My 1967 Belvedere Convertible Plans and Restoration (aka - Mad Scientist Build)

[conv67bdere]

On to the next project . . . the Hood . . .

Here's what I've got to work with . . . just started . . .

After 2 hours with an "old" cup type wire knotted wheel . . . progress was slow . . .

So I went and get a "new" one and tore into it . . . MUCH BETTER !
Note to self - buy a NEW wire wheel when starting a new project . . .

Now to figure out the layout of the holes . . . looks like I might be fabricating a new dimple die for this project too

Created a 1" and a 1/2" dimple die for the trunk lid project ( needed to fit into the tight locations)

 

[conv67bdere]

with no "easy" access holes, like in the trunk, getting started on this hood was a whole lot harder . . . everything is blind and no way to get to the back side to hold the cutting parts . . .

But I've finally figured it out and now I'm making some progress . . . . the first set of 4 holes took me 2 hours . . .

BUT . . . got them done . . . Oh, the 4 holes are to match the trunk lid and like them both look like "maybe" there was some planning in the layout . . . maybe ? ! ?

You can see the bottom of the dimple die in the hole - and see that there is very little access to work with it and get it attached to the tool to make it work . . .

In comparison, the next 9 holes were done in less than and hour . . .

And I'm starting a new collecting of cut outs for the hood - not that it'll remove a lot of weight

Now it's time to get back it, got a lot more holes to get in the hood and get them dimpled

 

[conv67bdere]

With all the rain from Hurricane/Storm Sally . . . I got a chance to "try" and focus on getting more done on the hood . . .

Working in these confined spaces, with holes so small I can't get my fingers through . . . means being creative . . . and finding method that will work.

But . . . got the next line of holes completed today . . . ( thanks to the rain )

Got more holes to get drilled, punched, and dimpled on this project . . .

 

[hunt2elk]

I think you are getting obsessed with holes all of a sudden Larry .

 

[dadsbee]

Them poor mice will have no where to hide...

 

[Brandy]

Looking great pal!

 

[conv67bdere]

Adding more holes in the hood . . . getting the tools to this concealed area is difficult and interesting . . .

But progress was made and I'm getting it done . . .

Got an issue with the bottom dimple die binding on the bolt when it's dimpled . . . not sure what's going on an I need to get this fixed.

 

[conv67bdere]

More fabrication work . . . on this side, the 1.0" dimple die would not fit . . . so I had to make another dimple die measuring 0.9" . . .

And the result is that it worked great . . .

No, that' not my bed, that's my great dane's bed . . . yes, it's a twin bed ! And he fills it up too ! !

 

[conv67bdere]

How to make these holes and dimple die them . . . here's my step by step process . . .

First - the holes are laid out and drilled to allow the Greenlee tool to go through the hole ( the hole going to the right and up on the screen )

From the previous dimpled hole - drop the cutting die into the opening (access to this area is not very easy )

After the cutting die is in there, get a metal rod into the center of the cutting tool, and use my finger to raise the cutter up to the top . . .

Position the cutter on the hole so that the threads from the Greenlee tool can get threaded on the cutting tool under the metal . . .

Holding the cutting tool up and in place, thread the bolt into the threaded cutting tool . . . then just pump the tool and cut the metal . . .

Metal is cut . . . and hole is made . . .

Remove the cuttings from the tool ( for the next hole ) . . .

Debur the hole, the edges are very sharp and I got tired of getting cut up . . .

The bottom piece of the dimple die was already maneuvered into position through the hidden access maze of the hood . . . move it from the last hole over to this next hole . . .
You can see the bottom die in the hole . . .

Move this bottom die up into place to be able to thread the bolt into the hole . . .

Thread the bolt into the bottom die . . .
Yes, the Greenlee tool could be used here too, but swapping the parts was getting frustrating - so I use one tool for each operation to simplify the process *( in my mind)*
Tighten it snug and make SURE the bottom of the top die is properly in the cut out hole ( I messed up one on my trunk - learned my lesson )

 

[conv67bdere]

Tighten the bolt until it gets snug . . . then loosen it . . . and remove the tool

The finished product . . . dimpled hole . . .

Repeat "umpteen" more times for all the holes . . . and you're all done . . .

( Maybe ? ! ? ! ? )

 

[conv67bdere]

More Hood fabrication work . . . only got 2 more runs that I want to get done . . .

Here's where I want to put them . . . but they already have holes in them . . .

Hummmm . . .

