Fixing my brothers UC hatch
#226
Posted 27 January 2010 - 09:11 PM
It is good though
until it comes to cleaning... but cars are for driving not cleaning
#227 _AD_75_
Posted 27 January 2010 - 09:49 PM
#228 _niterida_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 12:07 AM
RED - If you want to paint it to look pretty in a magazine article
BLACK - if you are painting it to look good everywhere else :-)
#229
Posted 28 January 2010 - 07:49 AM
#230 _dirtbag_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 06:20 PM
The gearbox came out so the underside of the tunnel could get a good clean.
The crossmember that I had to cut through to fit the gearbox also got finished today. Where it was cut was welded to the new section from underneath, so it's all tied together now.
You can see through the shifter hole where the old crossmember has been welded to the new metal. It's not pretty, but I can bet you it's damn strong. Once it's had a bit of a grind It'll look better.
If you look on the outside of the tunnel where the new support is nearest the front you can see where the weld has penetrated from underneath where the old crossmember meets the new one.
With the LS1 due to go back in soon I hope, I knew the heater box would need attacking to allow room for the motor.
Here it is prior top chopping.
No stopping me now!!!!!
I screwed the heater box to a piece of 19mm MDF and marked out where the inside edges were. This was made easier by the gaping hole I'd just cut into it : )
I then used a jigsaw to cut the centre section out from in between where the mounting screws were. I then aped the edges, so the fibreglass wouldn't stick to the MDF.
The reason for doing all of this is so the heater box will keep it's shape while I fibreglass it back together. Cutting the hole in the MDF means I can gain access to the inside of the heater box to do the actual fibreglassing.
Here it is with all the bits taped into position. Make sure all the surfaces are sanded rough and super clean before fibreglassing.
And here's the heater all 'glassed up. It's a stinking hot day today so didn't take long to dry.
This is what it looked like with the tape removed from the outside. It's certainly going to give the motor more room, and still function as an air duct.
It has a much thinner profile now.
Once it's had a bit of filler work it should look fine.
#231 _evil UC hatch_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 06:33 PM
#232 _dirtbag_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 06:48 PM
The top radiator support bar has been made removable. When I did that, I actually flipped it over 180 degrees as the top of it was really bent and ugly. The bottom of it was perfect, hence the flip over. The only problem is that the holes now didn't line up with the bonnet catch. New captive nuts were fitted and the old holes welded up. Simple.
This is the first time it's had the LX bonnet catch fully bolted in. Yay.
The chrome bonnet latch was also fitted and adjusted.
Finally the bonnet is latched down without a bungy strap
Next thing to do was to start mounting the headlights. I made a cardboard template and transferred it to a piece of 2mm steel.
I took a guess at the size of the hole I had to cut by tracing a 5 inch cutting disc.
The headlight sat about 10mm too far out, so my guess wasn't too bad.
To fix the problem I just flared the edges of the hole so the headlight bucket could sit in a bit further. It looks neater too in my opinion.
I screwed the light in temporarily with some long wood screws, so I could get the light to stay still while I measured how long to make the mounting brackets.
And no, the wiring wont be staying there, it will go through the front of the headlight bucket, behind the nose cone.
Just a look at the new piece from the front.
With the light secured by the screws I was able to take some measurements for the mounting tabs. I didn't get a chance to make them today, but that's what tomorrows are for.
That's it for another day.
There you go Jason you smart a$$ hahahaha
I always like to get as much done in each session as I can, but some things, like mounting lights perfectly in the middle of a big opening takes longer than you'd think. That's my excuse anyway : )
#233 _evil UC hatch_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 07:25 PM
#234
Posted 28 January 2010 - 09:08 PM
Headlight mounting looks really nice, you must have a lot patience with this stuff to be bothered making the second one for the other side!
#235 _evil UC hatch_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 09:29 PM
^ Some might say premature...
oh ok, I will stay up late and watch tv, there will be an add that has a number of someone who can help me with that
#236 _dirtbag_
Posted 28 January 2010 - 09:29 PM
#237 _DomDom_
Posted 29 January 2010 - 03:20 PM
Oh crap, do I have to make another one?
I Hope so!
#238 _dirtbag_
Posted 29 January 2010 - 09:14 PM
I was thinking about welding the backing plate in, but thought being able to remove it might be easier for any future headlight issues. I'll just bolt the backing plates in with some more stainless allen bolts, same as the flares and bonnet scoop have.
The mounting tabs were tricky, as the bucket doesn't sit level with the backing plate.
