Projects The H.A.M.B. Coupe - It's yours!

Mmm, the concept is good (have everyone work on it) but the logistics of that would probably make it impossible. I'm liking the idea of sending the car to shops to have specific jobs done. The biggest is the body but we can't start the body until we have a frame. Once we have the frame and body we can start on the body and once the body is done it should last for all the different things we will be doing to this coupe. It's already chopped, it'll get chopped more in the fix up I'm sure. That would make it look mean enough for drag or salt racing or street duty.

I'm thinking we should try to keep a stock-ish frame so as not to preclude it from anything else we come up with. A singular purpose built frame might not make it suitable for other mods should we wish to change it's personality...unless we have three chassis and a bulkhead of electrical connections. Then we could lift the body off the salt frame and lay it down on the drag frame. Too much work probably. The single multi purpose frame idea I think is the best.

 

The HAMB'ered Competition Coupe... I like that

Our shop (Glen-Ray Radiators) would be happy to go through it and ship it to the build site as our contribution (wherever that may be) to keep it cool.

Cool?

pm me when the time comes...

Craig


HAMB drags and B'ville... if my opinion counts

 

Outstanding offer Craig!

I agree with Salt and Drags. It might not be the fastest or the quickest (though I realy think it should be) but we'll have the most fun and the coupe with no owner will become well known. lol..."this coupe is so cool it decided to go racing by itself!"...lol

I can't wait to start getting it organised and reading the build threads.

This is going to be soooo cool.

 

Oh, come on Bill. Yes you contributed "junk" but it can be saved (I've saved worst, like the 32 Vicky I'm building) and being a 34 Coupe, I think it's worth it. Plenty of talent here on the HAMB that can fix this body.
I'm not near Wheatridge (7 hrs away) but I have a place to stash it for now if needed. Might even could be talked into going to pick it up unless anyones headed this way with an empty truck or trailer.

 

Awesome Idea!!!

 

Awesome! I was going to try and find a local shop to go thru it before I sent it to wherever it's going. But I would much rather have a fellow H.A.M.B.er do that. I'll get in touch with you when the project starts to come together. Thanks for your offer!

 

32ford5,i applaud the idea and the GREAT generosity of you to give out such body..well,not only the body but the whole idea is really cool,no doubt...
fellas ,lets think positive here and dreams come true,im a firm believer that positiveness helps big time...

HAMB-IFIED comes into mind for a name....

lets make it true here,for all to enjoy....sled

 

The "naming" thread will be lots of fun.

Thank you Sled. Keep an eye out for the Australian version down there in Mexico.

Maybe this is a way to start a "Save Out Steel" campaign. I bet there are other cars out there that are too far gone for one person to save but with a little bit of input and labour from us all we can save this stuff where as before it wouldn't have been. We can then auction them off (H.A.M.B. Alliance bidders only?) and someone gets an excellent "H.A.M.B.ified" (good one Sled!) body.

This may be the start of something completely unexpected.

 

Shall we call it HAMB-ilization instead of globalization???

yeah,plenty stuff down here that can be rescued anytime...i fight everyday for such reason....

 

How about the "RandHamb" coupe?
Yeah, I know, I'll wait for the naming thread.

 

I've seen some incredible cars saved on this board. Sometimes I think you guys could make a race coupe out of a discarded aluminium food tray.

 

lol. we can still use this thread to keep the conversation going and to garner more strength and support for this project (concept?). It'll be a job to compile it all out but hopefully Ryan's lawyers won't keep us waiting for too much longer.

 

Interesting concept - I like it! I like the concept of #3 - some kind of 'HAMB Corporation' (if there isn't one already). Or, maybe there is a way to buy or own shares in the 'Coupe Corporation' --> maybe based on a dollar value for parts, work, etc? Or - just keep it simple and the car belongs to Ryan and whatever company/corp he owns? I'm sure there are liability issues to review with lawyers -- in the end it has to be simple and straight forward or nobody will want anything to do with it.

