My 1970 Mustang project - Frame/Floorpan/Subframes. Restoration Part-1 [Archive]

BlackGMC

02-22-2007, 12:25 PM

This is my first time posting on this site, I have a 1970 mustang coupe I am working on. I thought I would post up some pics of my homemade frame/body leveler. I am in the process of making new floor pans/Sub frames/rear crossmember/firewall/roll cage. I am basically trying to beef everything up and tie the two subframes together.
My first step is cutting out the rear torque boxes (I think that is what they are called) and putting a 2X4 cross member w/ intergrated Driveshaft loop where they were located.
Next step I will tie into the rear and front subframe with some box tubing and join them at the new rear crossmember.
There is going to be alot more but I will post up some pics as I progress.
Anyways here are the starting pics. Looks little rough but everyone has got to start somewhere.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/1.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/2.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/4.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/5.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/6.jpg

Rear tourqe boxes (I think they are called that) taken out so I can install a rear crossmember.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/9.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/10.jpg

Let me know what you think! :thumbdown: OR :thumbup1:

Cupid

02-22-2007, 03:11 PM

Wow.... verrrrrrry impressive. I want to do this to my 70 in a few years. Gotta take some welding and painting classes first! Keep us posted on the do's and don'ts of 'rotisserie-ing'...

Pakrat

02-22-2007, 03:53 PM

I think your DIY fab skills are impressive Correy. I love the homemade frame/body leveler idea. I am defintely of the school that you shouldn't pay someone to do something you can do yourself, especially when the cost of their labor can buy you the tools required. I just wish I had the welding skills to tackle some of what you are doing. That is about all I'm not tackling in my project.

BlackGMC

02-22-2007, 04:03 PM

Thanks for the compliments. Yeah welding is kinda art to learn. Luckily I worked in an exhaust shop in college so that is how I learned to weld, don't get me wrong I am not the best at it but the more I do the prettier the welds get. I only have a MIG now, but I am saving for a TIG, which will probably be a year from now, inbetween then I plan on taking some welding classes at a Junior College to learn how to TIG weld.

Yeah I am all about doing the work myself, I hate farming out work. Most people are just not up to my standards. Not to mention I am cheap, and working on a tight budget so I would rather buy the tools myself. Speaking of tools, seems like that is all I have been buying lately. I just refreshed my welder, bought a pipe/tubing bender, drill press, various other crap. Oh and tomorrow I am finally getting my bead roller for the floor pans (is it on sale at Harbour Freight for $99). The last tool I am missing for this stage is a Metal brake, and I just gotta order it and its only like $60.

I did purchase some parts, I bought the rear seat pans for NPD, since they were cheap and it would be kinda hard to make those. I also ordered a roll bar (the main hoop, the rest of the 6 points cage I will get later). BTW if yall ever need to order a roll cage or anything large from Competition engineering order it for Oreilly's autoparts, that way you don't have to pay the $100 freight and shipping. The main hoop only cost me $50.... Oh and I placed my order for all the steel I will need for the rear crossmember, I should picking it up Saturday.

Protowrxs

02-22-2007, 04:56 PM

BlackGMC

02-22-2007, 06:28 PM

Very nice and welcome to the site. Sounds like we all (well most of us anyhow) could learn some fab skills from your work through on the Stang. I like the idea of the driveshaft hoop.

I'm interested in your cage solution too. I'd like to at least have a main hoop and likely a four point at least but haven't decided yet.

So tell me more about the cage order at Oreilly's.. I had no idea they could/would get such parts. Do you need part numbers or something?

Keep us updated!!
-Stephen

They can order basically anything on the Competition Engineering website, so it is free shipping and no frieght!!!! The part number is C3039A ($50.99), that is just the main loop. Tell them line OSP. I will post up some pictures as soon as it comes in, hopefully it will fit good and follow the roof line.

For the rear bars I plan on using part number C3185
http://www.competitionengineering.com/catalog/images/c3185_part.jpg
it is there rear formed bars that follow the roof line and you can still use the rear seat. The door bars I am just going to buy some steel and fab those in myself, but make them removable, but must be at shoulder height. NHRA rules state that they can be removable from what I have read.

For the remainder I am still kinda thinking about those.

Max Power

02-22-2007, 08:52 PM

Welcome aboard BlackGMC!

Arrowhead

02-22-2007, 09:37 PM

Pretty cool

I'm working on a 70 coupe too. There's not a lot of them out the, but I think that's what makes them interesting.

