Introducing - Project 1/2-TRAK

[dusterbd13]

i was really excitd to see this pop back up. im glad to see its still around.

and i understand about the time and money thing. i work two jobs, one of wich is supposed to pay for my toys. it rarely does. usually, i spend it and my free time on my family. thats why my duster sat for a couple of years.

if you spend all the time you can with the family, you never regret it. the car can wait until you can set aside a couple of hours for it. mine stays apart for weeks at a time, and its supposed to be finished!

[shortrack]

Had a dream earlier this week that Larry, Steve and Chip Foose showed up on my doorstep to take the car to finish it...but if dreams were nickles....

Ha ha No kidding!

Sounds like one of my dreams.....Im a driver not a builder

[Steve68]

Know how you feel, now I'm going to call someone who owes me money!

[j-rho]

Hey True,
Went to check in on your thread, see how it's coming, it's one of the ones that inspired me to build a Camaro. Seems like the link in your sig is broken, possibly due to a forum upgrade?
It is:
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=42059
But I think you want it to be,
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?t=42059
which works.

Hope all is well!

[Damn True]

Wow Jason.

I haven't checked this thread in a while. A long while. So I hadn't seen this post.

Yours is a car that I consider one of the most interesting, inspiring and darned successful builds in recent memory. To hear that I had a small part in that is a real honor.

I am deeply moved. Thank you.


Like I said, it's been a while. Roughly 2.5yrs if my math is correct since I've touched my car. If you follow my blog at all the reasons why should be known. But if not have a look here:

http://thedamntrueexperiment.blogspo...ell-lived.html

here:

http://thedamntrueexperiment.blogspo...-you-suck.html

here:

http://thedamntrueexperiment.blogspo...-in-tears.html

and finally:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mer...?pid=168113720

In the last 2.5yrs I've lost all my Grandparents and a dog. The last 2yrs have been spent caring for my Grandfather who had dementia/Alzheimer's. Dealing with other members of my family, various healthcare interests all while watching my Grandfather be slowly killed by his own brain. It's put a toll on me and my marriage and we are just now beginning to catch our breath and start thinking about resuming some form of "normal" life.

So the other day I remembered a conversation I had with my Grandmother about 4yrs ago when I shared with her what I was doing with her car. Couldn't stop thinking about it all day. When I got home from work I went into the garage, cried a bit and started clearing the space around the car and on the workbench. Wound up spending about 5hrs out there. The last 3 or so actually under the car with a grinder and the welder.

My welding is shaky...but damn it felt nice, cathartic and somehow right again to be working on it and doing something for myself.



Spent some time on the phone with some really great and helpful vendors over the last few days that I will call out individually as appropriate. I have quite a bunch of parts coming my way and the updates will follow.

[Kenova]

You have my sincerest condolences True. That is a lot of loss for two years. We all know it is part of life but dammit, that doesn't make it any easier.
It's good to see you back to work on 1/2-Track. As you have already realized it will do you good.

Ken

[MrQuick]

Welcome back and hope to help you out as much as I can. Your grandfather was truly blessed to have you for a grandson. Sorry for your loss.

Make sure you wear a respirator or at least a dust mask when you use them bad boys. No telling what our friends overseas dump in those discs besides silicon abrasive, adhesive material and fiberglass.

[David Pozzi]

Great to see you going on this again!

[Damn True]

I want to see your build thread starting soon David!

Finished the mock-up of the rear suspension tonight and loaded the housing, x-member and various rods into the wagon to go to powder coating tomorow. It pains me to cover up all of Matts beautiful work.

Next up, finishing up the sheet metal portions above and around the upper link. Kinda kicking my ass as to how to do it cleanly.

Axles arrived today from Currie.

[Steve68]

welcome back, I've been there, grandfather died in 2011, wouldn't let my dad help him, he was the original hot rodder, ordered a 442 brand new, along with a 63 Olds Starfire, keep up with the update, I enjoy your posts and blog,

just built myself a 40x40 shop out back, so I start my own build post,

[Damn True]

Picked up the Lateral Dynamics bits from the powder coater this afternoon and there's a big pile of boxes stacked in the garage.

Actual work...coming soon!

[Damn True]

Thanks for the kind words, same goes to all the others who've offered their thoughts both publicly and privately. It means a lot and serves as a reminder of how great this community is.


40x40? Wow. Id love to have that kind of room. I'm working in a pretty standard suburban garage with a bit of extra space on the side. Constant battle to keep the workspace actually clear enough to work in.

welcome back, I've been there, grandfather died in 2011, wouldn't let my dad help him, he was the original hot rodder, ordered a 442 brand new, along with a 63 Olds Starfire, keep up with the update, I enjoy your posts and blog,

just built myself a 40x40 shop out back, so I start my own build post,

[Damn True]

Spent the better part of the afternoon cutting poster-board templates and whittling bits of new sheet metal to fit hunks of old, pink sheet metal.

Nowhere near done.

I'm certain that someone of greater skill than myself would have this segment whipped in a day but I'm still having fun doing it myself.

[Martin71RS]

Hi True, just finished reading your blogs, I'm sorry for your loss ....I can relate...my grandmother died last year (93) and my grandfather (94) is about to pass any day now, my mum is keeping watch beside his bed as I write this. He was deterring mentally but my grandmother passing gave him a big blow...after 65 years of marriage it must be like a part of you dies. Since then he has never been the same. I just hope they will be together again soon. It sucks but it's a part of life I guess.

It's good to hear you are starting work on the car again and I'll be watching for updates :-)

take care,
Martin

[Damn True]

Martin,

I feel for you. Like yours, my Grandparents were together for ~65yrs. I can't imagine what that kind of loss must be like.

The impact of dementia is exacerbated by depression. It's a horrible thing to watch a loved one go through. Best wishes to you and your family and thank you for your kind words.

[Damn True]

Good progress was made last evening. The trunk fill panel is for the most part complete (more tweaks to be made for exhaust clearance but that has to happen after the x-member is welded home) and the dog house over the upper housing attach point is roughed in.



The bit that covers the above though is presenting some challenges. The part provided will be a fairly tight fit with the hardware in place. Noodling some alternatives, among them using an Electra-Glide front fender.

[Damn True]

I've fabricated a solution to the above and hope to weld it in place on Sunday. Once complete, that will wrap up the chassis fabrication work that I will be doing myself (the cage will be done by a pro).

So...to the matter of protecting this hard fought tin work; Does one seam-seal before or after putting some primer on the bare metal?

[Damn True]

Things were progressing nicely this afternoon then the last two (on the right) welds exploded like a couple of zits...



...outta gas. Damn.

[Kenova]

Things were progressing nicely this afternoon then the last two (on the right) welds exploded like a couple of zits...

EEWWWWWW!! Yuk! I hate when that happens. LOL

Ken

[Jetfixr320]

Primer then Seam sealer is what i do.