Also, I don't think you want the car too radical in the engine or horsepower arena . . . increases the liability issues, insurance issues, etc.. Maybe build it very traditional --> Flathead, 39 Box, etc.. . . really what the HAMB is all about?

Flathead Engine Proposal: If this gets off the ground, I'll be willing to do a lot of work on the flathead engine side . . . including the donation of certain key parts that are period correct. Also, I can handle a lot of the detailed work for porting, relieving, custom valves, etc -- and will be happy to show others. Maybe we have a 'Porting/Relieving a Flathead Workshop' someplace in Ohio . . . will be happy to teach and do hand's on training. (We can have a couple scrap blocks for demo, learning as well). Also, can do all the assembly, detailed block work, etc -- and I have a fantastic local machine shop that does all my flathead work. Also, have a distributor machine - can setup an ignition as well.

Anyway, as I have a 34 five window, know a lot about them and can lend expertise, help, some $$$, labor, parts, etc..

Keep us posted!

B&S

 

Now we're talking! B&S I'd fly over for those classes!

Re: power; I think we all like power so it has to have a respected engine and be tough enough to hold it's own in it's class but the flathead idea has merit obviously because of the massive support for the engine on here. I think one of it's guises will have to be flathead powered but then maybe we can auction that motor and have it help pay for the new one and maybe take this coupe through the ages of hot rodding?

How about this for an idea? We start with what "they"/we would have done with a stock coupe in the 40s. Finish it, tour around a bit and then move onto the next phase the 50s, then early 60s? All based on stock shaped rails?

 

The tough part is that if we want the setup to handle multiple engine/trans packages, then we need to decide this on the front end. I've been building my own custom 34 frame for about 2 years -- to handle the power of a blown Hemi, the set-back needed and a manual trans. It is a VERY different frame from what a flathead needs (which I have another 34 frame setup for). So - if we wanted this car to be capable of morphing to different periods --> 40's, 50's, 60's - then we'd need to plan for that on the front end and deliberately design the frame, motor mounts, x-members, trans mounts, etc -- to enable these different packages to 'bolt in' (a fun challenge to say the least!). This is an area where I can help, but it takes a lot of planning, prototype engine blocks and trans packages for a range of engines, etc..

Here is an example of what a heavy duty frame looks like (upside down in my jig) -- nothing in it matches a stock 34 frame except the outer rails (now you see the dilemma):

 

I've got some extra parts! Lets do it!!

 

I've even got a couple of engines, take your pick, flathead or "Y" block

 

Yes, clearly. Ok then perhaps we could/should start with a voted on style that best encompases the spirit of this H.A.M.B. and stick to that. Maybe the only constant could be the body? Might be less hassle to unbolt a body and put it on it's drag/salt/street/40s/50/60s clothes as we feel like it?

Might even be symbolic of how we are all so different and yet we are the same. Just like this coupe...cue rolling eyeballs smilie.

 

THis project cannot get too complicated. While a universal (drag, salt, street, show, 40's, 50's, 60's) 34 Ford coupe would be a dream, it could turn into a wet dream in a hurry. Getting 10 people to agree on something is like getting 10 cats to march in a parade. Given the hundreds that have responded to this thread already, our cats have become Macy's parade balloons. Transporting all over the country is a dicey project in itself. While intentions are good, bad things can still happen. Accidents and theft are two that come to mind.
Keeping the build to three or four shops within say two hundred miles of one another will keep the project moving.
Maybe even schedule an event around the build. Members could see progress in person.

 

OK If you want to go the flathead route, I will donate a 49 merc flattie, I have one that is a running engine that I will gladly toss to this car! Jim

 

For now we're just tossing around ideas but with thoughtful organisation I think we will all be surprised with what we can achieve. I was thinking about the transportation issue and we really aren't dragging around too much stuff.

I'm going to guess that the original build will be based on just a handful of shops. The chassis could be built in one and then sent to the body shop so the two can be matched. Once it's a complete and straight car again we can scratch our heads and ask, now what? I think if we plan just a few steps ahead at a time we can make this car complete and driving/racing with not too much effort and fuss.

