Metalwork Date(s): August 8, 2005. Album by Tom Griffin. Photos by Tom Griffin. 1 - 18 of 30 Total. 940 Visits.
1 The poor quality of available patch panels led me to fab my own.
2 Finish welded before the brace.
3 Replacing this rusted out brace was the most difficult part. I had to make a wooden form to hammer out the compound shape.
4 After the brace was added.
5
6
7 The side mounted shifter on the 5 speed made a custom hump necessary.
8 I tried forming it in one piece but couldn't make it work so I decided to form the top and sides separately.
9 After forming the top plate I clamped it to the shifter arm using a level side to side, fore and aft. I then made cardboard patterns for the front and rear parts minus the flange. That was added when I transfered the pattern to metal.
10 Left side fitted and tack welded. Screwing it down really stiffened the tunnel, even with it just tacked together.
11 Right side cut out and rough formed. A shrinker and stretcher are a must for work like this. Just start the flange with a hammer then shrink and stretch until it fits the contour.
12 This piece was a major PIA. I couldn't get the rear corner to fit properly and ended up scrapping my first attempt.
13
14 Welds finished and dressed. Shifter hole trimmed out and boot mounting nuts welded in.
15 Painted and ready for service.
16
17 I came up with the name "BACK IN BLACK" for the beast and decided it would look cool embossed into the truck lid like on the AC/DC album. A full size printout of the phrase was made and the letters glued to a piece of .025" sheet steel with spray adhesive.
18 The letters were then cut out using a punch and needle files using the printed lettering as a guide.
