Maybe I'll work on my..... something.

Finalized the length and shape of the forward trunk panel. I'll get more metal tomorrow to finish the trunk and start the cabin floor. Need to get a 8'x6" strip of 12ga to make the recess for the firewall then I can finalize the shape of the trans arch on the firewall panel I am making.

 

Got a HF 30" brake. Modified it enough to get some work done. Bending the fuel cell surround/trunk.
Kinda SOL on getting much done. Steel shop only had one piece of 4x4x16ga. Amazed that they dont keep a stock of more than one sheet.

 

First trial fit. Still need to bend the top edge over.

 

I drilled three holes through one layer at each overlap and put a rosette weld in each. A little too hot on the first one (top driver side) and gave the metal a zit that I couldnt live on knowing was there. Flap disc took care of it.

 

Out melting metal together. Sun coming up. Leg started to get warm, I was thinking sunlight was coming through the trees. Leg started to get really warm, and then I looked down. Nope, not sunlight. My jean were on fire. Apparently a spark found the perfect fold and decided to share the warmth.
Thankfully they are work jeans and just started to burn leg hair....

 

Once I read it was just the leg hair

 

Welp. Tubs are all welded up and welded to the car. Not having a good day today. Arthritis in my hand and sciatica are pretty bad today. I cant fully close my hand and it made it very hard to control the welder. But I guess its good enough to hit the welds with a flap disk and still be more than confident that I will be dead before those tubs fall out.

 

Did a little bit of cleanup and pulled the motor out today. Ran out of $ for this month after some unexpected expenses. Ill be working a bit more on the trunk and building the firewall and cabin floor. I already have most of what I need, so I can do some work without putting stuff on the CC.

 

Im liking that HF bending brake. Makes it easy to put lips on pieces to attach cleco pins and give good points to weld. Im currently working on trying to figure out a new trunk latch. I really could use a slip roller for some of these parts. That 16ga gets to be a pita to curve when working with small sections.
The two curved tail panels have a 1" lip going down and are attached to the fuel cell surround.

 

Just have to make the two pieces at the corners, then the trunk floor components will all be done. Got the curve on the two pieces at the front of the cell surround by attaching them to a 4" pipe with vice grips then rolling it to the shape I wanted.
If anyone plans to do stupid sh** like this, I will tell you one tool set that is awesome. CLECO PINS.
I still have to build a couple vertical supports where i cut out the original ones that will go to the tubs. Then start building new body mounts.

 

Building the firewall recess.

 

Looking awesome!

 

Still have a little more to do, but I am calling it done for today.

 

Test fit the motor and tranny with the recess in. Decided to make the trans tunnel larger to clear a bit more. Also cut 1.75" off the bottom to allow more room to run fuel & tranny lines.


Edit: firewall recess is now fully welded in and weld smoothed.

 

Working on the body mounts. Got the rusted OE buckets cut out. New ones made from pipe and plate machined to what I needed. Tomorrow, I'll cut out a hole the new floor for the bucket to sit in and get welded in place.

 

Took out the OE trunk latch and the recess where it was located. Cut a piece of 16ga to fit, will weld it in place in a little bit. This will give the new trunk latch more support.

Welded and smoothed.

 

Body mount buckets trimmed and welded to the first panel. Dont mind the mess, flux core welder and I havent cleaned it up yet. When it isnt raining, I'll pull it outside and grind them down to where they need to be for the new floor panels.
Had to do a little weld filling to close the gap where i took rotten metal out.

 

New trunk latch figured out. Have to get a power trunk release and build the brackets and box for it. But, i know now where/how everything needs to be.

 

Building the last of the needed body mounts. I may or may not put one on each side at the fuel cell. My step bit couldnt handle the thickness of the angle, so I had to get the holes cut out up at the machine shop. I'll have them completed tomorrow. Taking a break for dinner before I go out and make the rest of the components for the frame mounted portion. For clearance, I have to box out the floor a little.

 

So, Im trying to figure this out. After hunting for dead space that I can use to mount my batteries, I came up with this. Im thinking use a couple lengths of DOM to make crossmembers then build cradles off of them. Im thinking one battery in this location on either side.