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The recessed boxing plates are now assembled with the respective halves of the X member, connector plates and gussets. The assemblies are almost ready for final insertion in the frame rails for welding. First the frame rails are blued and the hole locations for the roset welds must be drilled. There are 90 holes located on each top rail lip and 95 holes located on each bottom rail lip. Each hole is first center drilled, then step drilled to the final hole size. Each hole has three drilling steps. So, lets do the math. Each top rail lip has 90 holes each, X 2 = 180 holes for the top lips of the rails. Each lower rail lip has 95 holes x 2 = 190 holes. That's 370 locations step drilled three times, 370 x 3 = 1,110 drilling operations.
The holes need to be ground on the inside of each frame rail so no hanging metal impedes the final insertion of the boxing plates. There is one more step we need to perform after the frame rail holes have been completed. Both the inside of the frame rails and the backside of each boxing plate assembly will be coated with POR-15. This coating will protect the inside surfaces that can't be painted from rusting. This is a step Cruisin Products performs to every Anniversary Frame we build.
When the POR-15 is dry we are now ready to insert the boxing plate assemblies. Once in place the boxing plates are held in place with clamps. The long process of heli -arc welding the 370 holes begins. As with any welding the roset welds will be skipped from side to side so the frame rails don't warp from excessive heat build up. This takes some time to complete the 370 roset welds. When the welds are completed the grinding starts.
All the roset welds are finish ground. Sometimes there are little depressions that require re-welding and grinding to achieve a smooth finished rail surface. Again, the process of achieving the finish ground surface requires several different grits of grinding pads. The result of taking your time and removing just enough material is again a process learned with many hours of grinding experience. A uniform clean finished surface is only achieved when the grinding process is completed step by step. All frame rail edges are then hand filled to remove any sharp edges produced from the grinding.
With the boxing plates installed the top X member plate is riveted in place. When that process is completed the Anniversary frame serial number is stamped into each frame rail surface . Each frame rail is stamped on the top and bottom rail lips. Finally, the stainless laser etched ID plate is riveted on the driver side frame rail in front of the firewall foot area.
If the frame has to be shipped we will build a substantial crate for shipping. These crates are built with 2x6 main rails at the bottom of the box. Then 1/2" plywood side panels are screwed into place. The frame is completely enclosed in a box when shipped.
We hope that these segments explaining the building of an Anniversary frame have given you a better idea of what time it takes to build such a frame. These frames are limited in production to only 10, 1932 Ford Anniversary frames. Once all ten are sold, we will be offering the Anniversary frame for the 1933 Ford frame. And finishing off the Anniversary frame series will be the 1934 Anniversary Ford frame. We have chosen to produce these frames to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of each year, 1932,1933 and 1934.
If you have any questions please contact Cruisin Products. The contact information is on their website www.cruisinproducts.com .
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