Hot Rods Replicating Old Modified for the Street

Sorry to be so late to the party. I never raced, never worked on (not much anyway) or built race cars, but have always been fascinated by them. I am now 80 but when I got retired back in my 70's I was already building a street legal (not very accurate to the time they raced) modified Chevy coupe on a "pro stock like" chassis I built from scratch. I wanted a little more comfort and drive-ability for my project. It took 4 long years 'cause I had not a clue what I was doing. Of course, I got a lot of friendly advice and guidance from a lot of people who could point me in the right direction (BTW, they're everywhere and willing to share their knowledge). I ended up with a driving coupe which is lots of fun and still very tame. If I can figure out how to do so, I'll post a picture.

Now I am trying to produce (from scratch) a single seat modified or what was locally referred to as a "cut down" (perhaps not appropriately) and run as a modified in Maine. Again, I'll try to post a picture. I am no metal worker and am now slowed down trying to build a minimal body for it. I will have windshield and roof only and will be a "climb in", a challenge for an 80 y.o. guy, but that's how it's going to be. Lots of fun and learning being had! View attachment 5462555 View attachment 5462555

 

Good luck, you will have a lot of fun on the track, with a car like that.

 

Any more pics ?

that thing looks like a HOOT to drive on the streets !!

 

Keep the pictures coming, your 1st car looks interesting. I'm an (not as old as you) old dirt modified guy, so will be looking forward to your next project.

 

You might want to install a race approved hinge in the bar next to driver door…probably will be happy you did…especially when you hit 90!

 

Is that 90 years, or MPH ?

 

I have a ton of pics. Any part of the build of unique or particular interest? Here is a chassis pics and perhaps another from "along the way".

 

I am having trouble with my lack of skills navigating this site. I am trying to post a couple of pics, since you asked. If there is any particular part of the build about which you would like pictures, just say so.

 

All of it !
The front , the back , the side , interior , drive train , you !!!!’

Just show me the goods man ​

 

Chassis build...

 

Scratch built chassis copied a pro stock and eliminated driver offset (frame rails are "straight up" and the roll cage hoops and body mount are attached via "outriggers" to the chassis. So far (5-6 years driving) all is working out okay. Unfortunately, it works best to do a pic at a time. I removed the coupe body (40 Chevy Master coupe - I could not source one of the smaller ones...and glad I got the larger one for the extra room). I cut about 9 inches off the bottom and rebuilt a floor, door bottoms, inner and outer rockers and firewall. I "squared up" the body at the A and B pillar after stiffening both with 16 ga steel. I used square tubing welded to the jambs at exactly the same height so when fitting the body, I cut garden timbers to blocks 7", 7.5" and 8" to adjust the height while test fitting to check what I wanted for body installed height. It is low, but little if any problem on the road.

 

Here is another picture (I hope)

 

I'm checking my picture archives, but they have been stowed away for 5-6 years so be patient!

 

Creating a rear end for the body? Geez, how much can you stand? I don't want to hog the space or time here. Is there anything specific I might have taken a picture showing???

 

All pictures are good I'm interested in building a frame on a garage floor.

Phil

 

Four thumbs up on what you are doing .

 

That looks like the way to give the floorless shell of a parts car a new life.

 

This was one of my Dad’s cars he built and raced. I hope to make a replica for the street in the future . This body was so low and day of opening season , when getting etched on the trailer lots of competitors said he built a neat race car. Until , he unloaded it and two guys went screaming to the chief steward that it was illegal as hell. Chief tech guy came over to Dad’s car and asked the two what was wrong as it just passed tech. They said it was too low at the flywheel center line and the roof height was not in spec. Dad told both of them that if they bothered to read that years rule book crank center line rule was changed and roof height was eliminated. One driver told Dad his car was so low racing beside him that he could look over and read the number on the roof.

 

Just keep posting pictures as you relocate them. Trust us, we will never get tired of seeing how you solved problems. And if so motivated, give a discussion of the picture and what we are seeing.

I just did the watch thread and email updates thing, so definitely keep posting.

