Patrick Tipton
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Everything posted by Patrick Tipton
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Finished installing the hat channels. I have one more footman loop to install but this rear right side of the hull is getting close! ....and I could not stand the ugly weld so I ground it down and redid it! @James Di Giovanni or anyone else know what the tab is that is sticking up from the tunnel hat channel on the left side of the picture. There is a mirror tab on the other side....
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Lots of progress on the seat hat channels. It took me a lot of extra time to remove the original footman loops and seat belt straps, the seat mount "band" and get everything lined up correctly, but I think the extra effort is worth it. I still need to weld the seat mount bracket/band and weld the final hat channel, but progress is progress! I welded the vertical hat channel but the backside rust really made the process difficult. The weld is some kinda ugly! 😂. I am going to grind a little and make it a little prettier. The original welds are not so pretty but Studebaker had production deadlines and a war to deal with it.....I think I need to make this one look a little better!
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Nice machine and welcome aboard!
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Welcome. I just logged in using IOS. At the bottom of the comment screen is a paper clip that says click to choose files. You click that link, select a picture from your iPhone and then click upload. Once the picture has uploaded to the site, you then click the + on the picture to add it to your comment. The picture will be inserted wherever your cursor is in your post. Hope that helps. .
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Thanks @OZM29C I test fit them a little but am going to install floor pan and make sure everything lines up nicely....
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I have seen this movie 😂. It really is not too bad at the end - you just have to jump in. Restoring the hull is a wonderful project! You are doing great work - carry on! Patrick
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Excellent John - these look great!
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I wanted to install the front gusset section before installing the seat hat channels. The seat hat channels are laying in the floor pretty well, but I will need to push the floor a bit to get the seams tight. I don't want that distortion to cause problems up front and I think the gusset should stop that. The piece fit in pretty easily. There is a little work to do making the jog and getting that angle cut - it is a lot like cutting molding. I used a compass and scribed a line. It came out just fine. I also bent up several additional front hat channels - one for this T-24l as well as for a couple of folks who expressed an interest. Send me a PM if you need one.
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Nice work Frank! I am behind you in my process so no light to shed on colors.
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I finished most of the seat hat channel fabrication. I was able to save the original hardware. I attached the footman loop and seat belt mounts by drilling holes in the hat channel and TIG welding everything in place from the inside. It looks original to my eyes. I just need to finish cleaning up the seat tab slot and add the cross band/stop and these hat channels will be ready for installation. I still need to fool around with the joggles and a few other repairs to get the hat channels to lay down right, but it is coming along. Thanks again @M29C3284 for the joggle making tip - worked out fantastically!
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Appreciate it John. I need to dig through some pictures of a very original T-24 that a friend owns.....more to follow.
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Thank you John. I don't think the T-24 has the drain holes on the sponson gusset. I will get pictures from the unmolested left side later....but there are similar drain holes in the lower hull gusset on the T-24. More details!
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I added the first gusset to the right side of the hull. I spent a few more hours flattening and fussing, but the extra work was worth it. I ended up using my MIG to do the spot welds because I wanted to protect the unpainted metal and "weldable" primer and TIG are no compatible in my shop. I punched holes in the gusset using my jogging tool, fired the MIG up on the hot side and then had my helper to ensure that the seams were very tight. I have simulated spot welds before using the MIG and I think the "secret" to getting good strong welds is starting the weld in the center of the hole and focussing on getting a puddle going on the underlying panel. Running a little higher amperage and a little slower wire speed helps to ensure that you get good penetration. Anyway, it all worked out just fine. Seat hat channels and finish welding/grinding are next.
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Looking beautiful John. I am not looking forward to finding a voltmeter for my T-24.....
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Great - ty! Less work than what I am doing.
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More fettling and fitting. Getting very close to installing the gussets and hat channels. One of the "problems" that has to be solved when doing this work is making the "jogs" - ie relief to allow the hat channels/gussets to overlap other structural members and lay flat. At the suggestion of @Rob W, I picked up a "jogging" tool from TP Tools. Several folks sell them including Harbor Freight. They work great but the jog is not deep enough for the Weasel hat channels to fit correctly.. My solution is to make a jog, cut it along the bend, bend the relieved portion of metal out of the way, add a jog, bend the moved metal back into position and then weld the seam. That is a mouthful. It works just fine. Hard to see in the pictures, but the gusset lays down pretty nicely now. There is still a little work to do, but I am getting close. I am also going to do a little more work on the square patch seam. It will all be hidden by seats and insulating panels, but I might as well repair it as well as I can....
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Welcome Fred!
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Looks great. Should clean up nicely.
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I finished installing the captive nuts in the right side hat channels. I tested a few different methods of spot welding them and ended up using the TIG. Based on a suggestion, I set the tungsten with no stickout and then held the cup flush to the metal and and hit the pedal for about 10 seconds at about 75 amps. It works great. I also did repairs on the front stamped piece under the radiator mount. I also welded up the rear right corner. Most of the seam is original, I had to repair the last 4 or 5 inches where I replaced the side - little wider than the original, but serviceable. Finally, I started really test fitting the 45 degree gusset. I got a little grief from a fellow club member about being so particular on getting the sides and the floors flat. This is why. The gusset fits very well along the sides where I have spent many hours shrinking and flattening. The bottom is largely new metal, but there are a couple of waves that still need attention. I might be able to force the metal into position, but I sure would hate to find myself with some noticeable gaps after I have welded about half of the gusset. It should not take much to get the floor fitting correctly. Does anyone have any experience with any of the modern seam sealers? Particularly the weld thru variety? Given the likely future life of this Weasel being stored inside, I am not terribly worried about it but would love to protect the area somehow. Weld thru primer (high zinc) really makes a mess of welds.....
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Sorry....Alexander....correct? Many thanks.
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Thanks John. I was able to put one of the channels in the drill press and get a reasonably nice hole. Handheld - not so much. I have always wondered what the deal was with the step drill....will try one. TY!
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Nice. Not my favorite thing to do, but I do believe a clean work environment contributes to better work. Thanks!
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Is that your kitchen John?😂. I wish my shop was that clean! Nice!
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I am in need and will be interested.
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John - looks great! Thanks for taking the time to document and post all of the wonderful pictures. Patrick
