Dome light repairs... How Ford should have done it

[1971ford]

am i too late to get one?
if not, ill sure take one for my 69!

[Supermike]

i was considering a clear coat when i got mine.

What do you use for that? Rattle can?

[fordman]

i dont know how i was going to put it on. i just want it to be protected from getting dirty looking.

[sideoilerfe]

That is too cool! Excellent job Jamie! I think you've got a hit with this one! I'll take two of them if you're still taking orders.

[Ranchero50]

Worked on the lens program again last night and finally got it to fit right. Cut up some particle board and tested the program out on that and it fit fine. Now I can use them to refine the final cut and then start on the lexan.

For the clearcoat, either a rattle can or powder coat if you're so inclined. I'll probably leave mine plain and not worry about it. The polishing compound and wax will protect it well enough inside the truck.

Jamie

[seattle67]

No pressure here Jamie, but waiting for these IS LIKE TORTURE!!!

How come that Carly Simon song, "Anticipation", keeps running through my head.


But seriously, no hurry Jamie, I know you're as busy as the rest of us and its got to be tough fitting that project in. Don't go out of your way just because the wait is KILLING ME!

[Ranchero50]

Spent two hours after work last night getting some lenses cut out. 13 out of 15 turned out pretty good, the others were dinged up on the lens face. I'll try to get some more bezels polished up this weekend and finally get some PM's sent out next week when they are ready.

Jamie

[basketcase0302]

Jeff

[Ranchero50]

Some cell phone pics from the last couple evenings work;

Lens getting the second of three cuts. It's stepped to fit between the bezel and the lamp housing so the first cut was the bottom, then I had to flip them over and index them so the top cut lines up correctly with the bottom. The rod indexes the X coordinate edge the same on each part. The particle board peice is the working part that I used to tune in the X+Y zero points. One of the lenses is in the bezel to doublecheck the fit. I ended up with about .008" clearance between the parts.


If you notice the rough edge and flashing looking stuff I realised after taking these pics that the tool was travelling the wrong way around the part. The cutter should walk around the part, not push against it. When it walks it cuts cleaner and looks nicer. PITA because I had to flip all the Y coordinates in the cut program so it went clockwise on an outside cut. the inside aluminum cuts went counterclockwise.


Final cut with a 90 degree counterbore to soften the edge.


OT, but another project I've been tinkering with for the guy that'll probably end up spraying my truck. It's a supercharger bracket for an RC car engine that'll end up in a monster GT. The factory aluminum brackets fail after the car gets flipped so I made one out of textured stainless sheetmetal. This picture shows the second version getting cut out because the first didn't fit very well. The stainless sheet is bolted to a piece of particle board that's held by the vise.


The new version sitting next to the original sheet and the final part that's holding the blower to the motor. If you notice I screwed up the calculation for one of the blower mounting screws on the new version creating instant junk... I only jotted down about half the points on the original and had to redo the rest this evening and since I was in a hurry I screwed it up.


Final pic of the original bracket mounted on the motor. The 45 degree section runs into the jet on the carb. The new version will clear it when I get it programmed right. It took almost two hours to get the second part programmed and cut out, pity it wasn't right.


Jamie

[Ranchero50]

double post...

[Supermike]

Lookin great, Jamie! Keep it up! Can't wait...

[ezernut9mm]

oh man. this is gonna be so sweet...

[basketcase0302]

Jamie,

Awesome
Still say you need to do the patent for it!
Also wish I had the knowledge and access on a CNC.

Jeff

[FormerMarine1981]

Those look awesome. I can't wait either. Wish I had the equipment to try and create stuff for my projects.

[1971ford]

you guys cant wait? im the second-from-last on the list(as far as i know)
the truck isnt going back together for a while, and I cant even wait!