1958 Ramber American

[onya]

I was working away last weekend and thinking to myself what happened to Dane and the Rambler, good to see your still on it.

[pplace]

While sitting around tonight I figured I’d look into my own question. I believe I should be using a soap / water mix or even bar soap to lubricate the panel. Even though I’m not intentionally getting the metal too hot, I believe that overall it’s “burning” and galling (for lack of a better word) the panel.

I’d still obviously be interested in anyone else’s input. One thing I strive for and can hopefully learn over time is getting cleaner and cleaner metal work. I envy the guys that when finished it looks like a brand new sheet of steel you just purchase (no sanding, grinding, buffing marks, etc.). I know it’s practice, practice, practice....

Thanks

[Gojeep]

I suffer the problem less since I stopped using air, never water, after using the shrinking disc. Using it limited being able to work it more later as it created, to me, what feels like a hardened surface.
It will still shrink without the use of air or water, just not as rapidly.

[rkolenda]

Dane ,I have had the same issues with the steel shrinking disc .I have since switched to using a wooden disc that does not leave any marking on the panels .I started using it to eliminate any galling on aluminum but now I also use it on steel as it does not trash the surface.I posted a tutorial about it in the general section I believe.Bob.

[billfunk29]

Has any one tried using a clutch disc for shrinking? Seems to me it's all about friction to generate heat. What better? I have thought about putting some friction segments from a clutch on a fiberglass backing disc (flexible). Fear of it exploding has kept that project at bay. I've had various shrinking discs for 40 years. Hardly use them because I don't like the finish. I always thought is just my lack of skill.

[rkolenda]

The clutch friction disc has been used by Cass Nawrocki.There is photo of it in my tutorial in the general section .It is listed as"Shrinking with a wood disc"

[pplace]

Thanks for the responses guys. I’m just glad to hear it wasn’t something I was doing wrong really. Rkolenda, I read through your wooden disc thread. Very interesting, thanks for pointing me to it.

When things ease up I will definitely update the build thread more. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but I’ve never been able to get pics from my iPhone to upload. I have to transfer them to my laptop, resize and then upload from there. So that’s kind of a hassle for me at times.

[pplace]

I've been pretty poor with trying to keep things updated here. So here is some from work done a while back on the qtr. window and rear storage compartment area.



Built a window channel for the quarter glass. This was actually built around the curved side glass I cut for it, but have the wood template in there for now.



Since the wheel and wheel tub will obviously not allow the glass to roll down into the body, I decided to have it slide out of the quarter window opening, and "slot" into a storage channel in the interior panel for safe keeping.



Made some braces and mounting brackets for it....



Mounts as such (there were 4 mounting points)



View from the front with the glass storage mounted.



A view with just the channel with now glass (or template) in there. Channels are lined with the same window rubber / u channel as the body.



Now to figure out the rear storage behind the seats. This will house several of the mechanical items (air ride, fuse panel, brake pump, battery, etc.)



Starting to fabricate the left side storage box. These will be removable for ease while building and finishing the vehicle as well as upholstery later.



First box side panel built....



Main box structure built. There are two mounting brackets and bolts on each side panel and three mounting bolts in the base along the wheel tub.



Basic box structure removed from vehicle



Mirrored the work for the passenger side as well. Mocking up and seeing how the air tank fits between them.



Have access to the end caps for the electrical and air line fittings, etc. from inside the box.



Set the console mock up in place to get an idea how it will fit to the rear compartment.



Starting on the center mounting support bracket.



Fabricated some brace arms to tie the main box to the center mounting point.



Another view of the basic box. Here you can see the tabs for mounting it inside the box.



Set into the vehicle to get an idea how it all fits with the air tank.



Again, the work was basically mirrored for the other side.



This gives a general idea of how the "skin" will be on the box structures.

[Steve Hamilton]

Hi Dane
Nicely designed and fabricated.
Thanks for the up date, love following your work

Steve

[dwmh]

Dane you mentioned when using your shrinking disc you get the high spots to amber color, my understanding is that you don't need to get anything like that hot. If you spray water on it and it turns to steam it is hot enough. It may explain why you are discoloring the metal.