Measured the holes and they would not allow my "existing" 1 1/2" spacing or I'd have a FUN time with those existing holes . . .

So measure . . . calculate . . . layout . . . and get 'er done . . .

One more run ( the other side ) and I'll have this hood "matching the trunk . . . and ready for paint ! ! !

Wait, found some bad areas that will need some welding and metal moving . . . but not much . . .


Here's the hood holes details:

65 - 1.00" holes - metal is .035 = 2.275" of solid 1" rod
32 - 0.90" holes- metal is .035 = 1.120" of solid 0.90" rod
60 - 0.50" holes- metal is .035 = 2.100" of solid 1/2" rod

all of the punched metal had a 3/8" hole drilled in it, and the 1/2" holes were drilled out completely, so the above should give a much better estimate of the weight . . .

Calculated on the web:
65 - 1.0" holes . . . 2.275" of round stock - 5.98 pounds
32- 0.9" holes . . . 1.12" of round stock - 2.39 pounds
60- 0.5" holes . . . 2.10" of round stock - 1.38 pounds

Total 9.77 pounds ( almost 10 pounds ) *calculated*

 

[Brandy]

More Hood fabrication work . . . only got 2 more runs that I want to get done . . .

Here's where I want to put them . . . but they already have holes in them . . .

Hummmm . . .

View attachment 1006601

Measured the holes and they would not allow my "existing" 1 1/2" spacing or I'd have a FUN time with those existing holes . . .

So measure . . . calculate . . . layout . . . and get 'er done . . .

View attachment 1006602

One more run ( the other side ) and I'll have this hood "matching the trunk . . . and ready for paint ! ! !

Wait, found some bad areas that will need some welding and metal moving . . . but not much . . .

Ain't customization fun?

 

[Cranky]

Dayam lol! Gots to make a dimple tool for the holes I've already done with my doors. Got a glass hood already but thinking about leaving the trunk lid alone for the extra weight on the rear. Might just end up with a 50/50 car

 

[conv67bdere]

Since I did the calculation of the weight removed on the hood, decided to do it also on the trunk . . .

Calculated on the web:
100 - 1.0" holes . . . 3.5" of round stock - 9.2 pounds
50- 0.5" holes . . . 1.75" of round stock - 1.15 pounds

Total 10.35 pounds ( over 10 pounds ) *calculated*

 

[conv67bdere]

Happy New Year (2021) to everyone at FBBO . . .

People always say that hindsight is 20/20 . . .
Well, the year 2020 was a pretty rough year for me, but I'm very happy to have it in my "hindsight" now . . . finally !

Hoping to make more time to get into the shop and make some progress on my Belvedere . . . that's my goal !

 

[Brandy]

Happy New year pal. Hope it happens for you.

 

[monroegtx]

It’s great to see the end of that horrific year. Looking forward to the new one and seeing you getting stuck into this build again. Stay safe.

 

[conv67bdere]

The only way I'm going to get this car done, is if I get myself back out into the shop and start working on it . . . so that's what I did . . .

And it was great to get back in the shop, and also very frustrating . . . I'll explain why . . .

First . . . I've crossed a threshold . . . and I was actually putting parts ON THE CAR today ! ! !

First . . . need to get this after market A/C unit mounting figured out . . .

Then I realized that I need to know "where" the windshield wiper motor and pivots need to be . . .

So the hunt begins . . . where in the heck did I put that thing
( are you sensing the cause of my frustrations . .. yet - uh - where are the nuts ? ? ? ARGH ! ! ! )

Then the wiper pivots ( actually found the nuts for them . . . that was amazing )

So after FINALLY finding the nuts for everything, and getting it all in place, I realized that the wiper motor is NOT going to work . . .
Not when that 5.7 Hemi gets shoehorned into the engine compartment ! ! - - - - ARGH ! ! ! !

BUT . . . for the first time ( wait, the new K-member . . . that's right . . . ) Okay, I'm actually putting parts ON the car . . . YAY ! ! !



Then there's this that I noticed . . . this is the spring for the driver door hinge . . . and it is worn 1/2 way through the spring . . .
That's going to need to be fixed . . . oh boy, more things to work on . . . just what I need . . .

Now . . . go back up and look at the top picture with the wiper motor . . . after spending about an HOUR looking through all the bagged and tagged plastic bags in the 2 boxes that they're stored in . . . I finally walk over with a couple nuts from my hardware stash to get it held in place . . .

