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- #41
4/2/05 Progress
Got out in the shop in the morning and picked up where I left off the night before. Had the drivetrain pretty much where I wanted, so with a little tweaking and double and triple checking, motor and t-case mounts were tacked in.
I then pulled the entire drivetrain out, rolled the chassis outside, sand blasted around the mounts again, rolled back in and started welding. I am using the Bob Firestein motor mounts and I chose to weld them instead of bolt them. I just personally felt this would be a stronger set up and I don't ever plan on taking them out? I welded everything solid on the motor mounts and t-case that I could get at from the top and sides easily. I then spent the next 2 hours stripping the frame down, axles and other misc. chub, anything with a bolt was removed. I flipped the frame over on the floor and finished welding my mounts from the back. My buddy Chad and I picked up the frame and set it outside along with the axles and anything else we took off the frame.
Now it was time to mount the body to the rottisserri
. As I said in a previous thread, the rottisserri I built was fixed at the pivot point so I could not adjust the CG once it was mounted. I was going to have to guess as to the balance point, once in, pretty much no changing it. I must have guessed pretty good. It is heavy on the top, but I would say by only 5 to 10 lbs as it rolls around. I can easily turn it any direction by myself and the 1/2" bolts I have for set screws seem to hold it easily in any direction I set it at. The rottisserri is going to be handy once I start sandblasting, it should go quick and I should be able to do the body work fairly fast and easily.
The only thing I did not get done as planned is the saginaw steering plates welded in. The ones I bought do not fit worth a s*** at all
, I chose not to cobble them in and instead just get the right ones. I am going to get on the horn to BTB monday morning and have them red labeled to me. I should have them Tuesday and welded in Tuesday night. I have to have them ASAP if I am to stay on schedule.
I blocked out the entire weekend for what you see in the pics, so I am a day ahead of schedule. I think tomorrow I am going to do a little clean up on the frame: Drill and tap out busted bolts, grind some areas smooth, wash it up for sand blasting, etc..... Then I think I will see if I can get those axles out of the 79. Get them degreased either tomorrow or this week so they are ready for blasting. Should go as planned.
Assuming I get my plates welded in on Tuesday and axles out, I should be on track for some next weekend sandblasting.
More to come, Matt
Got out in the shop in the morning and picked up where I left off the night before. Had the drivetrain pretty much where I wanted, so with a little tweaking and double and triple checking, motor and t-case mounts were tacked in.
I then pulled the entire drivetrain out, rolled the chassis outside, sand blasted around the mounts again, rolled back in and started welding. I am using the Bob Firestein motor mounts and I chose to weld them instead of bolt them. I just personally felt this would be a stronger set up and I don't ever plan on taking them out? I welded everything solid on the motor mounts and t-case that I could get at from the top and sides easily. I then spent the next 2 hours stripping the frame down, axles and other misc. chub, anything with a bolt was removed. I flipped the frame over on the floor and finished welding my mounts from the back. My buddy Chad and I picked up the frame and set it outside along with the axles and anything else we took off the frame.
Now it was time to mount the body to the rottisserri
. As I said in a previous thread, the rottisserri I built was fixed at the pivot point so I could not adjust the CG once it was mounted. I was going to have to guess as to the balance point, once in, pretty much no changing it. I must have guessed pretty good. It is heavy on the top, but I would say by only 5 to 10 lbs as it rolls around. I can easily turn it any direction by myself and the 1/2" bolts I have for set screws seem to hold it easily in any direction I set it at. The rottisserri is going to be handy once I start sandblasting, it should go quick and I should be able to do the body work fairly fast and easily.The only thing I did not get done as planned is the saginaw steering plates welded in. The ones I bought do not fit worth a s*** at all
, I chose not to cobble them in and instead just get the right ones. I am going to get on the horn to BTB monday morning and have them red labeled to me. I should have them Tuesday and welded in Tuesday night. I have to have them ASAP if I am to stay on schedule. I blocked out the entire weekend for what you see in the pics, so I am a day ahead of schedule. I think tomorrow I am going to do a little clean up on the frame: Drill and tap out busted bolts, grind some areas smooth, wash it up for sand blasting, etc..... Then I think I will see if I can get those axles out of the 79. Get them degreased either tomorrow or this week so they are ready for blasting. Should go as planned.
Assuming I get my plates welded in on Tuesday and axles out, I should be on track for some next weekend sandblasting.
More to come, Matt
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