75 SBC 40 Restoration

[miller]

So I am posting a new thread because I was schooled on cruiser terminology and apparently some get bent out of shape about it. I want to keep everybody happy because I need all the help I can get. Today I went to Real Steel and picked up my parts to start the body work. Only an hour drive and got a chance to meet the owner Todd. He has a nice set up! Going to close up cabin this weekend so will start next week on the rear sill.

 

[miller]

Rear sill installed

I got the rear sill welded in place yesterday. Today I installed the drivers QTR panel and got it welded in place. On the quarter panel I had to cut off the bottom rear lip where it goes under the sill and around the sill horn. I welded in a small patch. The quarter panel was about 1/2" to short. I also had to cut the rear flange off the quarter panel where it attaches to the vertical rear channel. Once I got that figured the panel fit well. Tomorrow I will finish welding the inside spot welds for the quarter panel and then start grinding the welds. I am learning its not how good you weld, but how well you can grind!!

 

[miller]

Drivers wheel well top installed

Installed wheel well top. Top was 1/2 ' too short so I had to lengthen it. It fit good beside being too short. The rear bend in the back was a little off as it sucked in the qtr panel quite a bit. Hindsight I should have put a small shim and maybe I still will. Cut out Pax qtr panel and had to make the same cuts as the drivers side to get it to fit.

 

[reddingcruiser]

Keep up the good work. Definitely a labor of love to make everything fit right.

 

[Bang Bang]

Looking good! When I weld, I definitely spend more time grinding too.

 

[miller]

Passenger Rocker repair

My goal for today is to get the passenger qtr fit, but to do that the rocker cancer had to be addressed. I cut out the rocker gusset plates from both side(what's left anyway) and will fab them up at work this week. I cut out the aft part of the rocker to make the repair so it fits well with the new qtr panel. I used the old qtr panels for repair material for the bend. Had to cut out a small piece of the inner support and repaired with new piece. It looks good inside the rocker, but I will spray some Eastwood spar saver inside it for added protection. That's enough for this weekend! Time to watch the Pack! Go pack go!!

 

[miller]

Doors,QTR panel and rocker

Fabbed up my rocker gusset plates this week. Not factory perfect, but functional. I pulled out the front doors and found out they were in pretty good shape. I had planned on replacing the entire lower 6", but will only need to do some small repairs. Installed passenger QTR panel. Removed the gas filler neck receptacle from old panel and found out that did not fit(imagine that!). I had to grind the corners of the panel and the receptacle, but once installed it looks good. I also got the rear passenger rocker repair done. Today I have to start grinding the welds on the QTR panels.

 

[crashn]

Good looking fab work there Miller. I am interested how you fab the lower inside door edge that you removed. I have an 78 that I need to do the same to it on the rear barn doors. I'll be watching closely. Keep up the great work.

 

[miller]

Nice work.

At what point in the project are you taking out the chevy engine and replacing it with a proper Toyota engine?

LOL!! I'm pretty happy with the 350, maybe my next one I will go all original.

 

[69LC]

Nice work! Do you have a contact for Real Steel? I may need them while helping my son stretch his 40 and build a 45 pickup (or whatever he settles on...it was going to be a troopy)

 

[miller]

Nice work! Do you have a contact for Real Steel? I may need them while helping my son stretch his 40 and build a 45 pickup (or whatever he settles on...it was going to be a troopy)

If you go on their web site the contact info goes right to the owner -Todd. It just him and a fabricator.

 

[miller]

RH Wheel Well top

Removed and replaced right wheel well top. The same thing on this side it was 1/2" too short, so I had to fab in a small piece. I also finished the rear quarter to rear channel work. Both quarter were too long so I cut off the end and welded it back in. I clamped the tail gate in place for some good visual progress. I have to take this weekend off, but next I will work on getting the wheel well vertical panels patched in the front so the new wheel well supports can be installed.

 

[miller]

Mid Bed Support

I started the wheel well vertical panel repair where the wheel well supports are. Both of the rear support areas I will be able to clean up, but the fronts are rusted through. I was planning on patching the mid bed support, but it is so pitted so I ordered a new one and a front bed patch(the 45 and back 3") from Reel steel. I am thinking I will flip the tub and weld the bed patch from the bottom and then seam seal the top seams. That's next weekend.

 

[miller]

Mid Bed Support Install

Purchased a new mid bed support and a rear bed forward patch panel. Both pieces fit well with little trimming. I did most of the welding from the bottom. This was my first time welding upside down. I did most of the plug welds, but need to finish some up once I pull the tub off. I prefer welding right side up!! Its getting cold here in Wisconsin so my project may be slowing down a bit. The garage was about 30 F this morning, although my little propane heater got it up to 60 after a couple of hours.

 

[miller]

Fenders, Wheel well & Rockers

I purchased some new after market fenders off ebay and got them fitted. I am happy with how they look. I did have to elongate a few holes and shim the main supports . It took a full Saturday to get everything lined up. I finished the front wheel well patches on both sides so now I can drill holes for the Roll Bar and install the wheel well supports.. I finished passenger Rocker and started Drivers Rocker repair.

 

[miller]

Rockers are Done-Finally

With the all the Holidays and being really cold things slowed down. I did get some time yesterday and finished the Drivers Rocker repair. I installed the inner gussets and bolted and welded quarter panel to rocker. Next I have a small drivers floor board repair and then the rear hemmed seams at the top of the quarter panels. They are rusted through about 10" on both sides.

 

[Tireguy87]

These type of posts are always motivational to me and I don't even have any body rot that I need to fix. It just gives me hope that with time and patience you can always fix things like this. Keep up the good work! It's looking good!

 

[miller]

Running out of rust!

Rear quarter panel upper hemmed seams rust repaired. Drivers floor board rust removed and welded in a small patch. Drivers door outer patch installed and welded , inner lower channel replaced with new. A good day of work.

 

[miller]

Wheel well supports

I installed new wheel well supports, drilled all holes for role the roll bar, jump seats and lap belts. I had to fabricate some new brackets for the jump seat mounts, only one was good out of the three and one went missing when the wheel well top completely rusted away.
Next weekend I am going to install the hard top and get the rear doors and emblems fitted and drilled.

 

[miller]

Roll bar!