Hey y’all, I’ve been mum on this site due to unforeseen litigation, however, that fog has lifted and I have H.A.M.B. coupe build story to share…
Damn! About time for this thread. This one is just too cool. I haven't been posting any pics as I would prefer the owner to tell the story. I know you have a load of pics. Show the HAMB what you've created. I'm sure Rustee is playing on the "Race of Gentlemen" in titl;ing this thread.
Sourced an eBay 8ba Flatty out near Pittsburgh…so many people have helped me locate vintage parts for this build it is humbling.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. Buying expensive parts that didn’t really fit the direction I wanted to go. But I was excited (and naive) and set aside other long term projects to focus on building something that could potentially race at TROG and other vintage drags. I wanted to build it myself and there is a strong desire to build vs. buy. But this sort of thinking was actually holding up the project. It sort of hurts the industry surrounding this hobby when there are so many more folks who are so much more capable than I am, for me to selfishly want to build it myself. People who’s livelihood is dependent on the continuation of the scene. That’s when I made the best decision of all. Find some help! That’s when I met @Koz and learned just how much I didn’t know!
Sourcing vintage speed parts from the H.A.M.B. is one thing, but finding someone with his depth of knowledge and experience was priceless. @Koz can pick up the story from here, but I just recall unloading parts at his shop and he immediately rejected some of my poor choices in parts. This left me a little confused, but I respected his recommendations and ultimately relented and he was able to use his network of connections built over a lifetime to help me get some of the period correct hop up parts that fit the criteria perfectly. He immediately got to work and I witnessed a true master in his element, soaking up as much knowledge that I could. This was the greatest benefit of all and I would encourage anyone who, like me, was slowly collecting one part at a time for an “eventual” build, to take the plunge and find a reputable fab shop. The stories you’ll hear, the connections you make, the techniques you’ll learn are indeed truly priceless.
I am humbled Rustee! You're the best kind of client in that you really knew what you wanted up front. You made the build easy and it is totally in HAMB character to boot. I know you've been holding back on the shots of the car so far but it is really a real hot rod. Done with a load of vintage parts and a couple of upgrades for everyday use. I'd have no problem jumping in this one for an across country run. I'll let you post the pics but I feel the chassis is perfect, (vintage model "A" frame stretched 3" to deuce dimensions), boxed and sweep Z following Doane Spencers iconic lead, with a 6" rear Z to put the 1960's era cheater slicks, (for street use), right in the arc of the wheelwells. The Henry issued Model "A" axle was dropped old style by Andy Kohler and holes milled in a pattern my Dad used in the fifties. A pair of '48 Merc 'bones located everything up front and a sweet '40 banjo brings up the rear. Stopping gets taken care of by '48 Ford passenger brakes and a 1960's Chevy truck master and clutch cylinder combo. Been done a million times but oh so traditional. Everything just goes together so well it is hard to tell when it was built. All this is coated in a vintage cream that perfectly matches a set of front backing plates Rustee provided that were painted who knows when. Painted covered shocks and '48 pickup shock mounts. Lots of hunted down parts here. The 8ba is basically stock intrnally with a 2x2 Fenton and some Holley 94's. A very vintage but mint Mallory dual point makes the sparks and a pair of Speedway headers with the tapered tube replaced with a '36 driveshaft and a pair of reworked Cherry Bomb cores to keep the racket under control. T-5 and the stick from a '36 makes it work. What did I miss?
In addition to the beautiful frame work, the split wishbones, the chop! The gorgeous custom dash, fabbed from the original gas tank, the replacement tank, and plenty more!
Here’s a good shot of the master cylinder @Koz mentioned. And another couple showing the Mallory dual point.
Earlier in the build…you can see Andy Kohler’s sweet drop axle, drilled w/the @Koz pattern. And the banjo rear located via Koznet.
That 3" stretch is also kicked up too, right?! Does that move the body back 3" or give more room inside the body? Will the kick UP give a little rake to the body also?! Thanx 6sally6
Some of the trunk work, tank and filler neck and an old Kennedy clamshell toolbox/battery compartment
You know if you hit that "full image" button before you hit the "post reply" button your pics will automatically be larger.
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