59 Catalina

idrivejunk · March 08, 2018, 08:18:51 PM

Floor frame is in it for keeps now, welding the front legs and toe boards in if I can tomorrow. It ain't perfect nor quite finished, and the H shaped seat braces are still just roughed in. I have several reinforcements to add here and there but the bottom side is alright now. I did get some seat details, width is 22". Cross your fingers for the frame. Seats I am told are same ones as in the brown and white 65 GTO ragtop but 2"wider. They look really low profile. Anyway here am pics, precise symmetry was not achieved but its within a horseshoe.

idrivejunk · March 10, 2018, 12:23:44 PM

idrivejunk · March 12, 2018, 08:20:08 PM

idrivejunk · March 13, 2018, 08:00:14 PM

Pictures are weak today, I was trying to hurry but I don't do that real well.

Left the floor as shown, and tackled front body mount brackets. It is a blast to work with thick stuff but the learning curve on that is bucking me somewhat. I have questions. Where is the guy with the clean garage but extra hot rod?

If butt welding 3/16" plate, what is the optimum gap? How about a T, or corner? I seem to remember hearing 1.5 X the thickness of the metal somewhere but is that right, 150%?

When attaching this bracket, rail and bracket being about the same thickness, would half inch plug welds on three sides be better than welding edges? I thought perhaps big plugs with short beads at the bottom on each side.

The frame is kicked up at a twenty degree angle where the firewall mount goes, so I made a tight fitting saddle over the rail with that tilt out of angle. Added 4" wide bar stock to extend it outward seven more inches then added 3/4" along the bottom of the saddle's outside because my angle steel was only 3"wide. Then I added gussets with a little slant cut at the outside tips, and there it is. The welds do go through, mostly, I think. We shall see in the next episode but I feel as though I am improving. Still not ready for prime bead laying time. But I am dotting the heck out of it and trying to keep straight.

idrivejunk · March 14, 2018, 08:19:59 PM

I'd like to take a paragraph here to honor them who make it possible for me to have this opportunity to post at the round table. Its a privelidge I have enjoyed for years and I appreciate the real life experience on tap in this forum. Thanks to all the faithful viewers as well for your gracious comments and sage advice. I hope to continue happily among RRT friends and appreciate this opportunity to share and participate. I am obliged to the powers that be, for allowing the first hand view picture size and detail. I believe that is important to the aspiring body man, and can be entertaining for an old hand. Lets enjenjoy.

Today one mount bracket took shape fully and I tacked it but need to cut those and clamp it better with body weight on it. The bolt holes are small in case they were off. The bushings in there are the tiny ones. I think we will have the bigger, sleeved bushings at this spot. Now that I have it fully in place I see I can shorten it quite a bit. Thats cool because the only pieces cut for the other side so far are the angles. I think I want to plug weld the top and inside and edges on the outside, of the frame rail.

I finished up both toe boards and am heading in the direction of the patch above the trans tunnel. I will continue to work on other areas besides the floor as much as possible in order to provide a wider stream of visual progress for boss and owner while awaiting key parts. Might wake folks up that read the thread too, its been pretty but dull. Ever know a woman like that?

kb426 · March 14, 2018, 08:54:05 PM

Matt, I'm watching. I have other stuff taking over my feeble brain power so I have little to say.

idrivejunk · March 14, 2018, 09:17:54 PM

Quote from: "kb426"Matt, I'm watching. I have other stuff taking over my feeble brain power so I have little to say.

Hey, you keep on doing whats right in front of you. I know you're here.!

Wanna have a feeblest brain power contest? I might give you a good run.

UGLY OLDS · March 14, 2018, 11:26:36 PM

Quote from: "idrivejunk"
Quote from: "kb426"Matt, I'm watching. I have other stuff taking over my feeble brain power so I have little to say.

Wanna have a feeblest brain power contest? I might give you a good run.

Hey guys ....Before you start that ,remember my signature line .....

:oops: :?

Bob...

idrivejunk · March 15, 2018, 08:20:52 PM

I practiced welding today. No reason to believe I will ever be able to do it. My body mount bracket was an attempt to grow and meet the needs of my employer. I took it upon myself to make the thing because I needed them on there to continue. Now I question whether I have been fit to work on cars at any point since taking the first bodyman job. Since current life conditions are forcing big changes soon anyway, I may just shoot for the gutter next because nobody can knock you down if you are already on the ground. I need to find a local job unrelated to cars, get a second hand bicycle, and find a cheap motel. Its the only ethical and feasible path. Trying to get my mind around that. I "welded" the front section of trans hump mostly in today also.

idrivejunk · March 16, 2018, 05:38:20 PM

Still trying to get my mind bent around the current state of affairs, but looky there I done finished me a area!

Told ya I can be found near the floor.

UGLY OLDS · March 16, 2018, 05:52:13 PM

Gee Matt ..... :? Now you can walk in Monday morning & hollar : HANG ON everybody....I'm gonna FLOOR IT :!: :!:

Bob....

chris spokes · March 17, 2018, 02:55:10 PM

nice tunnel work Matt

idrivejunk · March 17, 2018, 09:18:08 PM

Quote from: "chris spokes"nice tunnel work Matt

Thanks, Chris. Took long enough!

There, somebody had to say it.

idrivejunk · March 17, 2018, 09:35:05 PM

Quote from: "UGLY OLDS"Gee Matt ..... :? Now you can walk in Monday morning & hollar : HANG ON everybody....I'm gonna FLOOR IT :!: :!:

Bob....

I'm sticking a red star on your workbook for that one, Bob.

If my timing is right I can knock that one outta the park.

Nice clown work.

Been kinda picking up on a vibe at work that maybe I should pay more attention to... I don't think it would upset anyone if I threw out the seat question entirely and finish what I built on guesswork. They can and will work with whatever I put. So maybe I should just declare floorfare and zap it all in. Naw... better screw it back in and go to trunk drops and bracing to resume working toward some structural integrity before wheelwells are cut.

Thanks for peacefully observing my thought processes, you gotta be a little off to do this stuff. I present this ugly but effective, running sanity preservation device as eye bleach. It looks sad but makes happy.

idrivejunk · March 19, 2018, 07:51:11 PM

Heres that change of scenery but not really new territory and we all know what the vise looks like. That thing takes a beating. Thanks Dad.

First thing today I blew the car off outside then chased hissy air fittings around the room. Annoyances out of the way, I leveled up body and frame. Then I took trunk drops off to finish preparing those. I had intended to make both of those panels but was able to just patch one and as you see, the fabbed one needed more love to resemble the original at the ends of the reinforcing bead. I loved on it then welded those in.

This is just kind of a refresher pic. I intend to shuffle tubing around back here and I have the mental picture.

This is the brace at the front of the back seat with added tubes now, and about to be notched over the driveshaft with a thick patch. Lastly, I'll add fins out at the ends like the others but thicker. I plan to go 6" forward from the brace with a tapered round up-notch in the tunnel to match the brace. Fingers crossed for clearance at full drop.

This is a fun part.

Hope I can zip through my plan.