Some of my shop tools and such.
The trusty Lincoln Electric Weld Pack 100 (without
the optional Mig gas adaptor). Wire feed unit only, $300 bucks
from Lowes home store.
I've been using the .035 wire for rocker panel and
thicker metals, .030 for the floor pans and thinner gauge metal.
New sheet metal. Top left to right: Floor pan (under
other parts), toe pan extension, frame patch, torque box. Bottom
of photo: inner rocker panel (note rusty hand prints on it).
Some of the tools I've been tackling the project with.
Clockwise from top: Air drill (I don't care for this too much),
wire brush (aids in rust removal and welding slag clean up), air
chisel (my favorite time saver), and my air cut off saw (nice
too). None were over about 20 bucks from Northern Tool Company.
Here is the drill I've been drilling out the hundreds
of spot welds from my sheet metal. Recently I had to replace the
screws holding the metal face/chuck on the drill with larger screws
(again). Though I have a cordless and an air powered drill, this
remains my favorite/easiest way to remove the spot welds.
This drill has quite a history about it. A standard
variable speed Craftsman 3/8" drill used when I was a ski
technician for Alpine Ski Center here in Raleigh NC. Anyway, it
was pretty worn out when they replaced it back in '85/86 ski season
(the metal face of the drill likes to eject the four screws holding
it on and fall to the floor). Being a college student that could
use a drill in any condition, I held onto it. Even after 15 or
so years of "making do" with this drill and recently
purchasing 2k or so worth of tools, I still find myself nursing
the thing along. Perhaps I'll get Santa to bring me a new one
this year :)
A cheap welding shield that came along with my Lincoln
Electric welder (with plenty of burn marks in the lens and face
of it, sure am glad it wasn't my face burning). Plenty of other
options out there but this one was "free" with the welder
making some good economic sense.
My ever ready 5HP 20Gal noisy "oil less"
air compressor and the 3M Weld-Thru coating. My recommendation
is to get a bigger air compressor and get one of the belt driven
variety. It will be much quieter and won't have to run as much.
This is what my budget would allow ($300, included some hose,
paint sprayer, misc air tool supplies, inflator etc), to do it
again...I wouldn't get an oil less compressor for any amount of
savings.
The Weld Thru coating is a must for every weld seam.
Weather overlapped or not. This coating won't burn off like most
primers which means I won't have to come back and do this again!.
It is about $25 per can but well worth it. Use directions and
wear some rubber gloves, this doesn't like to come off of anything
easily. Also, I didn't get a whole can out of my first, I think
I may not have shaken it enough between coats (full minute plus).
It was also suggested to store the can upside down between uses.
Goggles, get 'em and wear 'em. I started out
with some protective glasses but they didn't protect my eyes very
well. They fog up now and then but it is better than hopping around
the garage with rust in your eyes. Leather gloves, I use
these for almost everything around the car. Some pretty good gouges
in them that otherwise would be in my hand. I've been using them
for welding, not too god for it, they need to be 4-6" longer
for that (been making do anyway...kind of like the drill story).
I got the particle respirator last December, wow what a
difference over the paper masks. It is a lot easier to breath
out of, doesn't cause your goggles to fog up as much and has greatly
reduced the amount of dust/fumes I've been ingesting. Last, you
can see a few of my extra grinding discs. Get plenty, they
go fast when you need them.
A shot of my interior upholstery that came with the
car. They had intended to change colors from blue to saddle. I
have this extra set ('67) along with arm rests...need to trade/sell
and get blue. The car also came with a Grant wood steering wheel.
I have some mixed emotions about the quality of these, input would
be greatly appreciated. I guess I find out more when it comes
time to put a wheel on the car.
Don't have a spring compressor handy, no problem, I used some
4X4 bolted in their place to get the height I wanted without having to
re-install/worry about the springs. Keeps the project from being *bouncy* too.
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