Her Name is Frank

[Twisted Minis]

What is it you are looking to know? I'm actually not that great at sheetmetal work. I can get by, but I'm not what you would consider "good" at it.

[GloNDark]

Well crap if you're even considered good.....I'd hate to think what my skills would be. hahaha

The fender widening on the benz is a good example. What do you use to hold everything in place while you tack it? And once tacked are you mig-ing or tig-ing it together?

If I by chance get something to hold together and lined up while I tack it, I can't ever seen to weld it without it warping and looking like crap after it cools.

Check out half doors I built for example. I tacked them all in place and let it all cool to the touch. Then I welded 3/4" long strips about 2 inches apart and let those cool, then welded 3/4" long sections till it was all buttoned up and still it warped like this.

[Twisted Minis]

It helps to have two people. I built stand offs out of 1/8" rod on the front to hold the fender at the top and two people to position it, then used rods to shape the middle and bottom on the door side. On the rear I cut a 2" wide strip and tacked it to the body level with the world, and then lined the skin up with that. Again two people because they are large pieces. And when welding, a 3/4" bead is way too much. I start by tacking every 6 inches, and then in between that. Then I slowly make my rounds, one tack and then move to the opposite side of the panel or at least 6" away. Its hard to do it with no warping at all, but you can usually get it pretty close. Basically use your same method just use a single tack instead of a 3/4" weld. Also know that I had somewhere around 30-40 hours in the front fenders of that car. The back was done much faster since I was given only a few days to do that on top of many other things.

[GloNDark]

Thanks man. I got a few PM's with some advice on welding sheetmetal too. Basically i've been doing it all wrong from the start. hahaha I've been thinking about Dove Nose/Tailing my truck this spring so I want to get some practice in before I tackle those 2 projects.

Thanks again!! I can't wait to see what else comes out of your shop.

[Twisted Minis]

So I picked up a basket case Toyota from Bob Grant today. Need to be finished bagging, and put back together. I am going to give myself a $1000 budget to bag it and get it on the road, build a cheap shop truck. I already have a lot of parts on hand. Probably will go slowly since this will only happen after hours...



I pretty much really need something with a bed, since I only have an Audi now..and I miss having something bagged soooo much.

[Twisted Minis]

I put a Ford T5 in this car, its pretty cool. I machined a weird shift knob too, but could not get a pic with my phone. It will come back soon so I will try to get one then.

[NorCalToy]

Did I miss something? What happened to the blue truck?

[Twisted Minis]

It got sold and then parted out like 2 years ago when I blew the motor up. I still have some parts from it that will go onto this one.

[NorCalToy]

It got sold and then parted out like 2 years ago when I blew the motor up. I still have some parts from it that will go onto this one.

Oh wow I guess I totally missed that happening.

Is the new truck gonna be set up pretty similar then?

[Twisted Minis]

Suspension wise it will be better. I was 16 when I did the blue one, and had never bagged a truck before. I've learned sooo much since then. Lol. But everything else, it wont be nearly as nice. I'm just going to try to get it on the road as fast as possible, then maybe tinker with other things when I have time. Like a regular project I guess, drive it while you work on it? And then I will get back to my "full blown build everything from scratch even the bolts" type project.

[THK Matt]

are you gonna do 4wheel disc too? you should get a MK2 or MK3 Supra rear suspension and axle setup... make that thing 4WIS! it would handle like a race car man!

[Twisted Minis]

I'm just going to keep it simple. Solid axle, 4-link, drums for now unless someone makes a simple kit. I am trying not to get too carried away with this one. I tend to do that with a lot of projects, and then never get to drive them. I already have a 4WIS rear engine project for myself. If I get too involved I wont drive this thing. I'd like to be driving it in a month or two if I can manage.

[THK Matt]

oh thats right. you doin a fully custom suspension for the rear engine one? id definately run an 8in Rear Supra diff n axles or a 911 setup.

[IronClad]

Bob grant of grants customs out in oroville ?

[Twisted Minis]

Yup, that Bob Grant. That picture was right outside of his shop, across from the surplus store. My grandpa had to stop there and look.

oh thats right. you doin a fully custom suspension for the rear engine one? id definately run an 8in Rear Supra diff n axles or a 911 setup.

The LeMons one looks like it won't happen, I never heard back about it from the guy after he took the drawings. But I have plans for another one with a true transaxle, and custom everything. Like I said, even the bolts. Example:

[BUDDERS]

Keep the red truck simple if it's going to be a shop truck.  You'll probably need something to go and pick up your steel for shop projects so a full bed might be handy.

[Twisted Minis]

Thats the plan. Simple, try not to get carried away like I usually do. Make it safe and reliable, and nice to drive. The bed floor is already raised. Its a little shallow, but no hole in the floor so it will work. It won't be such a pain to get my welding bottles filled, and I wont be afraid to stick greasy stuff in the bed. Both things I do not like doing with my Audi. And I sold my 91, so I am completely truckless ATM.

[BUDDERS]

Wow, you go through cars quicker than I go through underwear...Oh wait, that's not right....

[Twisted Minis]

I actually tend to keep most of my vehicles for a long time. When I bought the Audi I decided to sell the 91 and get a new toolbox. I never drove it or needed it then. But lately I have needed a truck more with the latest projects. So this is my method, instead of buying a running truck. Lol.

[Twisted Minis]

I've had my Audi almost a year now. Plan on keeping it for a few more years. But I need to cut down the mileage I put on it so it lasts. This truck I can run my shop errands in. And the Audi can be my date night car, and for the winter since the heat and defrost works.

[BUDDERS]

Date night?...oh yeah I remember that!  That was back before I was married and broke....LOL....  I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a movie at a theater.

[Twisted Minis]

Lol, I'm not married but I am broke. Date night is still fun though.

I picked up this old Weber about a week ago, with a cool cast aluminum Redline air cleaner. I would like to clean it up and rebuild it for the 22R.

[Twisted Minis]

My used drop spindles showed up today. And I went to Pick-N-Pull and robbed an 89 pickup of its front clip and hubs.

[THK Matt]

reason bein is?

[Twisted Minis]

The front suspension on the truck is pretty bad, and would be a lot of work to fix. Plus the newer trucks had better geometry.

[Twisted Minis]

Also no drop spindles exist for the 79-83, so I convert them to the 84-95 stuff and get a brake upgrade at the same time.

[THK Matt]

oh thats sick

[IronClad]

Damn wish you would have said you were heading up this way.. i would have gladly loaded the suspension out of my 84 2wd onto your trailer =P im just on the other side of oroville up by the lake haha

[Twisted Minis]

Well dammit. That would have saved some time and $100 at pick n pull. I didn't really think about anyone else being up in that area.

[IronClad]

well i dont have any plans on making a scrap run anytime soon so if you ever head up this way in the near future its all yours. all the a arms, hubs and stuff are there the brackets have just been torched off the frame but i figure the majority of it is useful