Good luck

BlackGMC

02-23-2007, 02:37 PM

I got my $50 Oreilly autoparts (competition engineering) roll bar in today. It actually follows the roof line decently. Below are some pics of it mocked up.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/11.jpg

In this pic you can kinda see the headliner bar right above the roll bar.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/12.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/13.jpg

BlackGMC

02-23-2007, 04:53 PM

Backing plate for the crossmember and roll cage mocked up. I and also going to weld it to the leaf spring mount. I used 1/8 (~11 gauge) steel.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/14.jpg

Mockup of the cross member. It still needs to be trimed to fit and aligned and leveled but I just wanted to see how it would work.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/15.jpg

Pakrat

02-24-2007, 10:57 AM

hmmm, I wonder how well that hoop would match the roofline of a convertible? I have always wanted to add a Shelby one but they are just for show. This might not look bad though if it was padded and wrapped in vinyl.

BlackGMC

02-24-2007, 02:21 PM

Crossmember mock up.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/16.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/17.jpg

burritoboi5

02-24-2007, 11:59 PM

BlackGMC

02-25-2007, 09:54 AM

Your fab skills certainly exceed mine but I'm just starting to learn the whole welding bit and am teaching myself. I'm interested in adding a roll cage to mine though similiar to the one you are putting in and was wondering if you would be doing the welding on that yourself. And assuming your answer is yes what are the specs on your welder? Mine is only a small 130 amp mig home welder and I am thinking I will have to have it Tig welded by someone with a better setup. What do you think?

Thanks for the compliments. As far as welding skills, I am decent, not the best but not the worst. Yep I will be doing all the welding on my project, i am too cheap and picky to farm out work. Besides that is the whole fun in this project for me. Welding just takes practice and proper preperation. I only use a 120 amp mig welder. This is my opinion on welding, remember just my opinion. Gas mix is a must, flux core just plain sucks. So spend the money if you have not all ready and get gas. On thick stuff use .35 wire. Before you weld wipe everything down with acetone or lacquer thinner. Metal prep, always grind down the edges to a 45* angle. Like the following:

1. _ /
2. \ /

The thickest metal I am using is 1/8 inch, since this is a unibody car the body is still holding most of the weight and 1/8 keeps the weight down. As far as practive IMO you should go down to the metal suppy and buy like 5 foot of 1 X 1/8 flat hot rolled steel (its only like $6) and chop it it up into 6 inch stick and practice welding it together.

BlackGMC

02-25-2007, 03:12 PM

I got the crossmember completed and mounted today. Man it was a hassle getting it to sit level with only jack stands holding it up. Here are a few pics.

The first one is the finished crossmember, minus the driveshaft loop, which I will install in a few days. You can notice I welded two pieces of angle iron to the bottom connecting the two pies that way it will line up straight.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/18.jpg

The next two are the crossmember finally welded into its new home. I started working on joining in the rear section and you can see with the plate welded to the inside of the rear leaf spring mount.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/19.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/20.jpg

burritoboi5

02-25-2007, 06:58 PM

Regretyfully I am currently using flux core. But I do have a bottle and regs just haven't found somewhere to fill it and am hesitant to do so since it's such a small bottle I fear it will run out too quickly. It's only like a 10lb bottle (about a foot tall). I guess I really should find out how much bottle rental costs are/purchase of a used one. I'm still a little worried about welding my own cage though, I've heard that those types of jobs are best left to someone with skills and a high qual TIG. It's just not something I would want to find out I was wrong the hard way with.

BlackGMC

02-25-2007, 07:50 PM

If you hesitate, then I would leave it up to someone that you know will do a good job. A properly installed roll cage is worse than not having one at all, cause worst case you get in a wreck and that thing comes loose it is liable to hurt you even worse. I use a 40 pound bottle and I exchange it at Norther Tools, check and see if you have one around, my 40 pound bottle is only $20 to fill and lasts about as long as a wire spool. Switching to gas instead of flux is a night and day welding experience. It is so much easier to weld with gas, not to mention better pentration and it is clean, no flux and spatter. Trust me it is worth it. I just now switched when I started this project, cause I knew it would work better.

burritoboi5

02-25-2007, 09:19 PM

Hmmm that wouldn't be bad at all. I looked into Northern tool and there are not any located near me (CT). But I did some searching and found a company called airgas that I will be calling tomorw to see if they can help me out. I'd really like to go to using a gas setup but we'll have to see how this phonecall goes tomorw. I've ordered some new inner fenders that will need welding and am looking at a complete exhaust system to put in once I rebuild my engine (engine gets pulled this coming weekend) Only the beginning of the project but it's progressing very nicely :punk:

dlinebar

02-26-2007, 11:25 AM

Dude,

Every time I start to read your replies I can never finish cause I have to look at your avatar and my brain gets.....distracted!