 

That's a great use for a body that's missing a lot of the lower 4"-6" that some are. I really like the old race car look you've accomplished! Great build!

 

I built on a couple of lengths of 2" by 4" steel tubing leveled across each other and about every way I could. No concrete floor is exactly level, but I selected the best area to use as my "build area". I built my frame in two sections front to rear. When I was all done, it might have been 1/16" off end to end and the suspension compensates for that. I clamped everything down tight and kept it that way until all the cross members were pretty secure and I joined the front and rear halves of the frame rails. Look...this was my first build ever. I worked 40 plus years in an office and although I could weld, I had no real cumulative shop time. So...if I can do it, anyone or nearly anyone can do it! Just take your time and whatever you do, think ahead. I also bought an old "pro stock" chassis and copied the front end design but eliminated the 17" driver offset and elected to employ "outriggers to locate and support the roll cage hoops and body mounts. Above all else, look ahead and make sure you don't "paint yourself into a corner" and saw off the limb between where you are sitting and the tree's trunk if that makes sense to you. Be bold and have at it. And yes, lots of very forlorn looking body shells are perfectly usable for projects like this! I'll locate some more pictures but am going to be away for the next couple of days so it will be a while. Thanks for your interest and all the kind words.

 

Looks very kool!! This is a picture of my single seater, I don’t know if I could get in it at 80 years old. You must be in fine shape sir.

 

Love the single seater. I have made a bit of progress lately. Started building body passenger side. Having trouble creating compound curved sheet metal for the turtle deck/trunk lid and rear body enclosure behind rear roll bar verticals. But I blunder along anyway!

 

Looks good. Keep the pictures coming...

 

Thanks for the kind words. I am tackling building the rear turtle deck and just did the passenger side compound curve to form the shape transitioning from the slab sides to the rounded, sloped rear deck lid. I have to build some "structure" to support it all and to assure that both sides are more or less well matched and even in height and length. Had to cut a lot of slits that I will endeavor to TIG as best I can without warping the piece. That work is "not ready for prime time" yet, so pics will come a little later. You would not believe how rare sheet metal has become. I bought up what I could find 6 months ago and may have enough to complete the body. Same with the needed DOM tubing for a small amount of additional structural work. My supplier (before COVID) had a lot in their steel rack. Now their steel shop foreman told me that his supplier has stopped selling it and they cannot get it either. It is tough for local (here in Maine) racers to build chassis too. Wow, I'm glad I seem to have most needed to ultimately get finished! I am moving very carefully and slowly to limit having to junk parts made too hurriedly. Anyway, on we go...albeit slowly.

 

Wow- awesome builds- both the Chevy coupe & single seat "cut down".

BTW, I used to be a member of the Lewiston/Auburn "Knucklebusters"; we regularly hosted a Father's Day show at a local frozen custard stand.

I was stationed at NAS Brunswick in '98-2000 and lived in Cook's Corner, off #24 between Bunswick & Bath.

 

I am still a semi-active member of Knucklebusters, but perhaps was not when you were "here". I am up in the great metropolis of Bowdoinham and most of our active lives focuses on Brunswick. Well familiar with the area. Moved to Richmond/Bowdoinham area 15-16 years ago after divorce and like the area. Worked and lived in the Portland area (Cumberland) for 20+ years then about 10 years in Georgetown. Went away out of state for college but returned home to do graduate education and live and work. My college colleagues who chose big cities and rose corporate ladders made more money, but you can't buy quality of life when tied to a big city job. I have no regrets (which may be why at 80 I only just gave up ice hockey last year and am still very active daily! By the way, thanks for the kind words!

 

Love it!!! Great work!!

 

If it had been allowed, we'd have been better off with hand built bodies back when I had the dirt cars. We needed real roofs and some of the body panels. Here's what I did to a poor unsuspecting 71 Pinto. What little shaping was done, was done with hammers, angle iron, rolled over gas cylinders, you get the idea. And body filler!

 

Was there a wheelbase restriction on the early modified?