BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Injectedcutty]

Donovan, once again the level of skill is impressive. I would've never thought to use C channel, but it's super strong and won't be going anywhere. The finish job looks killer, now it's painted it just disappears which is obviously the intention.
Well done man, another custom touch from the Ole Skunkworks garage.

 

[08Malibu]

Another excellent night in the shop. Good thing too, because it’s too friggin cold outside to do anything else. It hit -32 C here last night (-26 F), with wind chills today making it feel like the mid -40’s. (-49 F)
THAT’S COLD.

Anyways, tonight after dinner I got right down to welding and grinding feverishly, and before I knew it I was done. I love welding on heavy gauge material, way easier than welding sheetmetal. Laid down a couple of decent beads, maybe not Instagram worthy, but still not bad IMO for a MiG and a guy that hasn’t picked up a welder in at least two years.

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I didn’t stop to take pictures in the heat of the moment (pardon the pun), so all you get is finished ones.

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I gotta tell you guys, if you ever have any heavy fabrication to do, pick yourselves up a Walter brand flap disc. I use this one on my 4 1/2” DeWalt angle grinder, and it makes very short work of anything you want it to do:

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It knocks down excess material and welds with ease, and if you have a light enough touch, it’ll leave a perfect finished surface. No skipping around like grinding stones, no backing nuts and wrenches to mess around with (they simply spin on), and they last a very, VERY long time. This one was already used before tonight and it still looks like I’ve barely used it.

Are you listening Motorheadmike?? It’ll make even YOUR welds look good!
😆😆

Back to the crossmember, I even had enough time left at the end of the night to get some paint on it.

Done deal:

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Tomorrow we reinstall it in the car, and test if the driver’s side pipe is gonna clear.

D.

Do you use a flap wheel on sheet metal too? I’ve never tried it on that.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Flowtech headers😳, hopefully they don't rust through the ceramic coating and warp the flanges. Mine did both inside a year. I needed double gaskets to seal on the heads after I removed one Olds 307 for another. The rust started as pinholes all over and then outright peeling. They were ceramic coated inside and out. I blew some collector gaskets on the Flowtechs and a couple on the Sanderson headers. At least your set fit, usually Flowtech don't even do that well. There is a reason they are the cheapest headers out there. End rant, maybe you got a good set😁. Nice finished job on the crossmember.

 

[Flyers9928]

WOW! just wow. Never thought to use C- channel. If I got dual exhaust, I will definitely try this. your skill and talent is amazing.

 

[scoti]

I did one of my old ElCamino x-members like this when it got a fresh bullet & upgraded trans. Simple & cheap vs buying the available aftermarket units @ the time.
Survived it's duties until the driveshaft failure & survived that failure as well. Nicely done.

 

[81cutlass]

Hey that crossmember turned out great! I did something similar with mine although not nearly as clean 😉

 

[Tony1968]

Those welds look great! Should have left them as you laid them out. To each his own.

 

[melloelky]

there's an exhaust shop near me that offers that same "service " man it's rough..

 

[motorheadmike]

Another excellent night in the shop. Good thing too, because it’s too friggin cold outside to do anything else. It hit -32 C here last night (-26 F), with wind chills today making it feel like the mid -40’s. (-49 F)

THAT’S COLD.

Anyways, tonight after dinner I got right down to welding and grinding feverishly, and before I knew it I was done. I love welding on heavy gauge material, way easier than welding sheetmetal. Laid down a couple of decent beads, maybe not Instagram worthy, but still not bad IMO for a MiG and a guy that hasn’t picked up a welder in at least two years.

View attachment 168406

View attachment 168407

I didn’t stop to take pictures in the heat of the moment (pardon the pun), so all you get is finished ones.

View attachment 168408

View attachment 168409

View attachment 168411

View attachment 168429

I gotta tell you guys, if you ever have any heavy fabrication to do, pick yourselves up a Walter brand flap disc. I use this one on my 4 1/2” DeWalt angle grinder, and it makes very short work of anything you want it to do:

View attachment 168412

View attachment 168413

It knocks down excess material and welds with ease, and if you have a light enough touch, it’ll leave a perfect finished surface. No skipping around like grinding stones, no backing nuts and wrenches to mess around with (they simply spin on), and they last a very, VERY long time. This one was already used before tonight and it still looks like I’ve barely used it.

Are you listening Motorheadmike?? It’ll make even YOUR welds look good!
😆😆

Back to the crossmember, I even had enough time left at the end of the night to get some paint on it.

Done deal:

View attachment 168429

View attachment 168414

View attachment 168430

View attachment 168431

Tomorrow we reinstall it in the car, and test if the driver’s side pipe is gonna clear.

D.

I hate you.

Welcome to my ignore list.

The weather isn't the only thing that is extremely cold in Alberta.

 

[oldsofb]

Great work on the Crossmember. Too soon to say "I told ya so"?

What grit do you use to knock down the welds? 40? 60?

Thanks for the recommend. I will have to pick up a couple of the Walter brand flap discs. Gonna need them soon.

Hutch