Update #: 221, Date: 2010-01-28 05:01:54

Title: The transmission is mounted

Keywords: drivetrain

Old Transmission Mount New Transmission Mount I still need to cap the ends of the tubes and cut off the excess steel plate, but that will wait until later. Now I can move on to the motor mounts.

Update #: 1172, Date: 2010-01-29 07:01:22

Title: Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhh!

Keywords: motor mounts

welded the motor mounts into place as best as I could with the engine in place, then pulled the engine. One of the mounts is crooked, VERY crooked. I don't know that I have a choice other than to cut it off and start over. :(

Update #: 1173, Date: 2010-01-30 10:01:09

Title: setbac ks

Keywords: motor mounts

I ended up cutting both mounts off, and filling in a recess/depression in the dakota rail. (pictures later.) Towards the end of the day I figured out why i was having so much trouble getting the motor mounts to be symmetrical....they are not supposed to be. No wonder trying to put them in that way was wrecking havoc with my transmission angle. Now I need to figure out how to mount them properly. Before I decide that I'll need to determine if I can use the cross member ends I had planned on utilizing, or if I'll need to fabricate the frame parts from scratch.

Update #: 1174, Date: 2010-02-16 05:02:57

Title: trials and tribulations

Keywords: delays

I'm going to the MSCC autocross school this weekend, and want to take the geo. I've been trying to get it ready; i.e. rotating the tires, adjusting the parking brake and clutch pedal, etc. I drove it around without any problem on Saturday. Today it left me stranded at the side of the road. Even more annoying, I've been slacking off on the datsun to get the [unreliable] geo in shape. The little I have done on it lately has been playing with cardboard templates, which is not that productive. I do have some minor good news, though....I got a broken clothes washer off the side of the road today and disassembled it for the sheet metal. I haven't taken them apart yet, but I also got a washer and dryer stand on Friday....the appliance tally so far: refrigerator upright freezer water heater stands for clothes washer and dryer clothes dryer If I'm lucky and this continues, I might be able to fabricate the whole body from appliance parts.

Update #: 1175, Date: 2010-02-16 05:02:04

Title: new 1933 photos

Keywords: datsun photos

I just found some 2007 photos of the 1933 datsun at TwinTurbo.net

Update #: 1176, Date: 2010-02-23 05:02:36

Title: Skin for rose

Keywords: body

I've been taking appliances out of people's trash and disassembling them for the sheet metal. The sides of the washer and drier stands are a pretty close match for the "scuttle" or cowl area of the body. Not a perfect fit, but still pretty close. I haven't decided if there's a way to make it work with the existing gap, or if it will need to be modified

Update #: 1177, Date: 2010-02-25 08:02:17

Title: welding sheet metal sucks

Keywords: body

Tonight I welded sheet metal for the first time. I only burned througth a few times, but the difference between burning through and being too cold for penetration is very slight. You'll recall that I tried using the sides off a washer stand for the scuttle/footwell. It came very close to fitting, but was just a touch too wide. Today's welding was an attempt to improve the fit. After the sides fit well, I'll probaby add about a half inch to their length. Then I need to build the area at the top of the scuttle; i.e. the area between the windshield and the firewall.

Update #: 1178, Date: 2010-03-03 04:03:08

Title: metal shaping videos

Keywords: videos

Update #: 1179, Date: 2010-03-03 04:03:56

Title: metal shaping videos

Keywords: videos

Ghia Specialties

Update #: 1180, Date: 2010-03-07 06:03:29

Title: How should I build a grill shell?

Keywords: Body

I've been looking at Tom Brawner's wonderful radiator/grill shell for his 1927 Model T. He started with a big sheet of metal, bent the sides in a brake, then "hammer formed" the edges around a plywood "buck". (That's in quotes because a single sheet of plywood is less elaborate than the typical metal shaping buck.) After welding the top on and finishing it, the shell looked terrific. I'd like to do something like that for my datsun's radiator shell, but am not sure how to do so. One problem is that the shell has a bead rolled into it at the intersection of the front and sides. That bead is not in a Model T's shell. Here's one possible way I've thought of to build a grill shell with the appropriate "bead". Another option would be to try cutting the grill shell apart at the corner and then using my bead roller to try and create a bead. The third option I can think of involves taking a flat piece of sheet metal, rolling the beads first, and then using "hammer forming" techniques build the sides and/or top of the shell.

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