That's almost what I meant chopper526,The U-profile I was talking about is like a
square tubing without one side. After some measuring and trying, though, I decided to
move the firewall an inch backward to get enough clearance between it and the cylinderheads.
The firewall looks much better now, and it still looks factory.
(https://grillo.fi/desoto/buick151f.jpg)
There's still a bunch of holes to fill, but I got ahead of myself, and started working on the
spacer. I cut some 1" tubing in half and started bending and working what now in effect is
a U-profile.
(https://grillo.fi/desoto/buick151h.jpg)
As the corners can't be bent just like that, I cut away part of the "side wall" of the U and
filled in with some sheetmetal. I left it a bit over size, to get good welds in the corners.
The firewall will be rosette welded in using the 1/4" holes that were drilled through the
spot welds to get it out in the first place.
Sorry chopper526, that I'm not up to your standards, but I do my best, I promise ;D
Thank you for the kind words, 62131, TFoch and sixball. Comments are much appreciated.
Finally (again?) got the firewall done! I'm not certain about how the bottom edge needs to be done, because
I don't know how to route the hoses and tubes to the heater, but I decided to do things this way, and if
needed I'll make the necessary modifications later. One can't leave everything half-assed and almost-ready.
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick151m.jpg)
So now I have someting to weld to the cowl, and to start building my floor and transmission tunnel off.
The little impression or stamping a bit off center just above where the top of the transmission tunnel
will be, is for the heater return hose, behind the intake. Like this:
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick151n.jpg)
Room for a hose clamp and all now.
The stamped sheet metal is from an earlier experiment, when I made a peak for the sun visor. The
"tooling" is made from 5mm sheet metal, a tad more than 3/16" thick.
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick095.jpg)
The stamped part was cut in half and the halves were welded together. Fun to find use for a part
that wasn't used.
Here's the peak I made for the visor. Quite a segway, sorry about that, it just happened.
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick104.jpg)
Finally! (for the third time) the firewall is done.
Since the frame is bent up a foot or so behid the firewall (to make the front suspension work good at my planned ride height), I had to cut some off the bottom edge of the firewall so it won't touch the frame. Then a squirt of primer to keep it from rusting.
Hoping to have time to weld it in still today. It will be welded with rosette welds to the back side of the 1" spacer tube.
Nothing short of amazing what some paint can do.
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick151o.jpg)
I think I will have the firewall done a 4th time today. Maybe.
I think that looks real nice, and yes you are right, what a little paint can do. Great job!
Thank yuou chopper526 and sammons!
No disrespectfuless percieved, 62131. I have seen those shapes on fenders
and such, but never happened to see it on a visor. And to be frank, I never connected
the two designs as they are on different parts of the body, and alos turned the other
way around. Nevermind that, it's just that when one thinks of a nice original design
idea, it then suddenly may become obvious that it's not a first.
I wanted to be a car designer when I was a kid, realizing early that it's not even a thing
here in Finland. Building a rod gives me opportunity to at least make alterations to the
look of the car. Only details and real small things on the body itself, but I am planning
on going wild with the dash for an example. But then again, that depends on how
much (if any) energy is left when that time comes.
The firewall is finally welded to the cowl, so one thing ticked off the 2 do-list
Sorry chopper526, I don't know what you mean, cutting 1/4" of the top of
what crossmember?
If you meant where I put two more bolts to keep things from rattling, so yes, I
guess I could have, but it doesn't hurt to have the body fastened to the frame
in a couple more spots. My wife will no doubt ask me to put in seat belts, and
they would probably be fastened in that general area in that case.
Right there in the center of the floor, there will be a little but sturdy bent piece
bridging the body brace over the prop shaft tunnel. I'm hoping to get back
the prop shaft before making the trans tunnel, just to be completely certain
that it's made high enough.
Thank you for the nice words, chopper526
But:
(http://waasadata.com/buick/img/W.jpg)
::)
Thank you TFoch, for the tip (toe tip) almost made a pun there! I'll try to remember that, but in
this case, I'll probably be using a straight piece. We'll see.
And yes, sixball, I've benefitted immensely from watching how to videos on youtube, and getting
good advice from people on forums. My work would be no where if it weren't for
what I've learned from others.
More floor work.
I welded a 1" sqare tube between the wheel tubs, to weld the floor to,and to give it some structure.
I think all this will be plenty strong when it's all welded to a unit.
I bent the rounded corners around a pipe. The vertical parts are also slanted, so it made for some
interesting pattern making to get right. There's a bead in the center, to make the panels fit flush.
Everything will be rosette welded at some point.
(http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick161f.jpg)
The upper clamps in the pic is probably right at where the front edge of the rear seat will be.
some floor work back there too, to get things all wrapped up. This area is all unplanned still.
I did an "oops" on the slanted part of the floor to the right in the pic. I cut too far, and then
changed my plans. It bugs me, I might make a new floor part, but it's a fairly big piece of
sheet metal, and I'm cheap...
Today, though, something fun came in the mail!
(http://waasadata.com/buick/img/Rustybowtie.jpg)
Business cards and Member stickers. Very cool!
The Finnish customs has apparently taken a look see, as the envelope is ripped&taped, and came in my
post box in a plastic bag that had "Customs" printed on it
Björn
This shifter has been collecting dust in my barn for years...you can have it for free if you can use it.
Ed
QuoteBjörn
This shifter has been collecting dust in my barn for years...you can have it for free if you can use it.
Ed
Ed! That's absolutely fantastic, it has to be the closest you can get to what Im looking for!
Yes please, I can use it for sure.
Let me know how I can pay you for postage and all. You already have my address.
Thank you!
Fedex works fine when ordering over the internet, so maybe that.
Seems reasonable pricewise too.
What kind of van, Rattiac?
I've been wanting to build something like this to hide my radio/stereo under the dash and pop it down when it's being used.
[/quote
Rattiac, i did that for my buddies 32 ford p.u. I built a contoured tray that matched the underside dash curve that flipped down like a glove box. Worked out great, can't hardly see it when its up.
Essex, great job on the frame horns. Looks real nice.
Ed, I decided to make my own shifter. Thank you so much anyway.
| (http://www.waasadata.com/buick/img/buick207j.jpg) | The dash was cut at an angle towards the A-pillar. End plates welded on and sanded. Door closed, there's a sixteenth or two of gap. Because I have to be able to disassmble the dash, the bottom part has to be fastened with sheet metal screws |
Someone who hasn?t been working on these old cars
Probably can?t imagine how not straight the shapes on
them are.