And it begins....

[RPM]

WOW.....I envy your build. You are learning a crap load while getting your car done and you will be responsible for the build. How awesome is that ?
Keep us posted... have fun.

-RPM

 

[thanson_mopar]

Tyler.

Since he is looking at building more a Pro-Touring type car, the car needs to be more ridged in more ways than just launch. So if you connect the frames together, from the side as well. The car will have virtually no twist what so ever. Plus, he has his cage tied into the subframe. That way the car is even more solid and if the unthinkable ever does happen, the car will hold up allot better as the cage isn't just bolted/welded to sheet metal.

And let me say, after seeing the car in person. That whole set up looks very nice and sturdy.

I couldn't of said it better, the triangulated sub-frame connector I designed, tied into the roll cage, is superior to the the regular straight sub-frame connector front to back and side to side. The car is very stiff now.

 

[thanson_mopar]

WOW.....I envy your build. You are learning a crap load while getting your car done and you will be responsible for the build. How awesome is that ?
Keep us posted... have fun.

-RPM

thanks RPM, sure am, pretty happy with the progress I've been making so far.

 

[thanson_mopar]

Tacked into place, the slow process of finishing off the welds and making more tacks. There has been some warping but not bad, hammer and dolly took care of that.

 

[Young Gun Smith]

just read through this whole thread and very nice work! im just courious how much time do u get to spend working on ur car a day at schoo?

 

[thanson_mopar]

just read through this whole thread and very nice work! im just courious how much time do u get to spend working on ur car a day at schoo?

thanks man, we have school monday through friday 8AM-4:30PM, usually work on my car unless we have a test that takes an hour or so at most, every once in a while we go over stuff in the classroom for a few hours a week.

 

[hemizach]

thanks man, we have school monday through friday 8AM-4:30PM, usually work on my car unless we have a test that takes an hour or so at most, every once in a while we go over stuff in the classroom for a few hours a week.

That patch is looking good dude. Looks like you do some pretty good work! I really wanna go to the school now! :cheers:

 

[thanson_mopar]

thanks, takes alot of time but the work pays off

 

[mopardude318]

wow...cool build my friend! I also would like to go to this school! I was thinking about wyotech, but now this seems to be the better alternative...

 

[thanson_mopar]

yea, for sure, I wish I just would've started here instead of even going to wyotech in the first place. definitely worth learning these skills.

 

[Young Gun Smith]

thanks man, we have school monday through friday 8AM-4:30PM, usually work on my car unless we have a test that takes an hour or so at most, every once in a while we go over stuff in the classroom for a few hours a week.

aweomse sounds like some fun!:cheers:

 

[thanson_mopar]

Here is the rough cut, found more rot than I expected.

Test fitting the new trunk extension I made.

This is were the rear seat belt reinforcement USED to be.

Welded in the new trunk extension I made and painted it with POR-15

Final fit

Started welding and bumping out the low spots.

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Looking good thanson_mopar

 

[J-MacsMopars]

Good work Tate. Looks very nice.

 

[thanson_mopar]

thank you sir, I got alot done on it this week. Last day for sheet metal working is tommorow. Then on January fourth I start learning to work with body filler and paint.

 

[Texas69dart340]

:thumbrig:Thats some awesome work!!! Keep up the good work and keep the pics coming!!

 

[J-MacsMopars]

Very cool. I always liked to work with filler. I forgot allot though. Painting was fun too. I hated to clear though. You get a sag in it before you even know it. The car looks great.

 

[thanson_mopar]

Started refinishing class and started off by doing a few more patches...

last floor patch with spot welds

Large patch I had to make for the wheel well/rear seat belt support. with new spot welds into the seat belt support.

New spoiler came in and it looks great! I reccomend Dante's Go-wing spoiler.

Loading up the Duster to go to the Soda Blaster

Back from the blaster, was happy with the work they did

 

[jrlegacy23]

Man, this is a great build!!! I love the amount of pictures. Nice Work :thebirdm:

 

[66dartgt]

Wow are you lucky - what a great job you are doing ! Wish I could have done something like this and learned how to do all that stuff. I know how to do mechanical and electrical work, but welding is just something I never learned.

I noted in some of your earlier posts that it looks like you have the old style tapered axles, I hope you are planning on getting the later style axles for your car. Somebody once told me those tapered axles tend to rip out the woodruff keys used in them when alot of power is applied to them.

Good luck with the build and keep posting !

 

[thanson_mopar]

:thumbrig:Thats some awesome work!!! Keep up the good work and keep the pics coming!!

thanks

Man, this is a great build!!! I love the amount of pictures. Nice Work :thebirdm:

thanks, I hoped the pictures were not overkill, I have taken alot of pictures of the whole project

Wow are you lucky - what a great job you are doing ! Wish I could have done something like this and learned how to do all that stuff. I know how to do mechanical and electrical work, but welding is just something I never learned.

I noted in some of your earlier posts that it looks like you have the old style tapered axles, I hope you are planning on getting the later style axles for your car. Somebody once told me those tapered axles tend to rip out the woodruff keys used in them when alot of power is applied to them.

Good luck with the build and keep posting !

thanks for the comments, I always thought I would like the mechanical side of things better but I love welding, I've gotten really good with MIG, and decent with TIG but could use more practice.

I am going to run with the tapered axles for now, not sure how I would even switch to the flanged type, (I guess its not a simple swap like I thought it would be) but If It gives me any trouble I can always pull it out and swap the 3rd member into a later year housing with flanged axles. I did kind of wonder about that.....the woodruff keys they use sure don't look very strong.

 

[jrlegacy23]

talk to Doctordiff.com , he is a mopar guy and will help you with what ever you need. He has kits to switch over the tapered to newer style and can make recommendations for you. He will answer all your questions, thoughts and concerns through email or by phone. I highly recommend dealing with Cass and he is one of the cheapest you will find.

 

[thanson_mopar]

New pictures and updates

Rustproofing all places prone to rust on mopar, used POR-15 for all coating.

Starting filler work

I used Everglass fiberglass reinforced filler on any weld areas just for insurance in case I missed a pinhole or something.

Passenger side prepped all ready for filler

coat of everglass down and first coat of polyester filler.

Lower quarter first coat of polyester filler, ya ya I know, doesn't look the greatest, body line was hard. Still have more practicing to do.

Lower quarter and upper quarter done, now doing right below the body line, quarter panel was wavy from goodmark.

 

[OneOfMany]

It's really coming along. Looks like you're really getting the hang of it. Still watchin'

Grant

 

[chuckwagon2004]

One of the coolest threads Ive came across by-far!!! Dude it looks like they are cramming the info in you the right way, I dont see any shortcuts man great work. I think everyone here appreciates the work your putting into the car and the pics as well. Wish I could dig in and work on my car non-stop like that... By the way the filler job isn't as bad as you think... People that have worked with it know that its tough to find out how to get comfortable with it at first. I get a lil upset sometimes when I havent fooled with it in a while and mix a batch and either mix too much or not enough etc... Keep it up man that car is going to be awesome!!!!