Projects winter project - "so let's chop a 40 coupe (and fab everything else possible...)

VERY cool!!!

 

Hey guys here's a months update.
It has been slow going,
but there has been some progress.
Most of this work was done a couple hours saturday morning,
than a couple hours sunday night,
over the past month.
Better than nothing though!

The last big holes are all in the back,
around the wheel well area.

First was to make a little portion of subrail to round the corner.

A template was made and a quick shot through the hand crank bead roller.

Both sides were amazingly similar.
Not exact but within a quarter inch.

I couldn't resist slopping some leftover epoxy paint from another project.
Had to be careful not to cover the weld seams which I'll do later.

That was the easy one.
The front holes were going to be tough,
as there is a more radical bend going on.

A small transition piece was beat out to flatten out the main panel.

Yeah I could have made it one piece maybe but it would have taken too many tries.

While it's not the prettiest work,
the holes were finally filled.
There is still a bunch of welding and seam filling to do.
I'll wish I had radiused the wheelwells before these gaps were closed.

TP

 

Very nice work, looking good!

 

Thanks Farmer!
Love your build too!
TP

This weekend my goal was to finish this lingering hole.

I jammed down to the shop early saturday to knock out the first part.

The time spent making those little sheet metal clamps really paid off.

I tacked it up and my time ran out.
Than sunday I made sure to finish it up.

Again the clamps were totally bitchin.
Wish I had made these years ago.

Tacked up.
Still needs some hammering and finish welding,
but this is a huge step.
The backside is finally rigid.

Now there is an official stash spot for this old 1940 repair kit.

I'll make sure to make some good drain holes!

Next up is the fuel tank mount,
than the last panel can be made.
Not sure to have a removeable piece,
with a top mounted tank,
or a solid piece with a bottom mounted piece.
Details!

TP

 

Love it!

 

Hi Travis.Absolutely faboulous build.After this one you need to change your siggy to something like the following:
"I have done so much with so little for so long,that I am now qualified to do anything with nothing".
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Thanks guys!
Hey Leo that's about how I feel right now!

*************
I've had some crazy shop projects,
so the boys have been able to hang out with me during summer break.
It's been alot of fun and they help out a ton.

Now that the rear is sturdy,
the real work could start.

One day we cracked the body from the frame.
It had been almost 2 years.
Now I know what the car would look like as a gasser!

The next day we redid the lines to pull it up higher.
Now we know what it would look like as a funny car!

This spot in the shop had become a catchall.
Amazing how fast a junk pile can grow.

With the boys help we cleaned it up,
and scooted the frame over to the open space.
Now the frame can be scrubbed for paint.
If I have time,
the plan also includes...
(brake MC assembly, mounts for 351, 9" rearend swap, fuel tank mount...)

The bottom side of the body will be buttoned up as well.
Tons of little weld globs, seam gaps etc,
than a nice thick coat of epoxy primer.

It still would be bitchin as a funny car though!
TP

 

I can't wait to see more, your work is amazing




















I can't wait to see more, your work is amazing!

 

Travis, This is going to be one neat Hot Rod. Looking forward to more progress as this '40 becomes a runner. Looking forward to the mods for the hood. Keep the updates a cvoming.

Dave

 

The structure and panels for the trunk look great!
Are you still going with a transverse rear spring or converting to parallels?

 

Damn I missed the last update Travis! Its looking great man...as cool as the Caddy is, if you wanna drive the wheels off this car the newer motor is a wise choice, doesnt really matter to me either one will do!!

 

Good to see the kid's lending a helping hand, these skills will be usefull when building their bicycles.

 

Danny, That is sure quirue. Travis's sons will be outstripping their friend with Hot Rod two wheelers - (bikes . . . .)

Dave

 

I just read all 25 pages of this build and you, sir, are amazing. Subscribed!

 

Hey guys thanks for the interest!
I've been trying to put in an hour or 2 each night when I can.

After cutting and grinding all the chingaderas on the bottom,
I rolled out some thick red epoxy.

Than filled the seams with "boat life" which is a pliable marine sealant.

Than rolled a second coat.

Now the bottom is ready for the salt of bonneville.
Maybe next year!
(There are still some gaps to weld up on the now hard to reach rear section,
I'll tackle them this weekend.)


