1965 AFX Coronet

[CudaChick1968]

Oh what a cool project! This is one of those times I wish my shop really was in Arizona .........

 

[jj426savoy]

Wicked........more....more.....

 

[funnykarman]

Thanks

Oh what a cool project! This is one of those times I wish my shop really was in Arizona .........

I see that you have a 1968 fastback Cuda . I had a 67 many years ago that started with 273 Hi PO I got 100k miles on it and changed it out to a 340 , went thru 3 340's before I put a 426 hemi in it , drove it on the street and raced it some 10:60 128 mph in 1/4 mile but that was 35 years ago , things were much cheaper then . May be you can do a set of valve covers for me . Will send you some pics along with my ideas for them ... Thanks John

 

[CudaChick1968]

I've had my beastie for almost 24 years now but have never raced it. The factory 318 was long gone when I bought it and most of a 360 was in its place, but it's a 340 now. I'd love to have a Hemi in there some day though! I'll look forward to checking out your pictures and ideas whenever you get the chance. Thanks John.

 

[funnykarman]

More tools to get er done

Picked up a 12 ton press from Harbor freight on sale for $99.99 , it was cheaper than paying a shop to do it , was quoted 40 to 60 bucks ..and I still have it to use again . took less than 45 minutes to do almost all the work . will replace the lower bushing and pins after I weld in the lower control arm stiffening plates . PST lists them for $32 for 2 but 1/8 steel plate and and little work on the drill press gets you the same thing for about 45 minutes of work . Also put the seat back in and bent the passenger side bar so it would be easier for my Wife to get in and out , NOTE this car is not a race car and will not have to pass tec inspection . PS Wife is 70 years old :eusa_silenced: but she loves HOT Rods ...I am 67 .. Will plate the lower trans brace frame with 1/8 plate , this will box it ,cut a hole in the plate and put the end of the roll bar down into the cross brace frame . This should double the brace strength and help make the cage and frame into one . Here is how I removed the inner sleeves , I placed a 1 inch 1/2 socket down the hole inside the sleeve it's snug with the extension square looking out the bottom , next find and weld in a washer , be careful and do not weld in the sleeve the socket should hold the washer down the sleeve about a 1/8 inch . after welding it turn the control arm over and insert a 6 inch 1/2 extension in the socket , using the press push the sleeve out the bottom of the arm .

 

[funnykarman]

Did a little more fab work . cut 1/8 inch plate and tacked into trans crossmember ,will weld in solid before to installing floor pan . cut hole into it so I could put door bar down into it and not just weldeded on . finished up cutting and welding small pieces to fill in holes where capture nuts were welded in . welded on the bracket for the bump stops that I took off parts car ... have both door bars cut , notched , and bent to clear seat , Us old folks can't crawl over door bars very well .

 

[Budnicks]

I like the tools & progress
2 thumbs up

 

[funnykarman]

Thanks , I have been buying tools for 30 years , It's always fun to get a new one and see if you can make something nice with it . Most of my stuff comes from Harbor Freight . I bought a 40 inch metal shear , metal brake , slip roller combo 10 years ago , so I am going to try out the slip roller on the trans and drive shaft tunnel ...stay tuned !

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The system is giving me a fit , I log in but it keep telling me I do not have permission to add pic's , I added the ones the previous post so let me tell everyone whats going on . Cleaned floor pans , drilled holes and welded them in . tacked the door bar in , will finish up when I get help taking the seat out . NOTE rolled up edge on both sides of trans tunnel . I will attach the tunnel to these lips . WELDING TIP >>> for those who have trouble seeing how to weld when you get inside the car I do this . I tried to put a light in the car with me but the light was so bright that the helmet would darken and I could not see . SO I found these little lights made by CREE that will attach to my helmet and will give a very directed beam of light where you need it .The end of the flash light slides forward and will give you a very narrow bright beam . Of course I wear bi-focals and I use a 2.5 magifing lense in the helmet . But again looking up and welding will not work well due to you having to look over your glasses , to fix this get a pair of reading glasses wth the same strength of your lower lense and this problem will go away .....Getting OLD sux...

