Projects Project Flat Hat (27x, part 3)

Ouch. But so true. I really tried my best to keep some things traditional... like paint. LOL. Thanx, Gary

 

Another photo update... some of the engine is back together, the radiator is almost done (LOL - gotta take it back yet again) and Steve, THE tin man, came by today to do some more fitting on the rear frame aprons, which will enclose the frame sides and the tail area around the air ride gear. Later, Gary

 

New pix... only 10 days or so and we have to get this puppy running! The cooling system is about half done, but the seats are looking good! I put the air bags in the front end yesterday... hard to see, eh?!?!?! Steve's "tins" for the rear of the ch***is turned out fantastic. A simple bead and black powder coating does the trick. Note the ultra-unnecessary Schrader valve T-d into the air line with a cut-off valve. Why not? Ya never know when you'll need some air for a flat or to inflate an air mattress when camping! Gary

 

Well.... just too much to do and too little time. We won't be at the NSRA show in Tampa this weekend with the pickup, but I hope as many of you as possible will get the chance to attend.

Build-wise... most of the recent work has been on the engine and interior. The gl*** got delayed a little, so it isn't in yet. The dash turned out great with the black vinyl alligator cover, me thinks. I love it and we put a few test gauges in it to see how it would look. The little plate on the top of the dash is for the tach and boost / vac gauge looks right and it also holds a traffic light prism and has space on the right to bolt on a video camera for road trips. The consoles are about half done - the tops still need covered to match the seats - and the rest of the interior will just be carpet. Saving the door panels for last.

The motor is done up to the intake manifold for the most part, the intake, throttle body and fuel rails are just posing for the photo and they will need to come off one more time to install the injectors and fuel lines. The wrinkle black valve covers look so good and the special brackets my buddy Ron made to support the long water hose worked out great. They were welded on the valve covers before paint. Not sure exacly how to route the A/C-H hoses, as they will be eventually hidden by a long, hood side blister (along with most of the pax side header) later. Until then, it's ugly-ville I guess.

We hope to start the wiring after the NATS. Ya think 2-3 more weeks? Later, Gary

 

Hay Gary.your HOTROD is looking good I like the air valve great thought,I have a question for you,how do you like the russ nomoor bodys,thinking of getting 2 and becomming a dealer,post or pm me thanks Trevor.

 

Trevor, I like Carl's bodies. I almost got the chopped T coupe, but really wanted a bed to haul junk in, so... The inner roof panel, which is fixed inside for strength, looks so good I'm leaving it painted with no head liner. Gary

 

Like it or not, here is another little update on the truck... Today was somewhat seminal, in that we set the frame down completely (both ends at the same time!) and nothing, NADA, rubbed! Whew. Can't ya tell by my smiling face?

It is still along way from running but we are probably just a week or so away from starting the wiring. Height-wise, it's 53" tall at the back of the cab when fully compressed - and the lowest parts are about 2.0-2.5" from the ground - not that it is drivable down there but it sure looks cool. Add a couple inches of "air" for a working ride height, eh? And, I still will have a full bed for hauling junk on trips.

We got the hood on for a test, too, and everything fit without a shoe horn except one hood support rod that interferred with the a/c/h hoses. It isn't pretty, but the hood will hide the high-tech stuff anyway. Rethinking that... We also found a panel bender to re-do the hood sides later in the year, as the ones we had just weren't going to cut it. Stay tuned. More next time, Gary

 

May sound like a stupid question but why are you joining both exhaust banks? Nice Hot Rod by the way.

 

Yes, the OEM crossover pipe was retained, now it wraps around the firewall versus the FWD setup. It joins the OEM pipe on the pax side for a normal exhaust under the car. We also added a QTP ****erfly valve and dump, too, just to be obnoxious when I want to be. Makes the steering linkage on the driver's side a piece of cake, too. Here is an earlier photo. Thanx, Gary

 

Today's pix... outside again briefly to swap bays with another project. Gary

 

that is real cool, but then im a ****er for any Ts. your going to have some fun in that.

 

Looking great!!

 

Thanx guys... Gary

 

Looks good, Gary. Will you be taking it to the Turkey Run ?

 

Sure, but not for the whole weekend. Probably only Friday, or perhaps Saturday. I don't know if they will let me in the HAMB pile with my non-HAMB-ish car, but I'd love to drop in. Gary

 

Ok... oil, water, xmsn fluid levels up, got plug wires, got fuel lines, got hood / scoop (not quite re-fit but looking good). Hope to start the wiring next week and perhaps hear it roar soon. Gary

 

Should be interesting to hear it with the dump open.

 

I'm optimistic. But some folks have been telling me these particular V6s are not all that easy on the ears. Don't know why. Still, the power is there. Gary

 

coming together very nicely ! great attention to detail

 

Many thanx... hang in there the end is (hopefully) near! Gary

 

And... the "one-board" stakes are getting mocked-up. Too corny? Gary

 

If you port those Eaton blowers they make a heavenly whine under high boost and high RPM.

I like the shape of your scoop. Looking good. Can't wait for the final ***embled pics and ohhh by the way....you will have to post a video or two.

 

Time for an Avatar update I think! Another milestone was hit today, as we tested the Air Ride and took some pix of the 27 pogoing up and down thru the full range of it's travel. NOTHING rubs. But it sure is a wierd system to learn to calibrate and pretty danged noisy, ta boot. My car buddy Guy, a short fellow in the 1:1 world, posed with it slammed for a size comparison. FYI, this is the first time the car has stood on it's own, no jackstands, no lifts, no strings attached, since the build started early this year. We also got the hood re-fit and started working on the sides again. I doubt the sides will be done before Daytona. December more likely. Later, Gary

 

Man is this slick.

 

Glad you are digging it. Gary

 

I really like it. Good job.

 

Its DEFINITLY NOT a flathead ! Its not even an eight , bent or straight ! Just wasted 5 mins of my life ,thanks for nothing .

 

WTF? Sign says... flat HAT - that your problem? Gary

 

Gary,
The guy can't even spell DEFINITELY (not "definitly") you don't expect him to be able to tell the difference between Flat Hat and flathead, do you?

Those of us in the know love this project, keep it up!
Alan