New bottle of argon, and started working on the engine cradle.
I’ll try to piece it together tomorrow night.
David
I’ll try to piece it together tomorrow night.
David
CK5
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The Willomet Charger
- Thread starter AgDieseler
- Start date
A desecration to Mopar nuts everywhere, this is my protouring, LS-powered, 1970 Dodge Charger; built at my shop, Willomet Motor & Fabrication.
As a guy with roughly 35 feet of stainless header TIG ahead of me, I can tell you:
“If you aren’t a great TIG welder when you start, you most certainly will be by the time you finish!”
Looking good!
-G
“If you aren’t a great TIG welder when you start, you most certainly will be by the time you finish!”
Looking good!
-G
Thanks man!
That’s exactly what I’m learning. I’m looking forward to getting to where you are, and exercising some soft square TIG with a back purge.
David
Burning in the engine frame mounts with the help of my pop.
David
David
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I hear there’s a foozball game going on.
Torque boxes are welded. Just need to blend and tack the inner chassis rails.
Busy work week ahead - hoping to get some hours in tomorrow.
David
Torque boxes are welded. Just need to blend and tack the inner chassis rails.
Busy work week ahead - hoping to get some hours in tomorrow.
David
It’s all details.
I’m not far from getting the engine and trans fully mounted, and while I’m eager for that milestone, there are some chassis welds and blends that are easy to access right now. So, I’m taking my time.
Fully welded
Initial blend, with silicone bronze filler smoothing the transition - I like this stuff because it doesn’t work the metal too hard. It’s a lot like brazing.
80% done. Still need to work on the transition and a final DA blend.
But first, a very busy week of work.
David
I’m not far from getting the engine and trans fully mounted, and while I’m eager for that milestone, there are some chassis welds and blends that are easy to access right now. So, I’m taking my time.
Fully welded
Initial blend, with silicone bronze filler smoothing the transition - I like this stuff because it doesn’t work the metal too hard. It’s a lot like brazing.
80% done. Still need to work on the transition and a final DA blend.
But first, a very busy week of work.
David
You're getting pretty good at that welding stuff!
If the engine is still in can you take one from the side of the car. would like to see exactly how far back the engine is setting under the dash. I've got a 4th gen camaro and getting to those back plugs and coils is a pain in the ass. May consider a removable firewall of some sort for access.
If the engine is still in can you take one from the side of the car. would like to see exactly how far back the engine is setting under the dash. I've got a 4th gen camaro and getting to those back plugs and coils is a pain in the ass. May consider a removable firewall of some sort for access.
I’ll get a photo when I put it all back together. The back two plugs are pretty well stuffed, so some sort of doghouse or maintenance panel would make sense.
David
David
Nice work as always.
I picked up some silicon bronze a while back. It's very handy for basic build up to blend or to braze dissimilar metals.
I picked up some silicon bronze a while back. It's very handy for basic build up to blend or to braze dissimilar metals.
I’m jamming hard until late tomorrow, and will hopefully have a decent update to share Monday...on my 5am flight back out.
Rev1 cradle underway.
David
Rev1 cradle underway.
David
Hey, y’all.
Final blend on the footwells, done. No one will see this once it’s covered with a floor panel, but these details matter to me. Plus, it’s good practice.
I ditched the Rev0 engine cradle - too much shrinkage from too much welding. It was a bad design. On to Rev1.
I picked up a piece of 3x2x.25 6061 to be the crossover, minimizing welding and the risk of shrinkage.
And that’s it. I’ve been in the field for 17 of the last 25 work days, and so the wife and I spent Sunday together. It was the right use of time, as I’m headed back out today.
In seat 12D,
David
Final blend on the footwells, done. No one will see this once it’s covered with a floor panel, but these details matter to me. Plus, it’s good practice.
I ditched the Rev0 engine cradle - too much shrinkage from too much welding. It was a bad design. On to Rev1.
I picked up a piece of 3x2x.25 6061 to be the crossover, minimizing welding and the risk of shrinkage.
And that’s it. I’ve been in the field for 17 of the last 25 work days, and so the wife and I spent Sunday together. It was the right use of time, as I’m headed back out today.
