Kabwe's aka Bam's build

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by El Campo

Love those wheels! Love this whole project,its the only one older than 67 that I routinely follow

Thanks man that's a heck of a compliment. I hope the truck can live up to it.

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

What are you going to run for tire sizes?

For the rear I'm thinking a 295/45/18 and the front I thinking a 225 or 235 45 or 50 series.

[hotrod1]

Round Art Work!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by VDOG

You guess you can live with the 5 inch lip!

REALLY!?

Stop judging my sickness, I told you I really wanted 12's but I just could not see paying 300 more per wheel.

[VDOG]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Stop judging my sickness.

The first sign of knowing you have a sickness is admitting it! LOL

[sevt_chevelle]

Bam, nice work on the truck.
Am wondering since you hammer and dolly your welds, why not switch over to a TIG welder? The difference in ease is huge along with the lessened amount of warpage...Eric

[hotrod1]

hey SEVT. Do u know any reasonable videos that are out there to so we can get a handle on tig and sheetmetal until u get yours out?

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by sevt_chevelle

Bam, nice work on the truck.
Am wondering since you hammer and dolly your welds, why not switch over to a TIG welder? The difference in ease is huge along with the lessened amount of warpage...Eric

I think he agrees with you, and he's already there:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=964

[sevt_chevelle]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

I think he agrees with you, and he's already there:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=964

Well never mind then, I missed that.

[sevt_chevelle]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

hey SEVT. Do u know any reasonable videos that are out there to so we can get a handle on tig and sheetmetal until u get yours out?

Well, am a big fan of Ron Covell and he has some great videos and some not so good videos.

IMO his best videos are beginning or basic sheetmetal, aluminum shaping by hand, and motorcycle gas tanks. The TIG videos kinda suck.

Hands down the best video I've seen is from this guy.
http://www.metalshapingzone.com/shop/start

Kerry Pinkerton at Imperial wheeling machines has a real good basic 101 video
http://www.wheelingmachines.com/

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by sevt_chevelle

Bam, nice work on the truck.
Am wondering since you hammer and dolly your welds, why not switch over to a TIG welder? The difference in ease is huge along with the lessened amount of warpage...Eric

Thanks man.

Yeah I tig all body panels now so I'm in complete agreement with you there. I only recently got a tig welder (the past year) and I'm a complete believer in tig welding sheetmetal.

I'm a huge Ron Covell fan also thats who made me start tig welding sheetmetal and yes his tig welding video leaves a lot to be desired. I have a lot of his videos though.

In my opinion the best way to learn how to tig is just start doing it, the more you do it the better you get.

[Shanehenrymusic]

Kawbe! I need some help on wheel sizes for my 55. My frame is set up with a 79 trans am front clip and rear end with disc brakes. I'm looking to get a set of Torq Thrust Wheels, but I'm not sure what the backspacing should be. I'm thinking 17's up front and 18's in the rear, but might do 17's all around. What size did you get on your new rims?
Thanks!
-Shane

[gearheads78]

Bam this truck is going to be killer. I love the wheels choice and body mods.

Hands down the best video I've seen is from this guy.
http://www.metalshapingzone.com/shop/start

x10000

With no prior metal shaping experience I built this fender patch from scratch after watching his video.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Shanehenrymusic

Kawbe! I need some help on wheel sizes for my 55. My frame is set up with a 79 trans am front clip and rear end with disc brakes. I'm looking to get a set of Torq Thrust Wheels, but I'm not sure what the backspacing should be. I'm thinking 17's up front and 18's in the rear, but might do 17's all around. What size did you get on your new rims?
Thanks!
-Shane

You can't go by what I did. There are a lot of changes to my setup. I have tubs, narrowed rearend and that give me more space to have that 5 inch lip on the outside. My wheels are 18x10 with a 4 inch backspace in the rear and 18x7 with a 4 inch backspace on the front.

