Npulver's 71 Fj55 Build "Sea Unicorn"

[npulver]

Stupid/Nervous question. Does the FJ55 floor have an angled bend to it right behind the driver seat? I added a picture. Never really paid attention to it until today while cutting and sitting flush with the floor. (attached picture of location)

 

[scrapdaddy]

Yes and drink a beer, you're doing good!

 

[Jasferg]

Yeah that one worried me too when I first saw it. drivers floor had been replaced thought it had warped the whole floor. Boy was I glad it's normal

 

[npulver]

Thank god! Beer time!

 

[npulver]

Does anyone have a picture of their factory rear view mirror? Been looking into replacing mine, naturally its unobtainum. The bigger issue im running into is mine seems to look a bit different than everyone else? (i will post pictures later of mine)

 

[scrapdaddy]

Here's mine, out of the 71 parts wagon.

 

[J Mack]

Does anyone have a picture of their factory rear view mirror? Been looking into replacing mine, naturally its unobtainum. The bigger issue im running into is mine seems to look a bit different than everyone else? (i will post pictures later of mine)

When I installed the Rosen aircraft sunvisors I changed my mirror to a Mercedes W126 at the same time, I’ll give you my old mirror for the cost of shipping if it will work for you. It’s out of a 1976 55.

 

[npulver]

That would be awesome JMack, incoming PM

 

[npulver]

Thank you Ron for the picture, mine is that exact same style. I had to "fix" one of the set screws on the side as someone messed it up somehow. Mirror never seems to stay in place and im always having to adjust it because of that.

 

[npulver]

Started putting part of it back together, not really 100% happy with how it went together. Decided to stop working about that section for now and come back to it once the rocker is about to go on. The one front corner kept blowing through when I was spot welding because it was so thin on the original part of the panel. Ended up bending up a piece and putting it behind to reinforce it and be able to weld it. Either my welder sucks (which it does. Craftsman 110 with only a high/low and fast/slow settings.) Or I suck at welding (I do....lol). Either way, It's much better than a giant hole.

 

[scrapdaddy]

NPulver,

You might know this trick, but I use an old piece of copper tubing and smash it flat to use as a backing, when welding holes. It works really good, if you can get to the back of the area. Hold it tight against it or even clamp it, etc.

Good luck with it.

 

[npulver]

Did not know that! Will be trying that for sure!

Just did some reading on the subject. Apparently you can use copper or aluminum, which is good because I have some old aluminum intercooler piping laying around I can cut up. Thanks Ron for the welding lesson!

 

[RAYJON]

discarded computer heat sinks work great, most are copper with a coating, I have a copper spoon also for hard to get places made from a piece of copper pipe...

better welder with .023 wire and bi-mix for a shielding gas works great. other wise do a small tack move an inch tack again then come back and slowly work the tacks together, don't weld more that about 1/4 inch at a wack, space it out and give the metal time to cool... also one of the small sand blasters works well on cleaning in the crevices before you weld.

 

[npulver]

better welder with .023 wire and bi-mix for a shielding gas works great. other wise do a small tack move an inch tack again then come back and slowly work the tacks together, don't weld more that about 1/4 inch at a wack, space it out and give the metal time to cool... also one of the small sand blasters works well on cleaning in the crevices before you weld.

Sadly to say, around all the curved parts i was doing tacks and it was still blowing through. Then i started chasing the blow through (stupid me). Luckily im pretty good at learning from my mistakes and other people. The rest of the welding should go smoother.

 

[RAYJON]

there is some stuff that absorbs heat, the auto body guys use to keep from warping thin panels,

http://www.alvinproducts.com/Products/Content.asp?id=36

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-anti-hea...om&utm_medium=Merchant-Centre&SRCCODE=1SE1531

 

[bobm]

If You need to call

 

[npulver]

Skipped a day of updates so i'll add those with todays

Week ago "More cutting" farther and farther down the rabbit hole...

 

[npulver]

The more i cut, the more i find i want to cut out. Hence the rabbit hole, im sure most of us have been there.







realized the piece that i spliced in towards the back is ever so slightly at the wrong angle (i miscut by about 1/8 inch) errrr.....

Underneath whats left



Put in place, this is when i found my angle was off. Was not happy, and spent the next few nights dreaming about it. Also was not happy that i cut the rear chunk out of the Bobm rocker.

 

[npulver]

So we are at today, and first order of business was to correct some mistakes. (live and learn)

Welded the Bobm rocker piece back into place.



Also found this little "Easter egg" when i was cleaning up the rocker. Though it was super cool.



After some mild trimming, its tacked into place! Was so stoked i got the wife and showed her (got the typical woman response...lol)





started welding (dont mind the chicken s*** welds...thats what a grinders for)







Have some welding to finish up, but im done for the day. Back at it another day.


Overall, i know my work is not perfect, However, this has been one heck of a learning experience!

 

[scrapdaddy]

You should be damn proud of that work! Looking back to what you started with and now you have some solid metal. I think it's so cool, to be able to cut out a section of rot and weld in one of Bob's pieces, making it look so good.

Good Job!