Once all the TIG welding was...
Once all the TIG welding was completed, the finished framerail looked factory fresh.
A measurement was then taken from the initial cut forward illustrating 3 inches had been gained in flattening out the ’rail. To keep everything secure as the job proceeded, Cornell tacked the ’rail back together using a Millermatic MIG welder. Note that all final welding will be done with a TIG welder for additional strength. After using a square to mark the cut to the framerail top and side at 3 inches from the last cut, the section was opened using the plasma cutter. After grinding the area smooth, it was determined a slight pie-cut of 3/16 inch was required for the second trimming. With the ’rail supported and bent open, Cornell completed the removal using a plasma cutter. Once the area was ground smooth it was tacked in place using a MIG welder. The section of angle iron was clamped in place atop the ’rail for the final time illustrating 5 inches were gained from the second pie-cut. To complete the flattening of the framerail, the cut to the top and side of the framerail (at 5 inches from the second cut) were marked with a square and the incision was completed with the plasma cutter. Cornell studied the amount of the final pie-cut and determined that 3/16 inch would do the trick. With the area ground clean and ’rail bent open he used a square to mark the trimming required and zipped the amount from the ’rail using a plasma cutter. Once deburred and smooth, the area was supported and tacked in place. The final welding was then completed using a TIG welder and all welds were ground to a mirror-like finish using a grinder topped with an 80-grit disc. One important note Cornell advised us of was that not all framerails are equal so the pie-cut amounts could vary slightly from side to side.
With the frame section clamped...
With the frame section clamped to a bench vise, a measurement of 21-1/2 inches was made from the cowl end forward. A cut was marked for a gradual wedge opening to follow along the bottom of the ’rail.
With the flattening to the framerail completed, it was time to focus on the final stage of the framerail reworking. Using a square, a cut line was established from the front of the cowl across the top, bottom, and side of the framerail to prepare it for removal. The cut line was then matched with masking tape once the body was moved back atop the chassis. Using a plasma cutter (and assisted by fellow team member Ken Schmidt) the framerail was cut off the chassis. The area was then deburred and cleaned up using a 40-grit disc. In order for the framerail to better flow with the new lowered cowl line, a 5/8-inch reverse pie-cut was established on the cowl end of the framerail using a square and black marker. Cornell used a plasma cutter to remove the section followed by a 40-grit disc to smooth everything out.
This close-up lets you see...
This close-up lets you see the perfect melding of the new section to the bottom of the ’rail.
To complete the modifications, the framerail section was then secured to a bench vise. In order to gracefully blend the reversed frame point section on the bottom of the framerail, a measurement of 21-1/2 inches was marked from the cowl side forward along the bottom of the section. The framerail width of 4 inches needed to be opened up to 5 inches at the cowl end to accomplish this. Cornell first used the plasma cutter to open up a gradual wedge in the bottom of the framerail. He then followed by confirming the measurements of the wedge over the 21-1/2-inch span and then removed the balance of the lower wedge from the ’rail with the plasma cutter. A new lower framerail section was then fabricated using a section of 1/8-inch rectangular steel tubing. With the new section clamped into place, Cornell TIG-welded it to the framerail. The completed unit was then TIG-welded to the chassis wrapping up the updates. With all welds ground smooth using an air-driven grinder topped with an 80-grit disc, the completed job looked factory fresh. Once the car was back on the ground and mocked up with wheels and tires it was easy to see the changes had updated the overall personality of the car in a major way by adding plenty of speed and style to the mix by lowering the cowl line and tweaking the framerails.
The body was then moved back...
The body was then moved back on the chassis in order to establish a vertical cut line (using a square) at the cowl base to remove the ’rail for the next step.
All final welding was completed...
All final welding was completed using a TIG welder for plenty of strength and durability. Here you can see the inside of the ’rail in its entirety documenting all of its modifications.
Using a plasma cutter, Cornell...
Using a plasma cutter, Cornell removed the ’rail section and cleaned up the area using a 40-grit disc on a disc grinder.
To create a gradual flow from...
To create a gradual flow from where the reversed frame point needs to meet the bottom of the ’rail this wedge opening illustrates the 5-inch width at the cowl end as it flows into the 4-inch ’rail width.
The ’rail was reinstalled...
The ’rail was reinstalled using a TIG welder and ground smooth with an 80-grit disc attached to a grinder. You can easily see how seamless the transition is and how perfectly the updated ’rail flows with the updated bodylines.
The framerail was then marked...
The framerail was then marked on the cowl end for a 5/8-inch reverse pie-cut to create a lower wedge on the ’rail to better follow the newly established lower body line.
With the ’33 mocked up in...
With the ’33 mocked up in rolling form, it’s easy to see the vast changes to its overall stance, attitude, and personality. By lowering the cowl and updating the ’rails the car has achieved a newfound sleekness by adding plenty of speed to its looks.