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The "What Did You Work On Today" thread

3M views 36K replies 388 participants last post by  cerial 
#1 ·
4 hour work day for me at the shop. Used the time to do a valve body swap on a '01 Jetta 1.8t auto .... I successfully installed a transbrake on the car .... that however wasn't my intention.

Its in 2 gears at once in park, all other gears (R/N/D/2/1) are forward gears.... they all seam to be first gear.

I have it torn back down most of the way. Tuesday I'll actually get the VB back out and see whats up.... but part of me wants to take it out for a test drive the way it is just for the fun of it.
 
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#9,143 ·
Today was really busy for me. Barb went with her friend to the casino in Cherakee and I went to my friend Steve's and helped him put his windshield and rear window in his truck. It is coming along nicely.

BTW, I'm the good looking one in the brown hat. :thumbup:



We then drove over to Melvin's to see what he is into.
His drivers are in one garage and his projects in the other. I really do hate him. :D





Finally, I came home and finished welding the upper seam of my RH quarter panel. It actually had a few more issues than the LH side but I got there.

One thing I learned today is the little electrode Eastwood sell for the stud welder is not a gimmick. It worked well. If any of you guys have,used a shrinking disc, I would be interested in what you thought of it.

John


I found it easier to view a shrinking disk as a way to planish as well as shrink. Even after the planishing hammer, the wheel, cause there's still a little correcting that the shrinking disk can provide for you, ever so lightly tightening up minor high spots that are looser than the tight areas, which are low. It's the one shrinking method where you are actually shrinking the metal more efficiently, more safely, and more accurately than a torch or stud gun method.
 
#9,144 ·
Boy o boy Marge is going to look like one of these hot rod kids with these tires, they have literally twice as wide tread as the white walls. I had to put it at ride height after walking in the middle of the night realizing I hadn't done that. There is VERY little room for error with this car and tires.

It's good to go, the wheels should be back tomorrow and I am good to go. They said the rims were all out of round too so this is going to be one heck of a difference, it will be a whole new car.

Brian
 

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#9,145 ·
I found it easier to view a shrinking disk as a way to planish as well as shrink. Even after the planishing hammer, the wheel, cause there's still a little correcting that the shrinking disk can provide for you, ever so lightly tightening up minor high spots that are looser than the tight areas, which are low. It's the one shrinking method where you are actually shrinking the metal more efficiently, more safely, and more accurately than a torch or stud gun method.
"More accurately than a torch or stud gun method" now that's an understatement. You are right on mark Henry, that shrinking disc is the magic tool if you ask me.

Brian
 
#9,148 ·
#9,149 ·
Bigger is better!

My new one is 9" from Pro Shaper. Very nice.
It's on a 7" grinder but I think it requires a larger grinder.

Watch out for any serrated ones like the Sunchaser Brian mentioned. Very scary.


Pro Shaper Tools 9" Diameter Shrinking Disk » Pro Shaper Tools
I have been looking around the Net and learning about them. There is all kinds of information on them out there and the common consensus seems to be the smooth ones are better.

I wonder if my sander/polisher will turn fast enough to generate the heat needed. Wrays advertisement says it will work. I don't own a large high speed grinder.

John
 
#9,151 ·
I have one with a straight edge, which caused it to warp. Next time I'll get one that has a turned up flange to keep it more stout. The metal and disk must be very clean otherwise you'll be smearing crap into your metal.
How fast to they have to run Henry? One of the videos recommended using a soapy solution for a little lube and to keep disc from galling.

John
 
#9,152 ·
How fast to they have to run Henry? One of the videos recommended using a soapy solution for a little lube and to keep disc from galling.

John
My grinder I use for it is 5000 RPM with a LOT of torque, I could hop on and ride this bad boy and it wouldn't stop it from turning. :D

Brian
 
#9,155 · (Edited)
How fast to they have to run Henry? One of the videos recommended using a soapy solution for a little lube and to keep disc from galling.

John
I keep it in the lower RPM range. I find it better to clean the disk with 40 grit if I want it hotter than to turn it up more, but I'm sure you'll find your range real quick.. To do that I just run it while holding 40 grit up to the disk. Normally you'd do it with 80-180 grit. It's kind of like grooming it and you do it often and the 40 comes out when I want more heat. I still have lots to learn about the disk but so far that's my opinion on it.
 
#9,157 · (Edited)
I don't have much to offer with the shrinking disc being I haven't used it in a number of years and barely got going with it when I stopped. But I was amazed at what could be done. I did a Toyota quarter panel that had hit something like a fire hydrant with a long dent down the side from wheel well to rear body panel. At the rear body under the tail lamp the metal was literally folded over it's self like a door skin hem.

I repaired that quarter without so much as a drip of plastic filler! This was the SunChaser tools disc with that giant grinder. As Pugsy says, it could be dangerous as it wears the high spots off the "fluted" edge that it has it would be VERY dangerous! But mine is far from what warn so I don't have an issue. The monster grinder is what Ken owner of Sunchasers told you to use with the disc. I have noticed that since then I have seen many that don't suggest such a big grinder. And the discs are much simpler being flat with only a fold around the edge so it doesn't cut into anything. I don't believe SunChaser is in business any longer as I find no website. :( Ken was a good guy to do business with, I also got some planishing hammer dies from him and some other hand tools. He use to be at all the Goodguys shows with a great display and a pile of new and vintage tools (the dies were vintage).

I believe he was as responsible as anyone for getting metal shaping and fabrication back into the conversation. It wasn't that long ago this stuff was UN-HEARD OF. He along with a few others brought it back and I hope he is doing well.

Another guy was John Kelly who sent me one of his DVDs that was very good. He showed you how to make the disc on the DVD. One of Johns threads you can search down others that may have some instruction on them. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/free-metalshaping-dent-repair-videos-142231.html

Brian
 
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