Hi All,
Two steps forward, one step back.... :-(
Yesterday, I wanted to help make some headway on the bodywork. I decided that the best place for me to concentrate my efforts was on the front valance. I had already cut the ductwork for the vents. All I had to do was fit them up to the inside of the valance, tack them up, and then wait for Wayne to weld the seam. Simple right? Well after I did the final fit up and tacked them in place, I decided, what the hell, I can weld the seam. After all, I know how to weld. It can't be that hard. That was my big mistake. I followed all the proper procedures and after about 30 minutes I had everything welded up. I then started to examine my work and found that the piece had warped at the end of the passenger side vent. I didn't think it was that bad, but after Wayne looked it over, we decided that we should order a new valance and do it over again....
I was so depressed. I thought I was helping out and, when all was said and done, all I ended up doing was creating more work. :-( On the other hand, my little excursion into the realm of Wayne's world has been a revelation. There is more to properly crafting steel than a basic understanding of the proper procedure. Also, just because you can weld, does not mean that you have the "touch" required to weld these thin sheet metal panels. I guess I will limit my welding to heavier brackets and structural items until I develop a lighter "touch" with the welder.
On the plus side, it does serve as a nice "mock up" of the final piece. When in position on the front of the car, it shows us what the finished panel will look like. It is going to look killer. Also, it has revealed a slight interference with the ductwork and the heat exchanger plumbing. We are going to resolve the interference issue by relocating the fittings on the exchanger from the front of the unit to the sides.
On another note, Wayne did get the front window pillars painted last night so that I can start on the final dash assembly. I will be working hard on this aspect of the build while I leave the bodywork in the hands of the experts.
It is now after lunch and I have been working on the dash assembly all morning. The defroster vents gave me a bit of a fit, but (after a bit of trimming) I was able to get the ducts installed and aligned. We should now be able to run the defrosters as we drive around the Chicago area this winter.
Catch ya'll l8r