I am glad to see that I am not the only person who marks pieces with bend directions before cutting. Saves on the tuition pile.
Looking good.
Looking good.
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.
I dread have to mess with sheet metal. Although every time I'm convinced it will be better, but that never works out. So yeah, I'm with ya on the procrastination.
Two things have helped me: extensive paper tempting, and making sure I have good access to the back of the panel.
Sometimes, it takes a while to fully visualize the 3D shape, but paper helps get me started. That’s usually the biggest hurdle for me.
Building in backside access has come to be critical. Welds shrink, every single time. There’s not many good ways to flatten them back out except bumping them smooth from both sides. Stud guns and slide hammers are useful, but my best results have come from working the panel inside and out.
But even when everything is working for you, it’s still a pain, especially low crown stuff.
Oh man. I rely on those little notes more and more, especially when I have to space work out over the course of a work week. Too much to keep in my limited noggin.
David
Felt good to figure out how this panel set wanted to flow.
Hands down. The most complicated shape I’ve ever had to make.
David
Hands down. The most complicated shape I’ve ever had to make.
David
Nice to see it's shaping up....nyuck nyuck nyuck
Closed out the side of the upper plate, but wanted to make it look like it was stamped that way.
All laid out and ready to cut.
Ready for wake and weld.
David
All laid out and ready to cut.
Ready for wake and weld.
David
One fit and tacked. One ready. One busy week of work to go.
I’ll have to pause on this for a minute. The suburban barn doors need some bumping, and Gabe already has his hands full.
David
I’ll have to pause on this for a minute. The suburban barn doors need some bumping, and Gabe already has his hands full.
David
Welded. Blended. Planished. These are hidden, so I focused my effort to make the interior smooth while the top side just needs to channel water without puddling.
This took 4 hours to MIG, blend, bump, blend, bump, shrink, and planish.
David
This took 4 hours to MIG, blend, bump, blend, bump, shrink, and planish.
David
So many good details in that car. Before he left Speedkore, Peter sent me some build photos of either this car or one of Kevin Hart's. I wanted to see more detail on the A pillar and how they reformed it to flow up from the cowl rather than splitting the cowl and the door. I love little adjustments like that. They make good sense and disappear to 99% of onlookers. They also did a very tasteful job on the splitter and it's worth imitating. This body style automatically looks a little high in the front end given the massive stock overhang, and combined with the 2" forward front wheel base they did on this car, it really balances out the profile without appearing obvious at first (or second) glance.
Some of my favorite inspiration. Thank you for the perfect push.
David
I saw that car in person at the Vette muscle car show in chicago a couple years ago. Not knowing Chryslers real well, I’m sure many subtle details were overlooked by me. The lazer straight body (was it the carbon fiber?) and flawless paint drew me in. Having several hundred cars there (including the winged cars and Vettes o plenty) I didn’t camp in any one area very long. I’m blown away by the ultra level quality of so many cars in the last 10-15 years. Certainly a different definition of craftsmanship now a days! You’re doing the hobby a true justice w your work…
Squeezing in one more mini-project before I have to hit the road. Passenger side firewall detail. Driver side will have a similar pattern with accommodation for the steering shaft and hydraulic reservoirs.
Weld in the am.
David
Weld in the am.
David
Dun.
David
David
Having spent a lifetime behind 6.2 and 6.5 diesels, this driver would be ill-equipped to handle horsepower and torque figures that include a comma.
But, yes. It would clear a 2.3L LS9 blower.
David
I measured for the hellcat blower, and most everything is shorter than that.
Still, going NA. 750hp is more than I’ve ever run, and 2x more than what’s needed to get in any level of trouble.
David
Several factors have to resolve simultaneously - driver position, steering, pedal position, firewall construction, and header clearance.
It started with trying to see how the exhaust was going to clear the steering shaft. I’ll make a couple of different firewall offsets and see how some tight bends nest together.
David
It started with trying to see how the exhaust was going to clear the steering shaft. I’ll make a couple of different firewall offsets and see how some tight bends nest together.
David
