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For what it's worth, and I know I'm late, I like the flared look as much as the no-flare look. I was tempted to do the same on my car to get to use wider wheels, but decided against it as the square-bodies seem to have more horizontal "lines" to disrupt when the flares are completed.
Have you considered swapping sides and using the left front fender patch on the right rear quarter and vice versa?
This may give a nice symmetry to the radius. I think I have seen pictures of a sprint or outlaw race car that used a pair of round body front fenders in the rear.
Well that is a strange Falcon sort of thing...
I spent some time after work on what I decided to do last night while I was asleep. I think it turned out OK. Still have some more grinding and welding to do and won't do all of it (the tail) until it is one with the car. Now onto the other side to duplicate this patch.
Can't wait to see them on the car!
If anyone has a car together, near them, with a rear axle installed, can I get you to measure from the center-line of the rear wheel to the edge of the front wheel-well lip? I think I can just lay the front edge of the front lip over where the old edge was and the tire will fit the radii fine, but just want to double check.
Sorry Roger. No axle for the moment. I could measure back from the center of the spring eye if that would help.
I'll be home tomorrow evening.
I think I have it figured out - cuts have been made - no turning back now. In keeping with the title of this thread... I am totally committed.
Both sides are made and the new shape actually looks pretty good. A lot better than just putting the front shape in the rear. I'll take some more pictures tomorrow and post them. Fortunately on the passenger side the rust is just around the lip - whereas on the driver side I will be replacing a lot more, but all easy patches. Can't wait to stop cutting and welding.
[AGREE]
90.5" on a square-body Ranchero.
Thanks Gene - but I think we have measured the wrong thing here -- or I really messed up! :WHATTHE:
Spent a few hours out there last night and today getting the second side made and tracing the pattern on the car. The process is really pretty easy, but the execution was painful. Holding the panel in place was the hardest part. I have some of those panel jig things, but you have to be able to get to both sides and you really can't in this case. So I used them at the bottom and welded the top radii in and then removed them.
I worked though it and was in the process of welding it all in when my friend called to see if I could rescue her cat who'd locked himself in the bathroom. So I had to quit before finishing. But, as you see, it's almost done on one side. I am kind'a liking it so far. Really changes the look - that's for sure.
More welding to come... And the piece I welded into the flare will get folded over and welded to seal it all up from underneath - which is why I had to clean up under the wheel wells. Plus, this allowed me to pound out all of dents that show in the bed.
I wondered about the measurement I took. Couldn't figure out why that was needed. Now I'm figuring you meant to the leading edge of the rear flare, and I interpreted that you wanted the trailing edge of the front flare. I'm kinda easily confused, I guess! Sorry, but from the pics, it looks like you don't need anymore measurements. It's looking great. Can't wait to see it.
I like the way that is starting to look. To bad your garage is not bigger I would like to see it from a distance to get an idea of the whole side "look" of the car.
If I new you were this good a sheet metal work I would have recruited you to help me a long time ago... But I guess I learned by fire.
Keep it up and you will have it back on the road this summer..
Without wheels and front fenders, it is what you see. I will take some pictures from a couple other angles now that is is more welded in place. Welding is not 100% done yet - I was running out of shield gas for the welder and didn't want to run out this weekend. Turns out the driver side is going to need a lot of patching in/out/under - so I only got 80% of it cut out yesterday and nothing welded in. It's easier to do all the under-patching with nice big openings - so that will come tonight, most likely.
As for sheet metal work... I'm a hack. I'd need far more tools than I have to really be any good at it. I get by though.
I'm getting there - but it is taking more time than I thought. Probably more my problem than the cars though. I am my own worst enemy. :(
So, here I am now, on the drivers side. Out comes the cut-off wheel. Cut, cut cut. Hum, there is a lot of Bondo over here. Hum, where is the metal.
That's how it went. As you can see the whole bottom on this side didn't really exist. So I trimmed up to the good metal and am now slowly patching.
Steve - all I have to say... it is a good thing you brought those fenders over. I am whiddling them down to nothing making patch panels.
Probably won't get much further than this over this weekend because of the swap meet, but we'll see.
Here's a couple random pics. The passenger side flare froma different angle and with a little more welding done. Trying to get all the pieces tacked on before I run out of gas.
The console is out of another "round body Ford"... the Taurus model that looks like the designers were being trained to use a Bezier curve. I'm going to dye it red on the top half.
Dude you are making me feel bad. I didn't realize how bad those both were.. Let me know if you need any more of the sheet metal laying around. I have some good metal left on the parts wagon but the Ranchero is pretty much gone. I might have to do some free coating for you to make up for the poor shape of the cars??[thumb]
Ah - don't feel bad. Things are working out just fine. The way I see it - it was bad enough to allow me to be creative with it. And learn more about the construction of a Falcon than anyone has need to know. [thumb]
But I dare say, you probably know just about as much by now.
Ain't that the truth.. I like the look of the fenders the little wedge piece you put in will set it off just enough people will wonder what you did.
The inside floor area looks fantastic, almost makes me want to do another one?? Can't wait to see it done.[BOW]
Okay Roger... new direction for your Ranchero
Lookin good Jeff! lol
Don't tempt me like that Jeff!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff W
I contemplated a push-me pull-you Ranchero too...
