1st try Binder Rat Project

You could drop the top center point to match the aircleaner.

Chris55 wrote:You could drop the top center point to match the aircleaner.

Okay, you can't laugh at my drawings, I'm no artist! I can manage to make metal look kinda like what's in my head, but I can't draw what's in my head very well.

I plan on tying in the top of the grill and the bottom of the air cleaner together with some 1/2" bar.
It'll look something like this:


And heres a top down view.....kinda sorta

I think I'm with Chris. If you pull the point down it would go even better with the air cleaner.

Arieldouglas wrote:I think I'm with Chris. If you pull the point down it would go even better with the air cleaner.

The 3rd photo was the original plan. But it looked like crap. The windshield leans back at a 70 degrees angle, so I matched the lean back on the grill to be the same. The top of the grill is level and will hopefully connect to the air cleaner.

I love fab work!

Arieldouglas wrote:I think I'm with Chris. If you pull the point down it would go even better with the air cleaner.

Well crap. I see what you guys are saying now
I'd love the look of that........have any ideas on how to bend smoothly without taking the whole thing apart?

Started sheeting the sides tonight.
As mentioned above, the big flat top is odd since there is nothing else on the truck that's flat. I think I'll use some 3/4" tube and weld it down the center then feather it out with thin strips of sheet metal to break it up.

Here's the progress










It seems a little big in the photos but in person it looks alright I guess.
Seems a little too square but I think once I get the copper vertical bars in, it'll give it more dimension.

It's still mounted a little high and about 2" too far back but while I had it mounted at the right angle I wanted to sheet it.
I'll be using the sides for the mounts. (how do these normally mount?)

I also left a bunch on the top so I'm free to design it however it fits. It seems I won't have much room to tie it into the air cleaner with 1 single bar, but I'll figure something out. Wish I had a better way to cleanly bend this tube

is juggernaut your favorite comic book character, cause the air cleaner reminds me of juggernauts helmet. nothing wrong with that.

Northern Tool sells a short radius bender but I don't know about using something like that with it all welded together.

Been a bit since ive been back. Made a little progress on the truck..........Holy crap! Now that i look at the collection of pictures ive made, its been a REAL long time since i was here.
So, without further delay, here are some updates.
Installed some brackets to hold up the headlights and grill shell.




Started building a gas tank. My first real effort at TIG



Installed a couple baffles inside.


Installed a small sump in the bottom.


Pickup tube with a shrader valve to air test

Im fairly ADHD so i bounce around alot. Hang in there.

Built a bracket for my shifter.



Then modified it a bit, to actually fit the shifter

Just a fun picture.



Starting installing the tank (prior to welding)




Some brackets to hang it from.





Now to work on the grill a bit more.

Now to add some bars to the air cleaner.







Okay, so its time to thing glass. I cant find a replacement glass for this truck, so i made a template to find glass in the scrap yard that i can cut mine out of. It will have to be the exact radius to fit correctly.
Old glass, with wood template


1972 Dautsun 280Z is the ticket.

More on this later once i get to this point again.

Now to work on the trans tunnel. Never built one before so im kinda winging it here.










Sorry for the overload of photos.

Finishing up the trans tunnel.




And just another cool pic





Okay. I didnt like the setup i had on the front frame brace. I need to move the bar back and shorten the frame horns to get what im after. SO, the only way to do that is to create some rings in the grill shell for the bar to pass through.

Got some solid bar stock, and started heating it up to make rings.







What a PITA this was!



But hey......it looks cool
Shortened the drivers frame horn, still need to do the passengers side.




Well, that's it boys. Thats where im at today. Im doing some side work to build up a bit of greenbacks, so i wont be back on the truck for a week or so.

You'll never hear this group complain about too many pictures. Looks good. Keep up the progress!

Keep us posted! Like to see it when it's done. Nice job!

I've been wondering about this project. She's looking great.

Nice work!

Id drive it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been wondering what was happening with this beast. Looking good! Getting rid of the frame horns is a plus for sure.