So, I get this call about a year ago from a guy in Ohio. Bob. He says he want's to build a car with his son, but that they aren't welders, and like our ch***is'. We talked for a while, and then I didn't hear from him for a bit. He said he was going to talk to his son, and get a game plan together. Months went by, and then I got another call from him saying they wanted to go ahead with the project, and to get some numbers together. So after lots of emailing, and talking on the telephone, we struck a deal. A few weeks later, they arrived with one 1929 Model A Tudor body, a 325 Dodge Red Ram Hemi, and some other misc. parts. Bob, his son Ryan and I spent most of the afternoon together talking about stance, wheels and tires, front axle options and rear suspension options.
After some mocking up, the final stance was decided, and a few things added for our crew to do. We even talked about chopping it. Bob and Ryan asked me, "how much should we go?" Well, you guys all know how much I like to HAMMER an early car! We decided (wisely) to wait until the seats were in it and the car a roller before the number of inches to chop it were decided. The 325 Red Ram was married to a 200-4R and read for loading onto the jig table where the ch***is would be created. I know, I know, it's got an automatic in it. Hey, we've only build FOUR cars with automatics. The rest have three pedals! You guys can all give Bob and Ryan ribbing when you see them around Oh-Hi-Oh. Some frame rails were bent up, and positioned on the jig table and temporarily welded to the table. We hoisted the body and motor/trans up on the table and mocked everything up.
Some motor mounts to keep the mill in place: Next, I installed the brake pedal and bracket, combo-valve and line lock. Gotta have one of those for warming up the hides at the strip!
So far it looks AWESOME!! so is your frame table a HUGE mill Deck? It looks heavy as hell to me. Keep up the killer work.. will
Next came some tubing to keep everything together. The mill should make about 310 hp or so, and if you guys have seen BSB light the candle, then you'll know what to expect when those 310 ponies are applied to the earth correctly. Transmission mount:
About June or so, we hired a new guy. Also named Bob. Or Bee-Oh-Bee as we like to call him. I instructed him on our axle designs, and we whipped up an appropriate Ford 9" for Bob and Ryan. Our rear suspension was laid in along with some more tubing and rear frame rails:
As with most projects, things get added as the project goes along. Bob and Ryan wanted a not so normal dash so the car would be even less belly-****on. They selected a 1953 Desoto dash, when we then sectioned and m***aged into place. I'm still hoping they elect to get the Desoto gauges refurbished and run them. I think the outcome fits the car:
Ryan and his dad decided they'd like us to add a floor to the car. So we started on that. It took longer than either of us expected, but the outcome was well worth it.
Next, they talked with me about a pair of headers. They liked what they had seen here at the shop and at some shows. And especially BSB's headers. I explained that I never copy another guys headers, but perhaps we could come up with something. Ryan was hot for a set, so his dad was nice enough to agree, and the plan for me to drop another hit of acid and whip them up some "spaghetti" headers was in motion. Victory flanges, of course! I threw some tubing up in the air, and voila! This is the drivers side. All the tubes worked out to be around within one inch of each other in length. I've got most of the p***enger side done, but ran out of my favorite tubing treat, donuts!! The two I need to finish will be here on Monday.
Yep, it's off a planing mill. It's 10' long and 34" wide. Weighs in at about 2300lbs. It's perfect for hot rods. We've got a longer table I'm building now that's 22' long. Slingshots, full size car ch***is' (like Shoebox ch***is). We're going to build fixtures for installing MII suspensions in the Shoebox and similar ch***is so when we cut out the portion you have to replace, the entire ch***is is fixtured in place
Thanks man. So, on to the name. "Lucky Strike". Cigarettes? Lightning? Aircraft? Well, Bob and I were talking, and Ryan was trying to come up with a name. The car has Hurst Lightning Rods, so Ryan wanted "Lightning" in the name somehow. He suggested "Lighting Strikes Twice". Bob relaid the name to me, and we talked about it. Too many words. "Why that name". Bob told me about how he'd been struck by lightning and lived to tell about it. We talked about nose art for the cowl side. Somewhere along the way during the conversation I mentioned how "Lucky" Ryan was to have a dad who would want to build a car with him. (You see, it's Ryans car. Yep. And Ryan is 16. He and Bob are going to take the car when we're done with fabrication and do all the tear down, painting, final ***embly, plumbing, wiring, etc. together. As a father and son project). And how "Lucky" Bob was to be alive. And one of us said "Lucky Strike". I looked up some aircraft (being the WWII buff that Django and I are) and low and behold, there was a B29 Superfortress named "Lucky Strike", with a stylized "Lucky Cigarette" logo on the side. And behind the logo? A Lightning bolt!!! It was meant to be. Bob and I were both hoping to have the car done before Christmas, but I'm afraid with me running out of donuts, that's just not going to happen. But I'm sure they can come and get it the Saturday right after. It'll still be a great Christmas present from father to son!
I agree! those headers are wicked awesome (as we say in Connecticut) I am bookmarking this thread, keep it coming.
A question please and I'm in know way being critical because I lack the skills to be critical of anyone's work. The rear-axle with all of it's brackets, sway-bars etc. seems like a lot of un-sprung weight for what appears to be a pretty lightweight car. Have you used that configuration on other builds? How did it ride? etc.
What sway bars? You mean the anti-roll bar? It's attached to the frame. And the coil over shocks aren't installed yet. Is that what you meant? Yes, this is the suspension we have always used in most of our cars. They ride like a dream. If you meant the tubing on the rear axle, it's all chomoly, and most of it is .049 or .058. Very light. Other than that, it your standard (weight) Ford 9" housing with control arms.
Here are some shots of the chop, and interior with the steering column and Lightning Rods: And what other shifter is there, even for a 'matic??? HURST Baby!
I could look at Ray's build threads for hours. High quality, traditional with trick modern updates that keep the look. It's like going to Hot Rod school.
Kevin.....you guys have ALL the fun. You guys are so talented, and I cannot get enough of looking at your craftsmanship and attention to detail. Once again, a 'Home Run' out of the HotRod Ch***is Shop!
Thanks Glen. When do I get to see more of your car??? And when are you going to get up here for a visit?
I like the work you did on the floor, it looks very clean. Do you have any pictures of the substructure you built to support the floor? If not can you describe what you did/used to build a floor sub-structure.
so did you find someone to service the lighting rods or did you end up doing it in shop? looks killer by the way
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