Projects BENNETTS ‘Midnight Special’ speedster

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/harper-dry-lake-1941.1258413/#post-14413721

 

Mounted the frame down and fitted the motor/ trans and played around with the cowl placement.

I will need to come up with a plan for the drag link to lower the car a bit more and might decide to run longer wish bones and will suss out the rear section. The motor is probably good where it sits, giving me enough room for radiator and front grill.

remember I’m 6’7 hahah hense the shoe horn special.

 

Sweet! Have you ever thought about leaving yourself in the drier for a little longer, to shrink a bit?

I'll stop whining about how small a T body really is.

 

Hahahahah my shirts turn to crop tops

 

You'll need a V8 clamshell to couple the torque tube to back of '39 trans. V8 clamshell has 4 perimeter bolts, Model A has 6. Here's a crappy pic, V8 clamshell is on left:


Oh, and as a speedster guy, I love your project.

 

Yesterday was a good day parts picking and hauling some good stuff back to the shop,
My best mate Ben just picked this up from our good mate, it will be getting a face lift and work done to race in the same event. Will update as we go- also managed to get a 39 trans behind the mock up motor and some other bits and pieces. I’m now playing mock up- I might raise the cowl up another few inches so I have some more room. Still trying to find a nice set of rear 47-48 rear sedan fenders to make the rest of the body.

 

A garage full of inspiration indeed...the project is rapidly taking shape and really looking the part Jorda...

 

Thanks mate! It’s coming along, trying to get the bulk done before flying back to Vancouver for 7 weeks to visit family! September will be here faster than I can imagine

 

The Anglia grill is quite Kool!

 

Yeah it sort of works! Well maybe

 

Frame off again today- worked out the motor mounts. Unfortunately while measuring I made the inside diameter on the rails the same as the center on center for the motor mounts, so I notched the frame and came up with the idea shown. Also made a jig and cut some speed holes out, I will clean up the edges and finish them off. for the rear I want to make a low profile mount that doesn’t protrude too much to the inside of the rails as I need as much leg room as possible. More to come!!

 

Top work and execution there Jordan, those recessed mounts are as good as anything seen on this forum. All credit to you.
Have you got the parts needed for the 39 box to A torque tube sorted?

 

Thank you sir! You will have to pop in next time your down. I believe I got everything so far. Just need to find some rear fenders to get an idea on the body and where to put all my limbs

 

Will do for sure, I can’t help with the fenders but was going to offer up the parts for the torque tube assembly if you needed them to return a favour.

 

The aluminum water pumps are cool. They look kinda dirty like they are old parts. Are they? I usta have some a few decades ago that were NOS in the box. I think they were intended for something besides a regular car. Sold them long ago, but wished I'd have kept them now.

 

Yeah they are really cool, they came in a lot of flathead stuff i got a while back, never used but will see if there are any casting numbers

 

You do marvellous work and have some cool ideas, looking forward to a whole lot more of it.

 

Those motor mount pads are cool, just like you planned them like that, they may catch on.

 

Rear trans mount finished (for now) will see about flex- wanted to do some nice Tig work on them but the metal was pretty dirty even after cleaned, drive shaft shortening next, reverse eye the springs and get the ride height before doing to wishbones. I’m starting to think the model a bones might be too short.

 

Had to roll it out side to see what it looks like!
Still have no idea how I’ll fit..

 

What a pile of crap and crummy workmanship!! Hahahaha!

 

Are you going to build a center crossmember?

 

Do my eyes deceive me, or are those rails tapered?

 

Reckon you'll just have to fit your feet down each side of the gearbox and have the pedals in a belly pan..

 

What an amazing show of imagination, craftsmanship, and plain skill. It's amazing a human can accomplish so much.
Thank you for the pics,

Thanks,

jim

 

I’ll end up making a join to the trans one but I’m waiting to see where the floor pan will sit and use that as a mount for it too

 

They certainly are!

 

Yeah that’s what I’m thinking it’s only really the clutch pedal that will be some work, throttle should be easy and brakes are hand pulled