The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts progress on my Big Bolt project

That's a great idea Willy, might get the beer a tad warm though!

And despite what they say, Poms and Jocks do not like warm beer!(especially the Jocks!)

Keep up the great work.

how to make custom inner front fenders from flat pattern to shaped finished product using a swager and some muscle

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2407623220104889838tcmeiR

Now yer just showin' off!

Seriously though.....I wish I had half the talent some folks on the Stovebolt have.
Having the right equipment also helps!

No not really
Just showing how easy it is to make stuff with only basic home made equipment

A littly more under hood custom work done this morning

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2271980970104889838JDLYDc

Wow some fabulous work to say the least. I wish I had half the sheet metal skills as you.
As I was going though your pictures I was wondering about the switch to right hand drive but now I see you are from New Zealand it all makes sense now LOL.
Great work and I will be looking forward to seeing you progress with this project.

I had to break out the old hammer welding skills that I haven't used for a long time to patch the holes where the locking handles were.
I'ts like riding a bike once you know how to do it it should be easy (so they say)

http://community.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam?start=84

Thanks for the update Willy.

I guess I'm still learning to 'ride the bike' then!

What are you using as a hood/bonnet latch?

using late model Holden Viva but any late model catch that has a bolt on lock system will do. Most late model cars have catches built it as an intregal part of the radiator support panel but there are a few like the Viva that still have the bolt in type.

Very Nice !

Thanks Spanky

Very impressive. I wish I had that kind a fabrication equipment. However I will say I can do quite a bit with a hammer, a vise, vise-grips, a angle grinder, a welder and a bit of redneck ingenuity.

yep ingenuity and a bit of courage thrown in is all it takes to tackle stuff like this. Oh and it helps to be a little mad as well to take on such big projects.
Big dreams
Big ideas
Big trucks
= BIG FUN cruising when completed.

some more custom work on the hood

http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam?start=84

Wow! This is the first time I've seen this truck. Very nice work. I love the use of the old rear fenders.

I want to visit NZ so bad...can I bring you a wrench or a sandwich or something ???

No problem come anytime. I have plenty of wrenches just bring a bottle of JD's to drink while chewing the fat between working on the truck LOL

By the way I love your red '54 4400 awesome looking truck.

after recovering from shock getting a quote of $25k for body repairs and paint I decided that maybe I should break out the old body repair tools and see if I could still remember how to do it myself.
What do you think so far ???????????????

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2103796890104889838XIoWHW

It's great when you've got 'proper' metal to work with Willy.
Much better than the junk they use to build cars nowadays.

I've had a go at the smaller dings etc,and about hammer on/off techniques,but I'll leave the bigger stuff to my friend who's a good hammer and dolly guy.
Some knuckledragger stood on the hood at some time in the dim and distant past!

Keep up the great work!

looking good, just take your time and you will be fine. will keep a eye on your progress, enjoy

just added a few more pics on my webshots page showing me cutting out a rusty piece in the RF fender and hammer welding a patch into it.
I am quite enjoying this as it is a bit of a challenge. I just hope I don't run out of patience as I really need to take my time doing this to get it right.

I admit to being a little impatient at times wishing things would progress a little faster.

Well after 22 hours of old school panelbeating the RF fender is almost ready for a coat of epoxy primer. Another 2 hours or so and it will be done. I figure 24hrs @ $48 per Hr I just saved myself More than eleven hundred dollars.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2451135300104889838erVPYA

At those prices Willy, it's easy to see where the $25K Body and paint quote comes from.
You've just saved $1100+ and you get the satisfaction of knowing it's done the way you want.

That's $48 kiwi which is about 16 quid your money. What do panelbeaters charge out their labour at in Scotland?

Y'know Willy I'm not even sure, I'm afraid to ask!
If and when the time comes, I plan to call in a few 'favours'.
My job takes me into many bodyshops.
Some are your basic high volume/lower quality places to others who are concours standard.

One of the latter belongs to a friend who does a lot of rally prep,concentrating on the 'earlier' cars such as MkII Escorts and other classic rally cars.
His guys do a real nice job too.
They've just 'refreshed' a MkII for Jimmy McRae,father of the late great Colin McRae.
I've heard figures of around £70,000!!
To be fair that was more than paint.
Almost a shame to rally it!

Ricky's already mentioned painting my truck based on 'Mates rates'
No price given as yet.....

my 90 year old mother bought NEW a 1980 MkII escort 1600 sport and still has it with only 110,000klm on the odometer. She has decided to give up driving and now wants to sell it. What would it sell for in the UK ? I have it on trademe in NZ see link
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=282454308

Willy, I like the idea of a 90 year old driving a 1600 Sport!
It's a nice looking wee car.
Your mother/climate seem to have been kind to it.

I actually learned to drive in one,and also learned about opposite lock/drifting in the snow in it too.
Great fun!

Good,solid 2 door MkIIs are pretty sought after on account of the 'rally boys' bending/wrecking so many of them!

I'll have a word with my buddy,as he's a bit more 'clued up' on these cars.

Hi Willy
Thats really impressive work, on a scale I would not tackle, given certification hassles in NZ.
Steering- Is it steering box or rack and pinion? I have a '96 nissan bus, have a look at one of those, the steering layout is like what you may need, cab-foward. The steering box is right foward, the drag link heads straight back to the pitman arm off the steering knuckle.

cheers

steering is all sorted with Chev RHD power steering box. Very simple setup using a short 8" Flaming River tilt column and steering universals.

well folks my COE is finally making some progress again this year.The chassis is now about 90% done including airbag rear suspension and the panelbeating of the body is also 90% done just the hood and grill to go.

Still undecided what bumper to use on the front. I quite like to look of a '48 pickup bumper but pickups being narrower accross the front I think I will have to get two bumpers then cut and weld them to give a wider version.
Anyone out there done this before?

Anyways I loaded up a few more pics on my webshots page so have a look if you are interested
http://rides.webshots.com/album/573567191xiTfam

Cheers
Willy