Author: DW

Dear Welder Series… 1950 Chev Pickup Mustang II?

Dear Welder Series…
Hi! I have a 1950 Chevy 3100 pickup. I decided that I want to run with the mustang II ifs. I won’t be able to buy everything all at once, so I want to start with the crossmember. I want to run bags, so it will sit on the ground. Can you tell me what crossmember is best? Thank you.

Dear Juan…
If you are planning to use conventional bags, use this version: 

 

The airbag people have mounting brackets to fit in the upper towers.

If you plan to use ShockWaves, use this version:

 

If you click on the product you can view some pictures of airbags being used with this crossmember.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts for your pickup, Juan.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… four link frame brackets on the outside?

Dear Welder Series… 
We are a local community college automotive collision repair program, we are building a 1968 C10, and would like to install a rear four link suspension. But we are looking to install it on the outside of the frame rails, to make room a fuel tank. Could you help?

Octavio

Dear Octavio…
Octavio, I just now left a message on your voicemail but want to confirm by email.

The rear 4-link can be installed outside the frame rails if you have 4″ clearance between the frame and the tire. One thing to be aware of is that the frame will likely have to be notched for coil-over clearance if the coil-overs are to be mounted at an angle.

We offer a 10% discount to schools using our parts in their projects.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… 1976 Datsun 260Z Mustang II

Dear Welder Series… 
I’m customizing a 1976 Datsun 260Z for a client. It has an all aluminum Mustang Cobra 32V V8 up front and a narrowed 9″ triangulated 4 link setup in the rear. I want to put something like your Mustang II IFS kit on the front and get rid of the struts so that I can mount a wider torque thrust II wheel to match that back.

The frame rails have a lip that sticks out a little on the bottom facing out, and the width from that outside edge to outside edge is 32″. They are smooth on the inside.

Do you have something that will work for me? If you do, can you send me other dimensions so that I can measure up to make sure everything will fit under the original fenders?

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks.

Brett

Dear Brett…
Our Mustang II coil spring kits are designed to be installed in almost any frame. What measurement do you want between the wheel mounting surfaces? (Where the wheels are against the rotors…)

What diameter tire will you use on the front?

With the frame at ride height, what is the distance from the ground to the bottom of the frame at the spindle location?

As above to the top of the frame?

With this info, I’ll be able to tell you about installation issues you might run into and suggest ways around them, if necessary.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series…
Thanks for getting back to me.

There are a lot of questions there that I don’t have the answers to yet.

I’ve just finished the back end of the car, so let me measure the front up this weekend and I will get back to you.

Cheers,

Brett.

Dear Brett…
Thanks, Brett. I might be slower getting back to you for the next week or so… There will be days when I’m out of internet access. I’ll try not to keep you off the road too long…

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series…
Here are those numbers!

What measurement do you want between the wheel mounting surfaces? 54″

What diameter tire will you use on the front? Don’t know yet, but to match the rear the center of the front spindle will need to be 12 3/8″ from the ground.

With the frame at ride height, what is the distance from the ground to the bottom of the frame at the spindle location? 11″

As above to the top of the frame? 14″

This car is pretty low, so if we need to go up or down a little, I would prefer to go up a little on the ride height. We have a tri-4-link with coil overs on the back so we can always adjust the back up or down to match whatever the front ends up being.

Cheers,

Brett.

To Be Continued…

Custom Work: Amp Stand

Welder Series does special parts for many things beyond hot rods. One personal project done for me, Paul Horton, is the tilt stand for the ZT Amplifiers that I use in my “second” career. In small club settings, I use the ZT Acoustic Lunchbox tilted back 30 degrees to project my voice, guitar, and drum synthesizer. A second ZT Lunchbox is used as a monitor for the drum machine. The stand lets it be tilted back at 60 degrees as a monitor. You can check out the Facebook page to see a short video.

Custom work is an almost daily part of Welder Series. If you would like a quote for your own idea, please email paul@welderseries.com.

Customer Car: 1972 LeMans

Received this nice email from a customer last night:

Chassis fabricated by Rock Ridge Specialties using products from Welder Series

The GM A-Body frame was smoothed from the torque boxes forward and a new rear tail section custom built from the torque boxes to the rear with the frame kick-ups over the rear axle raised 2″ higher for a lower

The chassis is now ready for the remaining build at Wild Rides & Fabrication.

Rock Ridge Specialties is presently working on a ’52 Mercury Pick-up chassis for Wild Rides & Fabrication

Thanks to Paul & DW at Welder Series for providing great products!

Rock Ridge used a bunch of our frame curves in this chassis build. Nice work, and thanks for the email! We always like seeing how our parts are being used. Every month we give a $50 gift certificate to someone who sent us pictures of our parts that month. Please send them to pictures@welderseries.com.

