37 Build 2001

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Well here we start 2001, chassis has been boxed and sections cut out that were badly pitted and rusted. The sections where the running boards met the chassis were the worse. The L300 IFS was originally set up with rear steer using a Commodore rack. I have now set it up for a TF Cortina rack, which is front steer. This now made it possible to relocate the radius rods to the rear. Being a  fat fendered car, the rods and brackets were quite noticeable in the front

The chassis is now completely boxed, you could even say air tight, but its probably not. This was done with the complete "X" member still in place. I  also made a new brake booster bracket and moved it rearward about 6" because the angle  the push rod was acting at was a bit off. Also, it was rather weak as its other function was an added support for torque twist. I also extended the trans plate about an 1" to take the C4 mount.

This is where the floor meets the inner guard. The brazing is hiding a huge rust hole. The second picture is the gutter channel around the boot. What is not clearly seen is the remaining metal that looks like channel is in fact the bracing bracket that is under the channel. 

This is what was under those brazed plates. The second picture shows the missing floor where it meets the quarter panel.

There was no difference on the other side. It was bite the bullet time. In a fit of depression, I invited a restorer who I met at The All Ford Day who specialised in mid 30s Fords. He kept pointing out all his concourse winning restorations and the challenges he went through. I asked  him to come over and give me quote, just on the rear section. He took one look, mumbled something like " geezuz, I haven't seen anything that bad, then said he'd contact me after he spoke to his son.....that was the last I heard from him.  

This is a comparison of the shape of the rear pan. The replacement pan is an EMS product, the one that came off the 37 is something that's been chewed up and spat out a few times. 

When I placed the boot lid back on, it was obvious that the shape didn't match the new pan. I would have to assume the pan is the right shape, so I cut out new curved sections and re-formed.

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This is depression time, the day the rear section came back from being bead blasted. All the sins were revealed. I was close on calling it quits. I knew it was not going to be pretty, but I wasn't prepared for this. The underside of the rear pan had section brazed in over huge holes.