What did you do to your non-G Body project today [2024 edition]

Philosophy as a segue to "now what's going on" is a long stretch. That said, one of the points that used to be most argued by the eggheads, and there were many (still are for that matter) was what made humanity so different and superior to the rest of the inhabitants of our little blue marble. One point that was more or less agreed on was the ability of h* sapiens to create and use tools. Not going to name anyone specifically on this board but it does possess a higher than median standard of outside the box thinkers who can and do envision, design, create/fabricate, and use tools. In many cases it is a have to situation. Either what we need is not available or we have conflicting demands on the capital in our pockets. For some it is a little more nebulous, call it the thrill or joy that can be found in making and using something that is unique to the fabricator.



DSCN3961.JPG





DSCN3962.JPG



Shown are the two ends of a fender brace that I am in the process of fabricating. I can't buy one, so I either get to do without or make it and its partner. The one end is already drilled and has been shaped to resemble what might have done to a factory made item. The other end........well that is the rest of the story. The first attempt to drill it did not go well. It looks as rough as it is because the hole had to be welded shut and now the tab has to be refaced and redrilled. And my trust in my ability to do it free form is fragile, so...................................



DSCN3956.JPG




I elected to create and build a jig. Nothing store bought here, the base is a length of wood that was cut from a longer, broken section. It's biggest attaction was that it already had a hole in it. Used a step drill to bore the hole out to the size I needed, grabbed an orphan bolt from a nearby tray, and dropped the brace onto the bolt and ran a nut down to lock it in place.




DSCN3958.JPG





DSCN3960.JPG




While the bolt located the one end, it did occur to me that just a single locating point would not be enough to keep the tube from bouncing around. That led me to wondering about whether or not I could add a couple of small pieces of angle to act as shoulders against which the tube would rest.

What you see, attached to the board, is two aluminum angles that used to be part of the case frame for a CCC computer. Have no condern for the computer; it was junk, badly corroded due to salt water infiltration from wet boots worn by cold bodies during winter. I had scrapped it a long time ago; threw the guts into the trash can, but kept the shell as it was made of thin material and therefore could be converted into something else; like a pair of locating angles for example.

Also, in the last photo, you can the matching hole in the jig for the new hole to be drilled. The 6SP vice grip that holds the undrilled end in place will not stay there. That ear needs to be accessible to the drill bit so one more clamp needs to be created for that purpose. Actually, it already exists, I just need to find it out on the welding bench where it ought to be lurking.

For the wondering minds, as in why is this all getting done in the basement and not out in the shop, I did manage to get out and about today; a couple of errands including epoxy primer and TP! (Too bad they weren't being sold by the same vendor, would have saved on the running around!) It was sunny and nice out, if you wore pacs, a heavy fleece hoodie, and a -40 degree rated thinsulate lined freezer jacket, and matching gloves. The weather map says this arctic weather bomb stretches all the way to the Gulf. All i know is that around here, right now, cold is spelled Cold, with a Capital "C" , and it shows little sign of moving off to elsewhere. So the shop is closed and will remain so until it warms up. The heat is on but turned down to conserve on gas consumption and electricity. By way of definiton, it is so cold that the Crows have headed for the pine hedges and hunkered down. They don't come to score their feed of scraps because they can't smell the food; it is frozen solid.



Nick
 
Nick,
Not sure if you have one or have ever seen one, but where I used to work the welding shop had some C-clamps and welding clamps that they used a piece of angle welded on to hold pipe and such. Would work well with that jig and keep it from jumping around. Stay warm!
 
Yeah, actually the welding shop at the manufacturing facility where I ended up after school had them as well. What I have experimened with in the past is the angle in various widths but not permanently affixed to the clamp. Still, now that you mention it, there may be a clamp that did get the permanent version modification. Back to having to go out to the garage to do some digging.

Thanks for the nudge.


Nick
 
  • Clever
Reactions: Ugly1
So ended up not having to trudge my aching bones out to the ice box. All the references to bits of angle iron being permanently affixed to the screw ends on clamps finally kicked a synapse hard enough that I remembered that, many years ago, I had taken a small piece of heavy angle and faced off the outer intersection of the flats to make a flat shoulder that would accept the jaw of a clamp or vice grip and not slip.

Fast forward to this AM and after a little digging around in the top tray of the top box on my roller cab in the basement, there it was, the little clamping adapter, buried under a stack of long arm hex keys. Other end of the tray had a screw clamp just the right size and now the brace is securely clamped in place.

With what I did have last night, I was still able to use a transfer punch and hammer to create a pilot divot for the drill bits to follow. Now getting way too OCD about this but want to build a solid support for this jig so it can go in the drill press. Thought of using a Vee-block but the only one I have that is large enough to carry the board no longer has the U clamp to go with, (if it ever did, it's an old tool from Dad's shop and was found as is). Time to get creative again.



Nick
 
  • Like
  • Winner
Reactions: Ugly1 and 86LK
I guess the pipes were frozen. Warmed up to about ~20 today and water is back. Odd that the washer was the only thing affected.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ugly1 and DRIVEN
Happened at my house yesterday morning. Power went out for 3 hours at below zero temp. Was just enough to freeze up at the well tank. Otherwise my heat lamp handles it. All better a couple hours after the power was back on.
 
Final paste filler done and then primer on the Escort. Friend knows a young single mom, no car, so probably just give it to her. Have to finish paint and install fuel pump.

Light bar came today so mocked up on Robo...

Working on carb for another member and bushing kit came ... Sent the wrong one, got the 3/8 kit, so reordered the 5/16" kit. Fingers crossed...

Picked up front and rear bumpers for Robo over the week end, Tucson pull a part. 60 each and both minor damage but, better than nothing. Bondo time... Yea.

Back bumper is for Wagon, so might look silly, but still better than nothing.
 

Attachments

  • 20240117_163609.jpg
    20240117_163609.jpg
    1.8 MB · Views: 42
  • 20240117_163623.jpg
    20240117_163623.jpg
    3.7 MB · Views: 42
I feel for you all dealing with the freeze. It got down to 25 a couple nights. Broke both manifolds front and rear. Got a nice cold shower turning off the rear one that goes to the drip irrigation.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Ugly1
I guess the pipes were frozen. Warmed up to about ~20 today and water is back. Odd that the washer was the only thing affected.
Probably in part of the house that doesn't get heat.
 

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor