Projects Giant speedster project

Damned Commies!

 

We got creamed! A car that was barely a rounded off block of wood with a stack of 3/8 washers glued on top for weight beat everybody. Haha! Go figure. The kids had fun though. This is the last time I have to build a Pinewood derby car. Boy Scouts are next. They do manly stuff like lashing logs together, making fires and, if my scout days were any guide, throwing cans of creamed corn on the fire and letting them explode. Good. No more distractions. Tomorrow, it's fuel and brake lines. Let's get this monster on the road!!

Jerry
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Details, Details
First off I finished up the shift interlock by welding on a tab and cutting a slot so that each gear will be locked in place when the clutch is released. Then I made up a stop for the brake pedal. After that I began to install the brake lines. This a troublesome task since you have to bend a tube around various obstacles and it has to come out neat. I miscalculated the length of the brake line going to the master cylinder by 24 inches. Mmmm. Back to the parts store. I also began bending up the fuel line but found out I have to drop the steering box to get it fitted properly. That's a two man job. So I took off the drag link instead.


Jerry
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Drag Link

Because I changed the angle of the steering shaft I'll have to shorten the drag link 4.5". The threads were full of paint but luckily I have this nifty tool I picked up on ebay to clean up spindle threads. The drag link is hollow so after I cut out the 4.5" I'll insert a solid rod and weld the whole thing up.

Jerry
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what a nifty ole thread chaser , i like it ,

 

Didn't get to work much yesterday. Only put on one brake line! Big things today. Hey, here's a giant Seagrave speedster project for someone. V12!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948...5100?pt=Commercial_Trucks&hash=item4cf573179c

You can make a car like in the picture below. Question: How does he get into the car without stepping on the paint?

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the 48 i had went from this frame
then i sold it it went into this 38 buick

 

Awesome engine!
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Brakes

It's like I'm in Libya around here, my tenants are revolting. Not really, but I have had a series of crisis. Despite that, I found time to finish up the brakes lines and bleed them out. I also finished up the handbrake cables and made them work too. I even got the sheet metal aprons trimmed. So let's see... I still need a gas pedal, a fuel line, shorten the drag link and make something to hold the battery, then put the body back on and go for a ride.

Jerry
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...and cupholders. Very important for that first ride.

 

Jerry, might want to edit your post. Made a small change

 

Lighted vanity mirrors too.



Loving the build Yonahrr.

 

What about a pine air freshener hanging from the rear view?

 

What kind of accessories did they have in 1923? They had flower vases but no thought of the cup holder.

Jerry

 

Having seen this beast, I think you may have room for a privvy with running water !

Jerry,

Coachbuilt.com may have some answers about what accessories were available in the 20's.

 

hmmmmm optional equipment ...
ride along mechanic
anchor
kerosene lanterns
tire chains
telegraph sender / reciever
real ice box
safe /glove box
loud klaxon horn
reserve water tank
actual clothing trunk
horse harness and tow rope
tools including, forge, anvil
steam caliope with circus banners
live human duster wearing signal flagmen fore and aft
miracle snake oil with limited high priced supply with advertising
sears / roebuck catalog distributing team/ outhouse to outhouse tour 1923
cook stove
likker still
popcorn machine
keg beer- tapper
political stage/ soapbox
cow catcher/wheel adapters to run on railroad tracks
hooped canvas top like covered wagon
small signal cannon
asst. guns , knives
grannys rocking chair
mail bag pick up arm ..
whip antenna with pirate flag

heck even fire fighting apparatus?


of coarse the optional trailer hitch .. then ya start to get some goofy additions

 

I have this big brass porthole I thought about putting in the floor boards.

Jerry

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A friend gave me an enormously loud brass air horn from a train or something. If I can rig up an air supply I'll put it below the radiator.

Jerry

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How about a built in wind up Victrola in the back deck with removable sound horn?

Jerry
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hhehehhe
an edison wax cylindar unit would less likley skip while driving

prolly not enough room for your own SOUSA brass band ...

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

... you'll have to get one of those signs that says not to use the facilities while the vehicle is stopped!

 

I've loved this car since I saw the movie as a kid. (not that long ago. wink wink, nudge)

Thanks for taking the time to post pics, inspires me to get off my ass and work on my project(s).

 

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Poor progress

Spent all day cleaning out a warehouse because my day laborers were off day laboring elsewhere. All I got done was one saw cut on the drag link. Tomorrow is mine, all mine!

Jerry
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wow, new perspective on "bigs & littles"

 

Jerry, have you checked out steampunk? Google images.....

 

I'm a big steampunk fan and have been since I watched those wonderful sixties Jules Verne movies as a kid. For a good read I recommend "The Difference Engine" to everyone. The Seagrave Special has steampunk elements but it's really a little more advanced, sort of an Edwardian punk vehicle. Whimsy certainly has it's place in this creation. Grab your compass and sextant and Ivers Johnson pistol, I've got a few unique features in mind and I'm open to more.

Jerry
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Tight Squeeze

I spent most of the day trying to get the steering where I want it. The angle of the steering shaft is critical so I put the cowl back in place. Good thing too because I noticed I have a clearance problem with it and the brake pedal. I cut a piece from the drag link and went to work finding the right spot that gave me the same wheel angle left and right. That meant jacking up the front end and turning the steering wheel back and forth while changing the drag link distance ever so slightly and at the same time measuring the distance from frame to wheel first on the left, then on the right. I also had to hunt up a 7/8 rod to put inside the drag link so I can weld it up. Another detail is the clearance between the tire, the front spring and the drag link. I'll have to put a little bend in the drag link. Lastly, the white lines around the gas tank opening is a piece I've got to cut out so I can put a hose clamp on the gas filler line.

Jerry
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Misc.

I welded up the drag link. The clearance is tight but I think it'll fly. Then I worked on a neat brass casting that holds up the steering shaft. It had a broken screw in it so I used an old mechanic's trick--making a screw extractor out of a cut nail. Try it some time. After that I morphed into a metal man, an amateur metal man, and tapped out a flange on the the splash aprons. Good thing I'm also an amateur bondo man. Still to go: battery box, gas pedal and linkage, two more body mounts. Probably a few other things I can't remember.

Jerry
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Jerry,

A while ago you discussed large radius bending for your frame covers. Your square bent ones will look good but I thought you might like to see an easy method of bending large radii.
These are for the splash shields on the 11 Cadillac. Luckily they are in sections so the longest one is about 3 ft. long. For longer bends you obviously need a longer pipe but it is also wise to clamp the free end of the steel between 2 pieces of angle iron to make it more stable. Too much longer & a helper would be a good idea as well. The steel here is 18 ga. The next step was to cut them to shape & put wire edges on them.

Jack