw the steps out loud where people can read it. to be fair, I’m very OCD so my level of thinking could be over thinking for a lot of people. and having to sneak work in in 5-10 minute increments does leave a lot more time to think and ponder than work. I’m not stressing over anything. It’s just a hot rod. but I talk way to much shit to not be very intentional with what I’m doing haha
I'm not hating where it's at, but can see it hitting the body. What about a slight bend in the light backing plate at the edge of the license plate to bend the light "forward" or "down" a bit?
Yeah it’ll need fine tuned once it’s on the car. It’s all pretty tight end to end! Getting closer though, think I’m going to aim for two more years til’ driving. Need to pick a date
I think it’s great to see his process. And see where his thinking lies. Plus it’s fun to have the banter on anything and all things hotrod Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You did a nice job getting them so close to a perfect match using two different methods of getting them bent.
Having spent a couple hrs in your chair overthinking with ya. I think I'm the same or similar, but I always just called it thinking outloud. Also pic 2 posts above.... I think you might need to sharpen your scissors if you want them to work right. Sent from my SM-G781V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Filled the edges flat and even then rounded the corners. Need to buy the right hardware and paint them and it’s done.
The bolts that hold the plate on are stainless with a slot head. The idea for the light bracket and bottom bolt are flat head Allen bolts. I’ve seen a couple different variations. I’ll ha e to see what I can turn up. I just want something that will lay under the plate with out pushing it out much
The Jalopy Journal
