The Willomet Charger

[AgDieseler]

Sheet metal work is still a mystery to me

Same here. I fall back on three principles:
- there are really only two moves, shrinking and stretching, and generally one can correct the other
- metal is clay
- If I screw it up too badly, I can always cut it out and make it again

Meanwhile, I’m ready to move forward to the front firewalls.





David

 

[folkenheath]

Are you able to get the back of these welds to protect it from corrosion somehow? I suppose its not much of an issue in Dallas, but you probably have a plan for that anyway I would guess.

 

[AgDieseler]

Are you able to get the back of these welds to protect it from corrosion somehow? I suppose its not much of an issue in Dallas, but you probably have a plan for that anyway I would guess.

There's very free access right now, so yes. To get the panel flat, you have to also partly blend the backside, so the weld is worked down similar to the front, but without as much cosmetic work. I should have snapped a photo. Those backside welds get wire-wheeled, a shot of weld thru, sanded, and then an epoxy primer. I don't know if that's the best way, but it works great for panels that are lapped together, so I figure it's effective for the crappy looking backside of butt welds, too.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Trimmed to fit. This took a bit of stare work and meditation, but eventually, I just got to cutting.



The inner profile will be further trimmed with the upper part angled to parallel the valve cover (45*).



But it’s Thursday, and that means happy hour with the wife.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

One side down.









David

 

[ashman]

hmmm, I didn't realize the body was welded to the frame before. I mean, I guess it is a unibody.

 

[AgDieseler]

I didn't realize the body was welded to the frame before.

Hopefully the suspension is dialed well enough that passengers won’t need mouth guards.

David

 

[AgDieseler]

Routing the steering is going to be…a challenge.





I anticipate more than a heim or two.

David

 

[Fastereddie]

Routing the steering is going to be…a challenge.

View attachment 486360

View attachment 486362

I anticipate more than a heim or two.

David

Full hydro!

 

[shady]

Full hydro at 170mph...


That'd be interesting for a minute lol

 

[ktmoutfront]

Full hydro at 170mph...


That'd be interesting for a minute lol

I don't think it would be that long.

 

[AgDieseler]

Full hydro!

Finally! A good reason to put this on 37s.

David

 

[Fastereddie]

Finally! A good reason to put this on 37s.

David

37mm sidewalls

 

[JoshHefnerX]

Getting to those back plugs or injectors may be a job too. You gonna put a doghouse like a van or something in there?

 

[AgDieseler]

Getting to those back plugs or injectors may be a job too. You gonna put a doghouse like a van or something in there?

Something. Maybe a small panel on each side for plug access, or fully removable doghouse like a van. That access is only going to get worse with the headers, so probably the latter.

David

 

[Bent77]

A Friend of mine owned a GT500 Shelby of the most desirable 1969 Boss motor variety. He eventually drilled a hole through the wheel wells to get the unruly plugs out of each side

That said, this looks more promising to get to that back plug, as long as you use that contraption on a stick to hover you over the 40 acre nose of the car to get in there

 

[BC98]

Something. Maybe a small panel on each side for plug access, or fully removable doghouse like a van. That access is only going to get worse with the headers, so probably the latter.

David

You can take some cues from the prerunner world. They build a lot of those types of access panels into their builds also because they do some crazy engine setbacks to accommodate front suspension designs.

 

[AgDieseler]

You can take some cues from the prerunner world.

That's exactly what I have been thinking. A structural center spine with fill panels (some of them removable) has been on my mind for a while now. I just don't know exactly how that will come together until I start fiddling with it. Headers and steering will help me see how that will come together.

as long as you use that contraption on a stick to hover you over the 40 acre nose of the car to get in there

I think about maintenance on this car and have a hard time featuring how I'm going to reach anything easily. It makes me think about making the fenders easy to remove.

David

 

[Babaganoosh]

It’s an ls, it doesn’t need maintenance.

 

[Babaganoosh]

That's exactly what I have been thinking. A structural center spine with fill panels (some of them removable) has been on my mind for a while now. I just don't know exactly how that will come together until I start fiddling with it. Headers and steering will help me see how that will come together.


I think about maintenance on this car and have a hard time featuring how I'm going to reach anything easily. It makes me think about making the fenders easy to remove.

David

Have you seen Morgan Clarke? His tin work is amazing