(on hold during construction)
Current Project--Making a Buick Wagon Into a 4-Wheel Drive!
(on hold during construction)
Current Project--Making a Buick Wagon Into a 4-Wheel Drive!
Why? If you're not a gear head like Tim, no explanation will do. If you are, no explanation is necessary!
Why? If you're not a gear head like Tim, no explanation will do. If you are, no explanation is necessary!
Bare Bones
Bare Bones
This Chevy truck had definitely seen better days. Many parts were missing and it had become a residence for local field mice. This truck had been sitting for several years and Tim's original intention was to restore it. However, the magnitude of work involved just to have a regular truck did inspire him to invest the effort.
An Idea Is Born
An Idea Is Born
Looking at the truck frame one day, Tim decided to pursue a conversion he had been forced by town officials to abandon years earlier--putting a car onto a 4-wheel drive frame. His original interest was in finding an El Camino for the project but any that were in good enough shape were too expensive.
Then he found a 1996 Buick Roadmaster body in excellent condition and it matched the wheelbase of the truck perfectly. The photo at right shows the body just sitting on the frame before any modifications.
The Beginning
The Beginning
A Showcase for Tim's Welding and Fabrication Skills
A Showcase for Tim's Welding and Fabrication Skills
Good Thing Tim Likes to Fabricate...
Good Thing Tim Likes to Fabricate...
The first step is to design and fabricate 12 custom mounting brackets to attach the body to the frame. This is a complex process of figuring all of the angles and pieces necessary to properly support the body while working around components like leaf springs and shock mounts. Just one of these brackets was composed of 11 different angle pieces welded together!
Stabilization
Stabilization
The photo at right shows one of those mounting brackets welding into place on the frame with the body mount on top.
