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Now to make the curve...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8...Large%2529.JPG Felt like a true blacksmith on this one... :D |
It took a TON of fitting to get everything to match up nice and tight and get everything true. (there is alot of layers to deal with in this area)
This was a bit tricky to weld in... for I wanted to use enough heat to penetrate the 1/8" plate, but not burn through the floor. Not the prettiest... but it should be STRONG... :welder: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...Large%2529.JPG Got good penetration through the plate... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...Large%2529.JPG When I was welding... I would concentrate my welding pool onto of the 1/8" steel plate area... then swing down and connect to the thin floor sheetmetal. This way I would get the penetration needed for the thick metal and not burn through the thin stuff. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j...Large%2529.JPG |
Now to close up the hole here...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...Large%2529.JPG Started by taping off the section to create the fill in piece. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...Large%2529.JPG Transfering it to 1/8" plate... https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...Large%2529.JPG Using my trusty plasma https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...Large%2529.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...Large%2529.JPG |
Kind of a cool action shot of me tacking in the fill plate.
YES, I know I should be wearing a long sleeve shirt... but I wasn't welding long. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x...Large%2529.JPG |
All cleaned up...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...Large%2529.JPG |
So I was very pleased with how it turned out... I know there is WAY more structure and strength in the area now than when it rolled out of GM back in 67.
Here you can see in the "Before" photo the surface area that would be making connection to the wheelhouse... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-p...Large%2529.JPG VS after... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x...Large%2529.JPG Then epoxy primed it... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H...Large%2529.JPG |
Here is another BEFORE and AFTER....
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...Large%2529.JPG |
Put inner wheelhouse in place to mark off for drilling the plug weld holes. Here you can see how much more "contact" I am making with the wheelhouse.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_...Large%2529.JPG Marked off... ready to be drilled... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...Large%2529.JPG Yes, it looks like I turned the wheelhouse into swiss cheese :eek:... but once all welded up, this should result in MUCH more strength in this area. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j...Large%2529.JPG Primed backside of the wheelhouse, then started to fit for final placement. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...Large%2529.JPG Once I was happy with the placement... I used screws to hold the wheelhouse in place. I will not weld this area up until I know that the quarter panels are where they need to be. This way I can still tweak this area a bit if need be. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2...Large%2529.JPG |
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Nice work it looks good.
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Very Nice work on the tubs, going to be much stronger than OEM :thumbsup: That is exactly where I am today .... close outs :superhack:
Thanks for the write up! |
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I looked at your pics... looks great! :thumbsup: |
With both inner wheelhouses fit and screwed into place, it is time to remove those NASTY outer wheelhouses. :yes:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n...Large%2529.JPG |
A few more spot welds to drill...:rolleyes: and out comes the FINAL rusty pieces off of the car!:dance:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...Large%2529.JPG |
Started to fit the outer wheelhouses into place... At first I was wondering if I would even get them to follow the contour of the inner wheelhouse... BUT (Like most of these aftermarket pieces) I find that if I just take things slow and tweak it here and there... all of a sudden it starts to fall into place. PATIENCE is a virtue that MUST be kept when putting these old cars back together! :yes: Oh... that and A LOT of clamps! :D
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-t...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_...Large%2529.JPG |
Once everything was where I wanted it... I started to put a few screws into the wheelhouses/braces... to make sure everything stays put so I can test fit the quarter panels.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B...Large%2529.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...Large%2529.JPG |
Finally Mini-tub project is pretty much done...(just have to be welded in) I will fit the quarter panels and tailpanel first to make sure everything is where it is suppose to be, before I even think about welding it in.:yes:
Overall I am very happy with how it turned out... FINALLY I don't see RUST anymore! :clap: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...Large%2529.JPG PLUS... look at all the extra room I now have to fill up with tire! :D https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...Large%2529.JPG |
Here is a BEFORE and AFTER of my mini-tubing project... Now on to the NEXT stage. :yes:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...Large%2529.JPG |
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with those mini-tubs will you have to relocate the leaf springs inboard? |
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To further strengthen the car, I decided to go with DSE (Detroit Speed Engineering) subframe connectors. I liked these for they actually go through the floor of the car to add a more rigidity to the whole car. With a convertible they add even more strength for they also intersect through the floor braces. (you will see this later in the photos)
Being a convertible, I felt even though it is more work, it would be well worth it. Plus I would rather do it now with no interior in the car, than later when I would have to worry about carpet, upholstery and everything else inside the car. First thing I did was to install the SpeedTech Subframe under the car. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...Large%2529.JPG |
Then with help from my step-daughter, we hung plumb-bobs off of suspension points and location holes in the frame to square the subframe to the body.
