59 Catalina

[idrivejunk]

Thank you guys for the kind words, I feel downright home, home on the range.  And boy could I use a nap. Whew!

KB, its all air. Theres no less than 3/8" clearance, everywhere. Is that what you mean? Mount cushions go right there next to the front inner seat mount point and sit on top of the front of the thick center frame section. Aft from that are the back seat area mounts. Planning to add a pair of mounts directly above the axle at tub time.

Today I completed many weld undersides with body on frame, then lifted the body off. It did not collapse! Moved body forward a half inch to jive with chassis guy and had him re-check fore/aft position. Check. Moved on to changing location of tail end mounts from tip of rail to inside corner. Pic angle is from inside trunk looking at the back of the passenger tail light area.

[kb426]

Ok. Unless a 400 lb. driver and passenger are in it, there should be no contact. I'm thinking that mentally, you are somewhat relieved.

[idrivejunk]

Sure am, just had a nap. I'd be willing to make a small wager on the weight capacity. I can't come up with a pair of 400 pounders but maybe 300+. It will not rub.

[idrivejunk]

Floor frame and body mounts all welded except the front two frame mounts. Body, in position for best floor frame clearance, is aligned with chassis center line within 1/8". With mount rubbers in and bolt holes aligned, I put 600 lbs of humans on the tunnel and had them bounce hard. This with an observer alongside to look for overall deflection, and me with my head in the trans hump, I am happy to report that none of us could detect any bending anywhere. Jiggling side to side caused a slight motion at the cushions under the trans hump but they are not attached. In other words structural integrity seems great even at this point. Lighting sucked in the trunk so the pic was crap. Just imagine the big boy bouncy house floor test. They didn't want their picture took.

[idrivejunk]

I made these today and tacked them on. Firewall body mount frame brackets. They are too low right now, I'll need to cut tacks because I didn't nail it first try. But I think I'll wait until I can fully assemble all the mounts and just use shims until then because with these barely reach bolts snug... one floor weld hits the frame. KB.    The toe board seam really hugs the frame like a bear and I wouldn't mind adding a pair of cushions there also. If anything rubs after I've had my way with bolting down the body and panel gaps, one of two things will happen... I'll move it up until it doesn't, or stuff like goes on top of rod frames can go there. Was that the right thing to say? :?



Another gut shot:



Just about have this patch trimmed to zero gap now. Back to outers until more stuff is here. Trigger was pulled on the 335 meats. Speaking of meats, nothing like crusty hamburger to weld to.

[kb426]

Looking at this makes me aware that I still need to work on my patience level when doing pita items. It's easy to forget how many hours nice stuff takes.

[idrivejunk]

Its truly not that nice. A metalshaper could spot slop all over it. I'm sure you can see that I'm a total slob with tubing. Its uneven all over the place except where it counts, and the welds are plenty so they would be adequate. My cues come from observing vehicle construction during a decade of crash work and thats also easy to see. Welding and fabrication study prior to accepting a position like this would normally be a given but I just kinda scooted over into it. The patience thing... well... for me finishing does not mean stopping, just new blurred scenery. My patience (with cars) cannot be finite, it must be infinite or I cease to exist.

[idrivejunk]

Figured I had better get the bumper up there before zapping away on that patch. Good thing! Bottom rear corner needed to come outward. Got that but now theres a small rub to address at the very bottom yet. Only have a couple bolts holding the bumper on right now. Had to add some rectangles to the frame ends flush with the outside and put holes for the rear bolts.

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

[chris spokes]

nice work    

[idrivejunk]

Thanks, Chris.  Have a seat and run your hand over it if you want. I hope to improve the straightness once I finish grinding the inside. Getting to both sides with a slapper and dolly is barely within reach from any direction, which adds difficulty for me.

[idrivejunk]

I vote no for the "murdered" look.

[idrivejunk]

[idrivejunk]

Perhaps a little funky like a funhouse floor but the right side trunk pan is in. Dot was here  Center section of pan, in between tank braces will be left open until ride height, tank shape at fuel sump, etc are hashed out. Tires are on the way.



The square holes are at body mounts. Next is to dig out a lead repair and fix dents above the quarter patch on the other side.