Dan

BTW....I like your Avatar.....

dlinebar

02-26-2007, 11:30 AM

I have the small bottle an it lasts a spool or two for me, like $25 dollar refill locally cost about $75 for the original tank (filled). Like he said it hs MUCH better and stronger welds. I went from making kinda crappy flux welds to good welds with gas. Big difference.

Dan

burritoboi5

02-26-2007, 05:19 PM

Yeah I'm definitely going to get some argon before I do any welding on the mustang. I was continuing in stripping the engine compartment today in preparation to pull the engine this weekend and the only thing I found was more mouse turds and more rust. Not too much more but there are two pieces I need to replace and I'd rather do it now than regret not doing when I will have the whole front of the car apart anyways. By the way what methods do you guys reccomend/use for metal/rust/paint stripping. I've got a small air grinder and bought a 100 dollar sand blaster from harbor freight but haven't used it yet, I'm thinking an air powered rotary sander may be just the ticket.....

burritoboi5

02-26-2007, 05:22 PM

signature test. test test

BlackGMC

03-02-2007, 12:48 PM

No new updates, cause I am waiting on the new welder to arrive..... The 110v was not cutting the mustard.

burritoboi5

03-02-2007, 05:21 PM

Nice, what did you end up going with?

BlackGMC

03-02-2007, 05:47 PM

I went with a Lincoln 220v 175 amp

burritoboi5

03-03-2007, 12:54 PM

Nice, that will certainly have the juice you're looking for. I just pulled my engine/trans and it only took me about an hour and a half start to clean-up. not too shabby for an 18 year old's first time. I'm hoping to go and get some welding gas so I can start replacing panels up front but this week I'll probably start stripping the engine/ trans next and make myself an engine dolly so I can move it around my garage. Got my dad to give me his bay too so long as I clean the snow off his car before he goes to work :clap:

Thesubhumans

03-03-2007, 01:28 PM

You should start a project thread burritoboi5. That would make 4 current project threads and their all Coupe's, haha.
Oh and i wouldn't bother making an engine stand, you can buy a decent one for about $40. That's about how much it would cost for all the supplies to build one yourself.

BlackGMC

03-03-2007, 02:28 PM

You should start a project thread burritoboi5. That would make 4 current project threads and their all Coupe's, haha.

:stupid: and don't forget pics!!

BlackGMC

03-13-2007, 08:47 AM

I decided to consolidate my two threads, so there may be some reposts.

Well my project was on hold pending the delivery of the new welder. I got the welder Thursday and I finally got to start using it today. Anyways, I cut out a section of the driveshaft tunnel so I could weld in the upper part of the driveshaft safety loop. I got some 3/4 by 1/8 flat steel to make a skelton where the old tunnel was connecting the rear portion of the car to the new safety loop. Then I got some 18 gauge sheet and made a new tunnel. Let me tell yall this trying to bend 18 gauge cold rolled sheet metal was tuff!!! I finished up today mocking in the the passenger side rear seat pan. You can see I welded some of it in and I held the piece in place by using sheet metal screws. This way everything is fitted tightly together and then you remove 1 screw at a time and fill in the hole with a weld, so simulating spot welds. I did the same thing on the tunnel.

I can say this, the new rear section is stiff. Before I ripped everything out the rear seat pans would flex and bend. The one I have in there now coupled with the new tunnel, bracing and crossmember stiffened everything up. It does not move at all and that is only with one side in!!

Enough talk here are the pics....
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/22.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/23.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/24.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/25.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/26.jpg

BlackGMC

03-13-2007, 08:48 AM

The saga continues. Well today I got the passenger side floor pan out!!! I was so rusted I did not even have to drill the spot welds, not to mention help with the SawZaw!!!

Good news the inside of the front subframe is exactly 2.5 x 2.5. That means I can run a 2.5 x 2.5 square box up inside of it and run it back to the rear crossmember like I had hoped. The top of the new subframe will intersect the rear crossmember about 2 inches from the bottom of the rear cross member. So like I had figured the new subframe will only extend about 1/2 below the rear crossmember. I will probably tapper the end up so if fits nicely. Not to mention the base of the front subframe is perfectly level with the rest of the car. So I run the custom floor pans right on top of it. I amd still trying to figure out how I am going to run the rocker panel kickers and the driveshaft tunnel kickers and bracing, but that can wait a little bit. Exciting day when all the planning actually works out.

