SHOP UPDATE: I finally used my homemade tubing straightener !

I built this tubing straightener a while back. I finally was able to get it out and put it to use. It works great. What a time saver. My tubing comes in a coil. I used to spend tons of time straightening it out on the bench before I can use it. Now, I push it through the rollers, rotate 90 degrees and pull it back out. It comes out pretty darn straight.
  I plumbed all the brakes on Jim's 36 Ford today. I will bench bleed the master cylinder tomorrow and bleed the entire system. Next will be the fuel line and get the engine painted and installed. This chassis will get stored until the body is ready to install.
Stay tuned!

SHOP UPDATE: Finished the firewall on Joe's 37 pickup

1937 was the first year Ford put the battery on the firewall. For a hot rod without a hood this is the worst place to put an ugly battery. I decided we need to make the ugly hole go away. I trimmed up a patch panel and welded it in. then I filled all the extra holes. Once its body worked and painted it should look smooth and clean.

SHOP UPDATE: Finished the metal work under the 37 cab

 

I finished closing in the front of the cab tonight. When you run fender less with these Ford cabs I feel it is necessary to remove the flange that hangs down from the bottom of the cab behind the fender. I like the way it makes the bottom of the cab flow upward toward the frame. Once you cut this off it opens the bottom of the cab allowing wind and water into the passenger compartment. I wanted to close it up and tie in with the rocker panel. I think it turned out great.   

 BEFORE

AFTER

SHOP UPDATE: The process!

I just thought some people would enjoy seeing the process of patching this back together.

There was a large gap between the floor bracing and the door post. I wanted to have a very clean vertical seam where the new panel meets the door posts so I fabricated a filler panel to straighten up the post and fill the gap.

I fabricated a similar panel for the front door pillar as well.

Now that I have a straight post on both sides I tacked in the new rocker panel.

Now I am test fitting the new filler panel and marking it for trimming.

Here is the new panel installed after bead rolling and welding. I am very pleased with the way this turned out. Should look really nice once its painted.

SHOP UPDATE: Tonight's project, my 29 Model A pickup

So, I painted the frame last week. I decided to spend the evening doing a little assembly on my own project.  I got quite a bit done tonight, one more evening and it should be a roller again. Everything is coming together very nicely on this one as well. Stay tuned!

SHOP UPDATE: Today's project Joe's 37 Ford pickup

Joe's cab is back from the sand blaster. It turned out really nice. I am painting the interior on this one so we blasted very carefully not to disturb the exterior patina. Now that it is all clean I started to replace the rusted out rocker panels and fabricate the fill er panels for the channel job. I finished the drivers side today, I should get the passenger side finished tomorrow. I am really pleased with the outcome today.

SHOP UPDATE: Started final assembly on Jim's 36 Ford pickup chassis

I started to assemble Jim's pickup chassis today. I got the rear end hung and the most of the front suspension assembled and installed. I should finish it up tomorrow and move on to the brake system. Lots going on in the shop these days.

SHOP UPDATE: This has been a long time coming

Well, I finally decided to get the frame painted for my model A pickup. I had the booth set up so I pulled the frame in tied up a couple of loose ends and got it painted. I also sprayed the rear axle housing and another axle for a different project. I started this project about seven years ago. I have been so busy working on other peoples cars I have barely had any time for this one. I have been saying I am working on my own stuff on the weekends for years. Now it is time to take my own advise. Keep watching.

SHOP UPDATE: I did a little rust repair for a friend

I took a couple of days and repaired the front fenders of a 66 GMC for a friend. I was surprised to see how packed full of dirt that inner fender was when I cut out the bad metal. No wonder they all rust out. All in all I think the repair turned out really good. Even the paint matched very well considering it has had almost 50 years of fade. I have a feeling this truck will come back in the future for some more repairs.