The middle of the rear subrail is now tacked in place. This area is made up of a 4"x1" 12 gauge angle that is match arched to the frame rail. On top of that is a 3/4" .083 wall match arched square tube that extends forward inside the original subframe and extends to the rear of the body. With the addition of 3 tube cross members, the subframe and floor are then capped with the 16 ga. floor and all is plug and seam welded into place.
The 4x10 sheet was sheared to my drawings and came out perfect. I then found a sheet metal shop that would brake the pieces after I trimmed them and layed out the neccessary actions on the sheet.
The firewall was cut for the setback and
high enough for the distributor. I knew that the template and the new hump would only be close. Rescribe the opening and cut to fit. Hours later, it finally slid in and I was able to scribe the inner firewall face for its cut.
Back in for final trimming/filing and then this limp noodle gets tacked together. Can I get it back in the cowl?
Now that we have a partial box, things are a little different than two flexible noodles. More trimming tomorrow, the joints must be as tight as possible prior to welding.
The passenger side bottom needs to be relieved about 3/32" moving the firewall insert to the passsenger side.
After this final trim (???) the extended lip will be scribed for cutting.
I need to fit the front floor to this firewall prior to cutting and welding the firewall in place.
The "A" is progressing pretty well. The new rear subrails were shimmed for polyethylene body mounts, strengthened with match arched .083 square tube and all tacked in place. The cowl has been inletted to match the 32' frame arch and fitted with a 12 ga. insert that bolts to the frame. The insert is tacked in place. After all is securely tacked in place, the body goes back on the roller where I can get to the bottom for finish welding.
The stance is not too bad. I would have liked a tad more rake to the body but this frame/body combination will not allow that. If the frame was sized for the "A", or if it was pinched 2 1/2"+ That would have been possible.
Since I will have to purchase a 4' X 10' sheet of 16 ga. cold rolled and have it sheared, I will cut out the firewall and draw up the entire floor/firewall to be sheared at one time.
Lots of hours ahead but it's looking better with every step.
I have cut and trimmed, and trimmed and measured until I dream about this at night. Prior to changing the blade in the saws all, a trial fit to finalize the cutting is mandatory. Before one proceeds with a project like this, its critical to have a very good plan regarding the handling of the flexible body.
Since my concept was to roll the chassis under the body and carefully lower the body to the chassis while observing any "issues" the first anxiety driven step was the lift!
I snatched an older than dirt (that's me!!) 500 lb cable pallet jack on Craigslist for the rear and used the engine hoist on the front. The rear on the body is not hard to handle but the front is more than I can lift. I'm the Lone Ranger on this and am not interested in a tragedy.
I did not want to cut up my steel sawhorses but this was too high. Will whack'em of for the next lift. Notice the bow in my carefully engineered laminated support beam???, the front is a little heavy.
Now most of the questions are answered. Yes there are a couple of issues to deal with but they are not going to prevent proceeding with this.
Give me the saws all, a new blade, and the MIG and onward................
The middle of the rear subrail is now tacked in place. This area is made up of a 4"x1" 12 gauge angle that is match arched to the frame rail. On top of that is a 3/4" .083 wall match arched square tube that extends forward inside the original subframe and extends to the rear of the body. With the addition of 3 tube cross members, the subframe and floor are then capped with the 16 ga. floor and all is plug and seam welded into place.
The firewall was cut for the setback and 