Anyways hear are the pics.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/27.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/28.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/29.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/30.jpg

burritoboi5

03-13-2007, 07:20 PM

I love my sawzall, nothing like milwaulkee power :chinese:

BlackGMC

03-13-2007, 07:40 PM

I got a craftsman. I got one of the cordless package deals: Drill, SawZaw, JigSaw, Circular Saw and a flashlight. I use them all and I have not had one single problem with them.

burritoboi5

03-13-2007, 09:43 PM

Yep, I'm somewhat partial to milwaulkee and makita but only bc that's waht I've grown up with. The sawzall is a big ole beast from about 10 years ago that has never found anything it can't go through with the right blade. Always thought a cordless one would be nice though.

BlackGMC

03-19-2007, 01:23 PM

Well I thought I would post up an update/plan for my subframes, with some good luck I should be able to start on them this weekend. I am still riping out the old floor pans. The passenger side is 95% ready and the driver side is about 80% ready. I should finish by the weekend. I requested a quote today for all the steel I will need. The plans are below.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/29a.jpg

The main subrame connect into the front subframe and runs all the way back to the rear crossmember. It is 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 1/8 steel box. It is about 4.5 ft long. Basically it runs up the front crossmember about 1.5 feet. The way i have it planned the cross member will mount directly to the bottom of the floor pan, so it will not be seen inside the car. Then the runners off of the subframe connects are 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 1/8 steel box. They will attach to the rocker panel via a 5 X 1/8 steel plate. The support for the tunnel will be an arched 1 1/2 X 1/8 bend. The lines in blue are the basic shape of the new seat platfroms which will be made out of 1 1/2 x 1/8 steel bars, these are going to be a B**** due to the angles and everything, but I taken a ton of measurements and have good plans now. I thought I would never use geometry again, but it surfaced.

Then I will make the floorpans out of 18-20 gauge sheet metal with beads rolled in them.

Let me know what you think?

burritoboi5

03-19-2007, 04:25 PM

Certainly looks like it will be strong enough.

BlackGMC

03-24-2007, 04:01 PM

Well I have some progress pics. I had a little bit of a problem fitting in the subframe connector, it seems that 2.5x2.5 is actually about 1/8 bigger than what it claims to be, so there was alot of grinding and pounding with the hammer to it the piece to fit and I still have another side to do. It all lined up like it is supposed to so that was a good thing, the top of the subframe connector will be flush with the new floor pans. I still need to finish boxing in the rest of the front subrame but I might tackle that tomorrow. Anyways just welding in this side seems to make the body/frame a whole lot stronger and move as 1 piece. The whole body now moves as one, it is kinda hard to explain but hammer on the body no is totally different. If there is anyone out without subframe connectors I highly suggest purchasing some.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/33.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/32.jpg

BlackGMC

03-25-2007, 01:44 PM

I made some good progress today, but I ran out of wire so I had to cut things short today. I finished up the drivers side sub frame connector. It also took some pounding and grinding to fit.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/34.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/35.jpg

I started working on the subframe to rocker bracing today, I was not able to finish because I ran out of wire, but you can kinda see the overall shape. I still need to box in both sides. I am going to make 3 more (2 for each side). These are what my new seat platforms are going to sit on, so my seats will be tied directly into the frame.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/36.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/37.jpg

Pakrat

03-25-2007, 01:52 PM

This thing is going to be ready for rock climbing or war duty when it's done!:thumbup:

BlackGMC

03-25-2007, 02:40 PM

This thing is going to be ready for rock climbing or war duty when it's done!:thumbup:

Naw, pulling the front wheels off the ground, YES!!!

Cupid

03-25-2007, 08:55 PM

Man.....good work! Keep it up. One day, when I grow up, I wanna weld just like you! Or Jessie(Sp?) on Extreme 4x4.

BlackGMC

03-26-2007, 04:38 PM

Man.....good work! Keep it up. One day, when I grow up, I wanna weld just like you! Or Jessie(Sp?) on Extreme 4x4.

Naw, you must mean Lou on Muscle Car. IMO he is the only decent guy on those shows and besides he is funny

Cupid

03-26-2007, 06:02 PM

Yeah...he is a good guy. Very knowledgeable too. Love the fastback he's building. 5 inches of the deck...That thing is money!

