Framework - plans taking shape

So I had some time off this week, being Thanksgiving and all, so I had a chance to get to the metal yard and pick up what I needed to start my frame work. I picked up some steel tubing, mostly 2×4 and 2×6 with some plate as well. I think I will need to head back there again shortly to pick up some more stuff. Anyway, I got to work on the first part.

The rear crossmember. Rusted out and bent, it needed to be replaced. In addition to that I also needed to get the rusted bumper bolts out of the frame. So I went to work.

The rear crossmember is 50 inches and so when I got the metal I made sure to have them cut it to specification. It worked out perfectly.

With some prepping and my welder all warmed up it went in perfectly. Though you can’t see it, there are 4 bumper bolts that I had to remove from the frame. They were a royal pain.

My plan is to run a trailing arm rear suspension, simliar to nascar and so I will need to stiffen up the center of the car as well as take care of some of the rust issues. I plan on cutting out the center member hump, once I get every other brace welded in and the arms positioned. For now though, I have the center pieces in place. It reall stiffens up the frame.

Eventually I will have a 2×4 cross member running width-wise connecting the two outside rails and used as a locating piece for the front of the arms and I will probably run plate along the inside of the frame as well.

Bare Frame

The work has begun on the frame. I have removed the body bushings (small rubber disks cushioning the body and reducing the squeeking. Most are hard as a rock from years of weather and climate so those will definitely have to be replaced.

As well I have started to clean the frame and assess areas that need to be strengthened. I should be able to make quite an impact by welding some well placed braces and connection pieces.

Starting with this frame certainly makes me appreciate new metal as most of the frame has pitting.

I haven’t made a decision just yet regarding the rear kick up area of the frame and when I do I will post on my progress.

I have picked up driveshaft but haven’t had time to get it cut down quite yet.

Lift off!!

As I continued to dig into this project, I knew early that I needed to get to the frame to make sure that everything is strong. With so much of the parts running outside of the car like fuel lines, brake lines, exhaust, it would be a wise choice to start with a bare frame.

So, with a little help from another mercury owner I build a wooden buck to store the body of my car.

As with everything in this project having another person there to help makes things a whole lot easier. So my friend sawzall came over and we got it going.

The process wasn’t as hard as I thought, though I have a new appreciation for the “frame off” restoration process. I had to spend the afternoon cutting all the bolts free from the frame, moving the car to set it up, cleaning the garage and building the buck.

It was all pretty fun actually, but I think that now the hard part is coming. I looks like I might move in a different direction with the rear suspension opting for a trailing arm style, popular with NASCAR guys. As well I will be doing some significant bracing and welding of the frame as I have found some weak points.

All in all it took about 2 hours and most of that was set up and jacking the car up. With a little ingenuity and time it worked flawlessly. Now I can get to the fun stuff.

Next up is getting a drive shaft and pulling the drive train together. Stay tuned.

Fabrication Nation - It starts with a tape measure

Well, sorry for taking so long to update you, but my site is going through some weird problem with an internal server error. I cannot seem to upload pictures very easily.

Anyway I kind of found a way around it so that should work for now.

I have been pretty busy in the garage lately. With some more help from my friend Jeff - I got some pieces bent up so that I could start to fabricate pieces and move forward with undoubtedly the hardest part of this project - the grill.

The Desoto Grill swap is nothing new to custom guys, but until you do one, you have no idea what goes into it. Alot of measuring and take this word of advice from me - PAY FOR GOOD PIECES so that you do not have to work through all the rust repair and fit issues.

Feeling Nostaglic

It happens you know…looking back..thikning how easy something was..then realizing that at the time you thought it wasn’t..some pics from my first car.

Rebuilt the flattie and ran it around the block…i learned alot from that car..don’t miss it, but wish I could have done more with it before i sold it.

it was pretty sweet

Trunk Boxes

I have been off of work for two weeks as a vacation before starting my next position. As such, I have big plans for the car. My buddy Jeff is coming up on saturday and I plan to hammer out some major work so look for an update.

However, the last two days I have been working non-stop in the garage.

Yesterday I really got a good start on the trunk and did some much needed welding and clean up.

Here is the boxes for the two sides of trunk. They fit really well. I will hard weld them in when I get the fit better. The passenger side is for the air compressor and the driver side is going to be used for storage of anything I need (extra distributor, tools, and stuff like that). I also plan on making tops for them so that they open and close.

Passenger Rear Section

I cut this away a few weeks ago, but only now have gotten around to taking a picture. I tell you, this car is really teaching the true value of an original car. This rear part of the fender is where the inside wheel well connect to a small channel and then to the outside of the car. This small channel also allows for the rear fender to bolt to the body through the use of cages nuts (which is an exclusive ford design and one that they should hit over the head for doing…but I digress). So, as with the drivers side, this area has to be completely fabricated and made new. So, I have struggled to get the inside piece to weld fully, but I am finding and learning what battles to pick. Enough undercoating and POR 15 and that will never be an issue. The next step is to make an outer piece and weld it in, beign carfeul not to warp the side of the car as well as drill holes to mount the fender to. Shouldn’t be too long before this part gets done.

Drivers Side Fender

That is the truth. In the last 2 years, I have only come across 2-3 that were actually usable, and so I held on to the best one I had. Of course, when I went to get it sand blasted with some other parts, I found out I had more on my hands than I was ready for. Seems to be a little thin in an area on the top that I will have to replace…but how is that any different.

Anyway, I had to get it in primer so that it wouldn’t rust on me. Just a quick shot to get it covered, I will worry about it looking good once it is on the car and I plan on body working the entire car and that is when I have to worry how it will look.

Trunk Panel - Update

I recently updated a number of changes I have made and forgot to add this one. The way the trunk floor is set up I had to measure out and will have to fabricate quite a bit yet. So, I got the largest part of the project done awhile back - though it isn’t officially done yet.

The center piece will still need to have some reinforcement put into the panel with a bead roller, I just haven’t had time to get out to my buddy’s shop to do it. It will cover the gas tank and need to be removable for any servicing that needs to be done to the rear axle or underside of the car. Not a bit step, but every little bit helps. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Here it is with the beads rolled. Next step is to secure it to the brace with some screws.

And finally installed. I predrilled holes about every 4 inches or so and used self tapping metal screws to hold it down. I will put a soft gasket type material as well. Now I have to work on the side boxes to store the air compressors and mount the tank.

Custom Fabrication - Rear enclosure

I am not quite sure how I am going to do this, but I sure am glad that these old cars have so much space in the trunk. I am going to custom build two enclosures to go behind the rear wheels that can serve the purpose of storage and hold my air compressor for my front airbags.

Here is a picture of the passenger side which will hold the air compressor.

Another nice thing about an old car is that you can use it literally as the notepad for your project.

Now all I have to do is figure out how I can make one without having to weld up all the individual pieces.