I hope Rob F you have a look at my thread and see where I am on my project and realize how far you have come. Keep plugging away!
I mentioned in the New Members forum about my rad support I did a quick glass blast on.....well after the thick undercoat, paint and dirt was removed this is what I find....I knew it was not great but.....ugh...
It just got worse
So.... try and find a used one? I had to find the correct one, 350, Auto no air, without rust...tough. Buy a reproduction? $$$. So I thought I would try a repair, or more correctly a rebuild, the lower third to be exact.
I started out buying some 16 gauge steel and a bit of 1/2 flat bar. With the measurements I felt I could build it up, maintain the numerous curves and profiles without having to get any fancy bending done.
Just had to keep cutting to get rid of the rot, especially the inside. Looked good from the outside but was really thin. About 1/3 up the rust on the inside stopped.
I use drilled holes as a way of fastening the pieces together...similar to a spot Weld.
Angle iron (old bed frame) was used to maintain the original dimension and keep things straight. I found that too much heat and things twisted and warped like crazy.
This is the one side finished....
Finished....a tad heavier with the solid bar in there, as well as a 1/2 a spool so .25 mig wire but....nice and strong.....and measures within a 1/16th of the old one. I am sure the three coats of paint and road grime I have scraped off the car will make up for the extra couple pounds.
I have since done a skim coat of filler, to smooth out the finish (I'm maybe 70% Welder and 30% grinder). Material cost...maybe $25, including welding supplies. All in all in was a great learning experience, welding, fabricating, and what I saved can be spent on the shiny parts!
I mentioned in the New Members forum about my rad support I did a quick glass blast on.....well after the thick undercoat, paint and dirt was removed this is what I find....I knew it was not great but.....ugh...
It just got worse
So.... try and find a used one? I had to find the correct one, 350, Auto no air, without rust...tough. Buy a reproduction? $$$. So I thought I would try a repair, or more correctly a rebuild, the lower third to be exact.
I started out buying some 16 gauge steel and a bit of 1/2 flat bar. With the measurements I felt I could build it up, maintain the numerous curves and profiles without having to get any fancy bending done.
Just had to keep cutting to get rid of the rot, especially the inside. Looked good from the outside but was really thin. About 1/3 up the rust on the inside stopped.
I use drilled holes as a way of fastening the pieces together...similar to a spot Weld.
Angle iron (old bed frame) was used to maintain the original dimension and keep things straight. I found that too much heat and things twisted and warped like crazy.
This is the one side finished....
Finished....a tad heavier with the solid bar in there, as well as a 1/2 a spool so .25 mig wire but....nice and strong.....and measures within a 1/16th of the old one. I am sure the three coats of paint and road grime I have scraped off the car will make up for the extra couple pounds.
I have since done a skim coat of filler, to smooth out the finish (I'm maybe 70% Welder and 30% grinder). Material cost...maybe $25, including welding supplies. All in all in was a great learning experience, welding, fabricating, and what I saved can be spent on the shiny parts!
