NASTYZEN
Well-known member
Great progress! That is one bad *** looking build.
Chopped 51 Merc Build
- Thread starter Duke55
- Start date
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
I found an old thread on the HAMB board that lists the magazine articles for the GM frame swap, and there are also some pictures detailing the swap: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...for-pics-of-frame-swap-****-deans-way.719640/
Aroberson77
Well-known member
Awesome work, I wish I had half of your metal skills
Electrodes showed and a I was able to get out to the shop for a few hours this afternoon. First attempt at TIG welding a panel in.
Didn't go as smooth as I hoped but I guess it could of definitely went worse for the first time.
Gonna take a bunch more panels before I feel at home with this method.
Hopefully I can get out to the shop for a good part of the day tomorrow.
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Didn't go as smooth as I hoped but I guess it could of definitely went worse for the first time.
Gonna take a bunch more panels before I feel at home with this method.
Hopefully I can get out to the shop for a good part of the day tomorrow.
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Cleaned up this quarter window post and made the replacement panel for the other side.
Just realized I should of taken a picture with the door open.
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Just realized I should of taken a picture with the door open.
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MP&C
Well-known member
Beautiful!
txvwnut
Well-known member
That B pillar turned out really good.
MP&C
Well-known member
Royce, got a pic of the dies you used for that?
The first one I made I used 1" bar which worked good for straight line or slight radius (hindsight I don't know why I thought it would work for what I needed). Then I made this set out of 3/8x1" flat which I really had no idea if it would work. I ended up relieving a bunch more than shown to make the corners and reduce marking.
I can take a picture of the final dies tomorrow.
I will likely make another set that does one bend at a time so I can have a tapered depth for the rear radius on the same window.
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I can take a picture of the final dies tomorrow.
I will likely make another set that does one bend at a time so I can have a tapered depth for the rear radius on the same window.
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Richard Cranium
Well-known member
You have a lot of talent.
following your thread.
following your thread.
MP&C
Well-known member
Dies look nice. Yeah, if you're travelling around a corner, you'll need a radius relieved into the die so it will make the corner without binding.
Hint on your welding fixture, fire up the mill and cut some windows. This will allow easy clamping of the shanks to the fixture and clamping of the fixture to the table, as needed...
Also, if you don't have Fay Butler's book on the Pullmax, it does a nice job on going through making various tooling for the machine..
http://www.faybutler.com/pullmax.htm
Hint on your welding fixture, fire up the mill and cut some windows. This will allow easy clamping of the shanks to the fixture and clamping of the fixture to the table, as needed...
Also, if you don't have Fay Butler's book on the Pullmax, it does a nice job on going through making various tooling for the machine..
http://www.faybutler.com/pullmax.htm
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E12-535iTurbo
Well-known member
I feel so out of place following this conversation. Like dining as a mortal at the table of the gods. Thank you for sharing. It raises the bar and hopefully I can follow and grow a bit too.
Justanoldguy
Well-known member
Love the work so far.
My chop is way slower in the progress dept.
My chop is way slower in the progress dept.
2002maniac
Well-known member
Great work! I sure hope you can keep some of the old pinstriping intact. That would be so cool!
Is the Ford CC yours? Cummins swapped?
Is the Ford CC yours? Cummins swapped?
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Dies look nice. Yeah, if you're travelling around a corner, you'll need a radius relieved into the die so it will make the corner without binding.
Hint on your welding fixture, fire up the mill and cut some windows. This will allow easy clamping of the shanks to the fixture and clamping of the fixture to the table, as needed...
Also, if you don't have Fay Butler's book on the Pullmax, it does a nice job on going through making various tooling for the machine..
http://www.faybutler.com/pullmax.htm
Thanks Robert. I debated on adding the additional cavities on the weld fixture when I fist built it but figured I'd give it a try and add later if needed. I do have the Fay Butler book which does have a lot of good information for getting started.
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Not sure how the pins stripping is going to work out. Looking for another dash so I don't have to repaint this one. Thought about assembling and hang on the wall somewhere. May duplicate some of the stripping on another painted dash.
As for the crew cab it is mine. I built it and put a 97 cummins in it about 10 years ago.
