Well, lets do this again!

[akitaman]

I'm planing on it! Speaking of sheet metal, I picked up some square tubing and flat stock today..... Steel prices have went to the roof as of late. I kind of got into it with the supplier. They claim the China economy boom is the reason. Has anybody herd of that. I blew a hundred bucks like a drunk sailor! In nothing flat!

[endel]

Check the copper prices too. I don't know about China's effect, but it has to figure in. Around here, construction sites are being robbed at night of the plumber's copper tubing, or anything made of copper. Just like the cost of plywood goes through the roof after every hurricane.

[quadrifoglio]

I've heard that the developmental growth spurts in China has caused an increase in some materials such as steel. Lots of automobile plants are opening over there.

I've been through a lot of vacant buildings Over The Rhine in Cincinnati and the FIRST thing that happens is people go in, tear out the walls and rip all the copper pipes out.

[Damo105]

Resource prices have boomed over the past year or so, driven mostly by demand from the developing nations, mostly China and India. Companies such as BHP Billiton are struggling to keep up with demand and are selling everything they can dig out of the ground, at record prices. It's the old supply and demand scenario.

Steel prices have risen accordingly. Many economists expect the China boom to last for two or three decades, so there may not be any short term relief in steel prices! But as world production capacity increases to meet demand, prices should drop.

You could always buy shares in the big resource companies as a way to compensate yourself

[alfafarm]

Hi Just joined found your thread interesting i have been working on an ex US spider which had bits brazed into the sills cut to the shape of the rust same shop? Also cost of materials it had US i cent coins with holes drilled in them for flat washers to hold the headlight bowls on !!! Thats one rustyshell it looked almost as bad as some i have had sitting outside for years as beyond saving i still have half a dozen under cover though . john

[akitaman]

My biggest hang up is that, when I assess a car for restoration, I can't anticipate all the little things that can impact the cost of completion. Now, not in this case, because this owner understands, but I've been in deals where the owner acts as if I'm trying to squeeze them for every dime they got. I'm sure you see the poor, point I'm trying to make.

[akitaman]

Welcome Alfafarm! Hope this is good info for you.

[smestas]

I love this thread!!!!!! Keep the updates coming.

I love the new logo so Where, When, & How do we get VCP tees?

[akitaman]

Funny you should say that Simon. I'm having them printed and I'll be sure to send you one.

[akitaman]

The focus of today was to get the rockers cut out..... then that plan changed quickly!

We tack welded some supports in the trunk, because at this point we were removing a lot of metal, and very little was left to support the bottom of the car. Also by removing the inner rockers the car would loose a lot of stability. Keeping things square is a must at all times.




Once the outer skin on rocker was removed I knew we could not take the middle and inner rockers out until we get the rear panel and the new supports I made in. In other words the rear needs to be much stiffer so the rockers have no weight resting on them. Someone was in here before, They used 22 ga. metal in a rocker area! If this car was in a side impact, it would crumple like paper. Rockers are suppose to be very strong. The inner stuff needs to be a minimum of 16 ga or thicker.



Anytime you cut out rockers, lots of braces should be tack welded in to keep the car square.


She not going anywhere now!


Now we could finish the rear. Once the patch panels were installed on the spare tire well. We used the spot welder to attache patch to the inner tire well. Just like factory. But unlike factory, anytime you use a spot welder you should use weld through primer. This prevent rust where the two meet. The can is a bit pricey but worth it in the long run.



Here were using the tig welder to build the wheel arch.


And the spot welder to tie things together.


Now the floor section we made is getting tacked in place. We'll complete the weld later, when the rear arrives.


Thanks for looking!

[alfarestore]

This is the coolest!

It makes me want to cut up my car and start welding it back together just for the fun of it.

Keep up the excellent work!

Cheers,

Jeff

[akitaman]

Jeff, you must be nuts! When I have to get this deep in one, I always feel like I need to check the pulse of the owner.

[alfarestore]

What can I say I just love the smell of burning metal...It's like a brand new day.

[akitaman]

Yup ....... your nuts!

[mubezzi]

Officially certified. But then again, I am questionable at times.