I can see it now...Six pipes out the back of the Tub, sorta like the Speed Sport Roadster and the top of his helmet barely sticking out of the top of the body...OH YEAH!! The Brick becomes The Green Meanie!
Well, it's begun. Flyin' Brick II is becoming a reality. Step one ....... pull mill, and return project to bare frame status.
Thats what I call getting back to basics!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice looking roller, this new car needs to show more of that fine Swiss cheese frame. This rebuild is going to be fun to watch. Lots of pictures please.
I love build threads. This will be a good one. Do you think the side by side arrangement will add much weight?
Actually, I think it'll save me some weight. Mostly from the shorter wheelbase that this layout makes possible. She's going from 124" to just over 100", about 101" or 102" or so.
Step three ....... offset rear end. Swapping stock 8" Ford axles left for right results in 4 1/8" offset of pinion. Not as much as I'd have liked, but should be enough. Cost: just my labor. In other words; damn cheap.
Step four ........ re-attach rails & position engine/gearbox. Another decent day's work. Note obligatory rodder's temporary 2x4 engine mount.
Well Dick, at the rate your moving the car should be ready for the Eagle Field opener Feb 9. With a little rain forecast you might get a couple of extra weeks. You are moving at crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzy speed with a new group of pictures every day. Keep it moving, love the build.
I'm getting drool on my keyboard. Very clever on converting the rear end. Were you able to modify the housing at home?
WOW! I go away for a couple of days and you have most of the engineering done. Looks like you are gonna be sitting low. Nice job on the rear.
Well, it'll slow down a tad now. Had to take a couple days off to run errands and such, but did pick up some cage tubing from IMS. Still need to order up some parts for steering and cooling systems as well, but can't 'til I settle some other things, mostly clutch and shift linkage designs/locations. Re-wiring, re-fuel lining & pumping, ad nauseum, plenty of odds & ends to "drag" the project out still. Doing the cage next, I'll be using the same seat and roll bar, but it'll be a bit more snug at the feet end. Hope to re-use same dash. Haven't made a decision on how the body'll be modified yet. I'll sketch up a couple possibilities, and post'em tomorrow. The rear end was easy, just measured the axles, marked & sawzalled the tubes (I used the wide masking tape trick to keep the cuts square), cleaned & chamfered the joints, lashed'er together & welded'er up. Since the rails now attach outboard of the welds there's very little "bending" force on the tubes, just torsional force from the pinion, and that'll get a rotation stopper even though the rear's now welded in and structural. Yeah Tom, the seat's only 2" higher than it was before, mostly because the lower chords of the rails're higher (to allow a bit more ground clearance for my driveway hump) and I won't hang the seat below the rails. I'll put up some more pictures when I get the cage done.
Howdy Gentlemen, Well, I managed to get some time in the garage today after all. Got the engine mounts done, so she's a roller again. Part of the right side of the cage is done as well, as it was needed for the left mount. Pictures again when the cage's done. Here's the sketch I threatened, I'm leaning toward shortening the body by removing the front doors, leaving the cowl & hood their present length. The wheelbase dropped by 21.5" (124" to 102.5"), and the doors are 20.5" wide, so that'd be about right. I could remove the 21.5" elsewhere, or only remove 10' or 12" (from the hood or cowl), leaving the radiator shell in front of the axle like later designs. Neither of these options presently turn my crank, but I'm open to any sketches you guys'd like to try.
That is one real fine looking sketch and the car looks proportional. Just my opinion, I like the radiator shell behind the axle as you have it in the drawing. The cowl and hood look great. I think you have the best idea in removing the front door to shorten the body. Great work and I know you have a plan in your head for were you want to go. Build it like you want it and have fun.
Yeah, I haven't come up with anything I like better either. Looks like I'll be taking your suggestion to go with a dedicated hand brake, my size 12s'd be a bit cramped trying to isolate three pedals in there now. Thanks for the idea. If I'm careful with the body shortening, I should ba able to avoid having to repaint the whole thing. How does just adding "Too" to the back lettering sound?
The sketch looks excellent. I had pictured you sitting a bit more forward, across from the engine. Your arrangement make much more sense. Do you think the driver will have to put on weight to even out the balance of the rig?
I'd leave the body the way it is, and let part of the hood, and grill hang in-front of the front axle. No major body work, or repainting required.
Shortening the tub as shown will be the easiest, all you have to do is move the rear forward and reattach the front of the rear door to where the front of the front door is. Should leave room for the fuel tank out front of the grill and add more of the old modified roadster look. You could even shorten the nose a bit more like this one.
I've been plugging away on linkages. Finished the clutch, throttle, shifter, and brakes. Next up are the steering, cooling system, fuel system, and electrics. Then the bodies (yep, bodies ... two), going to be able to run as HA/GR & HA/GmR. Pictures of the linkages, roll bar/cage, seat, and floorboard'll be up tomorrow, I promise.
Damn...do you work 24 hours a day on the thing? Don't forget to take time off to breathe now and then.
Howdy Gentlemen, Pictures, as threatened ...... First up, the new throttle linkage ...... Next, the new clutch linkage ...... And the (rather short ) brake linkage ...... And the (equally short ) shifter linkage ...... That troublesome to design left engine mount ...... The cage (so far) from the right front ...... And from the left front ...... Right rear ...... From above ...... And the view from the front ...... Yes, the pipes'll need to be re-thought. Steering going back in next.
Finished the steering components locations & installation this afternoon & evening. Took measurements, and ordered drag link & tie rod kits late this evening. Should be here and assembled & installed late next week.
The Jalopy Journal
