Re: my radical 60 build
 

another thing i seen people do is either using another narower (rear)-windshield from another car and build the topchop around it or make a channel and drop the window intoo the valance/dash keeping it the regulair size , it does take some headscratching to be able to install the window that way and it works better if the bonnet /hood is ending close to the window or the valaceplate and dash can be unbolted to access the window during instalation the wipers can be mounted under the bonnet too

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Like I said still too much trouble. I want to get this thing on the road, and that would be a big delay. I still have plenty to do. But it's a nice idea. ;)

Re: my radical 60 build
 

just saving this info here, alans classic helped me out with some questions, might help others too:


Alan's Classic
1 thing at a time is progress.





Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ball Ground GA
Posts: 3,200 Re: grinding welds

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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop
I've got a fewquestions for you.
I am in for some serious weld grinding...
how far do you take them down?
some spots It seems like I have to take them down flush, and others there is a little valley where the weld is just a little lower than the surrounding metal. like a 16th of an inch when the top is buzzed off.

is it bad to smooth the whole thing out with my 36 grit, and a rolock discs?

I use a 3m 1991 stone on a die grinder then go over it with 36 or 50 roloc. Then wipe it.

my body man friend once showed me some 36 grit scratches that you could see through the paint in bright sunlight, is that just because they wern't prepared right before paint, or will you always be able to see them?

I fill 36 grit scratches with filler and prime. As long as it is prep right you won't see the scratches. Don't count on the primer to fill 36 scratches. It will shrink causing the scratch to show up.

if I am doing bondo , and my ground weld bead becomes a high spot, will I be able to gind it a little more, or will I have to completely clean the bondo off that area, grind, and start again?

I've had that happen before and if you gring the high spot lightly not creating much heat you will be fine. It you create too much heat it will cause the filler around that srea to let go.

also one other question.
I am not really ready to start doing bondo work.
can I put some paint over the welds, and then buzz it off and bondo it later? Or am I going to have to sandblast the paint off the welds in order to get it clean enough for the bondo to stick.

thanks, jon

That would be fine. It's easier to remove paint than rust.

p.s. feel free to cut and paste this question into your build thread if you think this info might help others.

__________________

Alan

Re: my radical 60 build
 

:thumbs:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

looking good. i have chopped a few windsheilds using the sandblast method and it works pretty good, best thing i found to mask with was thin flashing material like the roofing stuff and duct tape. leave a quater inch or so extra though because you'll want to get a glass shop to final grind the edge on a water fed belt grinder and aris it after. blasting leaves a pretty raw edge. It's worth calling all the glass shops first and seing if there are any guys that are still proficent in chopping them on the score and snap method. I have cut a few that way myself and it can go either way. don't bother trying to get a used windsheild cut though, all the little tiny chips and marks and pitting from normal driving will make the cut stray when trying to run the cut after scoring. another option is custom curved glass. if there is noone in your area tht does custom curved glass i can put you in contact with a couple of guyys up here, it's not cheep but the more you get made the cheeper they become.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

;lol: I wouldn't mind owning a fleet of chopped 60-63's!
never could put together a time to blast this summer, it was real wet here this year, and it seemed the few times I might have a window-(job/kids/wife/weather)-to do it, it never worked out

Re: my radical 60 build
 

the tail lights were kind of a rush job to get it on the road.
I had originally planned on using the front part of a 60-61 gmc hood for a rear grille/tail light area, I cut one up and tried it , and it did not look good!:lol:

I have a new idea for making a rolled rear surround, and maybe lower the back bumper down, will probably still use the same taillights, but they should fit in better.
will give it a try this winter some time and see how it looks.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

here is some stuff I have been working on..
changing up the rear panel with parts from a big truck front end...
this has been stalled, because I need another big truck right front fender, the blue one had an inch of bondo over a bad crease, and the orange one I have has the same problem..
I'll still use the buick taillights, and the 60 elcamino rear bumper, I am going to redo the bedside top across the back so that it will stick out as far as this new rear.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I went to a metal shop and had them bend up some inner bed panels and a wheel arch for me .
I cut down a beat wheel tub to see if it would work.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Glad to see ya plugging along on it. It's been 8 months since the last post. ;) Looking good.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

8 months:jdp: He was in hibernation. :lol: Cracks me up how you just cut and morph things together. Makes me want to go chop somthing.:lol::chop:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

:lol: the pics were from march 28, april 5 and may 5th!:lol:
my main problem is that I am working on too many projects at once... nothing is getting done.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Sounds like most of us, well at least me. Nice progress.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Yup too many pojects, but no time to do my own. :waah::uhmk:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

jonzcustomshop,

I keep looking at the rear and thinking about tail lights.
What about these!
1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT
http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/9...+taillight.jpg
http://image.mustangandfords.com/f/9..._XR_7+rear.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/...1df3df77ee.jpg

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1307572249

Re: my radical 60 build
 

yep, those are tempting, I think I have a set of the concave ones...

Re: my radical 60 build
 

been working on blending the chevy and plymouth fenders together....
used what was left of my big truck fenders for the upper edge and rear brace.
cut up a hood for the top edge of the fender.
bent up some metal bar to form a scoop toward the front of the body line.
put some tape on it and painted it to finish the front edge of the scoop! :lol:
(this will be a tough piece of metal to form.. I need to take the deep concave curve,and make it taper to flat on the edge of the scoop.)
mocking up the wheel well... I moved it forward 2 inches to better line it up w/ the front wheel, still have to roll it outside to get a better idea of where exactly it will look right.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Good to see you making some progress on this again Jon. That looks like a lot of head scratching, cutting, trimming and tacking :lol:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

yep, kind of frustrating and fun at the same time... had myself painted in a corner with the scoop area.. the lower chevy body line if I had continued it would have ended on the side of the headlight ring...there just didn't seem like there would be a way to get it to flow, I had tried a scoop idea farther back on the fender before, and it hadn't worked, so that idea was off the table.. then yesterday I had a little brainstorm about putting the scoop up front , and it seems to work.
leafing through a few of my 60's little magazines helped too.
seems that that was a customizers way out on a lot of ill fitting combinations in the 60's... where ever it didn't fit..just throw in a scoop!:lol:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Nice work Jon. It's fun to watch your progress on this one!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I just read this whole thing and am absolutely amazed, my head hurts from just looking at that roof chop. Mad skills man.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Man that thing is so krazy kool, I love seeing the updates! I think the Cougar tail lights would be sick on there.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

this thread is awsome!!! crazy work man:metal::metal::metal::metal::metal:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Love the truck. Update?