falconvan Posted August 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 falconvan, what gauge sheet metal are you making your new floor pans out of ??? I understood you to say you are using 16 ga for the "rockers" and braces". Will you use the same or 18 ga. for the pans?? Cass.. Cass, I just cut the whole floor out of my 49 and am using it since I had just made it a year ago. It's made out of 16ga as I did the inner rockers. the outer rockers I bought; they look like 18ga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Well, that's one way of doing it !!! Ha!! Cass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Last section of inner rocker built and welded in; starting on floorpans this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2012 I didnt get a whole lot done today as my 5 year old grandson was here and wanted to help. That's cool; it's always fun breaking in a new little gearhead. We went to a carshow last night and he's excited to get this one done and take it to the show. He did say,"Paw paw, you need to put a fast motor in it!" He was pretty starry eyed at a big 6-71 blown Hemi powered Willys that was there. So anyway, we got the back half of the floor trial fitted and it looks pretty good so we pulled it back out and he painted the bottom of the panel for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2012 I had to extend the sides 2" so the floorpan edge would have something to sit on. I went ahead and painted the framerails and braces while I had access, too. The panel fits good; now to start tacking it down and move to the front half. So far, so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 It's welded down every 3" all the way around and it feels rock solid. Now onto the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I got the last of the floors tacked in today; now I just need to go around and finish welding the seams. I bought the replacement bolt in panel that goes in the drivers side floor. It gives you great access to everything when it's out. After a lot of thought I also decided to go with a small block instead of the flathead. I plan on driving this a lot so I think a few more beans will make it more enjoyable. Nothing big, just a 318 with a bigger cam and some standard bolt ons, along with this Dakota 5 speed I picked up yesterday. It should make a nice cruiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 looks like your moving right along with those floor pans. Are you welding them in solid, or will you use a "sealer" between welds ?? If so, what type do you recommend ??? I'm getting ready to repair my floors and looking for tips !! Your SEMO friend, Cass, alias littlemo.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) looks like your moving right along with those floor pans. Are you welding them in solid, or will you use a "sealer" between welds ?? If so, what type do you recommend ??? I'm getting ready to repair my floors and looking for tips !! Your SEMO friend, Cass, alias littlemo.. There's an online place called Autobody Toolmart, Cass. They've got several different types of paintable seam sealer that come in a standard caulk tube. I like the self leveling stuff but any of the stuff 3M makes is good. Im probably going to weld everything in solid but will still use some of this. Also, where did you get your 318 motormounts? I'm going to be looking for some shortly. Edited August 22, 2012 by falconvan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) falconvan; Speedway motors has the "universal biscut cushion sets" if you want to Manufacture your own "block and frame mounts"; or Butch's Cool Stuff sells complete kits. ( see my post p #2 and 3). I'm sure there are others, but they come to mind. Cass, alias littlemo... ADD: The "Bolt-thru Motor Mount Cushion Kit" I ordered from Speedway Motors was "Mr Roadster" # 720-9314 . I don't remember the Speedway number ?? Edited August 24, 2012 by littlemo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Found it, thanks, Cass. I'll have to get some of those when I get close to fitting the engine. I got one rocker welded in tonight. Not too bad of a fit for a cheap re-pop. The curve wasn't a perfect match so with a little persuading I got a decent fit and the door gaps are acceptable. The doors close nice and solid, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glendale Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 hey can you post a link to the rockers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Rockers came from www.rockauto.com. My grandson was over yesterday and wanted to help so we decided to start looking at what it would take to put the 54 dash in. After measuring we found it was about 2" too long so he helped me strip it down and we figured out a good spot to narrow it. Also, the 54 was a lot deeper on top and rounded at the back. I took the 51 dash and cut the top off to use as a pattern. Edited August 26, 2012 by falconvan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Then I traced it on the 54 dash and cut it out. It fits nice; I'll just have to make some small filler panels for the ends and it will be ready to prep for paint. My grandson thinks the car should be orange; I'll have to think about that one. He already talked me into going with a V8 instead of the flathead. Edited August 26, 2012 by falconvan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 You guys make a real "team'; what a pair !!! Cass, alias littlemo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 He's a blast to hang around, Cass. I love my kids very much but being a grandpa is something really special. I hope we build something together for him when he starts getting close to driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 No doubt, you will !!! Cass alias littlemo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I got the other rocker in tonight. They really did a crappy job when they stamped this one out. I couldnt get the front and rear body line to line up so I got the front lined up and the rear as close as it would go. I'll fix it later whenever I get around to painting the whole car. At least it's at the bottom where it's not noticeable when the car is on the ground. Now to grind the welds, some skim filler, and some primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 She's back on all four feet and I pulled the 318 out of the parts pile. New cam & lifters, timing set, oil pump, and gaskets came in the mail today for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Not sure why these pictures are turning out so grainy, I guess my camera has about had it. Anyway, I finshed a few welding spots and wire brushed all the old paint off the floor to start fresh. Next step on this is a coat of etching primer and some seam sealer followed by a topcoat but im going to take a break from the floors for a bit and start pulling the front clip apart and putting the drivetrain together. My back needs a break from all that bending over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 The camera may actually be capturing dust in the air from all the wire brushing. Good work either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Thanks, Ed. It's moving pretty good; hopefully it wont be too long before a test drive. Lots done today; I got the front clip apart, motor pulled, powerwashed the front of the frame, pulled all the suspention, and cut out the old crossmember. Tomorrow we start cleaning it up to get ready for a trial fit on the motor once it's together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 I got the frame cleaned up today; this has to be the dirtiest job there is when doing a build. It took about 4 hours with a heavy wire wheel on an angle grinder. I had cleaned and painted all the suspension parts on the 49 and it's the same parts so It'll all go on here. From this point it's almost all reassembly; that's a nice point to get to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlemo Posted September 3, 2012 Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Geez falconvan, you do as much work in a day as I could do in a month; just remarkable that you can accomplish that much in so short a time. Don't you ever sleep ??? lol... Cass, alias littlemo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted September 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hah! Thanks, Cass. I spent my work days organizing work for my crew so I guess I've gotten fairly good at organizing my own work and knocking it out at a good pace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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