I think we can set the body/basic frame goals to be achieved first while we discuss what to do next. The first style of car will dictate what we do to this chassis and we go from there. We decide on an engine and then try to source one. The style of parts would be discussed and a list made up. As people donate, the item is crossed out and all items for (say) the engine are sent to the engine shop and all the chassis parts to the chassis shop.

Then there's electrical and, brakes and interior, then glass and we're almost finished. Once H.A.M.B. Coupe 1 is finished it's goes on tour and everyone gets to check it out. If that works for us all we just driving it around. If we get bored we decide on a new build and lift the body off that frame engine combo and onto another and the build begins again - this time without bodywork, so much quicker.

Or, we may decide this was so much fun we want to do it again. We may surprise ourselves and get very good at this to the point where it spawns dozens of other cars as well. How about one of each style of rod, all painted similar?

I have a habit of thinking big...hope you don't mind.

Thanks Jim! Watch this space.

 

If you want a pre-war ride, my flathead is a 36 21 stud that runs, I even have all the 34 heads, intake and ignition if you want. I also have a collection of banjo rear ends and some misc. 34 parts like gauges and so on that I can donate, but only if it will get used.

 

I'm likin this.

 

I think this project would be a fun and amazing thing for a whole group of HAMBers across the country to get in on. I think you are awesome for donating it and for the idea and as long as the "This is only going to be a problem" people just steer clear if they dont like the idea it will all work out great.
We can all vote on specific items and go with the majority. Or we could all put on sock-em-boppers and beat each other to death

 

Been watching, and thinking, and whilst I have my concerns (based on previous experience), wish to keep up the momentum, as I believe it really can work if the project is 'driven' by someone committed, and similarly the vehicle is technically owned, either by Ryan or the Atomic Industries (or similar in principal).

To move forward, we need a plan, and goal, which whilst I'm sure will evolve due to circumstance, still needs to be continually 'focussed' on. for me, the following objectives.....

1. Keep it Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) - this is a big project, any more complication needs to be avoided as there's enugh detail to finishing this project, extra heartach can only cripple the final objective.

2. Whilst I'd love to see this being an angry monster, see above, hence, may I offer the following build 'perspective'. HAMB symbolic, something a guy in 1950 would build, using the limitations of what he had, with a dream to go be the 'fastest in the valley'. To me, this would be a stock chassis, beam axle, split bones, 8BA, 3 speed, torque tube, A springs & frossmembers front and rear, F1 steering box, Hydraulic drums all round, and bench seat, and either 46 solids, or a combination of 35 wires (5.00R16"s) up front, and 46 solids (7.50R16"s) rear. For me, do a search for a thread on Tucks old coupe, that for me is the benchmark, and a example of simplicity, but period reflection.

3. as a follow-on of the above, other than 'just' building it, I'd suggest the goal would be to get it to Mokan to race it at the HAMB drags, not to thrash it into oblivion, but to at least give it the chance to 'run free', as a element of closure for the development of the car/project.

3. As a final chapter, I'd propose that the car be 'raffled' at the drags, with the vehicle going to a supporter of the HAMB, and funds 'invested' back into the HAMB, and supporting the site by whatever method Ryan see's fit.

Think of the project like a HAMB roadtrip, sure the destination is a worthy goal, but the trip offers so much more in the long run of life.

KISS,

Drewfus

P.S. 32Ford5, if you ever find a rough 33/34 3 window that you feel needs to go to a worthy home, I'm here with HEMI waiting

 

That sounds cool Drewfus- thanks for what I think is a real solid idea.

 

hotrod all members built

 

This thread provides great entertainment value ...

 

Just dreaming How about a blown turbo charged flathead .Build the car drag and salt .All you have to do is change tires .......

 

Don't know if it helps or if it would work for location but I have a large shop on my property with a lift and lots of room. Tulsa is about as centrally located as you can get. I would be willing to host the project? Won't hurt my feelings either way, just throwing it out there.