They're not pretty, but they're strong.
Here's the plate fitted so you can see the 3 mounting tabs that secure the headlight bucket. Getting this in the perfect position was a little tricky, but I somehow managed to fluke it in the end.
I got the other headlight backing plate finished today as well.
Here's the other headlight bucket fitted onto its new mounting tabs. I'm really happy with the position of the lights in the opening. With the surrounds in place they look really good.
Here's both plates clamped in place with the headlights screwed in. I think the look is nice and clean from the inside. Once it's all painted I think it will be a nice touch having no wiring.
The rest of the day was spent dry rubbing the car with 120 grit to get it ready for its next lot of primer. I'm hoping to get that done tomorrow.
The flywheel and ARP bolts arrived too. That flywheel is seriously light. I just need to get the sump back from the welder to fit it all back together and start making extractors.
#239
Posted 30 January 2010 - 06:06 AM
Looking forward to seeing these... and start making extractors.
#240 _dirtbag_
Posted 30 January 2010 - 11:44 PM
Looking forward to seeing these
I'm looking forward to seeing them too. Not so excited about building them : )
#241 _dirtbag_
Posted 01 February 2010 - 12:45 AM
Nothing more fun than hours of sanding : )
It's nice in Qld summer when you're all sweaty and then there's this primer dust all over you. Lovely!
Just filling some minor problems. I couldn't even feel these low spots, I only found them by sanding with a long block.
You can sort of see where the little bits of filler are. They're pretty much see through it's that thin, but had to be done. I should have found all the imperfections by now, but that's kind of what this whole process is about. Getting it as good as possible. Plus I find it a lot easier to see what's going on with this darker primer.
All the flares got a rub down as well with 120grit paper ready for more primer. Then the rain came, so I just kept sanding other bits instead.
The good thing about the rain is my little volksrod gets a wash.
The hatch is the last panel to get sorted out properly. It's pretty good now, but still has some little wobbles. I just smeared the problem areas and will block it out next week. It's probably only about 1mm thick at the moment, but should make all the difference. The sun is coming out again so want to get some primer on other panels.
The primer went on fairly well. While it's wet and somewhat glossy I can see if the panel has any faults. I have to say it's all looking really good. So it should, it's taken long enough.
All the flares, bonnet scoop, cowl panel and headlight mounts all got a few coats as well.
The bonnet that was such a pain is finally spot on.
The scoop is looking a lot better too.
#242
Posted 01 February 2010 - 05:26 PM
#243 _Woodsy_
Posted 01 February 2010 - 08:41 PM
#244 _niterida_
Posted 01 February 2010 - 08:54 PM
That should be your next project - build a car from scratch - I reckon you could do just about do that
#245
Posted 01 February 2010 - 09:20 PM
everythings looking top notch, bonnet and scoop came up a treat. this post was really just an excuse to mention the volksrod, i love it! i noticed it earlier in the thread and was going to mention it. whats the deal with it?
yes, please tell me you drive it around town !
#246
Posted 02 February 2010 - 12:08 PM
Oh you build has been very enjoyble to follow, although I wish you stuck to more UC bits though.
#247 _dirtbag_
Posted 02 February 2010 - 12:22 PM
As for the front trailling arms on the dakdak, they're not reversed. I've lengthened the wheelbase 10 inches by moving the front beam forward.
Here's the front end when it was stock.
Here's the beam extender fitted and steering lengthened etc.
And here it is now.
Here's a pic of the extender without the beam on, so you can see what it is.
This beam extender lengthens the wheel base by 10 inches and lowers the car 2 1/2 inches. I then welded adjusters into the front beam so the car is now about 5 inches lower than stock.
Hope that helps.
#248 _niterida_
Posted 02 February 2010 - 02:08 PM
I lowered it another 2 inches at the fornt but don't have any photos of it like that :-(
Edited by niterida, 02 February 2010 - 02:09 PM.
#249 _dirtbag_
Posted 02 February 2010 - 08:38 PM
Another thing I find really funny about this car is the interior I did for it. Here it is when I bought it.
And here it is now
Haha. It makes me laugh whenever I look at it. Obviously this car is very serious........NOT!!!!!! It has an EMPI quick shift though, because it really needs that
Here's another little project I have for a rainy day. It's a 1957 oval window.
Well that's enough about dakdaks!
#250 _Skapinad_
Posted 02 February 2010 - 08:48 PM
love your work Tim... such interest in your build means you have to keep moving at a great rate of knots, cant wait to see it finished........................in Black !
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