A '54 named Busty

[dsraven]

you may be able to fit a larger spool of wire on your welder, cheaper and less goofing around. I also suggest the little felt wire cleaner that goes over the wire prior to it feeding into the rollers. keeps the dirt out of the cable. some guys use what looks like a cigarette filter as well, something to allow the wire to feed through easily but rub any dust off the wire before it hits the cable liner. you would be surprised how much crap collects in the felt that would normally just wear out the liner on the cable.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by dsraven

you may be able to fit a larger spool of wire on your welder, cheaper and less goofing around. I also suggest the little felt wire cleaner that goes over the wire prior to it feeding into the rollers. keeps the dirt out of the cable. some guys use what looks like a cigarette filter as well, something to allow the wire to feed through easily but rub any dust off the wire before it hits the cable liner. you would be surprised how much crap collects in the felt that would normally just wear out the liner on the cable.

Excellent advice, thank you so much!

[8man]

You'll need the insert for the larger spool, it should have come with the welder. If not, pick one up at the welding supply store.

In one of those first pics, the steering column looks a little low to me. You may have to shorten the seat base.

I thought about that little tool, but didn't get one. Since you like it, I'll get one and try it out.

Good progress.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

In one of those first pics, the steering column looks a little low to me. You may have to shorten the seat base.

Ha ha, good call!

Originally Posted by 8man

I thought about that little tool, but didn't get one. Since you like it, I'll get one and try it out.

I saw Finnegan peddlin' the Eastwood one Plug Welding Holes in Sheet Metal with Magnetic Copper Backers - Mike Finnegan at Hot Rod - Eastwood so I thought I would jump on AMAZON and see if I can get it with free shipping, but I think I bought a different one, hence the pic with my hand to show you how tiny it is, maybe get the Eastwood one it seems bigger.

Originally Posted by 8man

Good progress.

Thank you

[Gregski]

so the plan for today was simple: Plug the rest of them holes in the firewall!

so... I decided to do something fun instead!

[Gregski]

seriously guys I hag to do something cause I could no longer see the floor it was such a mess in there, and oh my god it totally rejuvenated me

and let me tell you getting your rig to be a roller is such a huge milestone even if it means just rolling it back and forth so you don't have to wrench with your back against the wall if you know what I mean

[Gregski]

with the garage floor, swept, vacuumed, and mopped it was time for the mandatory stare down, just me in my Man Chair and sum gin and juice

[Gregski]

then it was back to the grind, and as I prepped the driver side of the firewall and counted all the holes, I thought to myself, is 423 holes in the firewall enough, or is that just the bare minimum?

[8man]

That's not a lot of holes, This is a lot of holes...
IMG_0456 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I agree on it feeling good to work in a "cleanish" shop. I had to sweep and vacuum 2 times last week because the grinding dust got so thick on the floor it was slick.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 8man

That's not a lot of holes, This is a lot of holes...
IMG_0456 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

I agree on it feeling good to work in a "cleanish" shop. I had to sweep and vacuum 2 times last week because the grinding dust got so thick on the floor it was slick.

Goodness, I didn't know they raised the Titanic!

[Gregski]

I quickly determined that was not enough holes to plug and quickly staged three more (clutch, throttle, and starter?) for pluggulating

and yes technically one of them was riveted shut already, but by golly I can't have someone else's shady work, it has to be all my shady work

[Gregski]

wait bro, what about that ugly patch on the trans cover hump?

I have no idea what you are talking about - ha ha

[Gregski]

and so I sliced them off or open what ever you want to call it exposing those lovely pockets for dirt, grime, and rust to fester!

[Gregski]

and then I used the square peg over the round hole technique to plugerize them - it was getting late when I snapped these pics so I will grind them tomorrow

[Gregski]

bed full of parts waiting to go back on the truck (or for the project to be abandoned for 2 to 6 years!)

[Gregski]

Captain's Log: Day 273 of welding in the holes in the firewall, when I started my kids were in pre school and Bush Sr. was President and Corona meant Mexican Beer

seriously though 3 days, it took me 3 days but I finally plugged the last darn hole, they aint perfect but that's nothin' standing 50 feet away can't fix

[Gregski]

removed the muffler bearings

[Gregski]

I hated the way this plate at the base of the 60-66 steering column fit or should i say didn't fit right, so I removed it so I could trim it and beat it into proper shape-atology

[Gregski]

and finally got the rest of the floor and firewall primed, so happy with all that incredibly hard work

call me a Dingleberry but I absolutely love this primer red/brown vs gray color combination it just goes together so well !!!

[Gregski]

then it was time ti fineshtiger with the guages

[Gregski]

so the idea is fill the big holes allowing us to install more common sized gauges instead of the 18" ones, ha ha

in the first pic I was just holding it up from the back before trimming it some more to make it fit nice and flush like in the later pics

[Gregski]

second verse same as the first...

[notsolo]

Nice clean work,perfect circles, whistling in the cab won't be from the holey floor. and That New truck smell has got to be good.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Nice clean work,perfect circles,

Wow thanks, if I could only weld as good as I can grind, ha ha

Originally Posted by notsolo

whistling in the cab won't be from the holey floor. and That New truck smell has got to be good.

And again, wow, I did not even think of those two, I was just going for no engine fumes in the cab for once, ha ha, but I'll take those other two!

[8man]

Holes plugged. Check. Inside primed. Check. Plugs made for large round gauge holes. Check. BTW, those gauge hole plugs are nice!

The list is shorter today.