BlackGMC

03-26-2007, 06:33 PM

Yeah...he is a good guy. Very knowledgeable too. Love the fastback he's building. 5 inches of the deck...That thing is money!

That fastback he is building is pretty cool, I wish they would say how much some of the stuff they build costs..

bnickel

03-26-2007, 10:47 PM

i'm in lover with Jessie, that girl is hot!!!!!! :drool: and she's a car chick too. just please don't tell my wife....or Pakrat's wife either:tongue: :lol:

Cupid

03-26-2007, 10:53 PM

i'm in lover with Jessie, that girl is hot!!!!!! :drool: and she's a car chick too. just please don't tell my wife....or Pakrat's wife either:tongue: :lol:

Good one, good one!:lol:

Pakrat

03-27-2007, 07:56 AM

i'm in lover with Jessie, that girl is hot!!!!!! :drool: and she's a car chick too. just please don't tell my wife....or Pakrat's wife either:tongue: :lol:

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear that, your wifes thighs were blocking my ears. What was that again? :single fuck:

bnickel

03-27-2007, 02:37 PM

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear that, your wifes thighs were blocking my ears. What was that again? :single fuck:

:001_icon16:

burritoboi5

03-27-2007, 03:07 PM

haha :laugh:

bnickel

03-27-2007, 04:13 PM

it's a good thing Pak and me are buddies huh? :cowboy:

Pakrat

03-27-2007, 06:34 PM

Aaaaah, yup!:red_indian:

I just wish we could have met when I lived in Texas for that year or so.

bnickel

03-28-2007, 01:01 AM

Aaaaah, yup!:red_indian:

I just wish we could have met when I lived in Texas for that year or so.

me too. i think we'd have a lot of fun. still though, i'm about 6-7 hours away from where you were.

Pakrat

03-28-2007, 09:11 AM

Yeah, nothing was close in Texas. I can visit my friends two states over in new England in just an hour and a half.

BTW BlackGMC, sorry about this minor sidetrack here on your thread. One of my selling points to him when I invited him to come here from Stangnet was that he wouldn't be getting hijacked like he did there and look what I go and do. At least this was a civil one though.:redface:

BlackGMC

03-28-2007, 09:15 AM

Don't worry about the getting side tracked. At least it is not a ford/chevy pissing match. My Girlfriend grounded me from my car for a few day anyways (I pulled a muscle in my back). So updates will be a few days out anyways. Where in Texas do/did yall live? I live in Fort Worth

Pakrat

03-28-2007, 09:32 AM

I lived in a real macho town called Flower Mound just north of Grapevine from Feb 2001 until April 2002. My first and only time living outside of New England.

BlackGMC

03-28-2007, 09:34 AM

I know where flower mound is, I live basically an hour from there.

bnickel

03-28-2007, 02:41 PM

i'm in Lubbock. right smack dab in the middle of West Texas about halfway between abilene and amarillo.

Pakrat

03-28-2007, 03:21 PM

I know where flower mound is, I live basically an hour from there.

Yeah not too far as I recall, I went to Fort Worth once while I was there. It wasn't bad except for being a dry town. I think the route I lived on was called 2499 or something like that, very close to the airport. I used to work just south in Irving.

BlackGMC

03-28-2007, 05:46 PM

1 down 3 to go.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/39.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/38.jpg

BlackGMC

04-01-2007, 03:38 PM

I finished making all the subframe bracing and I got the passenger side all welded up. Good news everything is still all nice and level and square.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/40.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/41.jpg

BlackGMC

04-04-2007, 11:34 AM

I made some progress over the last few days. Hopefully I will start laying some sheetmetal this weekend. I still need to make one more brace, the one you see laying there not attached to anything towards the firewall. Its coming together. I still have a lot of grinding to do.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/42.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/43.jpg

Pakrat

04-04-2007, 02:55 PM

BlackGMC

04-04-2007, 03:04 PM

Man, you should have just built your own car from scratch the way you have this whole thing re-engineered.:wink:

So aside from the enormous sense of pride and satisfation in doing all this yourself, was there a main reason for going to such fabrication lengths as ooposed to just replacing with regular floor pans and adding some subframe connectors?

