Artists with the cutting wheel and torch

[60scarguy]

Here we are with the beginning of a masterpiece.

First take a lump of clay, I mean metal...
Build it into something unique... then
Let it sit in the outside air for a year or two or five and get all wet... until
the metal turns to cheese (alchemy)

then put it in the hands of a Loretto artist or two,
and you get:

Part 1 - no more cheese

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/PassengerFloorrepair1.jpg

More to come ...

[Davey_Joe]

ooooooo,..... that lil' darlin' is hurtin'!! you got lotsa 'artisttin' ta do there!! looks to be on the road to health already by the look o' brakes an' stuff.... keep us nosy ol' bastards in on how its goin'.............

[Culvert]

any before pics. Like to see how bad it was to start with.
I'm thinking that is what my 66' is gonna look like when I pull the carpet.:eek:

[60scarguy]

Part 2

Passenger floor done.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/DSC02695.jpg

and from the front firewall side

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/DSC02692.jpg

Now onto the driver's side ...

Stay tuned

[55LINCOLN]

I got the motor

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb100/1955lincoln/P4120001.jpg[/IMG]

[bullet]

Alright ................ but what about that sad looking frame member, looks like it's about to break in half.

[Chad]

Alright ................ but what about that sad looking frame member, looks like it's about to break in half.

That's where the torque box is supposed to be....I have fixed a few like that too....I had to do both sides in my 66 GTA Fairlane....

[bullet]

That's where the torque box is supposed to be....I have fixed a few like that too....I had to do both sides in my 66 GTA Fairlane....

Not to sound stupid or nuttin', but whats a torque box, never heard the term.

[60scarguy]

Dear Bullet:

On a unibody construction (no separate frame) the strongest part is the four corners of the floor pan, which are the four lower corners of the passenger compartment. Additional metal in the shape of a box-like structure was welded in at the factory to where each of the front two corners of the floor meet the firewall, so that the front of the car would not flex or twist when under extreme force aka torque (such as acceleration, braking or hard cornering).

In addition, the engine and front suspension of a unibody car are attached to the 2 front frame rails (called the front subassembly) and these front frame rails are in turn welded to the underside of the front of the floor. With all the potential for flex, manufacturers designed and added the torque boxes to reinforce the front corners of the floor, and the car, for additional structural strength. Torque boxes are used also in the design of cranes, ladders, and airplane frames and wings.

As these areas of a unibody are so important to the overall structural integrity of the car, they are usually the first to be replaced since they tend to rust or loose strength over time.

For my Ford, it's floor was mostly rusted out, as were the original torque boxes. The replacement floor pans I purchased were regular stamped steel pieces that weighed maybe 2 lbs, but the replacement torque boxes were rigid, solid 3/8 inch steel pieces that each weighed about 20 lbs. Very heavy duty pieces. This is particularly so in any car with a high horsepower and torque engine - like the 428 CJ V8 in my Ford. I needed two hands to lift them.


Hope that helps (and I'm not even an engineer!).

[60scarguy]

More good work done - front rails and driver's side done now.

Before

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/Driversfloor1.jpg

and After

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/Driversfloor4.jpg

Now on to putting everything back in...

[49stovebolt]

It looks like someone had already tried to hide the cancer. Good to see that you are doing the job properly.

Lots of dirty work and fabing keep us posted.

Todd

[Culvert]

NICE WORK!!
Where do you get your replacment panels from? what is the cost?
I have a 66 Fairlane that needs new front floors & torque boxes. Please keep the pics of progress coming.

[Magoo38]

It;s Alive! wow tks for the pics its kinda neet seeing how someone else can make something solid out of swiss cheese.

Good work:D

[60scarguy]

Hey all - more pictures to come in a few days.

Culvert - replacement panels from Macs Autoparts in Lockport/Buffalo.
They have online catalogues on their website. Also look at Dearborn Classics and Autokrafters. These are the 3 biggest suppliers for Ford Fairlane and Torino parts, but they don't have everything. Need to have some parts fabricated too. Also check the Fairlane Club of America for their links, Dennis Carpenter, Perogie, Concours Parts etc.

But you can find the torque boxes and floors from Macs. I've driven to Macs in Lockport twice now to pick up parts. Just 2 hours away, so its worth it. Shipping costs a fortune.

Also need to do some fabricating, cause some parts are way too expensive.

All you need to do is declare the costs at the Border and pay GST and PST.

Magoo38 - thanks - I was lucky to find good guys who do great work - the "Artisans of Loretto". :)

[55LINCOLN]

they are doing a good job

now if you can just separate the camaro from the tow truck all will be well for next week ;):rolleyes:

[60scarguy]

Update - the Floors are done, the front end is done. Stereo being installed, and started on the rear end.

Here is finished floor with shifter and speakers installed.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/FloorandshiftercompleteMay29.jpg

and here is rear end all apart, awaiting cleaning and new leaf springs. Why - you will notice that the passenger side leaf spring has three leafs, its supposed to have four, and the driver's side was so rusty, it had to go - so off to the spring shop for new ones. :(

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/DSC01372-1.jpg

Stay tuned, more parts are arriving, more work to do...

[60scarguy]

Back from the Power Tour in the US and the Artisans have been real busy.

Engine back in after installation of new brake lines, fuel lines.
All brackets, power booster painted and/or powdercoated. Note the rare aluminum valve covers "428 Cobra Jet" that we found in California.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/Engineinstall2.jpg

Rad drained, cleaned and painted. Installed into new rad support.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/Radiatorinstall1.jpg

Interior and rear end to be installed.
More to come.

[John in Oz]

Thats coming on real good there 60scarguy, good to see another Henry saved, I just had a thought, maybe that car was destined to be a right hand drive car so they left one leaf out so the car would sit level for the camber of the road:D:rolleyes:;).

Good on you keep up the good work, John

[60scarguy]

Been away and busy with stuff - but the Artisans have finished the car.
A rare 69 Torino Cobra Jet 428 Ram Air with original #'s matching engine.

It is now officially known as the Stump Puller - tons of torque for a stock engine. We took the car to the Syracuse Nationals on July 18th to 20th - a great show with so many cars 7,000 of them in all sorts of styles and shapes. About 500 Canadians there too, but did not see a single Torino CJ there. Lots of Mustang 428 CJ's mind you.

Got the Cobra Jet up on the Dyno too - what did she do?? Well I'm not telling cause we didn't get the engine tuned properly yet. Still pulled 275 horses at the rear at only 3,500 RPM - low part of the power curve - its about 350 horse at the flywheel- I wonder what she'll do with a good tune up and carb adjustment??? Should do 410-425 at the flywheel.

FYI a 63 Ford Falcon pulled 1,778 HP at the rear at the Syracuse show. And its street legal too.
See some pics:
On the Dyno
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/P1000776.jpg

At Syracuse Nationals Dynomax display
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/GreenwithNV/Ford%20Cobra/P1000773.jpg

The Artisans of Loretto did a great job. It's a solid car now and it goes like stink for a big heavy car. Now to enjoy the car and see if I can get more than 6 miles to the gallon :D

[CDNflatlander]

Nice looking car!! Great pictures too:)
Enjoy the cruzin...leave us some fuel too, eh:D

[amarthfea]

wow, looks absolutely beautiful. original numbers matching 428 CJ holy cow! even finding a non-numbers matching in a Torino cobra jet is rare, amazing job! love it!

also, what gears are you running in the rear end? just out of curiosity, I didn't see them mentioned and I have to choose a set for myself within the next week.

~Adam