My 1967 Belvedere Convertible Plans and Restoration (aka - Mad Scientist Build)

[conv67bdere]

Yeah this weather really sucks, I started on tearing the front of my house apart yesterday and it rained the whole time and then I woke up to snow AGAIN! Looks really good Kahn, just another suggestion for PPE (earplugs). If you've ever had a molten metal go in your ear you'd know why............. (ouch).

Just one time 747 Mopar - when I was welding in the frame connectors - that HURTS ! ! Now I'm welding and grinding, so my ear plugs are in - never thought of them for just welding, so thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to keep that in mind and put them in EVERY time I weld now . . . smart move ( and safe too ) . . . added to my list ! ! !

Snow again . . . I'll bet you guys up North are getting tired of that white stuff ! !

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looking good kahn, and the welds keep getting better an better. no more holes. little shaping an be all back together before ya know it.

Thanks USARR . . . going to have fun welding in the top . . . but I think I'm getting the hang of it . . . one step at a time . . .

Can't wait to get the inner well welded in and start on the splice between them . . . wanna see just how big the opening id going to be . . .

The mini tubs will give me a TON of room for tires . . . ( smile )

 

[tallhair]

Nicely done Khan .. I'm looking forward to seeing those tubs done too.

 

[Ron 73]

"The mini tubs will give me a TON of room for tires . . ."

That sounds like maybe some extra horse power in the mix to bring the rice burners to there knees! Sounds invitingly cool man, I mean Khan (im sorry) ;)

 

[conv67bdere]

More welding . . .

Got a chance to spend about 1 1/2 hours in the shop welding up the pieces that I got in place last time. You guys make it look so easy, I spent a bunch of the time trying to find all the little tiny pin holes and get them all sealed. Got a little rust cut out and a new piece welded in place, but nothing really big to show.

Next time, I get to start working my way across the top of the wheel well . . . should be a very interesting journey . . .

 

[conv67bdere]

Got started on the top . . . welding in the top gap . . .

Got a little time in the shop tonight, and got the back 1/3 of the top filled in . . . progress went very well . . .

Here's what I've got so far . . .



maybe . . . just maybe . . . I might be getting the hang of this stuff . . .

 

[Propwash]

Looking good!

 

[conv67bdere]

Trying to get things done . . .

I started my carport over 2 years ago and I'm tired of not having the concrete in place for the other side - so I can park a car there. Actually, my daughter is really excited because she'll be parking her car there out of the weather . . . if it doesn't rain EVERY DAY like it did last Spring. So I took the day off work and got a concrete frame set up and poured so the that slab can be poured inside the frames.

Now with a little luck, and some nice weather for a bit, I'll get the last of the concrete in place.



We got the Big Spring Auto Fair car show this weekend at the Lowes Motor Speedway - this thing is huge. So last week I ordered a set of nice billet hood hinges for the shoe box so that I might get them installed before the car show. So, just my luck, the big brown truck shows up today and drops off the new hinges, while I'm neck deep in concrete and trying to get the frame poured. So now that I've got the concrete done - I'm thinking - do I "dare" attempt to swap out the hinges the night before the car show after I've been lugging concrete around all day ( my back is surely feeling it ).

I think I'll just have to pass and get them installed another day - here's what they look like:

 

[747mopar]

Nice, just a dress up part or is there another reason for them? I feel for ya, that concrete work will kick your a$$ in a hurry but at least it's not going anywhere once you get it done. Good luck

 

[conv67bdere]

Spring Auto Fair in Charlotte NC - 2014

The Auto Fair is in town this week, spanning Thursday - Sunday - and the turnout is as big as ever. Every type of car, truck, and just about anything else you can think of can be found at this event. New parts, used parts, and just about everything in between . . .

Took a couple of pictures of some of the Mopars that I saw for your viewing enjoyment:

 

[tallhair]

I started my carport over 2 years ago and I'm tired of not having the concrete in place for the other side - so I can park a car there. Actually, my daughter is really excited because she'll be parking her car there out of the weather . . . if it doesn't rain EVERY DAY like it did last Spring. So I took the day off work and got a concrete frame set up and poured so the that slab can be poured inside the frames.