Labo(u)r Day 2015

We’ll be closed Monday September 7th to celebrate, among other things, the 8 hour work day. It seems like a day off to celebrate work should be called something other than a synonym for the thing you’re not doing. “Rest Day” would be ok. Wait, didn’t Sundays used to be for that? Now we only get one day a year??

Here’s some more info about the holiday: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Day

On your day off, maybe you’d like to sit around with your family and watch some Welder Series assembly videos… make sure you’ve got lots of snacks though because the kids will want to invite all their friends.

Thinking about work and labour, I can’t help but come back to how thankful I am for my country and for my wife, the mother of our four children. Very thankful indeed.

DW Horton

 

Dear Welder Series… brake pedal/clutch for Model A?

Dear Welder Series…
Hey there,
I’m looking to order a pedal assembly but I’m having a hard time finding what I need.  I’m looking for a ready to weld brake pedal/master cylinder kit that includes the clutch pedal that works with a Model A frame.  I remember seeing it on your site some time ago but now I can’t find it.  If you can send me a link or give me some information it would be much appreciated!  Also a price & shipping to Sask would be great.

Thanks guys,
Nathan

Dear Nathan…
There are a couple of ways to do this with Welder Series kits, Nathan. Because the frame is narrow, it’s not easy to have room for the pedals, exhaust, and transmission (and linkage), so we use the kits that move the master a little farther from the frame rail than the Model ‘A’ kit.  Look at the options menu and the pictures. One is at http://welderseries.com/Brake-Pedal-Master-Cylinder-Bracket-32-Ford-p50683993.

Another way is by moving the master cylinder back from the pedals. Again, see the options and the pictures at http://welderseries.com/Booster-Bracket-&-Pedal-Mount-Under-Seat-Mount-p50666963

Lowdown Hotrods mounted the bracket behind a Welder Series transmission mount crossmember, as shown in the thumbnail picture at http://welderseries.com/Formed-Brake-Booster-Bracket-p50737621

Pricing is at each product in the store when you choose from the options menu. Freight is at http://welderseries.com/contact-us/. Shipping prices are as follows: 10% of the order, minimum $15, maximum $60. We use UPS or Canada Post for Canadian shipments.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series…
Thanks for the speedy reply on this!

I think the first link in your reply would be best suited for my needs. It says it’s for a 32 but I think I could make that work. Question though, how does a guy typically mount it to the frame rail? Is it just meant to be butt welded on? Just having trouble visualizing this. Maybe if you had a couple pictures that would help.

Dear Nathan…
The bracket would weld to a boxed section of frame rail.  It would be best to have the body on the frame so you can determine where the pedal will come through the angled toe-board.  If your firewall goes right down to the frame, a slot in the floor might be better.  We can substitute a straight pedal in this case.  http://welderseries.com/Brake-Pedal-Straight-p50755047. Sorry, I don’t seem to have an installed picture.

Paul

Canadian Street Rodding Hall of Fame 2015

Canadian Street Rodding Hall Of Fame To Induct Larry Sawchuk

The Canadian Street Rodding Hall of Fame will honour Mr Larry Sawchuk of Wasaga Beach, Ontario at the 21st Annual Induction Gala being held Saturday, October 24, 2015 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 551, 79 Hamilton Street North in Waterdown, Ontario.

Larry Sawchuk is a lifetime street rodder and car guy who has been instrumental in growing the hobby through his active participation and leadership. Come out and hear and see the whole story at the Gala.

In addition, CSRHoF will replay the induction of Jack Greenhalgh of Ancaster, Ontario. Jack was one of the inductees last year but was unable to attend due to health reasons. He will be the first to be honoured for a second time at the 2015 Gala.

The evening consists of a meet and greet at 5:30 PM followed by a buffet meal and ceremonies beginning at 6:30 PM. Later, there is live entertainment for your listening and dancing enjoyment. Come out and be part of the celebration honouring Larry Sawchuk and Jack Greenhalgh, It’s always a great time!

Tickets are available at Horton Hot Rod Parts in Milton, Lek Triks in Burlington, Lowdown Hot Rods in Cambridge and at Paul Horton’s Welder Series in Breslau, Ontario. For credit card payment contact Welder Series toll free at 1-888-648-2150.

Shelby’s Way LS Engine Raffle

Please check out the link to learn more about Shelby’s Way, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide. Mark Cain puts on a car show called the Hot Rod Hullabaloo and at the show they’re going to be giving away an LS engine. You can buy tickets at the link. All proceeds go to the foundation, a really worthwhile cause. Mark has dedicated his life to it after his son Shelby took his own life in December 2009. The organization reaches out to people contemplating suicide and also helps support the family and friends left behind to deal with funeral costs, etc.

Please consider buying a $20 ticket… the money goes right to the people who will benefit from it, and you’ll have a chance to win a great engine!

http://shelbysway.com/shelbys-way-presents-the-hot-rod-hullabaloo-ls-engine-giveaway-2015/

Louisville 2015, Day 1 and all the other days

Note: Sorry, but this is going to be “Louisville Pics, Days: First to Last”. I don’t have time to separate them into individual days, and really, whether a picture of a car was taken on Friday or Saturday, doesn’t make too much of a difference in your life. Enjoy!

