'58 (nash) rambler american family project

[mygasser]

that's one side done, it took (as usual) much longer to finish than expected. we'll have the other side cut, folded and welded in place over the weekend then fit the suzuki sj steering box.
neil.

[mygasser]

both sides are now done and the wheels fitted so it could be lowered to the ground for pics. it'll be lower once the engine and box etc are in but i'm happy with it.
neil.

[mygasser]

i forgot to mockup a rear wheel yesterday so......
looks like the arches may be clear with a bit of luck.
neil.

[mygasser]

i just ordered a bunch of nyloc's to replace the plain nuts i've used for mockup so far.
neil.

[mygasser]

today we started to figure out where the steering box was going to go along with it's 'paired' steering arm on the other side upright. the box is now about where it needs to be and the cad steering arm is mocked up so it clears the brake caliper.
neil.

[mygasser]

just the steering box to mount (3 tubes to weld in the chassis) before the engine and box can be offered up. we won't fit the column sections until after so we can route it clear of the engine, exhaust etc.
neil.

[mygasser]

not much done today but still something. the top lip of the chassis got ground away (it'll be seam welded later) to drop the box slightly. now 2 of the 3 mounting bolts are under the chassis. we'll bolt tubes to them and weld the tubes to the underside of the chassis with flitch plates for strength. the hole through the chassis has a bolt through to hold the box while the others are done but will then get a tube welded through so the chassis won't crush.
also ash popped over and we dug out my exploder axle from over the road and sat it on tall axle stands ready to cut off it's bracketry and shorten the long side. he said he'll help fit it next saturday afternoon so the spring perches and will also need making by then.
neil.

[mygasser]

the steering box is now fitted and the drag link adjusted to give even lock left and right. we also seam welded the top of the chassis rails and added the bracing plates from under the chassis to under the front crossmember.
rear axle is next so it's on all 4 wheels then engine and box mockup. it's coming along.
neil.

[mygasser]

it occurred to me last night that it'd handle much better and be lots less 'uncle buck' if it had shock absorbers on the front. so with a pair of new-ish cortina rear shocks from a kit car offered up it was time for more cad work. oh, and the steering arm needing a little trim to clear on full lock, lol.
neil.

[mygasser]

before making the shock brackets (although they're marked out on the steel sheet, lol) i decided the chassis where the steering box mounted wasn't as strong as i'd like. there was a slight twist if you pushed the wheels lock to lock as they stopped each way, not good enough. so we did yet more cad work (we're getting good at this techy stuff) and cut 3mm thick over plates on top from behind the now crossmember all the way to the bumper bolt holes and on the inner sides from the crossmember agin forward to the bumper bolt holes. the drivers side we shaped the side plate to include the 2 tubes that are under the chassis. bit of a grind up and refit the box and what a difference. i'd considered adding another crossmember in front of the box but it's not needed now. shock mounts next, honest.
neil.
nearly forgot we cut the last bit of inner wings out too so the steering column can route neatly.

[mygasser]

the shock brackets are all cut and ground. we clemp them all together for grinding so they're all the same. they're now ready to weld in place once their bolt holes are drilled.
neil.

[mygasser]

ashley came today and we cleaned all the old brackets off of the exploder axle before shortening the long side 2 7/8" so another short side shaft can be used. the bottom plate of the spring perches are now made. we know the axle needs to be back along the springs from stock to centre the wheels in the arches so we've drilled 3 holes in a line off centre going up to a 2" offset so when it gets weight on it we can position it right without re drilling them. the rally design u bolts needed opening up to suit the 3" exploder axle tube size too, again ready to go now. i can't yet find the 2 axle c clips so i'll order a new pair as well as new halfshaft oil seals while it's all apart. last pieces to make are the plates that go under the springs for the u bolts to go through and 4 spacers for the upper front shock mounts.
neil.

[mygasser]

the axle is now bolted to the springs, after we made the lower u bolt plates. it's just clamped tight at the moment, we'll leave setting the pinion angle until the engine and box are mounted. the halfshaf6ts are just slid in for now too as they'll come out to fit the now oils seals in the casing ends. couldn't resist a look how far (if at all) they stick out. well shock horror, if the arch lips are rolled they'll go under...... just.
neil.

[mygasser]

i forgot to put a pic on of my new 'old' shifter that arrived yesterday with patina to match the car, lol. i think it's a megashifter, maybe a console model as there's no 'box' bit to sit on the tunnel. i can make a box easy enough though along with a bracket for the gearbox end. it is for a 4 speed auto with p,r,n,d,3,2,1, so the lever will never get to '1' as my fmx will run out of gears by then. other than that it'll be just fine. if i can work an aod or gm o/d box onto the fe v8 later on i'll be all set for the extra gear too.
neil.

[mygasser]

the oil seals and 'c' clips arrived for the axle so that'll be put together soon. i also noticed with the front calipers fitted they touch the shocks on full lock. the shocks are bolted to the brackets that came on the speedway axle and the calipers are also the type supplied by speedway so it's a bit strange. anyway i bought 2 threaded 'slugs' that'll be welded into the axle tube above the existing brackets, that'll sort it.
neil.