Prefect - 1st build

[Sly Fox]

Welcome back Simon, must of been exciting testing it out and seeing it work for the first time.

Hopefully I can get back into mine soon, unfortunately there's lots of other things getting in the way like you experienced.

[SimonG]

Great to see you back at it.
Should look pretty phat once the guards are widened.

Thanks for the kind words and I can't believe the progress that you have made and to be out driving around must be an amazing feeling after seeing where you started

Welcome back Simon, must of been exciting testing it out and seeing it work for the first time.

Hopefully I can get back into mine soon, unfortunately there's lots of other things getting in the way like you experienced.

Yes now that life is back to normally I have been flat out with Scouts but am hoping to slow down a little and get some more time at home. I still try and do little bits or sit quietly and plan ahead so that I feel like I am getting something done.

[NashRod]

Nice work Simon, I was also going to try the flip front but in the end went for Hagan flip either side hinges. Spent more that I would have liked but now I can concentrate on mounting them.

Scouts will do that to you. They suck every spare moment of your time if you let them but it is rewarding.
I once found that it had been four years since I touched the hotrod due to scouting commitments.

Make them balance is the best advice I can give (and don't forget to find time for your family )

Cheers and Happy Rodding.
Chris

[SimonG]

Nice work Simon, I was also going to try the flip front but in the end went for Hagan flip either side hinges. Spent more that I would have liked but now I can concentrate on mounting them.

Scouts will do that to you. They suck every spare moment of your time if you let them but it is rewarding.
I once found that it had been four years since I touched the hotrod due to scouting commitments.

Make them balance is the best advice I can give (and don't forget to find time for your family )

Cheers and Happy Rodding.
Chris

After having spent the last 3 weekends out of 4 with scouts commitments I totally understand where you are coming from and have made changes this year to do a little less to get that balance right, but I do enjoy teaching the kids. It helps now that my son is old enough that he wants to help with the hot rod so progress will be slower but I am excited that he has the interest and patience.

[SimonG]

It is great to see that the forum is back up and running again, so a huge thank you from me for all your hard work.

I haven't finished off too much lately but have been chipping away at my front seats which have now been narrowed and finally fit. I have made up a floor brace and the re used the original mounting brackets and whilst not finished yet it is giving me hope that I can work it out.





I have also bit the bullet and moved onto widening my rear guards. I first made a wire form using the outline of the original guard that I welded to the car with my wheels on ( but forget to photograph). When I was happy with the shape and clearances I cut it off and laid the original guard against it to get the best position to make the cut. It can be a challenge to make that first cut but it had to be done.





After making some templates I worked out that it might be easier to make the strip in 3 pieces so I cut them out and started wheeling. It was necessary to shrink one edge so after years of watching Youtube I made a shrinking stump, with a random log I had in the yard, and began beating on the perfect panel I had just spent a couple of hours forming .

So far all good and the lumps have even come out so there is hope I can make it all out of steel and looking half decent. The best part is you can wheel at night without upsetting the wife or neighbours, so I feel like I am sneaking a few extra hours every week







That is all from me for now but hopefully soon I will have a completed guard that I will be proud enough of to show off

[Sly Fox]

Nice work Simon, I like where you're going with the back guards.
They'll really help give the little beast some more attitude.

[Gojeep]

That is quiet a task taking on a guard like that. Looking forward to seeing how it develops.

[thatold.chevy]

Great build thread - really enjoying it.

[robtus]

Looking good, nice to see any progress I reckon, eventually it will get done.

[SimonG]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone and I have managed to spend a few hours on the rear guards and am happy with my progress given that I have never tackled anything this complex before.













Then a quick reminder of what I started with-













There is a few flat spots that will ned some shaping but I am hoping to get it all tacked together next weekend and I can start smoothing the shape. I have to say though it is working out ok so far

[thatold.chevy]

that's PHAT - love it.

[Gojeep]

Coming along great.

[jailbar joe]

excellent result ....you should be pretty pleased with that.... iknow i would