1990 country squire resto/lowrider in UK

[andyfanshawe]

Heres a view of the rear of the frame legs before and after the body drop





This is how far the frame sat below the rocker panels before the body drop



This is where the frame is now





I suppose this is why a box cannot sit on the floor because the frame and exhaust sit below the bottom of the rockers, no matter how far its lowered on the springs.



A lot of work though just to be fashionable and radical!!

Andy.

[Lincolnmania]

i like your scissors jacks notched out to fit the rocker lip!
currently i use four bottle jacks on the lip when i take the body away from the frame for body mounts. but my bottle jacks are getting old and two of them keak down after a few hours.
keep up the awesome work mang!

[sly]

I see what you did there.

and it was AWESOME!

[marquisman]

there is one thing that im real curious about. what will the seating be like, in terms of head room and such?

[andyfanshawe]

there is one thing that im real curious about. what will the seating be like, in terms of head room and such?

Hi marquisman.
Good question. I measured about 15cm of head clearance for me, so that's now been reduced to about 5cm! Time will tell. The pedals may be too long so will need the brake pedal shortening and the throttle pedal moving further up.
The servo fits by the skin of its teeth though!! Heater wont fit, steering angle will be changed slightly, wiring loom moved from behind the dash to on the firewall, and no doubt numerous other things I've not even thought about!!
Oh, just thought of one....wiper motor wont fit.

The interesting thing will be the doors and the lower seal, which will be higher up. But I've got ideas about that!

Andy.

[marquisman]

i definatly look forward to upcomming pics. sounds like you got everything under control

[andyfanshawe]

i like your scissors jacks notched out to fit the rocker lip!
currently i use four bottle jacks on the lip when i take the body away from the frame for body mounts. but my bottle jacks are getting old and two of them keak down after a few hours.
keep up the awesome work mang!

Well spotted sir! Its the finer details that counts.

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

i definatly look forward to upcomming pics. sounds like you got everything under control

Under control may be optimistic!

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Right, need to weld the floor back in its new place.

Starting at the back (because this is the hardest part!). Heres a view of the back left frame rail



And here's a new mount tack welded in in a new place



And a view from underneath



The plan is to take most of the winter welding the floor back in and then roll out the chassis from underneath and finish weld the body underneath. Then prep and paint.

Chassis back under and start to fit everything back (but of course most things wont fit anymore!!). Engine might be rebuilt by then also.

Phew, this could take some time!!

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Another layer fabricated to go here



and holes punched in it to spot weld through



Masking tape put on where welds are going to be and etch primed on both plates and welded in





Captive bolt frame modified to fit. Look at the before and after....



and welded in



Sorry about the poor picture.

Andy.

[BigMerc96]

I wish I had 1/2 of your fabricating skills. Really great work Andy.

[sly]

I wish I had his tools. I could learn the skills.

[1980c10]

It looks like you're body dropping it more than you need to lay pinch weld. Are you cutting the pinch off and welding the seam closed and going to the rocker? Or just folding the pinch under? Or going even more than rocker?

[andyfanshawe]

It looks like you're body dropping it more than you need to lay pinch weld. Are you cutting the pinch off and welding the seam closed and going to the rocker? Or just folding the pinch under? Or going even more than rocker?

Hi.
I'm going to lay the car out on the pinch weld. Strong and easier to repair than damaging the rocker itself.

Also, I dont want to end up in a situation where the car is finished and it doesn't quite sit on the floor! Now that would be disappointing! And what would happen if the new wheels/tyres were slightly bigger in rolling radius?
I've got to make sure that it lays out, no matter what!!

Andy.

[andyfanshawe]

Spent last few days trying to not sell my Mark 8!! Don't tell my Wife!

Anyway, I'm working from the back to the front welding the floor back in and the various associated panels.

Here's where the rear floor ended up when it went further up into the body (red arrow)



Here's the section I cut out (photographed it out of order!! Sorry.



This is so I could weld it back further down





Corner gaps welded up with filler strips





Here's a card template made of the new side panel being made to tie the rear of the car (D post) to the inner wheel arch.



Make it out of steel tomorrow.

Andy.