 

[funnykarman]

I have been working on the transmission tunnel and center floor pan . This is the first time I have used the slip roller attachment on my metal shear tool . I have used 16 guage metal for the floor pan and 18 guage for the driveshaft tunnel and side filler pieces . So far 4 pieces of sheet metal and about 200 spot welds ....along with 18 1/4 beads rolled in for strength . So far about 8 hrs in it . looks OK . Next will be the attachment points for the seatbelts .. I cut the old ones out of the orginal floor pan .. will have to think how to attach them to the frame just to be safe . Next will be the trans hump and shifter cover ......Fun Fun Fun ... the shop looks like the tool box threw up on the floor ...clean up time soon...

 

[funnykarman]

Have been working on getting the out side floor pans welded in , It's no longer a flintstone mobile both sides are in . I added some braces to the seat brackets before welding in the pans , when the seat was in the car and bolted down you could push it and it would rock some . I started on the transmission and shifter cover on Friday , made up some cardboard patterns and transferred them to 18 guage metal . starting with the back and doing the same with both sides . I have the top cut out for the box but will have to take the dash out to finish up the top roll . This has been almost like gift wrapping a elephant , it's big but necessary due to get room around the trans and shifter ....

 

[Mike Gaines]

I think you might like this car that I built in 1966 when i was 24 years old....

 

[Ron 73]

Did a little more fab work . cut 1/8 inch plate and tacked into trans crossmember ,will weld in solid before to installing floor pan . cut hole into it so I could put door bar down into it and not just weldeded on . finished up cutting and welding small pieces to fill in holes where capture nuts were welded in . welded on the bracket for the bump stops that I took off parts car ... have both door bars cut , notched , and bent to clear seat , Us old folks can't crawl over door bars very well . View attachment 240134View attachment 240135View attachment 240136View attachment 240137View attachment 240138

"Us old folks can't crawl over door bars very well"

Oh so true! Good stuff here, looking smoothhhhh...

 

[moparsteve636]

Some mighty fine fab work you're doing! Looks great!

 

[funnykarman]

Thanks for the great pic's Mike , I was 18 years old in 1966 , I loved seeing the week to week changes guy's would do to their cars , it was wild .. John

 

[Mike Gaines]

View attachment 242332

Thanks for the great pic's Mike , I was 18 years old in 1966 , I loved seeing the week to week changes guy's would do to their cars , it was wild .. John

John, I was right in the middle of the original "funny car" era. I match raced almost every weekend....I ran Hilborns on a load of 80% Nitromethane. It was a hoot. I am now reliving my 20's by starting to drag race again with my 66 Coronet. I am leaving at 8am tomorrow for the March Meet at Famoso (Bakersfield, CA).

 

[BATCORONET]

Nice !! Thanx !!!

 

[funnykarman]

A little more fab work ...

Just about done with the shifter box , I made a curved piece and welded it to the top of the box lid . Progress is so slow when fitting up metal for a good fit . I cut the box top in half , I am going to make the end near the shifter removeable so I can have access to the shifter . Almost all of the shifter is inside the car ..... and so it goes weld and grind weld and grind . soon it will be POR 15 time and seam sealer ... Also took the dash out so I could have more room .....

 

[funnykarman]

Worked on getting the shifter boot and shifter cover finished up . Welded in the drive shaft tunnel . Used cert-nuts so the cover could be removed if needed. Will have to move the gas petal over about an inch . Cut out the old holes and formed a piece and welded it in .View attachment 243059

 

[funnykarman]

A little fab work . moved gas petal assembly over an inch plus by cutting welding back together and bending the arm over to clear trans box .

 

[Budnicks]

nice fab work & progress