I realized that it has been a long time since I have contributed anything, other than goofy comments on Kirk's posts, so I thought I would post some pics of my modified project. I suppose it is not entirely "traditional" - but it is mostly all built here in the garage, with parts scrounged, with the occasional help from friends and bits either swapped, bartered, modified to fit or made my me and folks kind enough to help. It's getting close to driving, but there is always more to do and I tend to stare at things a while before I do anything with them. The "garage camera" is pretty ****py, but you'll get the idea...
...and the other side. I kinda think that the bits that I didn't make have led a full life before I got my hands on 'em. So I haven't done much to the body, for example, but remove the ugliest bits of bondo and the leave the dents. The front disk brakes exhibit some wacky shade tree engineering by some guy marrying early Chevy parts to 40's Ford spindles, and I dig that effort. I could be more "traditional" with this, but hotrods have always been about experimentation and trial and error thinking. Weird hacked bits seem to find their way to me, so I use 'em. I suppose there is some "What would Ak Miller do?" thinking in my process. There are stories there that I don't know, but I think it adds some honesty beyond my efforts. I let things be, embrace the hack work and add my own. Dents and poor fitment may make it a shabby rod, but it is mine and the guys who rodded this thing before me. I'll let their hands mix with my own, and maybe make another cool car. Maybe it is a queer approach to this whole thing, but I am a bit of an oddball.
I'm confused.....................how is your modified not "traditional"? That thing looks damn good from where I'm sittin'!!!!
Ya know, Chevy drive train, disk brakes,slant channel, three link rear end they don't quite fit the definition. Or so we are told... I guess it is "traditional" in the sense that I am just trying to build something that looks cool, makes noise and (most importantly) goes like hell.
I absolutely understand and respect the process you have gone through with your build. It sounds like my own. Like you, my car isn't a period perfect hot rod. It does have a lot of cool old stuff on it but it doesn't fit a period other than 2005 - 2009. It is the at***ude to the build that is traditional and that is of far greater value in my eyes than a 1940's period piece that has been remanufactured in a high dollar rod shop with all "the right" parts. You are truly a traditional rodder. And I love the car too Pete
You are building a "driver"...............believe me the concessions you are making will prove to be smart in the long run! Have you ever driven a "traditional" hot rod over any long distances? (Every hour you are pulling over to stretch & sayin' get me out of this son of a *****!) Drive to Bonneville from the Bay Area and back, then we can talk!
Looks traditional from my perspective. If you have any trouble justifying driving it drop it off at my place and I'll call you when it needs a new set of tires, Frank
I suppose some of my reason for posting was to say thanks... Bobbleed showed me how to build a ch***is, and the Bleed-Sweep. T-Man gave me the idea for the rear suspension. Enjenjo provided headlights. Model-A-Fan gave me another chance to look at Bettie Page's ****sm (note that the ALL black theme is derived from a $ comparison between chrome and Rustoleum). Kirk! provided the radiator, though we barely know one another. 38Chevy454 cut the gas tank mounts for me. SamIyam did the steering arm and (though he might not know it) gave me the mail-jeep shifter. Sam, I keep forgetting about that but I probably owe you something for the shifter. Nimrod gave up the headers from his T truck project and will be doing louvers on the someday-made hood. Kevin Lee provided a lot of inspirartion, with his modified and his ability to make something cool with a hacksaw and a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. I wouldn't know (or know of) lots of these folks without Ryan and this forum. All of the pics, hosted by this forum, provide a huge bit of inspiration and motivation for me in my goofy process. I appreciate it all...
I don't really don't know what the tank is. Other people have said Chevy. It's also from SamIyam, via Tim (whose HAMB handle I don't know) - but nobody has said what it is. Beyond some sorta 30's Chevy thing... I just know that it fits and had "For Sale $25" scrawled upon it.
Hey, is the DeSorta still a project? And when can I look at that Legion dealio? And I still haven't seen you fancy car, but that is my fault.
It has been a few years. Like I said, I tend to look at things more than work on things. I used your rubber bushing idea on the center link with some ball joint jobbies, that lowrider guys use, on the axle end of the wishbones. The torque arm has some adjustability, up and down on both ends, for me to play with if I need to. It seems to do it's job, when I jump on it like a monkey though...