Well I have been asked that alot here lately. I love challenges, I love building things, if it was easy I would not enjoy it. If I were to build just an average car, there would be no fun in that, I would get bored. The whole purpose of this project is to build something different. I don't care how hard it is or how long it will take. Half of the things I have done this far, I have never done before. I have never done sheetmetal work before, but that wont stop me from trying. Building the car is the best part of owning it. Driving it is just the ending result, getting there is the exciting part.

I absolutely love it when people tell me 'I can't do something' or 'there is no way that will work' or 'that is too hard, you can't do it'. It just makes me want to do it more and piss them off!!!

Protowrxs

04-04-2007, 08:58 PM

...I absolutely love it when people tell me 'I can't do something' or 'there is no way that will work' or 'that is too hard, you can't do it'. It just makes me want to do it more and piss them off!!!

Ok..
'You can't do all the work on MY car for free'
'There is no way that will work if you buy parts for MY car'
'That is too hard, you can't buy me a DSS longblock this summer.'

I dare ya.. :-)

Nice work btw.

-Stephen

BlackGMC

04-06-2007, 03:09 PM

I got the first piece of the new tunnel installed today. Since I don't have any clecos I used self-tapping sheetmetal screws. They will be remove and welded up once everything is finished.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/49.jpg

BlackGMC

04-06-2007, 04:18 PM

I tried out the bead roller today. One tip if anyone is planning on ever using one of these, start out at a shallow depth then progressively make the bead deeper, using multiple passes, especially on 18 gauge. Other wise the bead does not turn out straight.

Bead Roller
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/50.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/51.jpg

Installed, not bad for the first time.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/52.jpg

BlackGMC

04-08-2007, 01:00 PM

Well I got another section of the tunnel done today. I am getting better at rolling beads, but like everything else, it takes practice. Good thing these will never show cause the beads are less than perfect, but it is starting to resemble a car again.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/54.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/53.jpg

Pakrat

04-08-2007, 01:05 PM

Cool, looks like a fun little tool. By the time you get to cutting out that whole firewall your bead skills should be right up to par.

BlackGMC

04-08-2007, 01:17 PM

By the time you get to cutting out that whole firewall your bead skills should be right up to par.

Hopefully, I tell you if I had someone helping or if it was motorized, it would be so much easier... But I like to work alone so that is not going to happen...

Protowrxs

04-08-2007, 10:51 PM

Looking great. It's always cool to see someone take on a project such as yours and see the constant updates.
-Stephen

BlackGMC

04-09-2007, 08:06 AM

Looking great. It's always cool to see someone take on a project such as yours and see the constant updates.
-Stephen

Thanks! I try to take as many pictures that I can so it basically shows a story board of what is happening, that way if anyone is foolish or stupid enough like myself to attempt something I am trying they have a decent guide. Plus if you break a big project down into very small projects it is not that bad...

BlackGMC

04-12-2007, 06:31 PM

I finally finished modifying my bead roller, but I am still trying to find an electric motor so it can be a powered instead of having to turn the crank

Before
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/50.jpg

After

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-1.jpg

Sample bead, notice how straight it is, I am very happy now!!!!
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-2.jpg

ZonaMuscle

04-12-2007, 06:40 PM

You made that from scratch?? Where can you get the rollers from if you did?? And wow great job

BlackGMC

04-12-2007, 06:44 PM

Naw I did not make if from scratch. I bought a Habour Freight bead roller as seen in the top pic, then I cannabilized an engine stand for the steel tubing and I had some round tubing and angle iron laying around, then I just welded it all up and you can see the results and threw on a coat of paint. It is so much better now, the rollers don't deflect at all and that was a 1/2 bead on 18 gauge sheet metal.

BlackGMC

04-13-2007, 04:49 PM

The new beefed up bead roller made such a difference today. The beads were nice and straight, almost most makes me want to redo the previous panels. Can you tell the difference??

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/55.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/56.jpg

Pakrat

04-13-2007, 05:18 PM

BlackGMC

04-13-2007, 05:27 PM

Wow, excellent work!! I hear ya on wanting to redo the originals now, even when it's something that won't be seen I get real anal about that kind of shit too.

You should really change your custom title from the generic to "Fab Master" or something, you've earned it.

Thanks, ya I kinda want to redo the orginals cause I am going to have to look at them for the next year or so, and it just frustrates me that it could look better, but I think I will just deal with it.

ZonaMuscle

04-13-2007, 10:40 PM

Man looks real good. Is the console going to fit on the center piece. For some reason looks really big. maybe its just your close. Great work man.

BlackGMC

04-13-2007, 10:46 PM

Man looks real good. Is the console going to fit on the center piece. For some reason looks really big. maybe its just your close. Great work man.
Thanks!!

