1990 country squire resto/lowrider in UK

[grandwagon]

Working on other cars? You are not allowed untill the wagon is done young man! Now get back to work!!

[sly]

again... amazing work. I wish I had welding skillz like that. Solder no problem... but welding... need more practice.

[1987cp]

Squire body on a rotisserie is neat to see! Didn't you have to cut a hole to get the tube through the dash, though?

[1990LTD]

andy would you like a speedometer that reads in km/h? it's your for the cost of shipping if you so desire.


fuel gauge doesn't work but swapping yours is a simple matter.

[andyfanshawe]

Squire body on a rotisserie is neat to see! Didn't you have to cut a hole to get the tube through the dash, though?

Hi 1987cp.
I did indeed. But it was cut already because the firewall was sectioned and the heater wouldn't fit!
No biggie.
Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Today was an amazing day! after hours and hours of welding cutting grinding drilling and fitting a 12V winch, it was first rotate day!

Heres the chassis rolled out of the garage,



and.................

here's the country squire turned on its side!!!!







You can see how far the floor has moved in this shot



Bit of a crap photo this (must have been a bit shaky after watching my pride and joy turn in mid air!!



More tomorrow.
Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

andy would you like a speedometer that reads in km/h? it's your for the cost of shipping if you so desire.


fuel gauge doesn't work but swapping yours is a simple matter.

Hi 1990LTD
Thanks for the offer, but all the gauges will be custom designed digital readout.

Very much appreciated though. Sorry I can't accept it.

Andy.

[Dereck]

Hi AndyFanshaw

I hope after all this effort you will be ditching the stock exhaust in favour of something a little more fitting, I particularly like the ones that exit under the rear quarter panel just behind teh rear wheels, maybe a dual on each side.

Hoping to see this project in the flesh soon, September 21st is penciled in at the moment

Regards

Dereck

[andyfanshawe]

Certainly does make it a lot easier. Lot of work to get the framework built though, and my garage probably will never be the same again - especially the roof!!

Loads of welding and fabrication today on the passenger floor and rocker.
This is the box section under the rear seats extended to the new inner rocker



Heres the complete floor reinforced section under the seat belt mount



More welding on the inner rocker extensions.



Completed rear frame mount



This is the sad looking rear floor area! The only rust left on the car. This will be cut out and redesigned to take the air tanks and/or nitrogen cylinders for the air suspension.



Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Hi AndyFanshaw

I hope after all this effort you will be ditching the stock exhaust in favour of something a little more fitting, I particularly like the ones that exit under the rear quarter panel just behind teh rear wheels, maybe a dual on each side.

Hoping to see this project in the flesh soon, September 21st is penciled in at the moment

Regards

Dereck

Hi Dereck.
You will be very welcome on that day.

Wanting to put both outlets actually through the bumper, but your idea is smoother and not visible.
Another thought is to put the rectangular exits through the rockers just in front of the rear tyres.

Andy.

[1987cp]

Not sure if I have pictures handy, but years and years ago I got some low-profile rectangular tips and put them in front of the rear wheels. I used supercheap offset/center mufflers with 180 degree bends into 90 degree bends, though it'd be cleaner to use a muffler with a funky configuration (or a short glasspack or Dynomax Bullet positioned well forward - or maybe in place of the catalytic converters like Mr Land Yacht did - or no muffler at all if that's how you roll). The result was all but inivisible - too bad one side's setup was destroyed when I accidentally drove over a parking barrier someone had perversely put right in the middle of a driveway.

[87gtVIC]

Amazing.

[andyfanshawe]

Today was about finishing the inner rocker and making it as smooth as possible. This includes welding up the seat belt reinforcing panel and closing in the lower corner of the firewall.





Took a surprisingly long time. Didn't relaise that the lower firewall corners have 3 metal thicknesses and they all have to be done one at a time. I'll photograph it when I do the other side. Got too involved this time and forgot about it!

Rear inner wheel arch tomorrow and its on to the other side.

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Hi all. Still here!!
Have spent a massive amount of time on the final welding. Rear wheel arches, rockers etc.

Finally finished the rear arches, now waiting seam sealing








Here's the welding penetration through into the C pillar.



Just noticed that the rear quarter is seriously close to my garage roof!! Dont forget it is on its side!

Heres the front seat reinforcing plate on the underside removed because I didn't like the rust stains around/under it


And heres the new 3mm thick one bonded in and sealed Actually didn't weld for more than 10 minutes!



Rear floor and battery holder in next, then I'm going to prep and paint the roof while it is on its side and its easy.

Andy.

[sly]

awesome as usual