How the heck

How the heck do you install steel wheel tubs. The cardboard mockup slips right in but I know the steel will not be so forgiving. Every article/video I can find shows how to make them and then magically they are in the car. It is a street car so I wanted to stay with steel tubs. I'll post some pics tomorrow.

Time......lots of it!

fold or strap the ends that go to the 1/4 panel in as much as you can will help.

A plasma and a welder

Hammers and band aids

Installing a "2 piece tub" (1 flat part attached to 1 curved part) can be a pain some times. Some people take the curved part (before trimming it to size to fit the fender) and cut it in 1/2. Then you overlap the 2 halves (using 1 to 2 inches of overlap) and drill a line of rivet holes (on aluminum tubs), or weld (steel tubs) to attach the 2 halves back together during the install. Doing this creates a "3 piece" tub, and makes the flat part & the inside-half of the curved part easy to install. Then you trim to fit & install the outside-half of the curved part. Doing it this way (3 pc tub) doesn't look as good, but it is a little easier than a 2 pc tub.

Sorry I forgot to post pictures.

I thought about cuttiing them and making two pieces, then weld it back together in the car. A bunch of work but will be my last resort.







Everytime I trim sheet metal I find more rust. I removed the rest of the trunk floor at the back so I can pull the rear section of the quarter out to help. It's not much but anything will help.

Like my "restored" car. lol.   That's almost 1/2" of bondo.    

Looks like you will be getting plenty of cutting and welding practice

Well once you cut that rot the tubes will fall in

So those tubs don't have the Pittsburg lock seam?

res0rli9 wrote:Well once you cut that rot  the tubes will fall in

I was thinking the same thing but I don't want to cut up the outside of the car yet (another project for another day).

jbozzelle wrote:So those tubs don't have the Pittsburg lock seam?

No I rolled a 45* bend on each piece and welded them together to make a radius corner.

You can cut the welds and install them as two pieces now...

It takes some patience and finesse but they will go up in without cutting them. I've put a few sets in and never destroyed or bent them beyond repair. They usually give enough not to crease as you work them in. Try putting the side facing the quarter panel up in first with the vertical part of the tub on about a 45 degree angle down towards the floor. As you work the front edge up in the back side should allow itself to start upwards. Your going to have to keep working the quarter panel side making sure it gets tucked up in past the wheel lip as you go.


Travis

I had to go home for a funeral so progress has stalled a bit. I did manage to fab up the other one on the weekend. I rolled the outside edge on the drivers tub because I like that look better. I need to trim the passenger side and roll that to match. They are large tubs so it won't cause any issues with the tire. Plus with the 64 Falcon the qtr panel is in and out and in and out so it will still be wider than the narrowest part of the qtr ( if that makes sense). It has been real humid here so I am waiting for it to dry up a bit so I can paint the area back behind the tub because one they are in they will never come out.

TravisRice wrote:It takes some patience and finesse but they will go up in without cutting them. I've put a few sets in and never destroyed or bent them beyond repair. They usually give enough not to crease as you work them in. Try putting the side facing the quarter panel up in first with the vertical part of the tub on about a 45 degree angle down towards the floor. As you work the front edge up in the back side should allow itself to start upwards. Your going to have to keep working the quarter panel side making sure it gets tucked up in past the wheel lip as you go.


Travis

I did trim the rest of the trunk along the bottom of the fender (it was rusted anyways) to aid it pulling out the panel a bit to help. I could see alum flexing in a lot more than that 16 ga metal. I am going to try my best before I trim anything but I will be surprised if it fits.

jasonf wrote:

TravisRice wrote:It takes some patience and finesse but they will go up in without cutting them. I've put a few sets in and never destroyed or bent them beyond repair. They usually give enough not to crease as you work them in. Try putting the side facing the quarter panel up in first with the vertical part of the tub on about a 45 degree angle down towards the floor. As you work the front edge up in the back side should allow itself to start upwards. Your going to have to keep working the quarter panel side making sure it gets tucked up in past the wheel lip as you go.


Travis

I did trim the rest of the trunk along the bottom of the fender (it was rusted anyways) to aid it pulling out the panel a bit to help. I could see alum flexing in a lot more than that 16 ga metal. I am going to try my best before I trim anything but I will be surprised if it fits.  

16 gauge........ ain't going to go up in like I said. Most wheel tubs that are steel are 20-22 gauge.

TravisRice wrote:

16 gauge........ ain't going to go up in like I said. Most wheel tubs that are steel are 20-22 gauge.

Hahaha I know. This is a street car with no bar/cage so I wanted to put some strength back in the rear of the car. With no sheet metal back there the 2x3 rear frame rails are surprisingly flimsy when I have my fat butt on the rear of the car.

Mini tub using stock inner tubs and moving them in 3"s