In seat 12D,
David
My day-job schedule has been nuts, so I’ve been grabbing early mornings, early evenings, a full Saturday, and whatever I can get from a Sunday. Progress has slowed somewhat, but I’ve been steadily working, and this morning had a very nice payoff.
That’s a finished and welded Rev1 engine cradle. From the last CAD drawing on January 11 to now, and aside from the footwell weld and blend, it’s the only thing I’ve worked on. Y’all can imagine my satisfaction, and it’s evident because I didn’t sweep or clean up for this photo.
There’s a bit of fine fitment remaining, and I’ll have a more detailed breakdown of how it’s built and what I learned.
Y’all have a good day. This one is off to a great start.
David
That’s a finished and welded Rev1 engine cradle. From the last CAD drawing on January 11 to now, and aside from the footwell weld and blend, it’s the only thing I’ve worked on. Y’all can imagine my satisfaction, and it’s evident because I didn’t sweep or clean up for this photo.
There’s a bit of fine fitment remaining, and I’ll have a more detailed breakdown of how it’s built and what I learned.
Y’all have a good day. This one is off to a great start.
David
Thanks man. I’m working to find a rhythm balancing the new day-gig with the side gig and personal shop time. It’s been tricky.
With some good fortune, Rev1 will be the final.
It takes a minute (and sometimes a beer), but eventually I relish and am proud of the tuition pile. The end result tends to be worth the effort.
David
Got enough hours strung together these last few days.
Engine cradle detail:
It’s about ready for the engine, but I’m waiting for a few parts on the TR6060 before stabbing the assembly.
Inner chassis bits are finally in. I actually fabricated these weeks ago, but left them out for a bit so there was better working room for the engine cradle and blending the foot wells.
There will be two lateral reinforcements on each side from the rocker to the inner rail - that’s what’s next.
Also, I’m working with a gentleman on a rendering for the car. We’ve gone through two rounds of proofs, and we’re 90% there. I will publish a CK5-only preview after the next round, and get yall’s feedback and insight.
David
Engine cradle detail:
It’s about ready for the engine, but I’m waiting for a few parts on the TR6060 before stabbing the assembly.
Inner chassis bits are finally in. I actually fabricated these weeks ago, but left them out for a bit so there was better working room for the engine cradle and blending the foot wells.
There will be two lateral reinforcements on each side from the rocker to the inner rail - that’s what’s next.
Also, I’m working with a gentleman on a rendering for the car. We’ve gone through two rounds of proofs, and we’re 90% there. I will publish a CK5-only preview after the next round, and get yall’s feedback and insight.
David
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Almost a shame to paint those crossmembers, you loose the hard work on them a little.
What are you gonna do w/ those frame members that go back, you gonna tie them side to side at all w/ some trans mount ect? Did you leave room to run exhaust?
What are you gonna do w/ those frame members that go back, you gonna tie them side to side at all w/ some trans mount ect? Did you leave room to run exhaust?
Yes and yes. The trans mount will span the two rails about 4" back from where the bend is, and that's my next project after getting the powertrain stabbed. The space around the trans is actually fairly generous, and is intended to be sufficient for two 3" oval exhaust tubes to snake past the trans and make two X crossovers after the trans mount. It should all fit, but I still have a lot of building to do.
Next up is converting the TR6060 into a Magnum. I have the slip yoke tailshaft, the Quicktime RM8020, and the Tremec magnum front cover just arrived.
David
All right, so the 3.01 related input shaft on the TR6060 still has 3/16” interference with the crank. This includes the Magnum front cover, 1/8” scatter shield, and QuickTime bellhousing. I probably just need the American Powertrain 1/4” bellhousing spacer, so I’ll run that to ground at some point tomorrow. It’s in stock at Summit.
Meanwhile, got some chassis junk done.
15* intersecting at the bend in the inner pieces - kind of like avoiding a dead node.
The inner rails are canted at 15*, so they make a nice right angle to the forward outriggers. Neat detail I stumbled into.
It was nice weather, so I could work with the doors open for a change.
David
Meanwhile, got some chassis junk done.
15* intersecting at the bend in the inner pieces - kind of like avoiding a dead node.
The inner rails are canted at 15*, so they make a nice right angle to the forward outriggers. Neat detail I stumbled into.
It was nice weather, so I could work with the doors open for a change.
David