I don't have a factory console, I was thinking about making one eventually when I get that far. I enlarged the tunnel ~1 inch in every direction starting foward of the front brace to accomodate the T56 I am going to be putting in. The rest of the tunnel is basically the same shape as the stocker, once the floors are put in along with the seat risers it wont look so massive. I am going to start building the seat risers tomorrow so check back then.

BlackGMC

04-14-2007, 03:18 PM

I got one of the seat risers built and installed today. I went a little crazy with the bead roller but I think it turned out great. I still have to finish boxing it in and tie it to the tunnel and rocker panel.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/57.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/58.jpg

Protowrxs

04-14-2007, 08:29 PM

Damn you're rocking along. Should be one solid car. Good job man.

-Stephen

Cupid

04-14-2007, 09:42 PM

Quick question. I see you use a lot of sheet metal screws. Is there an advantage of using the screws rather than rivets or welding?

burritoboi5

04-14-2007, 11:55 PM

I believe that he uses the sheetmetal screws to hold the metal in place and get everything fit correctly before he welds the panels in. In the end everything will be welded

BlackGMC

04-15-2007, 10:21 AM

Damn you're rocking along. Should be one solid car. Good job man.

Thanks!

Quick question. I see you use a lot of sheet metal screws. Is there an advantage of using the screws rather than rivets or welding?

Like burrito said, I am just using them to hold everything in place until I have everything fitted, that way if I need to take something off to get to another peice all I have to do is unscrew it, rather than cutting a weld, much easier. Once everthing is finished I will weld up on the holes, and seam weld everything together.

Cupid

04-15-2007, 03:52 PM

Ahhhh....much to learn before this young padawan becomes a Jedi!

Thanks!

BlackGMC

04-17-2007, 03:10 PM

Well I am needing a sheet metal brake so I can continue making panels. I should only be bending 18 gauge sheet. I was thinking of going with this Harbor Freight one, it is only $59.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41311
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/41300-41399/41311.gif
Since it is a Harbor Freight tool, I am going to add some angle iron to all the flat pieces to add some strength to it and build a stand for it to sit on.
Any opinions?

burritoboi5

04-17-2007, 03:29 PM

looks like a good plan to me

BlackGMC

04-17-2007, 08:29 PM

Actually the HF brake is not really that bad. The only thing I had to reenforce was the upper plate. I did get some C-Clamps and but one end off and welded them to the brake. Actually for the money and time it bends pretty good in my opinion. Check out the pics.

Oh and please excuse the garage it is a little messy I did not have time to clean it.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-3.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-4.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-5.jpg

BlackGMC

04-24-2007, 05:57 PM

Well I got tired of looking at the bad beads so I redid the two back panels and added a few more beads to the front one.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/59.jpg

burritoboi5

04-24-2007, 07:35 PM

Do it right now or you'll regret it later that's what I keep telling myself when I get discouraged. Now I just need to find the time to work on my car.....

The panels look good btw.

BlackGMC

04-24-2007, 07:59 PM

Thanks, and your right about regreting later! I started planning out my actual floor pan patern today, it should be fun trying to roll the bead design I made up..

BlackGMC

04-24-2007, 08:32 PM

Just in case anyone was wondering how to plan these panels, I use poster board and cut out pieces as mock up. Then I transfer it to sheet metal. It is much easier fine tuning a piece of poster board with scissors than a grinder with sheet metal. Not to mention the fact that if and when you have to redo a panel you already have a panel made.

tunnel
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-7.jpg

floorpan and seat pan

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/tool-6.jpg

Pakrat

04-25-2007, 09:10 AM

Enough wid da beads mahn, you goin crazy wid da beads already. Everywhere it's beads, beads and more beads mahn.

http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/tse/www/tse/pictures/rick_james_001_0001.jpg

Cupid

04-25-2007, 09:44 AM

Enough wid da beads mahn, you goin crazy wid da beads already. Everywhere it's beads, beads and more beads mahn.

:clown: :lol: That just made my morning! Good stuff!

burritoboi5

04-25-2007, 04:10 PM

You should have it spell something out in the beads. Like your name :D

BlackGMC

04-25-2007, 06:27 PM

Hey I like rolling beads after awhile it gets a little fun!!

Pakrat

04-25-2007, 08:19 PM

Hey I like rolling beads after awhile it gets a little fun!!

