Projects My GN Cycle Car tribute build

Started on an updated layout of the Petro Shekhter version. Had actually done it some time ago, but going to start fresh. I’m happy so far with the overall body shape and lines. The body lines are higher as before to accommodate my 6’-6” frame, so not true to either GN JAP. Can’t recall why I had my layout with me feet up so high, as with the single seat Petro version, I can place my left and right foot on each side of the trans/tunnel which should allow me to lower my heel position by about 3”. This might also help in reducing the wheelbase a bit. Need to finish laying in the engine/trans and rear diff again to make sure all is good. Once I’ve settled in on the wheelbase and overall chassis rail lengths, so can start fabbing things up. On a side note, I picked up a vintage lathe last month, so been occupied getting a place setup in my workshop to locate it.

 

Every growing boy needs a lathe to play with, good for you !

 

Good grab, used metal lathes seem very hard to come by. I've been thinking about one of those mini lathes but have been holding out.

Phil

 

That is a cool, rare BOSCH ignition switch, it has the vintage logo of the racers face on it.

 

Nice to see it coming along.
Just noticed your in Ont.

 

So, wheelbase will be about 106” and overall frame rail length will be about 116”. Wheelbase of Richard’s GN is about 100”, and the ground clearance to bottom of oil pan clean out plate studs is 5”. Don’t really want to go much less than that. Chassis frame rail clearance is about 6.3” to ground. Of course, this is all on paper not taking into any tire deflection. Petro’s model is also raked downwards front to rear which I like. Getting the stance is critical, but that can be accomplished later with spring placement. Forgot to mention I picked up 6 pcs of 6’ lg oak beams locally that have the correct dimensions (width & height) of the pieces I got originally for the frame rails. I’m not sure if I will really need them, but the price was right - CAN$70. Next is laying out the trans and rear diff to make sure the driveshaft will clear the seat bottom. Then onto the layout of pedal locations.

 

Been doing a bit more layout. I think I have my seated position figured out with pedal location. Seated position is much like any passenger car with seat bottom about 14” off the floor. Should be real comfortable for me to drive.
There’s lots of space above my legs. Wondering if I should put the battery up there behind the firewall. Thoughts? Will put the coolant reservoir/fill port up high in that area. On the engine side of the firewall I’ll put the oil filter canister. I canted the firewall on a 20 degree slope to make more room in the engine compartment for it.

 

Also looking at where I could put the radiator. I drew in a rectangle 22” x 3” representing the space for it. I’ll use a pulled fan(s), but not a lot a room at the moment between the backside of the rad and the end of the body. I’ll need to look up some slimline Spal fans. The fuel tank and fire extinguisher will block a lot of air. Still need to think this aspect out a lot more.

 

Doing some work on the front suspension bracketed, and engine mount support. Drew in a friction type shock absorber for fun. Lol!
Just realized today that I should slope the engine at about 5 degrees rearward, and match that with a 5 degree upward slope for the rear diff for correct driveshaft angles/ alignment.
Also brought in the 4 pcs of oak that I’ll need for the frame C channel inserts. Checked the overall length, and I’m good as they are about 119”-120” lg and I need 116”.

 

Also thinking a bit of the mechanics of the clutch, brake, and gas pedals. I’m really green at that sort of stuff, so will need to do some more research on what is typically done. I think I’ll start with the clutch linkage design as I know the location of the clutch fork pivot point.

Trying to do about 2 hrs of drafting each night before I go to bed.

 

I got the lathe kinda settled in, but lots of play in carriage and crossfeed. Need to dig into further, but later. Not happy with surface finish either. Picking up some better tooling today.



Ordered up some 11Ga 6” x 6” angle brackets to join the frame rails together. Should be ready either today or Monday. Would like to rivet everything together, but we’ll see.

 

Sli

Off topic here.
Have you seen the JAP V8 replica engine a fellow built and installed in a hand built motorcycle ?
Very impressive.
I mention this because of your avatar.

 

No. That would be cool. Do you have a link?

 

Try this https://www.pavelmalanik.cz/jap-v8/

 

Thanks! That is just too cool!

 

You're welcome, I thought so too.

 

Very cool build. Does remind me of the Glenn Curtis ( Curtis aircraft ) 1907 V8 motorcycle record setter. Curtis museum in Hammondsport NY has recreated his early motorcycle shop, great museum

 

Yes me too. Found a video of it running, going to post it.

 

Running video.

 

After watching some YT vids of folks in India/Pakistan doing incredible work/repairs with the most basic tools but incredible skills, I’ve decided to go ahead and hot rivet the frame together. One vid in particular was really inspirational where they were building a Hino truck frame from scratch and were just simply hammering the rivets by hand. A quick search also showed Bennet Customs recently repairing a 32 Ford frame using hot rivets and some simple tooling he made and an air chisel. So, it can be done fairly easily, and as he said without no real previous experience. Lol! We’ll see. I’ll be using 3/8” dia solid steel rivets with likely a round head. Will use a qty of 10/bracket which should be plenty strong. Thinking of making a simple drill fixture for the 40 rivets required to join the side rails to the cross members. Current design of L bracket in pic. The circles represent the dia of the rivet head. Thinking of keeping outside width of frame at 25” as I feel 24” is too narrow and 26” too wide. The 32 Ford frame are 25.25” wide at the engine end.
Hoping to get the frame riveted together within the month.

 

Another thing I’ll mention is that in reviewing all the pics I have of Richard’s GN JAP, I could not find any showing springs of any sort. So, not sure what or how the trar axle is supposed. In my early layout, I show a bracket to support the spring pack just under the rear suspension arm pivot point. I assumed I copied what he did when I drew it, but was surprised when I can find no such brackets in any of the pics I have.

 

Finally got around to blasting the crank pulley.

 

Do you mean you have no idea, or just don't have the details?

 

Look closer at the pictures of the car. It has typical GN quarter elliptic springs at all four corners.

 

Yes, that is what I seem to recall when looking into all this when I started. Just surprised I couldn’t see any detail of how they are attached to the frame or axle. At some point in the past, I must have come across something, because I drew in the brackets on the chassis and axle.

 

So, pulled out my iPad instead of using my phone to look at over the 400 pics I have related to the GN JAP. In only one of pics, do I see the spring pack in detail attached to the chassis. No real good pics of how it is attached to the axle, but I don’t think that is necessary. Some of the other pics that come close, but no cigar.





The only pic with detail.


Even the 3D modelling doesn’t show them. Lol!


Curious though as to what that cylinder near the pivot end might be used for between the swing arm plates in the third pic and first 3D model screen shot. Just noticed you can see that cylinder in the overhead bare chassis pic on the right hand side, but not on the left hand side, but in the third pic you see on the left hand side. Interesting...

 

Fantastic video ^^^ thanks. Ziggster, kudos to you for your perseverance after personal tragedy and for this great design/build . . . and build thread! Entertaining and informative.

 

Thanks. Much appreciated. Today is actually the third year anniversary of my wife’s passing.

 

Can't imagine. Sorry Zig.

 

Ah that sucks, I unfortunately know how that goes, I wish you well.