Michael Richard's Journal

Been a really bad time here lately, flu, deaths, weather, just plain bad luck, but I did get back at it today so maybe I can get some things done on this build. I had a piece of tubing laying around the barn and various other doo dads, so I fabbed up what turns out to be a pretty good tubing bender for the front axle. I have the first bends in and two to go. I hung her up on the front with clamps just to eyeball it and she's ral close on both ends. Bill C. here graciously offered to fab me one up (Thank You Bill) but I had to try it myself. I'm sure it isn't as pretty as what he would have bent for me, but the DIYer in me just had to give her a go. I also rebuilt the swingarms to beef them up a bit. They'll eventually be welded together to form just one swing arm assembly for the rear suspension. Fabbed up another brace for the motor mount and will box that in when I'm through mounting everything rear suspension-wise so I can make sure to clear for the rear frame loop. IN all, I guess I just feel good about being back on task. Felt good today. Bad foot and back are complaining, but hey.

Finally got the swingarm halves mounted, and they came out pretty even. They will be attached to each other forming a one piece swingarm once I get an axle mounted and can double check alignment. Also got the remaining two bends in this wild bent axle set up. Not sure why the original is like that, but is is a visual peg for this particular car. Enclosed is a photo of the original. Pressing on.

Work on front axle brackets, and rear spring sliders.

Well the front axle is hanging by its brackets now, almost done welding them up, then on to the friction shock/lower axle mounts. Pressing on.

On my way to some less than elaborate friction shocks for the front end. Not much to them and will be using an old hot rodder trick of valve springs on the inner side for tension. Yes there are other ways, but simple is what I'm striving for here. Even if they only work some they are better than nothing.

Just some photo's of a little work I snuck in today.