But . . . look very closely at the bottom of the picture where the electrical connection for the wiper motor is hanging . . .
What do you see . . . look closely . . . see a plastic bag wrapped around the electrical wires . . . maybe ? ?
Guess what's in the plastic bag . . . on the wires . . .

You guessed it . . . the nuts for the wiper motor the I just spent an HOUR looking for ! ! !

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry . . . ARGH ! ! !

 

[Brandy]

The only way I'm going to get this car done, is if I get myself back out into the shop and start working on it . . . so that's what I did . . .

And it was great to get back in the shop, and also very frustrating . . . I'll explain why . . .

First . . . I've crossed a threshold . . . and I was actually putting parts ON THE CAR today ! ! !

First . . . need to get this after market A/C unit mounting figured out . . .

View attachment 1049496

Then I realized that I need to know "where" the windshield wiper motor and pivots need to be . . .

So the hunt begins . . . where in the heck did I put that thing
( are you sensing the cause of my frustrations . .. yet - uh - where are the nuts ? ? ? ARGH ! ! ! )

View attachment 1049498

Then the wiper pivots ( actually found the nuts for them . . . that was amazing )

View attachment 1049499

View attachment 1049500

So after FINALLY finding the nuts for everything, and getting it all in place, I realized that the wiper motor is NOT going to work . . .
Not when that 5.7 Hemi gets shoehorned into the engine compartment ! ! - - - - ARGH ! ! ! !

BUT . . . for the first time ( wait, the new K-member . . . that's right . . . ) Okay, I'm actually putting parts ON the car . . . YAY ! ! !



Then there's this that I noticed . . . this is the spring for the driver door hinge . . . and it is worn 1/2 way through the spring . . .
That's going to need to be fixed . . . oh boy, more things to work on . . . just what I need . . .

View attachment 1049497

Now . . . go back up and look at the top picture with the wiper motor . . . after spending about an HOUR looking through all the bagged and tagged plastic bags in the 2 boxes that they're stored in . . . I finally walk over with a couple nuts from my hardware stash to get it held in place . . .

But . . . look very closely at the bottom of the picture where the electrical connection for the wiper motor is hanging . . .
What do you see . . . look closely . . . see a plastic bag wrapped around the electrical wires . . . maybe ? ?
Guess what's in the plastic bag . . . on the wires . . .

You guessed it . . . the nuts for the wiper motor the I just spent an HOUR looking for ! ! !

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry . . . ARGH ! ! !

You're not alone pal, welcome to your support group.....

 

[HawkRod]

The only way I'm going to get this car done, is if I get myself back out into the shop and start working on it . . . so that's what I did . . .

And it was great to get back in the shop, and also very frustrating . . . I'll explain why . . .

First . . . I've crossed a threshold . . . and I was actually putting parts ON THE CAR today ! ! !

First . . . need to get this after market A/C unit mounting figured out . . .

View attachment 1049496

Then I realized that I need to know "where" the windshield wiper motor and pivots need to be . . .

So the hunt begins . . . where in the heck did I put that thing
( are you sensing the cause of my frustrations . .. yet - uh - where are the nuts ? ? ? ARGH ! ! ! )

View attachment 1049498

Then the wiper pivots ( actually found the nuts for them . . . that was amazing )

View attachment 1049499

View attachment 1049500

So after FINALLY finding the nuts for everything, and getting it all in place, I realized that the wiper motor is NOT going to work . . .
Not when that 5.7 Hemi gets shoehorned into the engine compartment ! ! - - - - ARGH ! ! ! !

BUT . . . for the first time ( wait, the new K-member . . . that's right . . . ) Okay, I'm actually putting parts ON the car . . . YAY ! ! !



Then there's this that I noticed . . . this is the spring for the driver door hinge . . . and it is worn 1/2 way through the spring . . .
That's going to need to be fixed . . . oh boy, more things to work on . . . just what I need . . .

View attachment 1049497

Now . . . go back up and look at the top picture with the wiper motor . . . after spending about an HOUR looking through all the bagged and tagged plastic bags in the 2 boxes that they're stored in . . . I finally walk over with a couple nuts from my hardware stash to get it held in place . . .

But . . . look very closely at the bottom of the picture where the electrical connection for the wiper motor is hanging . . .
What do you see . . . look closely . . . see a plastic bag wrapped around the electrical wires . . . maybe ? ?
Guess what's in the plastic bag . . . on the wires . . .

You guessed it . . . the nuts for the wiper motor the I just spent an HOUR looking for ! ! !

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry . . . ARGH ! ! !

Ask me how many times I have done the same thing!!!