Don't forget to strap the back glass...You don't want that thing popping out on I-95 while doing a midnight pull.....
BootleggerJim, yep the back glass will have the metal straps, as well as the windshield tabs, the hood will have no hood latch but will have three hood pins and two trunk pins like the race car. I am keeping it as close to as raced look as I can get and in my project budget.
I'm doing mine on a real low budget too. Been almost a year now. Working on brakes and front end stuff now...Maybe get it on the road in March......
Here is a pic of a 'Starlift' owned by a guy in Texas and now in a museum in TN. Built by Tom Kitchen. Saw this car at the LSRU two years ago. Bad Ass.
Another of the 'Starlift' and yes the top came off like the original. Check out the 'real wheel rubs' too! Car pretty much was a dead on replica inside and out w/406 and 427 cam.
Another of the 'Starlift' and yes the top came off like the original. Check out the 'real wheel rubs' too! Car pretty much was a dead on replica inside and out w/406 and 427 cam.
Got the tires installed this morning at Allied Tire, of course they had to have a newer machine as to not damage the paint on the wheel edges. Other than a few nicks in the center hub area they came out good, with the wheel balancing .5 oz one wheel, 1 oz another, zero weights for one, and 2.5 fo the last it appeared thw wheel had a defect but we got it balanced out. So I have attached the pictures for your feedback, the guys at the tire shop thought they were old race tires until they say the other side of the tires, all thought they were cool looking shaved and retro Firstone logo's. I think it fits the race look. Next job is mounting the front ones to see what i have to modify as these are very tall and wide wit hthe 8" wheel and wider contact patch. Hopefully I will only have to roll the outer fender lip and maybe trim the inner fender keeping my fingers crossed. Well give me some feedback do they look like a early Stock car race wheel & tire? Thanks for the feedback.
LOL i see this question on almost every build on here. What happened to appreciating the car and the spirit of the build? When people started hot rodding it was about the fun and excitement, it didnt matter what they where building and period correct sure didnt mean shit. Enjoy the build and the spirit of it. Keep building man, its really cool. Matt
Well got the front ones on to check clearance at full rotation no rubbing or scrubbing yet as I have not lowered the car yet. May have to roll the fender lip once I drop her down some. Man these tires dwarf the inner fender wells lots of sidewall looks like a race tire big fat sidewall. Bad thing found out one of the wheels in the set out of the oddball box shipped from Summit is 5 x 5" wheel versus 5 x 4 1/2 what a pisser. Three of them came directly in a Wheel Vintiques as shipped box the ohter one was pulled from the shelf and put iin a box. My problem though should have checked but I guess I have faith someone actually is doing there job before shipping at Summit I guessed wrong so now it will cost me. I have to order another new wheel / paint it and then dismount and remount the tire $$$$. Well I have added some images with the front wheels & tires on what do you think , I think they look cool give it the right look. Regards, Tony
That's a lot of pics on the wheels and tyres - how about a bunch more on the car? (Not that there's anything wtrong with the rolling stock), I'm just keen to see more car pics. As for the question; Is this car HAMB friendly? IMO Hell yeah. It's pre-the cut-off date of 65, so what has anybody got to complain about?
Well some images from last weekends work, working on the driverside door had lots of issues lower corners, outer skin had some rough spots were the door trim was on a little surface rust behind it that was covered up by thin layer of filler. So I sanded out the old filler and worked on the door the backside corners had some small rust holes, well some wire mesh and dyna glass good as new. Got 6 coats of 2 k gray primer and will wet sand it down to fix some 60 grit sanding marks my fault got to agressive with the sander. Got the seat "home made" mounting brackets welded in, using some backyard scavaging the mounting tabs were cut off an old standard bed frame tossed the casters and I cut the legs off to size with a sawzaw they have holes (caster) already for the seat bolts and did not cost me anything. The seat bolts in fine and I still have the slider mechanism (I had pulled two seats from the local junk yard ($40) out a early 90's Dodge work van) I liked the higher back for the neck protection going to spray it SEM vyinl black. though not period correct (low back 63 Ford Econoline Van which are SUPER hard to find) it will work, almost looks like a mid 70's-80's Camaro / Firebird seat. Got plenty of padding and it is very comfortable, i will add a right side raised padded armrest panel like the race car had. This weekend I will weld in the 5 point harness tabs, and start on the passenger side door and the hood.
So instead of fixing it right so it lasts, you used wire mesh and fibreglass so the guy that gets it after you has to do a full tear down to get it done correctly? Really? Be sure to have that in your add if you ever sell it. " I used wire mesh and fiberglass to fix all the rust so it will last a good long time! " ??? WHAT?? What ever happened to doing the job right? I love the build. Don't get me wrong. I am most likely doing this to my 64 galaxie as well which is why I found the thread. Loved it till I saw 1/2 ass work. It is odvious that you own a welder, or it would't have a cage in it right? Man, think it over. Do it right. Not worth being called a hack over right? I found a few companies that make the patch panels for a good price. I think one was Mac's. Take a look. Think about it. Do it right. Save the embarassment.
As to the repairs in the door no I do not have a welder to weld sheet metal and my friend used his wire welder to help with the cage. The rust holes are small and have been cleaned up Ospho sprayed rustoleom primer. The doors are not that great and if I had the funds I would have replaced them both. The small holes have been patched within the limitations of my skills , funds though not the correct restoration method I don't care. Its not a show car will never be but the rust will be cut out metal treated an correct primer and paint applied. If metal work was free and I had local friends that knew how to fix it permanent then yes it would have new metal welded in. As stated in my first posting it is an amateur purpose built ride with known issues race cars were not concours correct but beat to hell and patched together for the next race. The doors were not perfect but if I do ever decide to sell it I have pictures of every part before and after repairs that will go with the car. Honesty still exist in today's society.
I will clarify also the doors are about 95 % original solid sheet metal The issues were in the corner front below the hinge backside the rust hole was about a silver dollar size. A few thin rust spots in the holes were the seal was. Any outer rust was cut out and metal Patches welded in by the previous owner. The doors were more cosmetic issues that if funds allowed my approach would have been replace them . All of the other sheet metal on the car is in great shape and any rust was cut out and replaced by the previous owner as I bought itas a running project.
BootleggerJim, as to the exterior trim I swapped it out to the guy I got the car from for some other items, rear trim under the trunk lid, wiper arm, rear window stainless. I do have however, the full blower /heater core assembly with control dash panel, the radio /knobs /clock / inside winshield pillar aluminum left /right panels, headliner rods, left and right headliner trim that holds it up, full gauge set up as mine is being replaced, rear interior sail panels rough, interior sail panel lights left /right. Though I am not using the seats the fabric viynl is shot but all of the trim and potmetal trim buttons are there these seats are good for recover the spings and sliders are great. Not going to use the front and rear arm rest which are red could use a good cleaning. The front bumper though it has some pitting and the chrome is shot still a good soild core fro replating, I got a used one out of New Mexico.
I might get with you on the radio and the front arm rest. I have one bad molding piece, pass side upper, has a dent I'm working on, but kinda shitty....
and..................... if its perfect and not patched together some how, it's not a race car l know, l circle tracked for 12 years.. Later
I will check with the previous owner he is a pack rat him and his dad parted out about 6 or 7 of the 63 1/2 models. He likes to hoard parts I will send him an email tonight to see if wants to sell the part you need. Shoot me a mailing address to Surfwagon64@aol.com If you pay the shipping I will send you the radio and arm rest as I do not need them. Regards Tony
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