Here is how you measure for your backspace. Put a straight edge on the mounting surface and measure towards the frame to the first thing it will touch be it leaf springs, frame or what ever. Then measure from the straight edge toward the fender and write those to numbers down and give them to the wheel guy. That is what you have to work with. Lets say you have 5 inches on the inside and 7 one the outside. That tells me a 10 inch will fit because you have a total of 12 inches to work with. Now we have to figure out the backspace (the backspace is the mounting point of the wheel to the outer edge of the rear lip of the wheel). Since you have 5 on the inside if we did a 4 inch backspace you should be fine. You have a full inch for tire bulge that leaves us with six inched going towards the fender, again you should be fine because you had 7 to work with right? Nope there is a kink to this math. A 10 inch will is really 11 inches. They measure from the inside of the lip of the wheels the tire mounting surface.lol So you are really going to have a 1/2 for tire bulge. Now you can chance it and run a 10 or move to a 9.5 wheel. I have a 1/2 clearance on my 55 210 an it never rubs I chanced it.lol

You have to do your measurements everybody's ride is different. I know two guys that have 56 Chevy's one is a belaire and one is a 210. Virtually the same car except one is a post car and the other is not. They both had their rearends setup the same (narrowed by the same guy), both have in boarded leaf springs and both should be able to get a 10 inch wheel in the rear. Guess what? The 56 belaire wheels do not fit the 210 the backspacing did not work on his car. The 210 needed a little more back spacing. I say this to let you know that you have to do your measurements for your own setup. We still have not figured out whats different about those cars the quarter panel look the same.

You can get lucky, but wheels cost too much to go by luck.lol

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by gearheads78

Bam this truck is going to be killer. I love the wheels choice and body mods.
x10000

With no prior metal shaping experience I built this fender patch from scratch after watching his video.

Thanks man and you've done a great job on that patch panel. I love working with metal its just so forgiving.

[hotrod1]

Bam: Have a sheetmetal question. I bent a piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal after plasma cutting reliefs every so often so the sheet would bend easily. After the bending, I tiged up the plasma slits and then ground them down flat. Remember, it is in a corner (90 degrees). I am a little concerned that I ground it down too much. How would I be able to tell if the metal is too thin? Its in a corner and cant get a mic in there.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

Bam: Have a sheetmetal question. I bent a piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal after plasma cutting reliefs every so often so the sheet would bend easily. After the bending, I tiged up the plasma slits and then ground them down flat. Remember, it is in a corner (90 degrees). I am a little concerned that I ground it down too much. How would I be able to tell if the metal is too thin? Its in a corner and cant get a mic in there.

What makes you think you grounded too much? Did the surrounding metal turn blue while grinding? you only grinded the tig welds right? Could it be you are over thinking this? I know I do sometimes. Tig welds should require a lot less grinding than a mig weld so I'm a bit confused about how much grinding you did.

[hotrod1]

In the inside of the corner I used a die grinder with a burr bit and rounded it in. I can feel the difference in the sheet thickness and the corner where I ground.

[hotrod1]

Here is a pic. Dont mean to hijack your thread. You are just the metal king.

[Kabwe]

16 gauge is pretty thick for sheetmetal I really don't think you have anything to worry about. But of course I'm only seeing a pic. What part is this for?

[hotrod1]

This is for a insert for a firewall. I followed Hollisters plans http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.c..._Firewall.html. I need to move the motor back 3". How well do you finish corners like this? Do most just leave the welds and smear seam sealer in there to cover things up or maybe filler? I feel funny doing that.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

This is for a insert for a firewall. I followed Hollisters plans http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.c..._Firewall.html. I need to move the motor back 3". How well do you finish corners like this? Do most just leave the welds and smear seam sealer in there to cover things up or maybe filler? I feel funny doing that.

Yeah a lot of people do, but I don't. It all depends on the level of repair you like. The truth is no one would ever know but you. I just like trying to push my skills to the next level because thats the only way I can get better. But reality is no one would know and with today's filler if you use it they way its meant to be used it will last longer than you.lol

[BC Toy chest]

Hey get back to work and post some more pictures.

[VDOG]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Hey get back to work and post some more pictures.

YEAH!!! What BC said!!!

[1959Chev]

Yeah get back on it we're missing out on out inspiration! lol

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

16 gauge is pretty thick for sheetmetal...

I thought I read somewhere that our trucks ARE made of 16 ga? Or is it more like 18ga?