Alley Cat 151

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » September 11th, 2014, 9:15 pm

Outer panel is in! I scrambled because stormy weather was promised to us but as yet, not a cloud in the sky. Next job is making the template for the floor pan.

By the way, does ANYONE know what the anti-rust coating they put on new steel plate consists of? Is there an easy chemical way to get it off? I had to make a deal with the Devil to get it off the areas where I was going to be welding and left the rest of it on. The stuff is as hard as diamonds!

Unread post by **rickf** » September 12th, 2014, 7:02 am

That is mill scale on most metals. Hit it with a flap disc grinder or lightly with a regular grinder. Sometimes it will wipe off with lacquer thinner but for best welding results it should be sanded or ground. I love flap discs for this because they are fast but do not remove a lot of metal as long as you get the right grit. When I can catch them on sale I try to get several grits to have on hand.

halftracknut · Unread post by **halftracknut** » September 12th, 2014, 7:59 am

that cat looks great

whiterabbit · Unread post by **whiterabbit** » September 12th, 2014, 10:46 am

I hate mill scale! I will pay more for cold rolled metal just so I don't have to mess with that crap on hot rolled steel.

Unread post by **rickf** » September 12th, 2014, 12:22 pm

WUSS!

whiterabbit · Unread post by **whiterabbit** » September 12th, 2014, 12:41 pm

"Work smarter not harder!"

Cheap a## imported steel is hard enough to weld, I don't need more crackling, popping and porosity from that darn scale.
Yep, WUSS!

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » September 12th, 2014, 11:24 pm

Thanks, Rick. I'll try it.

Happily, it's finally raining here in the San Antonio area and we need it! Thus, I have a day away from the Alley Cat without feeling like I'm goofing off.

Tomorrow, the A2 is going to be delivered (DELIVERED!) to my house. Will photograph as weather allows.

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » September 12th, 2014, 11:30 pm

As the fuel tank well project winds down I will be gearing up for radius-ing the front fenders and trimming back the trailing edge of the rear wheel wells. they encroach on the tire and while not actually interfering with it in any way, it just looks wrong, wrong, wrong.

Can anyone provide me with a photo of the radius of the corners of the front fender of an A1 with a ruler placed as a reference?

Unread post by **rickf** » September 13th, 2014, 7:21 am

That would be Dan and his Famous ruler, If he found it. If he didn't we need to take up a collection to buy him a new one. The newer guys on here would not understand but Dan and his ruler are famous.

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » September 18th, 2014, 8:32 am

Ok! DAN! Put yer coffee cup down, get yer ding-danged ruler out and send me some reference pics. Puhleeze?

STILL getting rain in San Antonio area (but only on my days off)

Unread post by **rickf** » September 18th, 2014, 9:29 am

He probably found himself another one of those twenty something year old girlfriends, we will not hear from him for a week. One night of fun and 6 days of recuperation.

Yes, I am jealous, before anyone even say's it.

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » October 4th, 2014, 6:14 pm

Well, lads, I keep getting sidetracked away from my project.

Went to Oklahoma to help a friend out and found yet another M151A2 for sale (with trailer) along the way. Took plenty of pics but couldn't make inquiries as it was late on a Sunday afternoon and nobody was around. I'll need to follow up on it.

I had planned to make the template for the final floor panel yesterday but got involved in an impromptu Halloween project that required some welding...and ran out of welding wire on the first pull of the trigger, which makes me kind of glad I hadn't been all ready and anxious to put the final panel in the Alley Cat. That would have been a total buzz-kill.

So, another weekend slips away but what the heck. The weather is beautiful here.

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » October 13th, 2014, 7:16 pm

It's unbelievable how many things get in the way of my fun! My kid even broke his leg to keep me from the project (the little scallywag) but, diligence pays off. I have the new panel and it is fitted and nearly ready for final installation. Still need to locate and cut the access in the floor pan for the fuel tank drain plug. I feel as happy as a puppy with two peckers!

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » October 16th, 2014, 9:03 pm

Located and cut the access hole for the tank drain plug. I think I may have my settings wrong for my plasma cutter. To accomplish this I drilled a hole in a piece of wood with a 3.5" hole saw. Then, centered that over my drain-plug mark, clamped the wood to the plate and used the hole in the wood as a guide for the plasma cutter.

m3a1 · Unread post by **m3a1** » October 16th, 2014, 9:07 pm

Trimmed off some excess plate...

And double checked the fit of the tank against the new panels...

Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151

Re: Alley Cat 151