A whole day of planning and fabricating brackets, braces, bolt holes etc. I started the radiator shell brackets as well as the side tubes from the cowl to the shell. These tubes are just halfway of the height I need and in line with the tops of the rear fenders giving me a reference for the fenders. These midway tubes will carry all my fenders and brackets that will hold them in place. I was careful to make all the major pieces bolt on items as a uni body is Hell to straighten as we all know from Camaros to Mustangs. This will be good if I ever happen to do a major engine work or engine change. I hope to carry out this bolt on theme throughout the front nose building where I can. the left side is all bolted in and the right side is just clamped as I ran out of gas and time for today.I wanted to frame out all the front fenders with small diameter black pipe 3/8thgts ID or smaller. If this cant be done my 2nd choice will be re-Rod of the appropriate diameter. I am taking a day off and will do more on Sunday. I have some photos..
Scratch Building a Coupe
- Thread starter rsfyj
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I worked today on the right side tubing it's all done and bolted and welded. I will have to weld a few ears here and there on the frame and tube for threaded 1/4 bolts that will hold the sheet metal panels. I also started the other side of the wind shield to cowl metal. I ran out last time and only did the left side. Now my frontal photos will look a little more balanced with this piece on. I also cut the lip on the top of the radiator shell and flattened it so I can attach new sheet metal to it. Maybe tomorrow I can reshape the top of the radiator shell and extend it towards the engine some.
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GJunktionMike
Something's wrong with that boy!
You don't let nothing go to waste [cl
I kept on plugging away and I finished the right side tube for the fenders and a apron. Plus I extended my radiator shell by 5 inches and flattened it out a little. Then I found that I had time to cut and fit the left side apron from the frame to the new tube I just installed. Tomorrow I will drill , tap and bolt this sheet panel to the bar. I am thinking that my hood will be stepped up when i get in front of the engine pulleys.This step up will look similar to the step up on the cars roof. I want to keep in line with the cars profile keeping angles and flat pieces through out. The shell will be lower than the highest part of the engine so I will step up when I get in front of the engine. Then go level to the cowl. This piece will be separate and the one that opens. The front part will be bolted and will not open this will contain a radiator and maybe 2 batteries. And a fan on the radiator. lots of room in front. I have some photos. I also hope to get the other side started also.
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Anther day of fitting side aprons. I have both sides fitted, and the right side all bolted down. I had time to cut and rough fit the cowl top it's just clamped in place for now. As I have more to do under the dash area, braces, supports etc. The bolts I used are allen screws 1/4 inch by 5/8ts, I didn't have and regular 1/4 inch bolts the right length. I used a flat washer under the allen screw. Good enough I still have to get brackets on the bottom of the aprons to get some bolts down there. I drilled the radiator shell 2 bolts per side to hold it in place. Plus I cut the front frame rails off even with the radiator shell. It looks a lot better. This is where I will weld a plate over the box frame for a place to start my pipes for the fenders. I looked locally for some 3/8ts pipe black schedule 40 but no one had enough or long enough. So I went with 1/2 inch pipe, it will bend a little harder but will be more rigid. This will be fun trying to bend this stuff and trying to get both sides the same. I know this is not going to happen. But they will be close as I can get em. The best I can do is make the fender sheet metal pattern and flop it over reverse to the other side and see how they fit the fender grids and then adjust from there. I have some photos and one of my 40 feet of 1/2 pipe.
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Moving right along today, I fabricated some end caps for the front frame rails that i cut off. I made them from 18 gauge steel sheet and welded 2 each 3/8tsX14 nuts on the back side to hold the fender brackets when i fabricate them. I also finished the left side apron and added additional supports behind for more bolts. I also drilled and tapped them for bolts and installed them. The end caps took a little longer than I would have guessed. Plus I drilled and tapped the radiator lip 2 bolts per side and they are installed. With that done I started to grind the finish from the shell now that is rigid. I wanted to try my grinder to see hoe long the disc would last. I have 75% of it stripped. Lots of low spots from the welding but I'll bang out what I can and body fill the others. I wanted the end caps done so I can start the left or drivers side front fender soon. This work took most of the day. I have some photos..
