going ahead and starting this thread, only a couple pics so far, but, more to show SOON! just got the drivetrain all together for the first time yesterday. previous threads: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238372&page=4 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=234228
So which rails did you decide to go with? Also, what front bell flange to axle centerline distance did you wind up with?
going with the gennies. I got the back ends trimmed up, but my original idea for rear axle mounts didn't work with the banjo, so I have to fab some. They're heavy--10 pounds heavier apiece than the same length of 3" round x .120" wall, so some major holesawing will be in order. I'm also held up for a slight equipment change. That is, I am waiting for the rear that will be permanent in the car. It'll be worth the wait. back of block to rear axle centerline 29"
well... the plan was to build the trans to rear coupler, then go out to the storage lot and grab a complete rear to build the car. I started this thread and posted pics when I finished the coupler, in anticipation of grabbing the complete rear within a few days. then I heard about a chrome center with '34 tubes. WELL! that would totally be worth waiting for to run those parts. So, I waited. Then a few days ago, I heard about a rear coming out of a '36 Tudor, with chrome tubes and a bare center. I GOTTA have those tubes! So, more waiting. I picked up the chrome center, but he's keeping the rest, and I haven't hashed out the deal on the other rear yet, so I'm in a holding pattern. EDIT: made the deal for the '36 rear, minus the juice brakes and wishbones. Should have it in my hands in the next few days.
Cool, you should be able to mitigate the weight some. If you're shortening the rails perhaps you can take the extra out of the middle (heaviest chord) like we did. Locate the cut to land between the engine and the firewall, backstraps at the joints on the top and bottom chords with a backplate at the web and it's stronger than original. Our backplates're a 3 1/2" tube crossmember that the joint straps web into. The whole thing's impressively rigid, needs no secondary framing for itself and that saved more weight. Keeping the cage no wider than the rails saved us more as well. One idea I didn't think of 'til too late is to use the rear itself as the aft crossmember and save the weight of that too. Needs a torsional mounting but it'd be worth it. You managed an inch shorter driveline than we did, even with the longer LaSalle, great job on the coupling. Gonna have rather a bit of brightwork, eh?
got the rear from the '36, it's actually a '37-up rear. I REALLY DIG the wasted old chrome on these parts. Got the complete rear all torn down, got the tubes attached to the chrome center from the other, and set the housing in front of the rails for the mockup shot. Next is to re-fab the axle brackets. I had them done for the '34 tubes, but the later tubes are bigger...soo.... after the housing is attached to the rails I am going to continue forward in the ch***is with the trans and engine mounts. Once that's done I will bounce around from the roll bar bender to the clutch, and the trans and rear end internals.
I don't know 'Sled, those rear bones and those cross members look just a mite heavier than necessary. Solid though, definitely solid. That rear does look nice.
a little update, no pictures though. rear axle brackets get fab'ed tomorrow. transmission shafts are boxed for shipping to Denver, second go-round here. rear dif parts begin machining tomorrow should be able to pick up the donor wagon rear Saturday. I'm trying to speed things up a bit, the idea of a Tulsa/Mokan double header has me kinda fired up. anybody wanna trade a single layer suit for a harness?
I've had a little more time this week than usual to work on the HA/GR, got my backing plates drilled, steering wheel showed up a couple days ago, started re-fabbing (third set) the rear axle brackets, and then, my "shop foreman" came out when I propped a rail up to start fitting an end cap. He thought it made a pretty good race TRACK !!!! Last weekend I got the banjo housing ends cut off, and the '54 Ford wagon housing ends trimmed up for the axle conversion also. The dif mods are just about 1/2 done. I hope to have the axle brackets made, and the caps on the frame this weekend, so I can get going on engine and trans mounts.
Hey, Sled, I just been follerin' up on your here on your posts. Looks as good in the pix as it does in person ! See you this week. Copco
got the end caps tacked on the rails, the rear axle brackets tacked up, and bolted 'er together for some back end shots. Next up is engine and trans mounts. rear end and trans mechanicals still in-progress.
man.....that's a HOT looking setup, uncomfortable as *** on a rock, but ******** cool.. Rock on, Drewfus
ahh...that makes more sense, I was thinking that you were going to be 'stradling' the transmission, with a very awkward aray of pedals....hence the 'uncomfortable' statement. Appoligies for the confusion, back to the progress. Cheers, Drewfus
INNOVATIVE!!!! man, and I thought we were all trying to be friends here. Now I gotta pitch this thing and start all over!
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