Projects Building an early offset sprint roadster. 8-8-24

hisis excellent, thanks for posting, definitely following these.

 

I am officially jealous. Thanks for posting this stuff.

 

Had the headers chrome plated. Up until 1966 in S E Wisconsin modifieds no one ran a collector.

 

Making the seat. K I S. One piece. One short weld by the vise grip on each side.

 

Building a buck to do the aluminum tail. The upper panel will be welded to the side panel at the middle of the hammer form. The panels at the joint will be annealed and shrunk. Then slapped over the buck with my slapper made with a wore out file and a piece of tubing. I didn't want a flat side so the hammer form was made in 3 pieces. Curved on the belt sander. Aluminum strip is my template for checking my sanding progress. 40 grit on the long sanding board.

 

Very cool build keep the updates coming.

 

Louvered the rear panel. Working on the buck for a head rest. Fabricated the roll bar? Will have it chrome plated then weld on before powder coating the frame.

 

You are an incredible builder. Everything you create is awesome!

 

Left side rub rail done.

 

I wish I had grown up working with you and learning your magic!

 

Do you have a photo of the simple seat you made up? finished.

 

Pictures later but these are 2 I had covered.

 

Nice of course and simple/clean

 

They even look simicomfortable.

 

I have a heavy duty 10 foot brake. Cut one side .090 thick aluminum. Leave the other side un cut for now so I can make what ever width seat I want. I take a guess at the center and put 3 breaks 1/2" apart to make the side turn. Flop the pattern then I cut the other side adjusting off my center mark to what ever width I want to make. Then cut. Then bend the second side. I stand on the bottom part and pull up the back rest. A little over pull to allow for spring back. Volia a seat.

 

Genius!

 

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Two more examples.

 

Do they need to be supported at the back of are they strong enough to be free?

 

Normally the metal shapers would join the top panel to the side panel in the middle of the radius. I spent a lot of time making the top ends on the buck a hammer form. I was able to slap a full 90 degrees. No shaping needed on the side panel. Don't know if I saved any time. The soot on the panel is where I annealled it.

 

Loving this build and general info Dennis, we have never had cars like this in the UK. You obviously have a lot of experience building these. I have a couple of questions, hand clutch, is that instead of a foot clutch to change gear? If it is, how do you engage the clutch, change gear, and steer at the same time?
What are the plans for it when its finished, can you still race them? Forgive me, it seems that your building older spec cars, is there a 'vintage' race seen for these? Just curious, really enjoying seeing the work.

 

No room for a foot clutch. Left foot brake/Right foot accelerator. 1/4 mile track driver can start out in high gear no problem. [ 6.66 -1 rear end ratio ] Slip the clutch to get going for a 1/2 mile track. [ 5.56-1 rear end ratio ] No plans to race. Just really enjoy fabricating and living in the past. Present day W O O sprint cars have no clutch or trans. Push start only. Same with cars like mine back in the day. Picture 3 hand clutch race cars way in back.

 

I installed the side panel. The welding was done on the inside. Cut down the weld with a hard wheel. Then I fused the outside joint not having to add any filler rod. Hammer/ dolly and my trusty bulls eye pick . Hope to not use any Bondo. PS; Hope to get my friend a full time metal shaper to do the head rest.$$$

 

Darlington. Vintage race car show. 1.5 mile circle track. 3.35-1 rear end ratio. Ran with the pack over 100 M P H. Driver unfamilier with hand clutch. Quick instructions and away he went. If you want to start in 2nd gear. [ 3 speed trans ] Shift to high gear without using the clutch.

 

Strong enough if you use 4 bolts at the bottom. I use 2 bolts and support the back against the rear fire wall.

 

The radius at the front and at the rear matched the hammer form. Because of all the shrinking at the center the radius ended up kind a square. I used a shrinking disc to get the squarness down. Took about 4 times. Looks pretty good now. I have never seen anyone use a shrinking disc on aluminum. Because I didn't use any filler rod on the outside I may do a little more bulls eye picking and fileing.

 

Absolutely beautiful!!!
Dan

 

A few divots remained by the weld seam so I used a little filler. All-Metal. I won't attempt to do the head rest. Life's too short. Full time metal shaper Damon will do that for me.

 

First time anyone said that to me. Honest.

 

Nothing new to add to the supermodified [ Killer ] thread. Preparing offset roadster parts to go to the platers. Going to finish welding the side rub rails 2-10-25. The tail is finished except for building the head rest. A job for Damon.

 

Google or facebook V.R.O.O.M. They race vintage race cars. *** Oval tracks. A flying start. Every one is in high gear when the green flag drops. No shifting required.