1958 356A TURBO Coupe

[molleur]

Looking good! Thanks for the pics.

[JTR70]

Thank you Molleur!

7/3/15

Tying up more loose ends before final closing time.

New door well tray tacked into position.

Replicating the lap joints that were there originally as old and new are joined. Stupid I know on a car this modified but it only took a second.

Rear cap being trimmed back to new and smaller shape.

A lot more fine trimming to do but its closer.

To mount the new front cap all the flanges must be level and aligned but as you can see the new long's forward flange will have to be moved back a bit.

new bend line

Flange rebent making it now ready to accept the cap.

Beginning to set screw it into its final adjusted position. The "to do" list is getting really short and I'm hoping to begin welding this panel in tomorrow.
Thanks for looking! Justin

[JTR70]

7/4/15

Begin closing left long up.

All the prep work in here completed enough to begin installing the closing on for good.

Set screwed and "located" into final adjusted position.

With it set I could now lay down some scribe lines to trim away the excess.

Panel now trimmed and punch with all the needed plug-weld holes. I shot a quick sealer coat in there to help but I have more welding later so a lot of it will be burned off.

began plug-welding working from the center outward as before to help chase out any excess.

I added an additional row of welds directly to the new chassis for added support.

Will have it all welded in by tomorrow. Thanks for looking!
Justin

[roy mawbey]

Justin

Just to say that small triangular patch shown in the photos above is so nicely stitch welded I have a feeling you were pleased with that. Of course compared with all the rest of the work its nothing but I like that patch.

Roy

[JTR70]

Thanks Roy! Yes, that's Warrens work and I've always been an admirer of his.

7/8/15
Completing left long. and prepping for the right side.

Shaped and sealed up the end cap. Have some plug-welds to dress but it was complete enough otherwise.

All dressed with a quick sealer coat and now ready to be flipped over.

Trickiest part was sliding it around and not damaging what I had just finished in the process. The end cap for the front will have to wait for further progress to the kick panel wall as it flange mounts directly to it.

rebuilt the foot brace for the body to rest on and the 924 engine block is a nice roof rest.

Ready to begin the right side long fitment now.

Because I don't have the luxury of a rotisserie I had to map out in advance what had to be fully welded and dressed while I had gravity and vantage point on my side. The inner portion of the left long had to wait until I flipped it over before I could get to work on it.

Spent this afternoon tying up all the loose ends here. A total PIA but so glad its finished. Now I'm officially onto the right longitudinal.
Thanks for looking!
Justin

[Ryles]

Would you have an opening for another project?
It looks like your winding this up and getting it out of the shop. Ive seen shops slap together cars. Bubble gum welds ground down and slathered with Bondo.
I don't want to take it to any other shop. I don't need black and white checkered floors, (they usually match the owners checkered past). I just want a straight up dude who does phenomenal work to get my hot rod done.
Your work is passion driven & not dollar driven, but I'll be the first to offer more to get my car in line.

[JTR70]

Hi Ryles, Thanks for the vote of confidence but I am trying to simplify my life by getting this car out, not doing it to make room for another. It took me way too long just to get this far and its just not fair to the owner. I'm afraid I am guilty of a few "bubble gum" ground down welds on this project as well. While they were hot and well formed enough I couldn't get the perfect row of nickels to my satisfaction. Many had to be leveled off also so the panels would seat square over them. I have formed an opinion during these last few sessions BTW: I hate Galvaneal coated panels! The weld definitely does not like bonding to it so it did contribute to my ill formed weld beads. I did try to grind the weld areas clean of it but there still seemed to be some residual that messed with me. Then there is the dangerous fumes your not supposed to be inhaling while it burns as you weld. I'm going to try an stay clear of this stuff as much as possible in the future. Thanks again Ryles.
Justin

7/8/15

Right long. panel trimmed and fitted. Begin mounting forward floor pan.

Right closing panel fitted, rebent for new deck height like the other side and now ready for final trimming of the excess.

Excess trimmed and now set screwed into its final adjusted position. I won't be welding this side on at this point as Dean wants access in here to perhaps plumb oil lines through as an option.

It was so nice to see both sides closed up today. Ready to move onto the floor pans.

Front pan punched for plug welds and also wheeled to remove as much coating as possible around the holes.

Forward section now mounted in for good.

Quick peek at the inside.

Dean wants to pick this car up Saturday so I've really been burning the candle at both ends trying to get the floors and longs in on time. It was a huge relief to see it all finally coming together.

Will begin tacking it in tomorrow and prepping the rear section for install as most of the pan welding will be done with the car right side up. Thanks for stopping by!
Justin

[JTR70]

7/9/15

Floors in and ready to go back on wheels!


Rear section now installed for good. I had to get all the welding completed in the middle where the halves meet before the car can go back over.

I also wanted to get this center section's joint nice and tight as well.

Done for now. The rest of the plug-welding will be done with the car back on its wheels.

Ready to be righted once again.

I of course have way more hours in it than I originally thought I would have to get this far. You'd think I'd have learned by now.

Flipped back over and chalking up the body. So nice to see a floor in there now.

Ready to bolt the front 964 suspension back in.

Front in and will get the rear mounted tomorrow. The dummy trans and motor will also be mocked up then I'll finish welding the floor. This was actually a very nice diversion after this very nasty cut and weld marathon I've had for better than a week.
Thanks for looking!
Justin

[JOP]

Justin, what is your plan with the rockers?
Cut them up to adjust the height or do something like the early 356 form and bend it under the body?

[JTR70]

Hey Per, I have no idea what the plans are for the rockers as I am now officially out of this project.(at least for the time being) Dean took possession of his car this afternoon so we'll have to see what he comes up with.

7/11/15

My part finished and car back in possession of Dean to outfit the chassis with drive train and controls.

Wrestled with rear suspension and drive train mock-up all day Friday but finally got it assembled. the Dummy motor still weighs 105LBS so it was a handful getting it on the bell housing on my own.

Just a quick detail shot of how the suspension pockets were fabricated without the suspension being in the way.

rear suspension in and before I began wrestling with the motor I wanted at least one shot with matching wheels.


A full day of wrestling but finally got everything mocked up again.

Ready to head home with Dean tomorrow.

Here's Dean Polopolus with his Hotrod. Still along way to go but at least the chassis is set.

Getting her loaded up.

synching her down.

On her way home for the next phase of this project. I'll post updates as they come. Thanks for reading this!!
Justin

[molleur]

Please do post updates.

[Nur964]

Drivetrain plans are a magnesium 915 transmission to save weight

Transmission 915 how much weight?
All 915 transmissions are magnesium?
thank.

[Nur964]

very interesting how this project?

[JTR70]

Thanks for asking. I spoke with Dean a few weeks back and he's done a few things to it; pedal assembly related but not a great amount of progress otherwise as he's been busy building motors. I'll ask for a few update shots though.

There are alloy 915 versions not sure of the exact weight of a Magnesium but notably lighter.
Justin