A bunch of time was spent wire brushing and grinder sanding the frame.
The outside wasn't too bad but the inside had a bunch of flash rust.
Even though it ws hard to see through the floor,
it bugged me to know that it was there.
I brushed a bunch of the paint in the slots,
and rolled the epoxy the same night as the body.

The next mini project was raising up the front suspension.
There was only 1/4-1/2 inch of clearance between the spring and the inner frame rail,
and basically bottomed out.
The spring pack was from some tired old car,
and only had 7 leaves.

I had scrounged up a set of removed leaves,
and of course most were the same sizes as the ones that were already in the pack.
A couple leaves were cut and ground down to a Ford looking curve,
then installed after some wirewheeling and grease.

Now the spring pack has 11 leaves and there is a good inch+ of clearance.
Yeah I could have notched the frame and I may do that later on,
but the front was a little soft,
and now it seems to have the stiffness it will need when the radiator etc. is added.

Yeah it's a bunch of busy work but these little things bug me.
Now at least other things can bug me!
Hopefully I'll get some time in over the weekend.
TP

 

I don't know how I missed this thread. Great build!

 

WOW!!!!

I just read all the thread! it's a resurection!!!!

 

that boat life stuff sounds interesting. I wonder if it could be used to fill the cracks in my dash...

 

Amazing talent here, thanks for all the photos and info.

 

We're in the process of moving shops,
so I'm trying to get as much big work done while I've got the workspace,
with the goal of bringing the car home and doing the small detail work.

The first goal was to finish up the floor.
There were a couple little holes to fill.

I was going to do a rattlecan black underneath to cover the epoxy primer,
but found this $10 can of rustoleum satin black.

I've always wanted to try it out and this was the perfect spot.

This stuff rolled on great,
wanted to drip a little but dried slow enough to catch it with the roller.

After a couple days drying this stuff seems like the perfect undercoat paint.

Meanwhile I had been screwing off with the frame too.

With the frame open,
this was the perfect time to split the wishbones.

The single ball joint works good on the RPU,
but it I found it is difficult to tune or align.
So it's either perfect or not.

Whipped this out of some scrap.

We did the bounce test and there was no binding.

TP

 

The kids and I rallied and put the body back on the frame.

And slid it around.

This was the first time seeing the rearend at a distance.
Still needs alot of hammering but it was like I hoped.

The new space was perfect for a tire swing.

Yeah these are 2 long haired boys!

The biggest thing on my "shit to do" list had to do with this old banjo.

I needed to buy an open shaft kit,
but after hearing Homer's story of losing the axle,
decided the money was better spent elsewhere.

This was the alterior motive of changing the rear suspension.

I have to do the same thing with the green 40 (8") so I made a couple extra sets.

This is all simple torch work and grinding.

I can't believe the holes lined up.

The 9" came out of a 68 mustang.
All the pads were cleaned off.

TP

 

This was most all over the weekend.
Yesterday the goal was to finish the rear end install.

The footballs were ringed over the axle tubes,
and the radius rods were bolted on.

A million measurements later,
and the rearend was hopefully lined up correctly.
The kids couldn't believe how much measuring,
and rolling around on the creeper needed to be done.
Me either!

After some slow welding to not warp the axle tubes,
everything was bolted in place.

You may have wondered why the 3rd member wasn't cleaned up.
Later on this posi unit will go in there.

Magically the whole unit fit.
(yeah a torque arm is planned!)

Earlier that day I had dropped off the tires to get the rims swapped,
and hopefully they will be done today.

So now we're all caught up.
Much more to be done by the end of the month!

TP

 

WOW!!!! looks awesome Zibo!!!

 

This is coming out great!

 

The side profile looks spot on! Very cool!

 

its going to be one bad ass ride when youre done with it!

 

Travis, you're work is always great! I love this thread-kudos!

 

Great work bro, feel sorry for who ever helps you move!

 

Thanks for the interest Chad/Tex & Punk!

The best part is I can throw your engine in here when you're done with it!
Thanks Buddy!

Done with it, that's a good one!
I'll be happy if it can just be a driveable long-term project!

The plan was to do the LoL,
I think the minimum is 11".
That was almost 2 years ago.
We use it as an empty punishment threat...
"we're going to cut your hair if you don't...!"

I have a good friend!



No tires today.
Stuck on the running boards at least.



Now need to choose another project from the list.
brake linkage/mount...shocks...hood...fuel tank...
TP

 

Beautiful coupe! I love the proportions!!!