Colorado Melons

Laying Low at 6840' (2km)

Colorado Melons
  • Home
  • About
  • Galleries
    • Family
    • Projects
    • Readers
  • Misc
  • Categories
    • Astronomy
    • Automotive
      • 1958Chevy
      • Golf Cart
      • Hot Rod
        • Norm
      • S-10
      • Tractor
    • Aviation
    • Electricity
    • Featured
    • Life
      • Family
      • Work
    • Project
      • Lifting Frame
      • PMG
      • Tools
    • Weather
    • Web
  • Archives
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2002
    • 2001
  • Links
    • Blogroll
      • Springs Rescue Mission
      • Care and Share
      • ColoradoDads.com
    • Machine
      • Jockey Journal
      • Machine Builders Network
    • Metal
      • Welding Web
      • Metal Web News
      • Miller Welding Projects
    • Racing
      • El Paso County Speedway
    • Rod & Kustom
      • H.A.M.B.
      • Lead East
      • Old Crow Speedshop
      • Bonneville Speed Week
      • Viva Las Vegas
    • Weather
      • Inspeed Wind Data Logger
      • Outback GTFX
      • Pro Weather Station

Archive for the 'Hot Rod' Category

Aug 07 2010

Cutting class

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

 

Knowing that at some point I would have to cut the glass for the ’51 I determined that some glass cutting practice would be a good thing. 

I have cut laminated safety glass in the past using the traditional method of scoring and snapping each side and then burning the laminate with alcohol or lighter fluid.  This method worked out so well for me that I have been looking for some time into an alternate method of cutting automotive glass. 

A number of years ago I attempted to cut some old flat safety glass that came out of a school bus.  I used a four inch angle grinder, the same one that I am still using to grind weld beads.  I did manage to cut the glass but the abrasive heated the glass up to the point that the abrasive wheel was throwing off fiberglass strands.  At least I learned how to make fiberglass!  The heat also made what I call “herring bone” cracks all along the cut.  None of the cracks went into the usable glass area because they arced along the cut line.  My plan was to try to sand them off.   Continue Reading »

One response so far

Jun 18 2010

openings

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

 I have made progress on various parts of the ’51 and have lost track of what parts have been documented and what parts haven’t.  The top chop and door opening job was done on a fill in basis between other things that were happening.  Life is like that sometimes.

When I decided to widen the cowl I also needed to widen the windshield opening.  The chopped windshield posts remained where they were and needed no changes.  I put the driver’s side windshield post in place with my normal inside reinforcing plates.  After it was all welded in I stood back and discovered that the post was not straight.   No matter how I turned my head the post still was not straight.  The only way that it looked right was if I turned the lights off.  Figuring that at some point the truck would be outside in the day time I cut the post loose and took a second stab at it.  Look twice and weld once. 

windshield-post

In the middle of all this confusion Continue Reading »

2 responses so far

May 17 2010

Window shopping

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

After widening the cowl and windshield area on the truck I realized that the ’85 Nissin Z car windshield that was slated to be installed in the truck was too narrow by about four inches.  This realization resulted in returning to the junkyard (my favorite shopping place) with a note pad, tape liar and camera. 

2-27-10-yard-regsa

 I knew that I needed Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Apr 27 2010

How to make expensive parts

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

I had a long weekend and so actually got most of the “gotta do” things done.  This resulted in time to go parts hunting at the old car junkyard. 

Parts hunting is interesting because you don’t need a license and the bag limit depends on the size of the truck that you brought with you.  I have been known to take the Miata when going to the junkyard, thus limiting the amount of “gotta have it” stuff that follows me home.

 3-13-10-windshield-shopping-01a

I was specifically looking for trim pieces for the ’63 Mercury dash that I am intending to install in the truck.  I got the instrument cluster a year ago at the big Denver swap meet.  It has some serious wow factor.  I like it because of the ‘50s art deco look with lots of chrome.  It also has a lot of “shape”. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Apr 15 2010

Detour

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

After getting the lucky special wheels for the ’51 I determined that the truck was too narrow.  Clearly the problem was not with the wheel width.

 The proper course of action at that point was to make the truck wider.  The problem was that I had already welded the cowl to the frame.  I got to use my plasma cutter to remove the beautiful cowl mounts that I had recently fabricated and installed.  The plasma cutter is quick but not neat. 

 

After I got the cowl cut loose I noticed Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Apr 08 2010

Fifth wheel

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

Somewhere along the way I decided that the ’51 needed a cool steering wheel.  The stock one was good at pointing the truck but it was big and ugly. Did I mention that it was ugly?

I was thinking about a wheel like the one that was in my first car a ’57 Lincoln Premier.  It had lots of chrome, black and white two tone and a really neat emblem in the center.  After a brief internet search I found a picture of one and discovered that the years had improved the look of the wheel in my memory.  Sometimes you don’t want to look at cherished memories too closely. The Lincoln wheel did have lots of chrome and a neato emblem but it was almost as big as the truck wheel. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Feb 22 2010

Ooh, Shiney

Published by Norm under Automotive, Norm

It seems that I went to the big swap meet in Denver a couple weeks ago.  You know that it’s going to be really interesting when a story starts like that.  None of my boys could make it.  Something about sorting socks in the sock drawer or something of equal importance.  My wife wanted to go to a sewing and fabric show that was just up the street from the swap meet.  The result was that I was turned loose in the biggest swap meet of the year with no adult supervision.  And I had a pocket full of cash, a really bad combination. Continue Reading »

No responses yet

Next »

  • Welcome Message From
    Colorado Melons
  • Search ColoradoMelons

  • Tags

    1935 dodge 1956 Ford 1958 chevy 1966 GMC Astronomy Automotive Aviation boys care chop diligence electric finance giving Golf Cart hardward hoist Hot Rod hydroelectric ignition Life lug nuts management model railroading money Norm's '51 O27 philosophy Project Rail remotes router S-10 safety tail-wheel tool Tractor train truck video Weather Web welcome wind turbine Work
  • Recent Posts by Norm

    • Cutting class
    • openings
    • Window shopping
    • How to make expensive parts
    • Detour
  • RSSTwitter: @j_melon

    • His pre-season is almost over so you'll need to lookout for an adrenaline "rush" when when the games begin! about 1 day ago from txt
    • What rhymes with sack?... "Jack" and he got 3 of them in today's scimmage! about 1 day ago from txt
    • Happy Birthday Mom 01:18:58 PM August 27, 2010 from txt
  • Visits

    7448 since May 18, 2009
    Today: 3


    Your IP: 38.107.191.114
    Your Browser:
    Your OS:
  • Feed on

    • Posts RSS
    • Comments RSS
  • CURRENT MOON

Colorado Melons Copyright © 2010 All Rights Reserved .