New RPU progress, it's a roller progress pics

Well we had a really great weekend of progress on my rpu. Last week I got my 40' ford steelies, and dropped them off to the powder coater. They came back, and my dad had them mounted & balanced. They look so good, I am thrilled! The powder coating really came out amazing. The front rims are 16x4, and the rear are 16x4.5, with 7.50 rears & 4.50 fronts. I love the blackwall & black rim look.

I also got my rear axles from Moser too, so I could get the car up on wheels finally. But before I could do that, I wanted to get the motor mounted. I decided to take a slightly different route for the motor mounts, but am really happy with the results. My motor has to mount a little high, since the ride height is low. I decided to build a crossmember to run under the motor, and put short motor mount brackets on it, using stock motor mounts.

The crossmember is made from 3 pieces of plate-a front, back, & top. We punched holes in the front & back, and bent the top to conform to the shape of the crossmember. When all was ground down, it looks like a stamped crossmember. We got the motor bolted in, popped the wheels on, and have this:











I also chopped the Brookville shell 4", so then we had to get it mocked up to see how it looks with all the new goodies. I am really excited to see it together on its feet. I made some temporary headlight mounts to clamp them on, I still have to fab up frame horns. But heres a few as it sits. I am a happy camper, I am really pleased with the looks so far. I hope you like it:
Dan

 

Lookin nice!!

 

Now that is a good engine mount.

 

You're doing a really nice job on that!

Sam.

 

That thing is just sweet

 

That is going to be bad *** when it is done,hell it looks it now!

 

Looks great! I like the proportions.

 

I've just been telling my partner about your work. Showed her this thread. I said I can't believe how fast you work and the quality of work you produce. To try to explain it I need to know a couple of things: What do you do for a living and how much time do you spend building your cars?

I've been building mine for about 3 years now. I think you have built 3 cars in that time and they are a way higher quality than I can build.

Let me in on the secret!

I love your work

Pete

 

man it looks great-nice work

 

great work man ! the wheels look *****in..

 

That's looking finer and finer, Dan. You sure do nice looking work.
You should be a very happy camper.
I hope to see mine on wheels some day.
Thanks for that measurement on the u-channel. It helped a lot.
I decided to cut and redo the bedsides (the 'curve' at the bottom had been cut off by someone, due to rust). I wasn't happy with the job I did. So, I'm slowed down.. again. But I'm having fun. Considering a messed up back I shouldn't complain.
And, if you care to share that secret like striper asked... I'll even consider paying for it!
Joe

 

Fantastic work! Love that engine mount!!!

 

Really top notch - The ch***is has a really nice organic flow to it.

 

looks good so far

 

That thing is a work of art.

what's the story on your cap in the end of your header?

 

DUDE!!! YEAH!!!! I LOVE IT!!! You know I always dug your ch***is work! Lookin' good brotha'!! Thanks for FINALLY doing a progress post!

Question... what happened to the old ch***is?? Did I miss a thread somewhere (or 10)?? Did that ch***is go to the Tudor or something??

 

Looks like it's comin along just fine, love the crossmembers shaped out very cool. Will be waiting for more progress pictures.

 

Great idea on the motor mount. Love the proportions of the car.

Tom

 

Thanks a ton guys, I appreciate! I have a serious case of drag-@ss going on today from working on it so much this weekend, but I am happy.

Man, I'm just trying to keep up with all of your progress! I have done a couple/few updates in the past month or so since I've been busting on it. Speaking of updates, YOU are due for one if I am not mistaken......................

BTW, the old ch***is became the worlds most expensive engine stand ever I sawzall'ed it in half, welded casters to it so I can wheel the Olds around as needed.

My tudor will be real traditional, with a flathead and done as a highboy on 32' rails. I have a real specific picture in my head already for it. I am as excited to get my RPU done so I can start on the sedan

Actually that is the baffle from Sanderson. It is all of 6" long, and is a spiral type baffle. I hope that it quite reduce the sound by 1/2 a decibel or so.
Capped headers are for sissies

Thanks Pete for the nice words. Actually, time is my biggest enemy, as I really don't have enough of it to work on the car as much as I wanted. I work full time in Apartment management, and am a musician(on weekends) as a side source of income(extra car $$), plus I love playing. So I have really 1 day a week to work on the car.

This is good for me though, because for me the mental thought process is more important than the actual labor part of the build-in other words, I think too much

But if I don't think things through, I end up with major problems to overcome down the road in the project. Once I think out how I want to tackle the next job on the project, I think it through and when I finally have my day to do the work, I am pretty prepared to dive in and get it done the way I want to. Weird I guess, but it works for me, and lets me take advantage of my time that I can't actually work on the car to prepare for the time that I can.

And 3 years is no sin on your car Pete-this is now technically my 3rd year on this same car, though it has undergone major changes. This is how I learned my lesson on thinking things through-when I didn't do this, I didn't end up with what I wanted. Now I THINK I finally have this one figured out............

No secrets here-see above................ I am glad the measurements helped out. The fun is the important part too. The back issues must make it tough. My back is generally ok, but I am feeling the work I did this weekend for sure. Post some progress pics too when you can, we love pictures!

Dan

 

Thanks man, I am so happy with the look finally. Seeing it like this now makes me realize that all the changes and redoing everything was really worth it.

 

your work is great, it has an awesome stance.

 

Did an interior for the man that started Moser Engineering a few years back and he told me that he wouldn't be happy until he got there before he left. It was all about speed and he knew how to get it out of a machine. Your project is looking quite nice indeed. Are you putting a canton top on? I figure that is what the framing I see on the body is for.

Gear Up

 

I have obviously missed a big chunk of history here. I was in exile for about 6 mths. So this is the RPU that you had nearly done with the airbag front etc?

If that is the case, you really are a sick puppy

 

Moser has been a great company to deal with. Their service & turnaround time couldn't have been better. Yep, it will have a top when done. I really like the look with it now, I honestly can't picture it without it now

Yep, that's the one! Not really exciting history though. Kinda takes most of the mystery out of the secret now

Third time's a charm on this one, at least I hope........

 

Heh, you're supposed to sell em and start over when you change you mind!

I was just looking at the pics again, excites me to get going on my next project.

 

Surely...What hillbillyhell said.

That had to be worth selling to finance what you really wanted?

And as far as the mystery is concerned, I still can't believe how much you get done in ONE day a week. New one is looking really good and I do like it better than the first.

Pete

 

Nobody ever said that I was smart. Instead of selling them I always pick up a sawzall first, and ask questions later

Well man, I am thrilled that I can give something back. I sat and looked over your threads of your frame build over & over. I am really happy that I went with getting the c-channel bent up instead of going the box tubing route for the main rails, it worked out really nice. Though I may curse at you when I have to do 99 feet of welding to do the boxing plates. BTW, you're not going to sell your truck still, are you??

Dan

 

Great vision and workmanship.....I like it..........Mike

 

haha, yeah, you will curse at me. But it sure does look right when it's done.

I already did. And I feel pretty good about it.