But beads is not what you should be rollin' mahn, there be much betta tings to roll den beads.:001_rolleyes:

BlackGMC

05-03-2007, 10:14 PM

Well I had some free time so I decided to go ahead and make the rear floor board. It turned out pretty good, except the sheet distorted quite a bit while I was rolling all those damn beads. But I was able to get it straighten out. Oh and that piece of angle iron screwed to the sheet is just temporay until I can weld the floor in. Oh and I made another piece to connect the seat pan to the tunnel.

Oh and you gotta love all that flash rust!! It is easy to take off, but man it looks bad in this pic.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/63.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/62.jpg

burritoboi5

05-04-2007, 06:34 AM

Honestly that's a lot of beads....But have fun making the other side look the same :D

BlackGMC

05-06-2007, 04:38 PM

I finally started welding today. I got tired of looking at all those screws. The rear panel is almost complete, I still need to fab up a mount/plate for the roll bar to sit on.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/64.jpg

burritoboi5

05-06-2007, 06:33 PM

BlackGMC

05-06-2007, 10:12 PM

looking good. I need to figure out my whole roll bar thin eventually too. I may just put in the plates on the frame now though and deal with it later when I'm right about to put the interior in.

If I may offer some advice, prefit your rear seat first, my rear seat stops at the front of the crossmember. I thought I was going to be able to mount it right on top of it, but the rear seat is in the way, so I am adding a plate and supporting steel to the front of it, it will be tight but the rear seat will be able to slide in and out like it is supposed to.

As far as future plans once the floors are complete, I am cutting out the firewall and putting in on solide piece with a slight recess so I can move the motor back a few inches. Then i plan on adding the Mustang II crossemember and adding new fender aprons. I plan on just using the tops of the fender aprons so the fenders will mount up then making the rest smooth like the firewall. With BEADS of course.

This is the front crossmember I will be using.

http://www.heidts.com/images/hei03-1-34.jpg

This is what the finished product looks like. Except I will be using QA1s which have adjustable shocks and spring height.

http://www.heidts.com/images/hei03-1-39.jpg

Then after that off to the rear, adding in the rear roll bars and mini tubing the rear end. Adding a 9inch and maybe one of these. Depending on money thou, I might just use leafs and upgrade later if I have a problem launching at the track.
http://www.heidts.com/images/mustang4-link.jpg

Then I will be mounting the engine and tranny (T56 or TKO 600)

burritoboi5

05-07-2007, 03:42 PM

Looks like it will end up pretty cool

BlackGMC

05-07-2007, 05:37 PM

Finished up the main hoop mounting point today. What a PIA, turned out good thou IMO..

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/65.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/66.jpg

BlackGMC

05-17-2007, 11:36 AM

I finally finished with yard work and some landscaping so I was able to get another panel rolled and fitted into place last night. Even thou I screwed a piece of sheet for the seat pan, I had the flanging dies tightened down to far and basically sheered a piece of sheet..... This weekend I plan to start cleaning up some of the surface rust, which is starting to piss me off....

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/67.jpg

BlackGMC

05-18-2007, 05:51 PM

A little more progress today, I ran out of gas so I had to stop....
The drivers side is almost done.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c185/BlackGMC/Mustang/68.jpg

Pakrat

12-05-2007, 09:34 AM

Have you seriously not done anything since like May? I'd had all but forgotten about your project until i went looking for something today.

BlackGMC

12-05-2007, 12:22 PM

Naw I really have not, I have gotten side tracked on a couple of other projects lately.... For example: preparing to go to Graduate school, looking at getting married, started to learn how to program GM EFI computers, working on my truck some, etc... I had to take a long break because I hurt my eye and had to let it heal, so no welding... I might get back on is sometime soon, just depends...

burritoboi5

12-05-2007, 01:35 PM

Do anything fun with the truck?

BlackGMC

12-05-2007, 02:36 PM

Do anything fun with the truck?

Little bit, custom tune via EFI Live, Long tube headers, and mandrel exhaust (made by me!!), new intake, few tranny parts... Mainly just wanting a few more MPG out of it.... Soon a cam swap and gears... Basically something to fill the need to tweak something and see some results...

OH, but I have been talking to my brother about getting his 67 mustang and prepping it for the drag strip. Since his is complete and drivable.... Its got a pretty good foundation, Roller motor, monster cam, 4 speed stick, 9" rear, all the go fast goodies on the motor, etc... Mainly it just needs a good carb adjustment and some timing tuning, which I can do some data loggin with my laptop and Wideband gauge....