i have been kepping busy

[Joel Torres]

i removed the body from my donor car (1983 monte carlo)

keeping chassis full drive train electrical floors for spare metal ect.. i have some photos up on my myspace page

http://www.myspace.com/joelnaimee

click my wedding photo to access my picture folders

i will have to extend the rear section of the chassis 9"

the front body mounts are in the same spot motor will sit in the same spot as orig i cut the monte's floor where the trans sits in case the new trans is high

i also cut out the firewall where the master cylinder fuseblock steering go thru and once i sit the body down i can see where everything sits i will weld them in place

[Frank Blackstone]

I have no fear of attempting the improbable. It's a family trait that if you tell us we can't do something we find 6 ways to Sunday to do it. Gold Old American ingenuity. I built a full boxed frame up 9 Gage ride last Winter around a Isuzu diesel engine that I am converting to biodiesel. so rock on brother but spends some time having fun. Especially with the family. Fearless Frank

[Joel Torres]

ok after work i pulled the old chassis out and slid the new chassis under the body i lowered the body onto the chassis in the front section to see how close it is it looks great the rear rails are the same place

once the chassis is extended i will cut the floor where the rear frame raises up over the rear end and then lay new sheet metal to cover it up

[Normspeed]

Keep posting the progress reports when you can, I gotta see how it works out.

[Joel Torres]

ok was busy all week so after work i got started up again

i parked the chassis side by side to compare

first pic shows center of front wheel and the front body mounts line up but.....

motor is a little more towards the front then orig worst case scenario i can install an electric fan or move motor and trans back a few inches no big deal

second pic is my guide lines im going to use when i cut the chassis to extend the frame basically using the square tubes to measure distance in every direction so if they start of 9" 3/4 apart what ever distance i separate them it should square out the same all around so il weld these in soon

third the area that gets cut include the drive shaft and muffler pipe

fourth pic (tilt your head to the right lol)

you can kinda see where the motor sits the fan pully on the monte motor sits right about where the plymouth radiator is so take out the spacer mount electric fan in front of radiator and problem solved i think or move motor mounts trans mount back 6 inches i guess not to worried with a torch and welder i can do what ever

fifth pic here you see body mount on the left of the big hole right above the rubber bushing is where the plymouth body mount goes i should have place the bushing there but wasn't thinking but you get the idea

if it looks like kaos or you want to trow an idea my way fell free i respect all your suggestions plus i doing this all completely7 by myself (yes moving chassis into place and all ) so any ideas would be great maybe im looking at something wrong

[Joel Torres]

ok i cut it and moved it back

[Joel Torres]

starting to add the braces to help me square it i think its 117" wheel base this is by far the hardest part cause i am doing it by myself but once i square it im welding it up

[Joel Torres]

started doing the chassis work today

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346922&page=4

[Joel Torres]

after cleaning and painting the chassis is done i will start the surgery of transferring the body to its new rails

i will try to remove the nose as one part so i can pop it back on for referance

[Joel Torres]

[Joel Torres]

air bags installed in the rear

[Joel Torres]

[Joel Torres]

[Joel Torres]

[Don Jordan]

Silly question:

When you register that car will you register it as a 47? Will it need to pass a smog test?

I really admire you guys with a skill and talent. I'm always reminded of a sign at a motor cycle shop I used to go to - it said: DO IT YOURSELF - WE MAKE MORE MONEY THAT WAY.

It will be interesting to see the finished product. Keep posting.

[Joel Torres]

yup registered as a 47 but once im done with everything i will value it at a higher price

she has allot to be done

i have to put the body mounts in place and trim a a part i welded in the wrong place but everything lines up nice

i will be running the motor 100% stock for fuel economy

the trunk floor area has to be replaced as its shot so il do that once she is bolted down and after i get everything done im going to tear it apart and rotisserie the body and seam seal and undercoat ( i can't wait)

[woodscavenger]

I'd love to see what you could do with a large indoor shop. Great work. It keeps me motivated to do more on my truck.

[HotrodLono]

Its in the momentum... full throttle and hair straight back, it looks good on you!

[Joel Torres]

i have a minor problem with the floor supports i replaced with square tube cause they raise the body of the frame an extra inch so i either make up the difference or remove them and redo it so the body sits lower im not in a rush as this is very important step right now like i said before im not a professional and its only me working on it if i had more people i would have more ideas on hand so i am looking at all my options and will use the best

ok so i have the body centered front to back

spare fender for mock up

mock up of front body mounts i kinda wish they where lower

[Joel Torres]

i was thinking of cutting out the floor supports from the old floor and extending the ones on the car and eliminate the square tubes but i wont get that much differance in hieght unless i body drop it which i don't want to do i hate when the floor are uneven so im leaving it at the height she's at and will start to fab body mounts tomorrow i need a break

and yes there is a whole complete car and a half of another in my shed of parts:D

[Joel Torres]

ok i put my big girl panties on lol and got to work

(for the record i do not wear panties)

i started this at 7 p.m. and finished at 12

ok i removed two brackets off the old chassis grinded and clean them up some

i removed a section of u channel type brace off the donor car floor and cut two small section's out

i welded the two small sections to the underside of the parallel square tubes

and placed the brackets on the frame and tac welded them in place this will raise my boy off the frame the way i want it

so far i have 4 body mounts done the next set i have the holes drilled in the frame with a bolt and bushing mounted but will rework it so the rubber has full contact ready for some pics cause im sleepy

my anti mosquito hood

[Joel Torres]