Project "Sparkle Wrench"....1972 TLC 40 and all his rusty friends!!!

[Razorsharp]

This is not a flexible wheel this is the Stiff wheel? I am going to try and take this on next fall. Recommended cut off tool manufacturer? Pneumatic vs electric as well as a plasma cutter brand that won't turn to $hit in short order?
Thanks for the input.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

This is not a flexible wheel this is the Stiff wheel? I am going to try and take this on next fall. Recommended cut off tool manufacturer? Pneumatic vs electric as well as a plasma cutter brand that won't turn to $hit in short order?
Thanks for the input.

I have a Blue Point (still Taiwanese made) which is good, but I also have a Kobalt as a spare on my tool cart. Both use a hard cut-off wheel. You'll get a ton of opinions on what to get, but look for one in your budget. If I were you I'd look on ebay or craigslist for one. I've bought five used tools off of CL for the price of one new one. Basically, keep your eyes open.

As for a plasma cutter I'd say DO NOT buy a Chinese unit. You will smoke the circuitry in a New York minute and they have the WORST customer service known to man. I own a Thermal Dynamics PacMaster 25 which is about 15 years old and has NEVER given me a problem. Thermal Dynamics and Hypertherm plasma units can be compared to Lincoln and Miller welders.

The one thing you'll have to consider when buying a plasma cutter is that the units which will cut thicker material will require 220V. If you already have it in your garage/work area you are good to go, and I recommend a larger unit. If not it can be a heafty expense to have installed on an already $$$$ tool purchase. Also, I would recommend purchasing a unit that requires you to plug in an adequate air supply (aka big shop Compressor). Though I've never bought or a plasma cutter which had it's own air source I know people who have and say they can have a tough time keeping up if you are doing alot of cutting. I did use an Esab one which had its own built in air source. It cut ok, but not like my unit connected to my dad's Ingersoll Rand T30 shop compressor. It was like night and day. Some food for thought.

 

[Razorsharp]

You were looking for front floor under fuel tank, you may already have this info but for what it's worth.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200863239093&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

 

[toomanytoyzz]

You were looking for front floor under fuel tank, you may already have this info but for what it's worth.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200863239093&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

I found a clean factory piece from a guy scrapping a tub. He cut me the section I needed out. It was from CA so it's in great shape. In regards to that piece it is pretty inexpensive, but I've heard mixed reviews about the quality. I believe there are a few threads about it on the site as well.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Well, I guess we all survived the end of the world. Back to rust repair ladies and gentlemen. I started working on the upper wheel well, and have a ton of grinding to do. Here's some pics.

I'm gonna have to replace all the supports. Gonna go a little beefier this time around.

This was the only area where I had to remove a section of the rib. Thank God!!

Started the welding. It got a little bowed from the heat, but having a 1 1/2" thick welding table which acts like an anvil really helps.

On to the next section. I'm starting to see a pattern here.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

...........and some more with a vid.

Does anyone know what this support I drilled out is for? It has a captured nut welded to the bottom.

all welded up!!

Here's a vid.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Also got to cutting off the 1/4 panel. It's been quite a few years since I've put one on. I wasn't sure how high up the new 1/4 went so I did a few quick measurements and fired up the plasma cutter. It's amazing the can of worms you open once you start cutting out rust.

I got a bit carried awaywith the plasma torch a nipped a little bit of the strap which is welded/bolted to the 1/4. I'll be able to clean it up. It was only in a couple of small areas.

This is something I had to dig out of the scrap pile since the new 1/4 from Real Steel doesn't come with the tabs. Not to say you couldn't easily fab up two sets, but if you got it use it.

Looks ok up top.

Not so much for the bottom.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

............and the final few. I'll be back at it after the holidays. Heading to the Poconos next Sat. for a few days of needed R&R. See you in 2013!!

Gottalove the plasma cutter. Took me about 2 minutes. Would have taken me twenty minutes and two whiz wheels with my grinder.