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2002maniac
Well-known member
Ha! Thought I recognized the truck, but couldn't be sure from the pic I quoted. Pm sent...
Ruthless53
Well-known member
Not sure how the pins stripping is going to work out. Looking for another dash so I don't have to repaint this one. Thought about assembling and hang on the wall somewhere. May duplicate some of the stripping on another painted dash.
As for the crew cab it is mine. I built it and put a 97 cummins in it about 10 years ago.
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This is absolutely my dream truck.....and your building my dream car. Can't wait to see it finished!!!
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classicJackets
Well-known member
The first one I made I used 1" bar which worked good for straight line or slight radius (hindsight I don't know why I thought it would work for what I needed). Then I made this set out of 3/8x1" flat which I really had no idea if it would work. I ended up relieving a bunch more than shown to make the corners and reduce marking.
I can take a picture of the final dies tomorrow.
I will likely make another set that does one bend at a time so I can have a tapered depth for the rear radius on the same window.
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Forgive my ignorance here, but what is this for? Is there a name for the uses? I'd like to learn more...
Love the car. This forum helped identify a 51 Merc' from a picture I had with my grandfather in front of a car. Happily following!
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MP&C
Well-known member
Those are dies used in a reciprocating machine, typically known as a "nibbler", to form a profile in sheet metal similar to this:
Royce used those dies to produce the replacement for the B-pillar post:
Royce used those dies to produce the replacement for the B-pillar post:
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classicJackets
Well-known member
Robert, Thank you. That first picture is what I needed to see!
I still remember the first one of these crewcabs I seen all done up. I was probably 9 or 10. Was my dream truck from then on. I built a couple for other guys when I was in high school. Both ended up getting rid of them and buying diesels. So when I got mine I just put a diesel in it.
As for the merc. I have always liked them but never really thought I would build one. When I was building my dads 55 I fell in love with 50's - 60's customs (not obvious from that build since I was building on the fly but will be obvious going forward). So when the opportunity came up on this car I took it.
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sevt_chevelle
Well-known member
Nice work on the Merc! Looking forward to when you tackle that nightmare on the roof. Do you have a planishing hammer or maybe thoughts of building one? My Milwaukee would be earning its keep on that roof.
I have been holding off on the roof and religiously watching for a reasonable deal on a planishing hammer. If I don't find one soon I will build one to get me by until one shows up. I am not looking forward to the roof but I am sick of looking at it and posting pictures with it in it so it won't be too much longer.
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Built this today using a small HF needle scaler. I wasn't sure if it would have the power needed but at full line pressure it was full on crazy until I added the jamb bolt to hold the hammer in.
Now I'll see how it does on the COE fenders.
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Now I'll see how it does on the COE fenders.
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I have procrastinated long enough on the roof so here we go. This is seeming like new territory for me.
TIG welded the front section of the first two welds. The second one in has been planished by hand in this picture. Need to make a new frame for the p-hammer to reach these. Also done the back half of the third weld in.
Can't wait for the day that this type of panel doesn't scary me.
Tacked in with the TIG
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TIG welded the front section of the first two welds. The second one in has been planished by hand in this picture. Need to make a new frame for the p-hammer to reach these. Also done the back half of the third weld in.
Can't wait for the day that this type of panel doesn't scary me.
Tacked in with the TIG
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Welded and cleaned up the roof corner patch tonight. Still need lots of practice but really liking the TIG welder. Also liking the p-hammer but still a bunch to learn with that also. Should be working the lower section next.
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Currently taking a break to work on personal projects.
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txvwnut
Well-known member
Damn dude, lookin good!
Chateau Slate 66
Well-known member
Amazing skills. There are so many talented people on this forum. I really enjoy watching someone work that is exceptional at their craft, whether it's machine work, wood, metal shaping, etc.
VOH
Well-known member
On those new pieces you just welded in, are you cutting out the old and welding them in or are you putting them on over the old?
Thanks for all the comments. I credit the talent and people on forums like this for continually motivating me to improve the quality of my work. My work a couple of years ago was much closer to typical body shop work. Obviously a long ways to go but I am enjoying pushing myself into the metal shaping world.
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