Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

This thing will be more solid than stock. Good work.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Lower50's. We are putting in a lot of extra structure to support the doors.



Today we got the upper windshield frame made and tacked in place.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

As usual Dale, you guys are doing a great job!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

What is your guess-ta-mation on weight of the door with everything (door panel, glass, window crank, top section of roof, rear view mirror, etc.)?

Killer work so far!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks John

Thanks Dr Bomp. I knew the doors were going to be heavier but I never did the math to find out just how much. So today when I got to the shop I weighed a complete door, glass vent window, door panel handles. Everything but the mirror. Then I weighed the upper door skin.

Door..................................................................70 lbs
upper skin..........................................................18 lbs
extend door 70 X 1.3...........................................91 lbs
cut 8" off the bottom of door 91 X .75....................62 lbs
inner and outer upper panels 18 X 2.5....................45 lbs
upper and lower doors 62 + 45............................107 lbs

so allowing a little bit for more structural support and lightening the inner door I think the finished door will be about 120 lbs.


Today we got started on cutting the front roof support to fit the center section We also dug out the section of donor roof.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

That's a heavy solid door. I would hate to be the guy with the new tinfoil car (any new car) parked beside you when the wind catches it. LOL. Nice work.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Lower50's. Ya it's going to be one big door

Well we started today marking out the donor roof for the center roof panel and cut it out. Then we spent 6 hours measuring drawing cutting and discarding templates for the center roof support. We finally got one that looks right and set it in place

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

We had to redo the pattern for the center roof. We finally got the design right and started making the pieces for the roof panel. Still more to go but we got a start on it.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

We made some more progress on the center roof section today. Made a bunch of cross pieces with a small flange on the bottom. We got them tacked in place then started welding them solid

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Very creative way to build a roof section. I can imagine standing there, staring at that area, scratching my head....and I never would have thought of that solution. Always enjoy checking out what you are doing.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Lookin real good. That should give lots of subport for the hinges. :metal:

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Interesting, can't wait to see how this turns out.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

me too.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

If you had the doors hung by the 21st the back to the future guys could checked it out. LOL
Attachment 1460458

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

looks like "T" tops to me, im still catching up.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

gull wings?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Yeah, that's his plan.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Your skills are unreal!! Sub'd

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks A.D. We're just making this up as we go.

Hey neighbour. If it doesn't we'll just keep welding tin to it 'til it does

Thanks Bomp.

Thanks DeeJaaa.

Well I do like the DeLorean they had.

Welcome back Pimpston. Did you get your new house settled. It's not T tops just keep reading.

You're right Dakota. Great big gullwing doors

A man's got to have a plan

Thanks Dragnframe. It's all the result of a misspent youth.


Yesterday we added some more support to the top edges of the center roof. And then we replaced a section of weatherstrip flange that was rusted.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Today we started adding the water channel along the front of the upper door opening

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

we should be closing on or before the 9th of nov, just dealing with the everyday bs curveballs the bank throws our way. its 3 balls 0 strikes bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, so im looking for a grandslam and take the top prize of a 3 truck garage. so get ready for tons of pictures of me and my new home(garage)!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

pimpston65, you're killing us up here with the baseball references so soon after our Blue Jays getting eliminated from the ALCS. :devil::waah::lol: I'm just kidding. Im not a huge baseball fan, but they made a good run.

Dale, that's quite a structure you're building to support your doors. Light but very strong I'd guess. I'm looking forward to seeing the doors come together. Nice work (as always).

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

well at least you guys lasted longer then the tygs!!! I'm no fan either, but ima nut for these trucks!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Pimpston. I'm really looking forward to seeing pictures of the new digs. A three car garage should give you room store everything with room to work.

Joedoh. Thanks. That's just hilarious :haha::haha::haha:

John. Thanks. I think the doors are going to be a bit complicated to build. But we'll get to them soon.


Here's a couple of pictures of progress on the front upper door frame.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks for all the pictures and explanations. It is great to see the work that you are doing.

Dwight

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Hmmm, I just noticed the step downs in the roof. I wonder how much more complicated this will be for the gullwing to accomplish.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Dwight. I'm glad you're following along.

Well Trixxterr I happen to have been working on that problem for the last week or two. The hinge has to be low enough to clear the water channel on the front section. And also lift the door high enough to clear the roof on the rear section.

Here is the prototype hinge I worked on this weekend. We still have more to do on it. Also a couple of pictures of a seam we filled at the top of the A pillar.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

We started making the door frame corners today. We bent and curved the first piece , notched the water channel sides and tacked the ends.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Looking forward to seeing how the hinges install and work. Lotta thinking in those I am sure.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I can't keep my mind off this build.
You've inspired me to start on my second build.(When Steiner allows)

Looking great, waiting eagerly on the hinges report.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Good to be back on with this build.

You have got a lot done.... And impressive.

I will get started as soon as I finish writing up my US road trip on my thread.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I spent quite a while on the design so hopefully they will work.

Glad I can help. Working on two builds is something I can't do. I have to focus on one at a time. More work on the hinges this weekend.

Thanks Rian. Good to have you back. I'm really enjoying the road trip stories.



We spent most of today making the pieces for the corner of the upper door frame

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

The last piece of the corner had to be made in two parts and welded together.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Dale, I've been super busy with work and family stuff, but I like to pop in when I can to see how things are developing. Keep the good work!

Anything happening with the Jag motor, or is it ready to drop in?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Hi John I can understand busy with life. Family has to come first. Not to much progress this week as we have been trying to catch up on all the welding for the center roof. The motor is fairly low mileage so doesn't really need anything but I am going to change the fuel injection. The Jaguar manifolds bend down over the cam covers but I'll make something more vertical.


Here's a couple of things that showed up today
New dash
Front Shockwaves
Air tank and compressors

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

I do try not to reply every time you post, but I feel I have to say something, or else my head will explode.

Those corners look good, and the bags etc.... Wellllll...?

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Nice toys!!!!

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

How did you establish ride height both front and rear? I'm going to do a 57 GMC with 96 C-4 front and rear using shockwaves on all four corners. Any details would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance Nut Case.

I thought is was nutty, Jaguar and Vette in the same vehicle. Boy oh Boy, I love it.

Re: My suburban's Twisted Little Sister
 

Thanks Rian I really don't want your head to explode but I'm glad you're enjoying my build.

Thanks Lower

Hi Nut Case. Well maybe we are a little nuts too. To find ride height I had a complete car and measured from the ground to the center of the rear end and to a lower A arm bolt. Also remember to allow for different sized tires. I bolted the suspension to a table and built the frame to fit. My frame will be 4" off the ground at ride height and 1" aired out. Are you going to use the Corvette crossmember or after market.


I finished the prototype hinge so here's a couple of pictures of it closed and opened