Update .... Update... Is it time for paint???:D
It's time to lay some filler (which I HATE doing), but not quite ready for paint. :( I've moved into the bed and am engineering the closing in of that area. Lots of pondering how best to do it with stone knives and bear skins (quiz: Where did this quote come from?)
I am at it every day, even if I don't post anything, but the pictures I took of the finished drivers side looked oddly similar to the passenger side. :confused:
I did all the work underneath too, so I can begin undercoating all that now. If only I could clone myself... share a beer with myself... :BEER:
Either clone yourself or Gene, or both?? Glad to hear it is moving forward. I try to play a little every night myself but the list is soooooo long...
I just love the smell of bondo in the morning ....just don't like sweeping it off the floor... jh:BIRTHDAY:
Gene has been pretty tied up this month, so haven't seen him much over the past few weeks - other than all the help he provided at the swap meet. That's OK though, he's got projects too numerous himself. I am starting to miss him though... [sniff] :(Quote:
Originally Posted by doghows
List? You have a list? That's your problem! :p
My list is a mental one. Or am I on the mental list???:confused: Its the honey do list that is killing me.:bicker:
What are your plans for the weekend?? Saturday might be a bust but maybe Sunday?? I am closing the shop on Monday so I have that extra honey do day.... I will keep you posted. (that almost sounded like a song?)
By the way I give up on the quote. Lets see if anyone gets it...[AGREE]
I think we are both mental, but I digress... :confused:
I am open all weekend - it will be a 3-day get as much done as I can weekend. Make it a honey, lets go to Seattle do list. [thumb]
Google is your friend...
I agree, it is a sickness.. I think I will shoot for Sunday that way I can fulfill my obligations at the Casino car show on Saturday, get parts on Sunday, and Honey Do on Monday??? Damn forgot to fit working on the car in there somewhere again...:mad:
I'm sorry I forgot to keep you apprised. My family has FORCED :) me to E. WA for some fishing and playing. Not sure when I'll be back on that side, but it'll be before the snow flies, I'm sure. Probably MUCH sooner.
Like I said... "projects."
Fishing is a project that never gets finished, right? [thumb]
It's been a while since I posted much of anything related to this craziness. But I do believe I have reached a milestone with this. I think the final major fabrication is done. I've got a little pounding to do on the bed panel to remove some of the dimples and then that is ready to paint the underside.
So here are pictures are a couple left-overs from finishing up the drivers side wheel well and shows the underneath. Underneath is ready for sealing and then I'm going to undercoat it all (when I can track down some undercoating).
Today I did the work on the bed panel and support for that. As indicated before I'm leaving access to this underside part and needed to make it so when I install the bed panel I can totally seal that off.
So here's a few overdue pics.
Here's the work done to make the bed panel support. The fun part was heating up the piece that wraps around the wheel house. This is typically only sealed by stamped sheet metal pieces that are not a seal in the best of times.
Really, I have concluded these beds were never really ever intended to stay dry. I think it would be impossible - at least as a factory assembly. I've got this setup so that if I do it right, it'll be pretty water tight. I have plans as a "just in case", but it won't ever get as much water in there as it used to.
The bed panel work is to make it so that I need only remove the little metal oval cover to access the upper shock mounts - instead of every taking off the large bed panel.
Fishing up the bed panel...
Well if I have learned anything from this, it would be to "Dont be afraid to try"
If I do try, and it doesnt work out Roger can fix it for me! :ROTFLMAO:
Nice work Roger
Amen to that. I went over to see the "status" and I am amazed. Great work and creativity Roger. Larry
Amazing work. I saw this car for a long time in person and this is a tremendous amount of work. You are going to have 2 show cars when you are done. Daily driver Hmmm??? I sent the under coat gun over with Brian, and thanks for the parts to help get my turd back on the road...
Great job can't wait to see it in person...
Funny thing - I went to put on my cap today as I headed out to the garage - and I all the sudden realized I had a bigger head today for some reason. Now I know why. :confused:
Trust me - my intentions are still as a driver, but you can't go pulling things apart and not repair them... OK, restore them. As I've said - and been told - I am my own worst enemy. :rolleyes:
I did build a dam for the bottom of the opening under the bed area - just in case. I will build a speaker box to fit in that space with maybe some other cavity to store things. We'll see. But I will totally fiberglass it in that area and it will stand an inch off the deck so if any water does get in, it can drain. It will only be water if anything.
Ford didn't really intend to keep stuff out of that area - they just probably never told anyone; "you ought to take off the cover and clean it every spring - and then seal it up again."
Right now I am crawling around under the car and getting the underside all sealed and ready for undercoat. I read on some site of a guy getting excellent result by using Loctite Polyurethane roof and flashing sealant - so I picked up a few tubes of it. Looks like it is going to be some really good stuff. Taking forever to cure, but that's OK.
As for the undercoating - I can't find any that I want to use right now. I know Home Depot has it in spray cans for $3.50 each - so I may pick up a few of these to see what quality they are. Thanks for sending over the gun Steve. I may use it still.
Pictures to follow when I take some more.
If you use the gun great if not we will just get it back to Pete when we are done. He don't need it any more.
You are giving me some good ideas if I ever get the delivery done and start to work on my little turd.
* Off topic * but what time are you leaving your place for the show on Sunday?? Might have the Ranchero but maybe the truck not sure yet but I should get my junk out of your yard.
Keep up the cool work can't wait to see it live.[BOW]