This actually took MUCH longer than I thought it would, I would say we put almost 2 hours into getting it just right. We got it under and 1/8 of and inch difference between the cross measurements. (I think I read somewhere that GM used up to a 1/4 of an inch tolerance in this area.) https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...framespecs.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...Large%2529.JPG |
Before we start cutting away...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n...Large%2529.JPG Started to mark off where the connector will go meet up with the subframe... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...Large%2529.JPG DSE does give a template you can use to help get a rough idea of where to cut. I also used a laser level to shoot a line so as to make my mark to line up the back frame rail to the subframe. (You can see the laser line under the paper template if you look close) https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...Large%2529.JPG Marked off and ready to cut. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P...Large%2529.JPG |
Here is what I will be installing... DSE Subframe connector kit.
I know some people make these themselves... but trust me, I have enough to do on the car myself, if I can speed up the process a bit, it helps. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-u...Large%2529.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...Large%2529.JPG |
A few minutes with a cutoff wheel and sawzall and I now have a hole in my new floor. :superhack:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t...Large%2529.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F...Large%2529.JPG This project is much easier on coupes, for they do not have to deal with the extra braces the convertibles have... Here you can see I had to notch the front brace, for the connector does not go all the way up into the floor, but rides right underneath in this area. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k...Large%2529.JPG |
Started to test fit the connector to line up with the subframe...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_...Large%2529.JPG Plus, see how they fit inside of the car... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5...Large%2529.JPG |
Once everything is where it should be and they line up correctly... fire up the welder.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...Large%2529.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...Large%2529.JPG |
Now I DID NOT weld the connectors to the subframe... for this will be done once all the weight is in the car... (motor, transmission, interior, glass)...
Normally they have you leave the little "ears" off of the connectors and weld them on when you weld the connector to the subframe. BUT, due to the convertible brace right behind the subframe, I needed to attach the "ears" before I even put the connector into place. I left the "ears" slightly spaced away from the subframe and will make this connection once the car is pretty much complete. So they are close to the subframe, but NOT connected. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...Large%2529.JPG |
You will also notice the rear seat floor braces that convertibles have are missing. This is because this is an AMD coupe floor.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...Large%2529.JPG Easy fix for just add the braces in... and it becomes a convertible floor. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...Large%2529.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...Large%2529.JPG This brace also adds even more strength to the connectors for it is another connecting point to the car. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_...Large%2529.JPG Cross this one off the list and on to the next step... :yes: |
Nice work .... what kind of laser level did you use to get the back and the subframe double checked? Thats a really good idea!
I saw the quarter panels on .... for good? just wondering how all the mini tubs came out? Great work and nice write ups, right behind you .... albeit slower. NICE LIFT TOO!!!!!!!!!! |
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As for the quarter panels, in the picture they are just hanging there with a few clamps... I currently have them screwed/clamped in almost final placement. I will have some pics and info on this ADVENTURE to follow in the next few days. The lift... I am so THANKFUL that my work let me purchase it from them cheap... it is a priceless addition to the shop. Don't worry you will catch up to me soon... work has been a bit slow on the car, but I hope to get things rolling again soon. Time and Money... two things I seem to never have enough of!:) |
With all the body work going on, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to use some wrenches instead. :D
So I started to fit the Speed Tech front sub-frame and suspension. Unfortunately my build is not an unlimited budget build. So early on I decided if I could learn and do the work myself, the money I save would allow me too purchase some of the better parts to put on my car. I think I looked at just about every sub-frame on the market, and bang for the buck decided that the Speed Tech sub-frame would match what I was looking for the best. The only thing more impressive to me than the quality of their products, is there customer service! These guys don't just sell you the parts and wish you luck, they will assist in any way they can... even if it isn't directly tied to there products! Roger has been my go to guru with a many dumb questions that I have had. :yes: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...Large%2529.JPG |
The frame comes bare steel (you can have them powder coat it right away) but I wasn't sure what I was going to modify or color I wanted, so I just opted for bare steel... I just rattle canned it silver during the mock up stage.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y...Large%2529.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U...Large%2529.JPG |
I decided to go with the Speed Tech aluminum solid body mounts. I do believe it is recommended that you use solid mounts if you will be installing sub-frame connectors. Plus, 30-40 years from now I don't want my kids to have to worry about the body mounts looking like this... :confused59:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...Large%2529.JPG |
One nice thing that Speed Tech sub-frame allows is that you can use any factory replacement tubular control arms... so if you already have some, they will work with this frame.
I didn't have any... this is what I had (check out the coil springs... I DID NOT DO THIS!!) :lostmarbles: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-N...2520Spring.jpg So I ordered the complete kit... Here I am installing the lower control arms. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n...Large%2529.JPG |
The complete kit also comes with Unisteer power rack and pinion steering system.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...Large%2529.JPG |
The control arms are already powder coated black. To try and protect them during mock-up, I just taped them up to for a bit of protection.
Here it is loosely mocked up... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J...Large%2529.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...Large%2529.jpg |
A little before and after...
Before: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...Large%2529.jpg After: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...Large%2529.JPG |
Next I fit the AMD radiator support.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...Large%2529.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...Large%2529.JPG |
That completes that stage... on to the next project.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h...Large%2529.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...Large%2529.JPG I was VERY pleased with my purchase. I think this will make a HUGE difference on how the car handles and drives... to bad it will be a few more years until I get a chance to drive it. :( |
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