Chase's 73' Merc w108 Build Thread

[D&W]

looking good watching for more updates!

[Schmaudi]

well we were not totally free from injury, someone did light their hair on fire

Pahahaha! True story, thankfully we didn't have to smell it...

[lewda]

damn, I am superior-ly jealous of that shop space! How much did you score it for if you don't mind me asking?

[Schmaudi]

Photo: Travis Alexander Photography

[Schmaudi]

I've been hard at it on the front end the last week.

Doing the mock up I decided to entirely change how I was going to do the front end. Previously I was going to butt the pieces up to the fenders. After some thought I determined that I could make the line at the fender where it meets the new panel would flow much better if it was placed underneath the fender instead of around it.

Mocking up.



Started tacking the pieces to the fender. I added a support to the passenger side so that the sides matched up.



Next I started tacking in the piece that separates the 2 halves of the bumper.







And finally I tacked on the bottom portion. In the center of the bumper it was sloped in to fit a euro plate from the factory. I curved this piece of metal by hand to the shape of the lower part of the bumper.



I tacked in a piece that extends in the front that I will shape to fit around the grill. I also have the curved piece mocked up in these pictures.

[Schmaudi]

It turned out that the flat piece I tacked in across the front where the grill sits was completely not needed. Lol

I ended up cutting that piece out and curving a second piece so run along the bottom of the grill. As I was tacking it i figured ehh what the fuck, let's see if i can still actually "weld".

This is the first time I laid down a bead with a MIG welder since high school welding class. Turned out pretty good! I did get an A in that class though so it damn well better be.



Pretty pleased with how it turned out, but that still was pretty easy. Now I need to slope the profile of the same curve from the top of the bottom piece up to the top of the panel. Should be interesting. I have some good ideas on how I'm going to tackle it.

















Hoping by the end of the week I will have the front pretty much done. Hoping.....

[8vdubmadness8]

so happy with the updates. cant wait for more!!!!

[Schmaudi]

so happy with the updates. cant wait for more!!!!

Thanks man! Hopefully should have more tonight.

[Ghettoblaster]

like your build, but i can not admit that i like the front, so far..

[lewda]

I would have to agree with Ghettoblaster, I was in love with everything up until the front. Only one question is if you have to pull one fender off, I'm guessing you'll have to remove the entire front including both fenders?

[Schmaudi]

A couple days day I started working on the curved portions around the grill. It was a complete mind fuck tryin to figure out how to start it, due to it needing to be curved in three different spots. But thanks to a few ideas from some friends and diving in head first I was able to get a good start. Instill need to suck it up tighter to the vertical contour of the grill. But I have a good idea of how that will be done.

It's still needs a lot of love but you get the idea. Some pics.















Going to try to wrap the front end up over the next couple days. Wish me luck...

[TeckniX]

What are your mig settings? I'm no pro, but it looks like you're using a lot of wire and applying a lot of heat.
May be easier to use a little bit less of both to have a smoother weld and then be able to grind it down and bondo it to shape it.
Good luck with the front-end though! #motivation to get it done!

[Schmaudi]

like your build, but i can not admit that i like the front, so far..

I would have to agree with Ghettoblaster, I was in love with everything up until the front. Only one question is if you have to pull one fender off, I'm guessing you'll have to remove the entire front including both fenders?

Thanks guys! No worries, I'm not expecting everyone to like it. I like it so that's all that I'm concerned about. Once its all buttoned up and glassed though, I think you may have a different perspective. When it's aired out the front end will damn near be on the ground.

I'm also thinking I may add back on the upper bumpers to each of the corners, only modified to be much more slim and sleeker. We will see, I will probably make that decision once the car is primed so I can get a better idea of how it's going to flow.

[Schmaudi]

What are your mig settings? I'm no pro, but it looks like you're using a lot of wire and applying a lot of heat.
May be easier to use a little bit less of both to have a smoother weld and then be able to grind it down and bondo it to shape it.
Good luck with the front-end though! #motivation to get it done!

To get the curves more curvish, I left some gaping between the pieces of metal and let the welding fill it in. Trust me I am no pro either, lol. I will give your suggestion a shot tonight. Thanks!

[Schmaudi]

Here is a taste of what the front will look like, with the grill, headlights, and corner bumpers mocked up. As far for how satisfied I am with it, it is EXACTLY what I was looking to achieve when this idea popped into my head.









Tonight I am going to slim down the corner bumpers and make mounting points for them, as well as "try" to finish the front. That is unless I decide to add one more thing, you'll have to wait and see...