The Willomet Charger

[Brandy]

There are real welders out there that produce this level of quality on their bad days. I am the aspiring amateur.

David

My oldest brother, Jim, was an industrial welder. He did a lot of pressure vessels and tank work. Lots of aluminum and stainless. He supervises now, not welding so much anymore at 64 years old.

 

[1970RT]

Last one. Time for assembly.

David

 

[1970RT]

Frame side base plates are done.

David

 

[Brandy]

Frame side base plates are done.

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David

Your not sticking with these welding **** pics just to fascinate me are you? lol. Looking very professional there David. Keep up the good work. Your Charger is going to be "ONE of ONE". No Doubt!

 

[1970RT]

Engine mounts are done.

I’ve got the frame out and leveled, and started marking the reference points for powertrain placement.

Until then, here’s the last four weeks of my fabrication life.

David

 

[Brandy]

Engine mounts are done.

I’ve got the frame out and leveled, and started marking the reference points for powertrain placement.

Until then, here’s the last four weeks of my fabrication life.

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David

that's impressive.

 

[1970RT]

I’m good with all this quarantine time.

David

 

[BeatersRus]

Wow!!
ive been following your thread and waiting for the outcome,
i have to comment early tho,thats simply amazing Craftmanship.

 

[1970RT]

Wow!!
ive been following your thread and waiting for the outcome,
i have to comment early tho,thats simply amazing Craftmanship.

Thanks man. I enjoy the details, and am glad to be moving forward again.

The trans crossmember is off to the laser shop.

David

 

[1970RT]

Parts score - C6 Z06 brakes from Powerstop. Now, I’ve got to design a caliper mount that’s compatible with the chassisworks upright and their rear 9, but I like that kind of work.

David

 

[1970RT]

Picked up the trans mount plates from the laser shop. I’m really excited to get this together and in the car.

It’s inspired by fabricated uprights as if they were laid over and made from aluminum. Also, I really dig on inverted air foil shapes.

There is actually a purpose to the layout. The space behind this mount is where the first exhaust crossover goes. It’s already pretty cramped and I needs all the space I can get to X two 2.75” pipes.

I didn’t have a lot of time tonight, but I did get to take several quick measurements and mock-up the actual mount.

Tomorrow can’t come quick enough.

David

 

[1970RT]

Assembly of the trans crossmember is done, it’s in the car and the powertrain is now fully suspended without the aid of clamps and rectangular tubing.

This is the most intricate assembly I’ve done, and I learned a ton through this process.

David

 

[1970RT]

Second pack of photos.

David

 

[keepat]

Very cool!!

 

[chargervert]

Chassis looks great,you should be ready to put the Chevelle body on it any day now!

 

[Greg Ducato]

Those are such elegant designs, this is really turning into an artistic endeavor as much as a mechanical one.

 

[Jarven1977]

Simply amazing craftmanship, hats off..

 

[1970RT]

Frame build, part one, is now live. There’s good detail on the problem solving and build process - nothing just “clicks together.”


David

 

[1970RT]

Part deux.


David

 

[1970RT]

Yesterday was a large day.

I grilled up some venison brats for a couple of friends, and we muscled the frame into place. It’s a lot to balance and still maintain the social distance thing (Dallas county isn’t out of the woods there, yet), but we were pretty darned successful.

The frame is in and tacked to the body. It took a moderate amount of persuasion to get the body to twist and compress to the frame, but it’s in and square. We took some quick cross measurements, and found things were pretty darned square from an index point on the body to a point on the frame. Nothing was off more than 1/16”, and that should be easy to correct when hanging sheet metal.

I’m still collecting the in progress photos, but on the meantime, here are some quick snaps of the day.

David