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

[toomanytoyzz]

Sorry guys, but this post is not about Sparkle, but my new (to me) welder I purchased today. I was really looking for an older Millermatic 200 or Lincoln SP 200, but couldn't find squat. I found a local guy selling a Hobart Beta Mig, but he rigged up a lincoln gun to it and did some other crap to the drive wheel which turned me off pretty quick.

I had seen this Airco Dip-Pak 200 unit on CL for about a week, but wasn't too interested because it's a rare machine which usually means good luck finding parts for it. I was throwing back a couple beers on Saturday so I decided to give the owner a call. He tells me he is the original owner of the machine and has all the paperwork to prove it. Going by the pics I can see it is a creampuff compared to most 220V machines I see for sale. He also tells me that he has only done light gauge work (1/8" and less) with it since new. Come to find out the guy is a foreman for a big named bodyshop and does restoration work as a side gig. He had an amazing home shop and was restoring a '71 Buick GS and a '56 Chevy Convertible. I also saw another rig (unkown 60's era GM make) under palstic wrap in the third bay of his pole barn. Basically, the guy knows his business, and looking around his shop I knew he was meticulous with his tools.

He put his bottle on it, fired it up and I ran a few beads on all settings. It is a very smooth running unit. I knew I wanted it, but the price was the last obstacle to climb. He had it advertised for $650 which I knew I wasn't to spend on a discontinued mig welder. After running the beads I guess I was a little too happy and I threw out $500 and he immediately replied with the word "SOLD!!" I probably could have got it for around $400, but it's a nice welder. I think I did ok. Hell, I bought an SP170T for $75 and sold it for $400 a couple years later. I think I'm still ahead of the game reagarding 220V welders.

Here's a few pics and a vid. I'm sure you will see it in the background during future Sparkle Wrench films!!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Here's the last pic and a vid. The bead was layed down on medium. I think I can get this unit to spray transfer on high.

 

[ARCTICMUTT]

Nice clean weld.

 

[Chamba]

I grin like a school boy with a playboy when I get a weld like that. Well done.

 

[huminajumina]

OO0000oooHHHHhhhh!!!!!!!! Nice!!!!!!! I bet you are going to put this baby to great use!!! Don't look at the welds on my page!!! hahahaha!!! your comment the other day was too funny!! exactly what I needed!!!

 

[shipmag]

Your welds look like you just poured butter they are so smoth nothing like mine. I'm embarassed now. Your one heck of a welder. Keep up the post about what you are doing. I have owned my 74 for 38 years and I have learned more in the last few months than all the years prior.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Thanks guys, but if you ever welded with a quality 220V unit like this one they put down a much hotter bead compared to a 110 unit. Even though you can get a similar looking weld with a 110V machine finding the sweet spot takes a little more practice. The bigger boys are almost like point and shoot to get results like this. I still think I can get spray transfer with this machine on high. I'm really diggin' it.

I'm taking my son to the Baltimore Aquarium this Sunday, but I'll be back at Sparkle with a vengence next weekend!!

 

[fj40duge]

looking good, subscribed!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

It's been awhile since I've worked on ye 'ole sparkle. If it isn't a graduation party it's a 40th B-Day party I am attending. Looks like they are slowing down for now which is good.

Anyway, I tacked up the new 1/4 panel. It went much quicker doing the PS since I worked out the quirks on the first one. I was surprised that it didn't come with the fuel opening cut out. Do I need a template or can I use the housing as a template. I didn't feel like dragging it out of storage and I completely forget how it was stitched together.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

...a few more.

 

[shipmag]

I would give you dimensions but im not close to crinkle have someone give you the dimension to the top forward corner the the dimensions of the cut out with a picture that way you know where they are measuring better to go get the one out of storage nut the top forward corner would still help locate the cut out. If you wait I can do it but it will be weeks. Some one on here could do it right away.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Sorry for the long delay, but the summer heat has crippled me in regards to working on the cruiser. I've switched gears for a few weeks to a marquee sign I've always wanted to make. I found the lights at a local flea market for $2 so I HAD to do it. I'm still going to need a string or two to do the outer border of the sign, but I have seen a few on ebay in recent going for decent money.

