'46 Chevy Shorty

[Ronnie]

Sorry about the cold. Nice handle, certainly fits the style of the bus.

[Rivetboy]

Originally Posted by Tango

Just for the record...I didn't do a damned thing today.

My wife has a sense of humor about my retirement next month, does this sign apply here also?

[Tango]

I'm not skilled enough to Multi-Slack. I can only not do one thing at a time.


Meanwhile, back to work.


Like everything else on this rig, "a little cleanup" on the driver side window panel has turned into a multi-day task. After covering up dozens of mystery screw holes with Bondo & tack welds...I had to go back and make a bunch of new ones. Spent most of the day getting this thing lined up right, then had to drill & tap about 20 holes in two different sizes. Tried self-breaking screws and sure enough...they did. So tap it was. 10/32 and 1/4 x 20.



This thing was beat to crap. Besides filling all the extra holes I had to weld on a strip across the bottom in order to re-position it and drill all new holes in the right places. All the side screws had to be upped in size too as they were wallowed badly.


At least it represents SOME kind of progress.



Will install all the new glass next weekend, then I can start wrapping up all the other stuff in the cockpit area.





ONWARD-some!

[M1031A1]

Keep going Tang! I promise to send some cooler air your way (provided I get enough windmills pointed south)... ;)

The rig is looking AWESOME! Can't wait to see that awesome Chevy!

M

[Tango]

Thanks M. How is your "little project" going? Seems I haven't seen an update for a bit.

[Tango]

Howdy All --- had a visit from our Skoolie buddy Guido today. Always good to see him and since much of his helicopter instructing takes place here in Houston these days, I hope to more of him. We did a walk around on the bus and he always has something savvy to toss out. He was the one who pointed me to the Mil-Spec E-brake handle. Great guy. And we somehow wound up at REHAB Bar on the Bayou. Hey...it's HOT here and staying hydrated is important. And...rum is mostly water...right?


Did pretty much finish up that pesky driver window panel today.



Not perfect but then neither am I. At least most of the unnecessary holes are filled in and it has some paint on it. The gray Hammerite area is the cover for the window mech access. Naturally it required yet another trip to the hardware store to find just the right screws (10/32 x 1/2"). Even as my nut, bolt & screw collection grows...I never seem to have just the ones I need.







ONWARD!

[Ronnie]

I know what you mean about the nut and bolt collection. Think I have almost as much as the hardware store but often not the right one.

Panel and window is looking good.

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

I know what you mean about the nut and bolt collection. Think I have almost as much as the hardware store but often not the right one.

Panel and window is looking good.

And I agree with this. This is why builds get extended. You need a lot of hardware at the ready. I won't have too much leftover but can't really put any of it away for good due to so many loose ends to finish.


John

[Tango]

Seems to be a pretty common issue. No matter how many of what you have...you either need something else or a few more of the same.
I have probably spent over a grand just on fasteners. I could save a few pennies here and there going to fastener supply company, but the closest is waaayyy farther away. And the neighborhood store is an old one with a huge selection. Besides...they love me at my neighborhood hardware store.

[Mark_In_MA]

If you figure you might have saved $500 on hardware, and you value your time at $15/hr, over the course of your build you'd save an equivalent of 23 minutes/month, or about $6.

Local is probably easier and cheaper in the long run.

[Tango]

Ya...I like supporting local biz anyway. The big box stores may have a gazillion square feet of stuff, but no one there knows caca about any of it. Kinda like auto parts stores these days. You used to be able to walk in holding a hunk of greasy metal and the guy behind the counter would immediately go "lifter arm for a 53 Pontiac but you can use any Oldsmobile from '49 to '54...how many you need?"


Today they don't know anything...even when you tell'em what it is. I needed a frikkin VIN number just to buy some lug nuts for the late model Chevy dually axle I installed. The Chevy dealership could not find anything with the make, model & year info.

[GuidoLyons]

Tango- Good to see you, too buddy Stay healthy and get that cough sorted out




I think an added drip rail and a good rubber lip will help you keep your roll-up window


When you get closer to working on the bigger pieces of your roof rack, let me know and I'll give you a hand. I've got a buddy with another welder that would up for helping, too.

[Tango]

Thanks bud...just may take you up on the spare hands when the time comes. Soon, hopefully.

[Tango]

Got some time in today and spent it on working out how to install a roof deck. Played with some paint stir stix first per Ol' Trunt then went straight to some metal.



Hoping to rig a collapsible hand rail. The bigger segment will be the base then an upright that folds up...then the handrail on top.
Here seen in the "down" position.



Then partially raised...



...then a bit more...



...then fully upright. Just an exercise to work out the geometry, but a start.



And here with a mounting bracket. 10 of which will weld to my drip rail which is heavy duty...at least 3/16th. I am intentionally building in some weak points so that if I encounter a wayward tree limb...the uprights will take the beating without wrecking the roof.







ONWARD!

[1olfart]

You sir are amazing. Gee Ometry was never my friend.

[ol trunt]

Too much fun Tango----again! Jack

[plfking]

Originally Posted by Tango

Got some time in today and spent it on working out how to install a roof deck.

Hoping to rig a collapsible hand rail. The bigger segment will be the base then an upright that folds up...then the handrail on top.

Nice concept. Simple but elegant.....should work out well. And a smart move to insert a failure point for that ONE time you forget to lower it before driving off.

When I get to that point, my guardrails will be conduit with chain between them.....weak enough to fold over from an accidental limb impact, but strong enough to support any inebriated deck dwellers.

[Tango]

I have heard of incidents where stoutly mounted roof racks/decks have actually peeled the roof back due to encounters with immovable objects. Thought about securing through the roof ribs but decided against it for just that reason.


Also played a bit with a real fantasy concept. How about a substantial solar array that lays down flat on the deck...then folds up to become a roof over it? Would be a whole lot easier on a bigger rig, but I couldn't resist toying with the idea.


Don't want the ice in my beverage melting too fast in the sun.

[Tango]

Might not look like much...but...


Maybe three days worth of work cleaning up the driver window inside & out. Every seam had dried out caulk that had to be dug out...a couple of more mystery holes that needed Bondo...plus a bunch of sanding & scuffing and paint. Good thing I took the time as I found about three significant openings for water to enter by. Half a tube of seam sealer later...they and the seams are AOK.

[ol trunt]

That little stuff sure will eat your lunch! Jack