I haven't got a crew......

[Dinos63]

nice work kat!! great skills

[Tuned55]

Way Cool Build!!

[AUSSIE54]

G'day All,

Tuned55 & Dinos63, Thankyou for the uplifting comments!

xpickup, I too am looking forward to the day the doors go on. I feel that it will be so far away....

Well it has certainly been a long spell since I've updated and with not laying one hand on any of the project since the 23rd of December until Friday night just gone it has made me realise just how easily time has slipped away.

Any since my last post I have finally completed the notch for the Jag front end and have since been able to move forward with the mounting of the LL8 I6 and its newest buddy, a 4L60E auto which I snagged off ebay for 500 skins. It supposedly has a shift kit in and still changes nice so I guess I'll just have to wait and see on that one.

The engine mounts have been sorted and fabricated, along with the gearbox mount which is yet to be welded. Have been using a TIG welder for these parts.

Moved on then to the rear end and decided to 'Z' the frame rather than putting a 'c' notch in for the differential clearance. So this time it was back out with some more 6mm (1/4") plate, a template drawn up on the inventor program, an oxy/acetylene torch, a clean mind and a steady hand and before long I had four near identical 'Z' plates to attach to the side of the chassis.

Come Friday night, and with a few mates dropping around to pitch in we managed to cut the frame, tack on the plates, remount the rear of the chassis to its new higher position and then I set about starting to weld in the new side plates and fabricating the the top and bottom capping plates. While I was busy doing with that a couple of the lads were well into the paintstaking process of tigging the roof together bit by bit chasing the highs and lows all of the way with the hammer and dolly.

Anyway, enough of my dribble, here are some of the action shots taken along the way to bring you all up to speed. Once again, my apolodies for the quality of the pics as they are taken with my phone.

Regards,

Trently.

Underside of "C" notch for the front end:



Front end dummy fitted:




Hmmm, clash point!

[AUSSIE54]

Problem solved!!



Engine and trans dummy up:

[AUSSIE54]

Un-molested rear of frame:



Plates going on:



Some welds:



One side capped:



Body back on for a quick look:

[AUSSIE54]

Couple of shots of the roof. Hard to see any differences from these photo's compared to earleir ones, but it sure feels different in the flesh. It's really starting to tighten up and take good shape.

[xpickup]

Hi Trently, I looks great. I can not wait to see it at ride height with the wheels on. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[Larry Lindley]

when you look at this,WoW very good craftsman ship,will keep eye on this one for sure.

[Kim57]

Looking real nice.
Kim

[Red Foreman]

Trent, the chassis work has blown me away, great stuff!!!

[_Ogre]

very cool build aussie.
i saw the bmw was right hand drive
went back to see your 53 and 54 were also right hand drives.
very cool

[1952ssr]

You Bloaks are insane, and I'm loving it. Now I know why the trip of a lifetime for me is to go to Australia. Keep up the awesome workmanship.

[AUSSIE54]

G'day All,

xpickup, Larry, Kim, Red, _Ogre and 1952ssr. Thank you all for your inspirational comments.

I forgot to add last night that the diff housing (Holden Crewman / Borg Warner) that I had bought from a fellow on eBay had turned up with one of the axle tubes actually slipping out of the centre housing. This was unknown to me at the time of purchase and hence nessecitated corrective surgery to rectify the fault. The tubes are held in place via a press fit and three factory plug welds, all of which had let go! This had allowed the tube to 'walk' out of the housing. Hell of a way to increase track width if you ask me. Anyway, this didn't suit so I clamped my jig into it and welded up both sides good and proper. Shouldn't have any future trouble with that from now on. Forgot to take photos of that though, so will post some in the near future.

Regards,

Trently.
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[xpickup]

AUSSIE54, That stinks. I would have been nice if the guy would have told you that when you bought it. At least you could fix it. I never bought to much from Ebay but I always wondered how many times stuff like that happens. Keep up the great work. Glad to see you working on it again.

Shannon

[YBNORML]

Sick, I totally love this concept.I can't wait to see some more progress.

[drivea55]

very nice build!

the chassis work is incredible.

keep the pics a coming

[AUSSIE54]

G'day All,

Got a bit more done tonight. Chassis Z'eed and next step for me will be heading towards getting the rear end mounts made and slung underneath. My wheels turn up next month so I'm hoping that when they get here, I should just about have the chassis ready for them to bolt on for a nice feel good look!

[AUSSIE54]

My Corvette also turned up last week. It rides just like a new for being fifty years old this year. Took it for a blat down to my mates place and then around a few extra blocks on the way home and by the time I'd got up the hill and then into the drive and pulled up I could have sworn that my heart had jumped right out of my chest on was sitting on the ground gasping right beside me!!! Guess I'm not as fit as I think I'd like to be! Still I blame it on the 2 speed power glide hub in it. LOL.

[ghettoluxury]

Frame is looking good.

[Larry Lindley]

Nice job Aussie54,now you must come finish mine.haha or plan B we drink beer.

[Maximus]

HAH here in America our 50' year old corvettes look a little different...


Thanks Google for the photo!

[AUSSIE54]

G'day,

YBNORML, drivea55 & ghettoluxury, thank you for your comments,

Larry Lindley, I actually sampled some beer while at the southern 80 ski race last weekend and then chased it down with some wild turkey. Hmmm, that stuff put you well asleep at 2:00 in the morning and if you have enough, your belly can also feel quite ordinary!

Maximus, I know of those larger type corvettes. Mine came from the states also and was one model made by Schwinn. The still to this day produce a corvette model. Apparently it started when the son of the owner took over the show and named the new bike model after the new car that he'd just bought.

Regards,

Trently.
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[av8tr33337]

Great build Aussie. You obviously have some great fabrication skills. Looking forward to following this build, I'm subscribed.

[AUSSIE54]

Thanks Bartman, I only get the chance to work on it every other week so it will be on the board for a while.

Trently.
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[Red Foreman]

Hey Trent, just in regards to the crewman diff, if its just a used one you might want to check the pinion bearing as they are really common for sh*tting themselves. I've seen two come through our workshop this year, Btw I'm using crewman leafspring saddle plates & U bolts.