Heres the Firewall inset I made. I made it out of 10ga sheet so it will be thick enough to not rattle. If I was to use thinner, I wouldve rolled some beads into the peices on the sides to keep the rattles down. Its made from 8 different peices. I made the recess 1st(it still needs a circular cut-out on the bottom to clear the tranny) and I blocked it up and leveled it on the bricks. The recess is bent to form the recess, then has 4 little triangle peices to fill the gaps at the top. Then I made the top peice to span the gap from the old firewall to the recess. Then the side peices were started with a small lip(it cruls inside for floor mounting)then ground to fit perfectly. Its all tacked together here, and ill take it out to weld it all up and install 1/2 protion of the tranny tunnel.
It slides in-and out real easy, will be a shame to make it permenant.


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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

Don't like to correct people. Now here comes the "but". I'm a bricklayer by trade. What you leveled the firewall up on in the trade is called " big heavy grayish thing, a brick is a little red thingy" actually it's a block the firewall is on. Sorry could not resist being a smart a**
Look good better than the one I paid $350.00 for.
TOM
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That's my story and I'm stickn to it

Looks Good. I'm making a firewall now for a 1956 Chevy. Out of 18 GA. Sheet metal. I want to make a smooth and clean firewall also. Nice Job. Regards, HonestFrank
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"VEO DINDICE"

I used a wheelbarrow for my stude! Cheap, smooth and round. Perfect fit for a SBC.

Clever.....Where did ya put the wheel...lol

Thanks for the info. Looks good! I was the one that posted the thread two weeks ago. I am putting a new firewall in a 40 Willys, but the big hang up is the cowl. There's now way to stuff my hemi in there without cutting the cowl back. If I had room to keep it stock, I absolutely would. The gasser guys cut it clear back to the cab, making it cowl- less. I REALLY hate to do that. It just removes too much. So, I need to compromise. Somewhere in between the two.

Regards,
Bob

I was just wondering how much room you need. Could you go the other way.. extend your frame a couple of inches? Just a thought. I remember when the only way to put a small block chevy in a model "A" was to remove a couple of inches from the cowl after you removed the gas tank. Is this car steel or glass?
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"VEO DINDICE"

Honest Frank,
It is Steel. Wow, I cringe at the thought of cutting the cowl back on a glass car! It's steel. A small block Chevy would work with the stock cowl, but the Hemi is so wide, the firewall "feet" that attatch to the frame have to go. I firgure I need to cut a good four inches out of the cowl. So, first I need to fill in the cowl vent hole. Then mark my line, and cut. (and hold my breath) LOL
I think I have a game plan. Just wanted to know if someone's done this, and if there's any special hints to make my job easier. I do have a pic, I'll post it when I get home. (I'm hard at work) LOL

Bob

Yeah, the wheelbarrow idea is Dons (DRD57). But a great one indeed. Only thing is yuo will have the stock rolled beads cut into, which leaves an unfinished look. Not what I am really concerned about personally, but it is a concern for those wanting to actually show their vehicle. I was gonna do the wheelbarrow insert, but I wouldve only had 2 1/2 inches of firewall on each side left by the time I cleared my headers), so I just cut it all out.

Heres the lip I bent in the firewall to mate up to the new flat iron. I hammer and dollied it flat, then I bent it with the pilars I made myself.
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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

And heres the pilars I made to make the lip. Took about 2 hours to make, and cost $9.24 to make.

You can get them from Eastwood for $22.95 + shipping. I made mine from a tractor hitch that my dad used to repair one he is restoring.
Im all about CHEAP!!!

The pic of the firewall is kinda hard to discern , but once I prime it, itll make more sense.
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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

Hope this works. Here's the parameters, the headers need more space, the cowl tapers inward, therefor the need to hack back, giving a larger daimeter hole to stuff it in.

And you'll notice the feet for the cowl, they are in the way, and must go. Thanks for all the advice!
Bob
aka MrWillys

Hey, what's that ride you got there to the left of the willys?
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Lance B.

My 34 Plymouth that's on my profile page. Then, on the other side of that is a 40 Ford Tudor.
Bob

I think you should be able to reform the cowl area once you have it all cut away how you need it for clearence. If you made a wood structure how you need it formed, I think you could take it to the local sheetmetal bender shop and have something created. Itll take a good 3+ peices to make it though. My firewall alone is 8 seperate peices. Course, Im not as talented with sheet metal work as I can create outta heavier metal peices (steel, not the music). Youll notice I have a little white stool in some of the pictures Ive posted in the past. Sometimes, I just go out and stare at the truck trying to figure out how-to do something.
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Damn, I wish I had more time.
35 Ford Pick-Up

I guess it would take a really big wheelbarrow to fit a hemi!. Is the motor wider than the cowl? Are you running a hood? Pictures would help. If the motor is wider than the cowl then your stuck with moving the motor forward, or cutting away the cowl. If not then you should be able to set the fire wall back. Kinda tunnel it. I need more info, but this should be do-able. ED, the wheel is still on tne garage floor where I can trip over it! lol!