Thunderbird formula Jr. project...

[revkev6]

here's some pictures! first one is getting the trailer roadworthy to make the 1.5 hour highway ride back to my house, second is during our stop for dinner/wheel bearing check at a diner and lastly back safe in my yard with my not so enthused wife

[revkev6]

ok, so I started doing a little cleanup work last night... pulled that anchor of a 454 out of the cockpit area and got under the bow to see if I could start putting some pressure on it to get the shape back... unfortunately it seems to have a double layer layup with no core material for the top deck?? I'm very confused by this. anyone know how these things are put together?? was there a wood structure inside that maybe rotted away??

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

Could you please post up some pics of the top-side and underneath the deck ( areas of concern ) for all to view ?

[johnnywhale]

More importantly, how about that truck? Crew cab International? Cool!

[revkev6]

Could you please post up some pics of the top-side and underneath the deck ( areas of concern ) for all to view ?

you can see the top side of the bow in the first pic I put up... it's a couple inches low instead of a crown. I will see what I can do about more pictures in the next few days. this is a long term project for me that I'm not really planning to do much on until fall when my actual boating time slows down! I did want to get some pressure on this bow now so that it was brought back slowly.

More importantly, how about that truck? Crew cab International? Cool!

it's interesting... belonged to the guy who was selling all this junk for the widow of the hoarder who had passed away. put on that nasty home made fiberglass "wing" on the bed too

[Ed Donnelly]

Just tell your wife
"One day it will be as beautiful as you"
Worked for me once...Ed

[revkev6]

Just tell your wife
"One day it will be as beautiful as you"
Worked for me once...Ed

HA! I have been into hot rods since I was 12 so me dragging home old junk to fix is nothing new to her!

[revkev6]

sorry about the pictures! I just moved all the formula pics into a seperate album... did some more work last night.... cleaned up the junk in it and vacuumed. pushed up the bow a little more so that looks do-able... what are the donzi 16 guys running for tanks??

[Lenny]

Great project. I have a junker one that needs a lot of attention one day.

Can you do me a favor and measure your stripes, total width port to starboard and individual width of the two stripe widths please ?

THX

[revkev6]

Great project. I have a junker one that needs a lot of attention one day.

Can you do me a favor and measure your stripes, total width port to starboard and individual width of the two stripe widths please ?

THX

Mine needs much attention... how bad is yours?? would love to see some others! my boat is original gelcoat so I will get you measurements. I found a gentleman from NH that has one he has owned and run since new! He's been a great source to converse with.

[OFFSHORE GINGER]

After viewing your pics of the deck I can almost bet that you will need to beef up and support the area of concern considering you most likely will experience some de-lamination ( if not already ) going on while trying to get the deck to regain its original shape .

[revkev6]

After viewing your pics of the deck I can almost bet that you will need to beef up and support the area of concern considering you most likely will experience some de-lamination ( if not already ) going on while trying to get the deck to regain its original shape .

i've been discussing this with a boating friend of mine... we have come to the conclusion that cutting out the lower skin and building a balsa core into the deck may be my best bet. hardest part will be getting it in the right shape upside down detached from the hull.

[bertsboat]

If at all possible don't remove the deck. Make a cradle and turn iy over and work from underneath. That's the way we did the Hornet. The deck remained on and the entire deck was re cored. It was not as difficult as it sounds. The shape will more than likely fall back to where it was when you remove the inner skin.

[Scott Pearson]

Shore up the deck from underneath with wood to get its shape back. Make a jig and lift it off. Flip it over and do your coring. Its the right way to do it.

[revkev6]

Shore up the deck from underneath with wood to get its shape back. Make a jig and lift it off. Flip it over and do your coring. Its the right way to do it.

I like that ALOT! how was the deck attached to the jig?? I was thinking the other way, putting some thin ply in from underneath then trimming them off afterwards. a jig like that from the top would make the work fast when flipped. attachment and detachment are key there though I assume??