Chassis extension

[Bill Holley]

yep looking good buddy.. u gonna cut the old bracket off and just use the newly welded on one ???

Oh ha scotty.. u back from vacation yet ???

[winfield scott]

Yes DB, back to the Balmy North

[frank_a]

Bill, the old bracket is for the rear radius rods. The new front ones moved 6" ahead to meet the 6" extension ahead of the motor mounts. I also had a new drag link made 6" longer. When I put everything back together, I will do new brake lines anyways, and have not yet figured out what to do with front wiring. I'm thinking I will elongate it inside the bucket...

Here's some pics from yesterday. I completely wire brushed the chassis, then went through about a whole roll of paper towels using NAPA's Kleanz EZ to wipe it down, then used NAPA's Rust Treatment to convert the rust to something primer will stick to. I did a bit of touch up after I took these pics.

Next (when the weather cooperates) is etching primer over everything. Also I started filling holes and weld stuff with JB Weld last night, but most of it did not set up overnight in my 40 degree garage. Got a bit of welding left to do, not much, and lots of other metal stuff to prep.

[Bill Holley]

looks great frank... now don't forget when your done... PAINT IT RED.. u gain 100hp.. if u paint it green u may as well put a 4 banger in it...

[Bill Cleveland]

Looking good, Frank; are you still planning to go with the dark gray top coat on your chassis?

[frank_a]

Thanks Bill. Doing good, but did not get as far as I hoped over the weekend. Nevertheless I did get all the basic fill done with long strand fiberglass filler on top of self etching primer on the bottom and sides, i.e. a lot that will never get seen! Tonight I will start filling with regular Bondo. Once the bottom and sides are done, then it gets flipped and I'll do the top. Once that is done, another coat of self etching primer. POR-15 says I can put their Hardnose Paint right over self etching primer, after a light sanding with 240 grit. I need the right conditions to do this stuff anyways, so am waiting for warmer, more humid weather. I got plenty to do, so have time.

Suspension stuff will get done in dark grey, chassis in dark blue. Some other stuff may get done in dark blue too, I'm trying to sorta figure that out as I go.

Again, these pics are all with the frame bottom side up. This first one is of the work around my headlight, shock mounts.



This next one shows where the 6" extension went.



Finally, this is where I'm at right now. You can see in the back where I took off the brackets that had been welded for my steps. No steps on the rebuild. Also, the radius rod brackets on this side took a lot of work because the brake cylinder mount and a body mount bracket are right on the other side. Trying to get everything to flow nice was not easy. My poor fingertips can attest to the amount of fine detailed sanding I did over the weekend!

[Bill Cleveland]

WOW! Lots of work. Cudos to you for the effort to make your T look good; I'm sure it will be a pleasure when it's complete. Way to go!!!

[frank_a]

It's a lot of work, but leaves me with a smile on my face. I look forward to completion, the way it shoulda been done to begin with!

Putting two big 5000W ceiling hung electric space heaters in the garage and my basement shop has meant I can do stuff like this even when it's crummy out, and trust me, it's been REAL crummy here all winter long. Even with it being 40 or 45 with a wind yesterday, I was working in a t-shirt and working up a sweat!

It will be interesting when I think I'm done and prime the whole chassis and see what I missed...

Frank

[frank_a]

I'm down to very thin bondo. It is my firm belief all these chassis rails are very slightly concave. They will be very flat when I'm done. This passenger side rail is mostly done other than a few touch-ups. This is the area the extension took place.



Also pretty much done is the front perch and bottom of the headlight/shock stalks.



More to come.

Just waiting for the right weather (68-75 and muggy) to paint stuff from the jag IRS that is done and ready. Will finish up the jag by end of the month with any luck, and the chassis as well. Once I get the bottom and sides of the chassis done, it will again get sprayed with self etching primer before it is flipped over to do the fill thing on the top. Have radius rods to do, new drag link, and need to clean and paint the TH350. Will keep y'all posted.

Frank

[Bill Holley]

look'n good frank... u building a show car now... next on your list is a trailer ?????? lol