Day 1 being Tuesday Aug. 4th.

I left home after a late lunch and decided to cross the border at Port Huron instead of Detroit. A pretty uneventful drive for the most part. It still excites me to think that I can be so far away in only a few short hours. Only a couple generations of humans have been able to travel the way we have… and I choose to do it in a loud, tiny car.

As it began to get dark, I started thinking about finding a hotel. By about 10:00, I still hadn’t decided and the miles clicked on. I don’t mind driving at night, but the thought of heading down I-71 through northern Kentucky in the dark wasn’t high on my priority list. I kept saying to myself “I’ll just get through Dayton” and then “I’ll just get through Cincinnati” and even when I did stop for a room, my GPS led me right back on the highway and told me to turn right on the on-ramp. I figured that was a good enough sign for me, so I pointed south and put the hammer down. Until the traffic jam in Cincinnati.

Last stop before leaving Sarnia.
Up and over into Michigan!
Thanks!
Pilot Transport trailer is nice and shiny – a good time to check for bugs in my teeth.
11:10 in Fort Mitchell. I stopped to see if I could find a hotel and all I got was this awful picture in front of a fire station.
Kept pushing through… stopped in traffic for a little bit.
This is the bowling pin I built for a trophy for the BMX race on Saturday night.
Perfectly sitting ’40 coupe.
Great weather until I was 20 minutes from home!
Try and keep up with Dave Tucci pulling a trailer!
The BMX race podium finishers. Scott Sandoval, Tim Strange, and Dave Tucci.
The first time the 32 has been inside stanchions! The BMX track manager “didn’t want to take any chances”. Very nice of him to do.
Post BMX race meal.
A nice line-up at the hotel.
Dave can hardly believe his eyes – a coffee cake booth with his name on it, on his birthday!
Neat quarter eliptical setup.
John Jackson is getting ready to try out his new BMX bike.
This ’34 was TRICKED OUT. Tail light brackets mimic F1 front shock mounts.
Quite the fan shroud.
The heater is in the trunk and the vents run up the B pillar and out by your head.
The heater is actually a box which houses all the controls.
The panels are press-fit and just pop out when you tap on one side.
Cool hood hinge. The one section is bolted to the hood, and the other is attached to the body. If you look close, the angled piece is actually two pieces bolted together. You could unbolt the hood without losing the alignment.
Spinelli’s downtown… … …
Dave changes the brakes in the hotel parking lot… in about 10 minutes. Seriously.

Dear Welder Series… ’56 Chevy air ride four link?

Dear Welder Series…
Hi Paul, i have a 56 chevy wagon and know for a fact that because the location of the fuel tank the only way i can place a 4 link in the car is putting the bags in front of the axle. Can i modify this kit to do it and work properly?

Thanks, Gon.

Dear Gon…
The bags will work ahead or behind the axle, but it might be tricky modifying the standard air bag 4-link kit to do this.

Our Rear Four Link Package Kit could be used and the axle bracket could mount the shocks instead of coil-overs. We could produce an air bag bracket that would come off the front of the axle tube, tangent to the top of the tube. This still leaves an issue with Panhard clearance, but you could consider a diagonal locater from the front lower bar bracket to the opposite axle bracket.

I hope these thoughts prime your imagination. Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
Paul Horton

Syracuse Nationals

We’ll be heading to the Syracuse Nationals next weekend (July 17/18/19) which is always a good time. For a couple of years we didn’t have vendor space, but this year we decided to get 20′ outside, right in the thick of things in the same aisle as Tucci Hot Rods. The Welder Series ’32 will be there, along with the ’40 sedan. We’ll have some display parts in the “booth” but it’s mainly going to be a home base so that we can meet people there and still enjoy walking around the show.

You’ll also want to keep checking in to the official door prize booth because we’re giving away a couple sway bar kits and a few gift certificates again this year! There will also be a way to snag a free Welder Series T shirt, before they’re gone.

DW Horton

New Website Design

Over the past few months, I’ve been transitioning (no not like that) web store products over to a new web store system (click here to check it out). This is kind of like getting a new interior – you have the same car, same steering column, same brake pedal, only it’s all covered up in a new way. You might get some handy LED lights in convenient places and maybe even a few more cupholders. The new web store has all the same products (almost 700!) but it’s displayed in a new way and the checkout process is easier. A drawback is your account on the old store will no longer work. I’m going to leave the old web store up for probably a year so you can still access your history, but eventually it might come down. It will be accessible under “Old Web Store”.

The other thing I’m working on is changing the look of the main site to a more simple layout. I think you’ll find it easier to navigate.

As always, we’d appreciate your feedback.