Another step towards being a 2-door

mrsbojigger

I now have both doors cut and extended to their correct measurements. It's a good fit horizontally. I used Dan's idea of a jig on the back side that is welded in place to hold everything in place. Both doors are now secured to the car and awaiting the center skins to be welded in place. They both work quite well after some tweaking. I'm sure there will be many tweaking sessions before it is finished. I will need to cut the horizontal body reveal and move down slightly to match the continuing line on the rear fender panel. That will be done when I add the filler pieces.

If you are wondering why the vertical cut towards the middle of the door instead of at the end of the door, there really was a reason. The problem with extending the door near the end has to do with the straight horzontal slot for the side window vs the curve of the body thru that area. If you cut near the end of the door it will not allow for the extension of the glass and you have to modify the complete outer curved line to keep the straight line of the slot for the glass. Understand? By cutting in the exact middle of the apex of the crown of the curved sheet metal it leaves the same amount of sheet metal on both sides of the cut and then is just a matter of filling in. Yeah, I know! More photos would help explain.

The weather here is not helping so I can work on the body. I have to work just a few minutes at a time and get back in the air conditioning. It is presently 103.6 degrees outside, and "No Jay, it's not a dry heat!".
Peace,
Chaz

[Deleted User]

What's the status of this project?

mrsbojigger

Good morning Hotrod (real name here),
To answer your question, there has been some progress on the car but in different areas which didn't fall into the category of "steps towards being a 2-door". I have working on the cold air induction hoses and routing thru the right inner fender panel and on my stealth instrument panel that will be hidden inside the dash behind the stock instruments. I had also been prepping my '47 Ford convertible custom for a Veterans Day Car Show. Had a great time in Kerrville and my car not only won "Best in Show" but a 1st Place in it's Early Custom Rod category.
I just got back to working on the lengthened door panels for the last two days. I finished forming and welding up the inner sheet metal panels with the exception of a bunch of lightening holes. The goal is to have the new lengthened doors weigh no more than the stock door. It'll be a challenge but I think it can be done.
Peace,
Chaz

mrsbojigger

Because they are looooooonnnnnggg! They are now 53 5/8" long.
When lengthening anything which which has a pivot point in the middle (lower hinge point in this case) you are extending the fulcrum which in turn expotentially puts more down force on the moving object at the opposite end of the pivot point. In this case the upper hinge area. After a while hysterisis sets in and you have catastropic failure. :eek:
For now I am keeping the stock hinges but it does make a good case for Lambo doors or maybe Sliding doors. Hmmmmm! Sliding doors?
Peace,
Chaz

My OT car

[Deleted User]

mrsbojigger wrote:

Good morning Hotrod (Craig),

To answer your question, there has been some progress on the car but in different areas which didn't fall into the category of "steps towards being a 2-door". I have working on the cold air induction hoses and routing thru the right inner fender panel and on my stealth instrument panel that will be hidden inside the dash behind the stock instruments. I had also been prepping my '47 Ford convertible custom for a Veterans Day Car Show. Had a great time in Kerrville and my car not only won "Best in Show" but a 1st Place in it's Early Custom Rod category.

I just got back to working on the lengthened door panels for the last two days. I finished forming and welding up the inner sheet metal panels with the exception of a bunch of lightening holes. The goal is to have the new lengthened doors weigh no more than the stock door. It'll be a challenge but I think it can be done.

Peace,

Chaz

It's Craig...

[Deleted User]

Congrats Chaz! Wait 'til you see the amount of trophy's the Hud wins. I am just amazed every time you post new pics of your work. Dude, that's such a cool ride an your work is stupendous!

Now, it's in the high 60's to low 70's here. This is the one time it's really nice to be living in the desert! All kidding aside, watch that humid heat, and get in the a/c frequently like you're doing. Lot's of folks die here every year from heat, dry or the monsoon humidity.

It's finally got cool enough that I pulled the spindles and steering arms off the Dodge yesterday. I will send them Monday to CT to a company called ECI who is doing the disc brake conversion kit. This kit is $300 cheaper than AAJ's and I think a little better, because you get a new aluminum hub. Asked him about doing a kit for Hudsons and he said he hadn't any requests before, but he would look into it. Let me know if anyone is curious in a kit. (enough stealing the thread now, sorry)

Jay (finally relaxing in the cool weather!)

[Deleted User]

Any updates on your project?



Craig

mrsbojigger

Just some lightening holes. Took off a full pound of weight. Hopefully it will compensate for the 4 additional inches of sheet metal.
Peace,
Chaz

[Deleted User]

Awesome... Any pics with the extended doors hung on the car?



What are your plans for the rear side windows?



BTW, where did you do your mapping work?



Craig

mrsbojigger

Craig,

1. Back up to page 4 for first hanging of extended door.
2. Rear side windows? There will not be any rear side windows as of the latest plans. It will be a 3-window coupe.
3. Many years ago I worked for Tennesse Gas & Transmission and then later for Shell Oil Company drawing maps.

Peace,
Chaz

bent metal

Awesome! I didn't even think about the door being heavier. Thanks for keeping us up to date. To me, this is the cool part, seeing how you made everything and watching it all come together.