Now with a little luck, and some nice weather for a bit, I'll get the last of the concrete in place.

View attachment 179443

We got the Big Spring Auto Fair car show this weekend at the Lowes Motor Speedway - this thing is huge. So last week I ordered a set of nice billet hood hinges for the shoe box so that I might get them installed before the car show. So, just my luck, the big brown truck shows up today and drops off the new hinges, while I'm neck deep in concrete and trying to get the frame poured. So now that I've got the concrete done - I'm thinking - do I "dare" attempt to swap out the hinges the night before the car show after I've been lugging concrete around all day ( my back is surely feeling it ).

I think I'll just have to pass and get them installed another day - here's what they look like:

View attachment 179442

Make sure you post up some pics of the carport and the spring installation

I recall your carport from not long after you joined or was that another project?

 

[conv67bdere]

Nice, just a dress up part or is there another reason for them? I feel for ya, that concrete work will kick your a$$ in a hurry but at least it's not going anywhere once you get it done. Good luck

Hey 747Mopar - just dress up - really like the way the billet hinges look ( so much nicer then the original steel ones and springs ).

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Make sure you post up some pics of the carport and the spring installation

I recall your carport from not long after you joined or was that another project?

Will do Tallhair . . . the carport is somewhere back in this thread . . . ( smile )

 

[747mopar]

The 4th one down is drop dead gorgeous, love it.

 

[hunt2elk]

Its about time you replace that old outdated dirt floor Larry lol. Definitely not a fun job, but well worth it.

 

[conv67bdere]

The 4th one down is drop dead gorgeous, love it.

747Mopar . . . I think his asking price on the car was only $17K . . . Saw so many I'm not sure I recall correctly - but it looked be done VERY NICELY too . . .

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Its about time you replace that old outdated dirt floor Larry lol. Definitely not a fun job, but well worth it.

Thanks H2E . . . that was the plan from day one - but Mother Nature did not cooperate with us last year for a concrete pour ( hopefully it'll get done this Spring )

 

[conv67bdere]

Sorry guys . . . been MIA here this week as my Aunt and Uncle are in town for the NHRA 4 Wide Nationals . . . and I've been spending some time with them since they live in AZ and I don't get a chance to see them very often.

Last weekend, at the Auto Fair, I hooked up with Woodward Fabrication and picked up a 10 Throatless shear, and a very nice tubing bender . . . bends 3/8 up to 1 inch, and will bend 3/4 and 1 inch square tubing too . . . I'll try and get some pictures up, the the new "shineys" should really help out a bunch with the rebuilding of my Belvedere . . .

So I'm at the drag strip today, my Uncle is assisting one of the drivers with his Alcohol Funny Car and directly behind it . . . is a 1966 Chevy II Super Stock car . . . SWEET ! ! ! Yeah, his is a 2 door, and not a 4 door like mine, but it sure looks nice ! ! ! I'll be out inhaling Nitro-methane and Alcohol fumes all weekend watching the Pros run 330+ MPH - 4 wide - down the track.

Doesn't get much better than this . . . ( smile )

 

[747mopar]

Sounds like fun, love the smell of race gas in the morning.

 

[Propwash]

Sounds cool! Take some good pic's!

 

[HYRDGOON]

Sounds like a great time Larry! Get some pics for us for sure!!

 

[conv67bdere]

NHRA 4 wide nationals - pictures

The NHRA 4 Wide Nationals is in town this weekend and my Uncle is in town helping one of the racers - so I get the chance to spend the weekend at the racetrack and see the Pros run 4-wide ( actually you get to feel it as the experience ) and smell Nitro-Methane and Alcohol . . . and burn my eyes.

Here's a bunch of pictures of the qualifying:

Launch

Guess who's in the lead

Burnout

Launch

Guess who's in the lead

Burnout

Burnout

Burnout

Launch

Launch

Guess who's in the lead

Burnout

Burnout

Final adjustments on the starting line

Launch

Guess who is in the lead

 

[747mopar]

Makes me anxious for the Nats, Hopefully we're still on for that adventure. Looks like a good time