Brendon's '67 Firebird thread - Lateral-g Forums

Tuske427 · #1 04-30-2011, 10:00 PM

Also last weekend and today I worked on the driveshaft safety hoop. I made a quick sketch of how I'd like to build it and last weekend I bought more metal and roughed out the parts. Because my drivetrain isn't in and I don't have a driveshaft yet I believe it would be difficult to accurately calculate the range of driveshaft will travel, so I'm only making part of it now and will make the bottom half later when everything else is in.

A big thanks goes out to Brett (67zo6Camaro) for taking some time to slice the parts out with his plasma cutter. That saved me a lot of time and clean up, not to mention cut off wheels and a big dusty mess to clean up. I bent the strips by hand with my vise and then welded it up. I also cut more tubing to make sleeves (same method that I did for my frame rails) for the bolt holes/ bottom half. I'll drill the correct size holes when I determine which fasteners I'll use. I was lucky enough that the 1" tape was the right size so I could cut the tubes relatively clean without a lathe. I welded the top areas and then drilled some holes on the bottom to plug weld the sleeves to the bottom. I didn't want to fill up the inside of the holes with weld...

I was able to tack weld and start welding the bracket in this afternoon, but I still have more welding to do. for some reason I am plagued with contamination when I'm welding this. I sanded, ground it down, welded, re welded, etc. Just one of those days, I guess. I won't be working on tomorrow as I have volunteered to help out at the Edelbrock car show tomorrow at their hq in Torrance. I think I'll be driving the Hot Wheels '66 GTO there. I'm looking forward to that.

**waynieZ** · #2 04-30-2011, 10:06 PM

Thats a nice set up. Your thinking of a lot of thing thst are after thoughts to most others. I looks good!

Tuske427 · #3 04-30-2011, 10:42 PM

Thank you, Wayne. I think it helps having had a a project car or two before. It's always an evolution. I'm sure the next one will be better than this.

That, and I'm not in a rush to get this done. The process of building the car is just as much fun for me. I'm doing my best to not put myself up against tight schedules/ deadlines, etc.

Tuske427 · #4 05-08-2011, 09:10 PM

I had a few hours today to work on the car, so I finished up my top half of the driveshaft safety hoop, and worked on my gas tank access door a bit.

I still need to get some hinges and a latch/ fastener for keeping it closed.

**waynieZ** · #5 05-09-2011, 07:41 AM

The top part of the driveshaft loop came our great. The access panel will save a lot of work if you need to get to the sending unit later on. Nice.

67zo6Camaro · #6 05-09-2011, 09:08 AM

Progress is awsome with a lot of nice touches. Keep up the good work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuske427

I had a few hours today to work on the car, so I finished up my top half of the driveshaft safety hoop, and worked on my gas tank access door a bit.

I still need to get some hinges and a latch/ fastener for keeping it closed.

**syborg tt** · #7 05-09-2011, 10:06 AM

Great progress on the car. I am going to borrow you floor trimming for the exhaust.

Tuske427 · #8 05-15-2011, 07:52 PM

Thank you, everyone! It means a lot to receive the kind words.

I spent some time yesterday finishing up the fuel tank access panel. I purchased a hinge from Lowes and modified it. I welded the hinge to the door but not to the trunk. I used some buttonhead allen screws and welded some nuts on the underside and used one larger one for securing it shut. I plan on using some type of weatherstripping to help seal it and prevent any vibrations or exhaust leaks. I also trimmed the allen bolts to length. they are untrimmed in the pics.

The metalwork is for the most part there, but it will need some bondo/ prep work to get it to a "show" status..