The sign is BIG. It's about 9' tall and I'm guessing it will weigh about 100# or more. I'm using 16 gauge for most of it except the border sections which will be 20 gauge. I bought one of those 3 in 1 metal working tools and it is only rated to bend 20 gauge steel. At least it will cut down on the weight.

The color choice (for now) is going to be red and white. Planning on painting the exterior of the sign/border red as well as the letters (no clear coat). The inner portion will be white. I'm still up in the air on what color to paint the 4x4 letters (any suggestions). I'm then going to media blast some portions of the sign and do some "antiquing" of the sign to give it the proper patina. I think it should turn out pretty nice.

It's going to take up some garage real estate for sure!!

Did I spell it right??

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Not much done on the cruiser, but I will pick up the pace shortly. I started this sign last month, and it's been a cool little project so far. I might be doing similar ones in the future.

Boxing in the letters posed a little more difficult than expected, but it got easier as I went along. I'm doing this with a small Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter and other basic metal working tools. A CNC machine would make this project simple to say the least, but I like a challenge .

I'm hoping to get the sign in paint in the next couple of weeks. One good thing is I'm going for an "aged patina" look. For once the pursuit of perfection is actually frowned upon with this project

 

[shipmag]

What is the purpose of the sign?

 

[s800]

That sign is gonna be great!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

What is the purpose of the sign?

Garage art. I collect gas and oil memorabilia, any cool old signs, but could NEVER afford a vintage marquee sign. I probably wouldn't buy one even if I did hit the powerball. I guess it depends on how big the jackpot was. This sign will take up some real estate inside the garage. It's over 8 foot tall.

It's still hot up here in the Northeast. I'm waiting for the weather to break to get back to Sparkle. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO ready for fall.

Anyway, I was at the shop today doing some other small projects so I thought I'd try and tackle the socket housing dilemma I've been struggling with. I came up with this setup which is just a piece of round tube and a couple of set screws welded to the back of the letter. I'll just have to make the holes a little larger on the sign so I can slide the tube into the sign and secure it with some bolts I'll drill holes for around the letters.

I'm going to be back at the cruiser in a couple of weeks. It's been too long. I was in the bay lurking around and saw about ten intricate/large spider webs inside the tub. They will be getting evicted soon.

That sign is gonna be great!

Thanks!!

 

[Ambrew]

Cool sign! I would Get an old opening for the fuel filler and patch it in. The edges of the opening are rolled back 90 deg. The fuel filler can be spot welded onto the quarter panel later. You can see the traces of heat where it got welded on the last picture.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Cool sign! I would Get an old opening for the fuel filler and patch it in. The edges of the opening are rolled back 90 deg. The fuel filler can be spot welded onto the quarter panel later. You can see the traces of heat where it got welded on the last picture.

Nice job on your tub!! Looks like a 79+. They are even less forgiving in the rust depratment than the earlier ones. They are also more difficult to restore the front floor sections because they have the humps(curves) since the gas tank was moved under the tub.

I think your stlye filler door is a bit different than mine. Yours obviously has the lockable door which I believe has a different shape than the later 74-78 tubs. Mine does not have any sort of door. I don;t think it has a bend on it either. I may be wrong, but I think it sits flush and the filler housing is spot welded to the 1/4. Again, I could be wrong.:whoops:

 

[texasrecurve]

Did you ever finish the sign? Cool idea.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

90% done. I had a bout with arthritis over the summer which made it difficult to get to work on the sign or my cruiser. I'm on Humira now and though I hate to take it my symptoms are VERY bearable and I can work on my projects now.

I bought a 1991 Isuzu Trooper in April and have been tinkering with this off and on this summer. I'm swapping in a 3.4l GM motor to replace the 2.8l one that had three dead cylinders. The 3.4l wouldn't have been my first choice, but it is the most compatible since just about everything from the 2.8l will swap over to the 3.4l. The guys over at Planetisuzoo are a close second to you guys in terms of knowledge with the willingness to help. Here's a few pics. Got it for $500 with the bad motor. It has 85k original miles and is 98% rot free. Imagine what you would pay for any similar model cruiser.

As for the sign the letters are painted and the bulk of the sign is in primer ready for paint. I will update this as well.