Thought I'd share one of my other side hobbies. I have an addiction with old vises. Picked these two up at a flea market a couple of weeks ago. Gonna restore them as well. The one with the green paint (what's left anyway) is a Reed #104. Weighs about 50+lbs while the other is a Rock Island #93 and probably weighs close to 50lbs. Both are leaps and bounds better than the junk you see Harbor Freight sells. They have both stood the test of time and are ready for another 100 years of service.

This final pic is something I just saw on my way home that I had to snap a pic of. Can you say HOARDER!!
I guess he/she ran out of room in the house. I know it's a disorder, but it is one of those disorders that maes you do a double take when you see it in person. Almost like tourettes.

This is the final vid for tonight. Enjoy!!

 

[Dedtruk]

Hey Sparkle, you're really startin' ta p*$$ me off! I'm Rustic Green with envy at your progress (while my projects languish)! Is that a mini front axle I spot in the background a couple posts up? Happy New Year!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Hey Sparkle, you're really startin' ta p*$$ me off! I'm Rustic Green with envy at your progress (while my projects languish)! Is that a mini front axle I spot in the background a couple posts up? Happy New Year!

Good eye. Yes it sure is a mini truck axle. It is for my cousin's (who you met) '86 mini, but he hasn't touched it since he bought it. I think it will be mine for a small fee.

I'm heading up to the shop tomorrow to put the DS 1/4 panel as well as the rear sill on.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I was supposed to head to the Poconos this weeknd, but my wife and I decided to stay local for New Years. We did enough running around for Christmas and the weeks prior.

Anyway, I got to go up to the shop for a few hours today. Got the 1/4 lined up and tacked in. Just got to finish welding it shut and then some grinding. Did I tell you how much I HATE cutting out spot welds!!!! I'll be back at it next week. Can't wait 'til the spring so I can get this tub down to my father-in-laws garage and get more time to work on it.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!!

Getting it all lined up.

It's a little hard to see, but I scribed the line before removing the vise grips.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

These next few pics show the process of removing the upper spot welds and removing the remaining original quarter panel in order to but the new quarter up.

These pics show it cleaned up before spraying the weld-thru primer.

Here's a couple after sprayingthe primer.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

These pics show the patch I did for the inner rocker section. It will need tobe tweked once I remove the rocker and figure out how much of the floor and rocker need to be replaced. I just added the small patch in order to get the quarter panel lined up and tacked in.

The final showing it with some fresh primer.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

And finally the last of the evening. The quarter is on!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!

Decent line to weld/work with.

....and of course a small vid before tacking on the quarter.

 

[Dedtruk]

Lookin' good man, great progress! Have to catch up with you soon and check Sparkle out!

 

[Mongoose317]

Great job...thanks for the photos and youtube link. I've got to do the same repair to mine.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

The 1/4 is all welded up (on the outside anyway)!! A couple of low spots on the rear,but nothing I can't pull out before wiping it with some body filler. It took me awhile since I had to take my time welding the seam shut. Alot of moving around.

Here's a few pics and a vid.

I have to finish grinding the holes I welded up (not in pics) where the aftermarket softtop once mounted to.

Here's the vid.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Here's the rest. I got the pass. side 1/4 cut off and removed. Also drilled out the spot welds and removed the upper wheel well from the 1/4. I still have to finish cutting out the spot welds on the filler neck housing which is still mounted on the truck, but it was getting late.

The pass. side is in just about the same condition as the drivers. Lucky me.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Here's the last set showing the condition of the pass. side upper wheel well. It's a "little" bit better than the DS, but not much. Oh well, another thing I need to add to the list.

The lip seems to be in much better shape than the Ds, but it makes up for it where it attaches to the lower wheel well.

.......and the final vid for tonight.

 

[corleykj]

NICE JOB

The 1/4 is all welded up (on the outside anyway)!! A couple of low spots on the rear,but nothing I can't pull out before wiping it with some body filler. It took me awhile since I had to take my time welding the seam shut. Alot of moving around.

Here's a few pics and a vid.

I have to finish grinding the holes I welded up (not in pics) where the aftermarket softtop once mounted to.

Here's the vid.

That quarter panel is awesome. Nice job. How many hours do you think just the quarter panel took?