Build Chicago builds a 40

[Fast Eddy]

On the front cowiling, there is a vent of sorts. Not sure what it's there for, but there are drain holes in the bottom of it. I'm just gonna cover that whole thing up and weld in a new piece. Seems like a bad design to begin with.

Actually, that vent is the "fresh air" for the original HVAC system.

No. It does not. I couldn't figure that out. It basically a sink with a grate over it with two ports in the bottom. I don't see where it supplies fresh air?? Honestly, I thought it was more decorative than anything.

Huh?
I'm pretty sure Jack is right, mine is still hooked up with the factory heater/vent system, I'll have to look when I get a chance.

Jack and Rusty are kinda right. Up until sometime prior to '75, that was an active vent with a dash control. As of I'm-not-sure-what-year, they welded up the bottom and removed the linkage, but kept the cowl tooling the same, including the rust bucket and the vent tubes. By '78 it was gone.

If you've got the idea to weld it up, do it. Then come over and do mine. Maybe I'll bring it to the party.

The OEM f'ing drain tubes are $100 from SOR.

Edit: beat me by 8 minutes. That's what I get for getting coffee during posting.

 

[chicago]

It's getting capped either way. I actually kinda like the look of it, but I don't wanna deal with draining it either. I'm considering keeping the removable grate, but putting a piece of tin over the hole with some gasket maker to seal it. It'd be easier and less work over all, and if for whatever reason this heater doesn't work out.... It's easy to convert back. I'm heading out to the garage now to look a bit closer at it.

 

[chicago]

Its done. I tried to fit a metal cap under the grate, but I wasnt diggin it. Even with some gasket material the way the bolts are set up, it'd leak. Plus...it wasnt worth the effort to MAKE it work right.
Also got the 2M antenna mount on, welded an additional stop on the swing out and started pulling stuff off the rig.

TIME FOR TEAR DOWN!!!!!

I do have to get some shocks fitted so I can weld the towers on the frame. When the tub is OFF, Ill have better access to the axles with the hoist, so Ill get the measurements then and weld em on BEFORE I paint the frame and such.

 

[chicago]

BTW...there was NO vent on this cowling RUST BUCKET! It simply was just there.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Its done.

Aren't you going to grind it down and make it all pretty?

 

[chicago]

Aren't you going to grind it down and make it all pretty?

It is!? The rest is body filler work.

 

[peesalot]

I took the vent out, made a removable cover outa aluminum and I use it to access the wiring, makes it super easy to pul wires, secure wires etc. Just added a 30watt solar system and I think I am done finally. It is a runner.

 

[chicago]

I took the vent out, made a removable cover outa aluminum and I use it to access the wiring, makes it super easy to pul wires, secure wires etc. Just added a 30watt solar system and I think I am done finally. It is a runner.

Now there's a great idea!!!!

 

[Fast Eddy]

Aren't you going to grind it down and make it all pretty?

It is!? The rest is body filler work.

Pretty is when you can't tell there's a repair when it's still in bare metal. I'm not much of a body filler kinda guy. I'm kind of an armchair body man at the moment though.

 

[chicago]

Pretty is when you can't tell there's a repair when it's still in bare metal. I'm not much of a body filler kinda guy. I'm kind of an armchair body man at the moment though.

I've learned my lesson on that one. When you try to make it "better" at this point is when you EFF the whole thing up and start grinding through the steel. That's what they make filler for, after all.

The enemy of good is better!!!!
That's my mantra!

 

[Fast Eddy]

I've learned my lesson on that one. When you try to make it "better" at this point is when you EFF the whole thing up and start grinding through the steel. That's what they make filler for, after all.

We'll see how long my "all steel" mantra lasts once I start welding on body panels.

 

[chicago]

We'll see how long my "all steel" mantra lasts once I start welding on body panels.

Lol!!!! That's ALL I'm sayin!!
You can do it, but there's only so much of the steel around your welds that you can take away before you start getting realllllllly thin, and there are usually low spots on the immediate edges of the weld. You'll see.

 

[chicago]

Wow.... Things got really tight in the shop last night. Everything is off the tub, bit Christ.... There's no friggin room!!!

 

[waiting for time]

Wow.... Things got really tight in the shop last night. Everything is off the tub, bit Christ.... There's no friggin room!!!

Am there still doing that, the no freakin room thing I mean.

 

[chicago]

Lots dont Fri. and Sat!!!!!!!
Got everything stripped off the tub and the tub was freed by 12 PM Fri. night. Sat. AM, I started on the Bondo work and by 1 PM it was done. Then I figured a SAFE way to remove the tub by using the tail gate stops I built as pull points. Plucked the and stood it on end AGAIN to finish some crap under there.
Today, I plan on welding some support for the seat cradle and the seat belts to the bottom of the tub with capture nuts for easy removal, then re do some of the liner on the bottom. I think I MIGHT be catching SOMETHING for the next couple days....SNIFF, SNIFF...COUGH...COUGH!!!

Some shots of everything pulled, and the bondo work where I welded new panels.

 

[chicago]

A few more of the bondo and a shot of everything removed and the OVERALL feel of the shop right now.

 

[chicago]

A couple more. The tub upright and the parts pile on the side!

 

[chicago]

Am there still doing that, the no freakin room thing I mean.

Yeah....I guess that I have NOTHING to complain about considering the conditions youre working in...sorry brother.

 

[waiting for time]

Well today I stay under different conditions, 31,5C, in Honfleur Normandy.
And the best part is it rained all day at home so I couldn't have worked on the car anyway.

Great to see you are getting close.

 

[serenity]

how the hell do you keep that place so clean and tidy with all the welding, grinding and everything else going on?

i gotta get organised...