I have been playing around with cars since I was 14 and over the last 5-7 years I have gotten more and more into metal shaping. I finally had enough extra money (as if their were such a thing) to pay for several cl***es from Covell as well as Lazze and buy his complete set of tools (wheel, bead roller and 3 shrinker/stretchers). I have designed a roadster Pu with a lot of 32-34 influence but still a bit my own. I have started building my son a 1/2 scale version of it before starting the full size version. So I guess my question is this, Is this a "HAMB" friendly thing or if it is not a descendent of Ford (or others) is it not a Hot Rod on this site? After the 41 chevy PU I am doing now for a guy I have a 32 5w to convert back to a coupe from a early pick up conversion that was done to it and then chop it 3-4 inches for another customer. Then I plan on getting started on my Roadster PU build. Here are a few pics of some of what I have been playing around with in my spare time between customer builds. Kevin LFD Inc.
Thanks guys, I really enjoy building and I know if I were to find an old stocker I would cut and chop it all up to build my own vision anyways. So why not leave those for the guys who only want to change a few small items. I already have (2) 36 frames 1 is in good shape with a clean ***le and vin and the other is a bit rough and I will be using that one for my Body jig. I have plans on making several different bodies based on the drawing I posted earlier. They will have the same body from the firewall to the B pillar so it will be easier to produce doors and door openings with a much higher quality then building different styles all by hand. I will have forms and jigs set up for many different areas of the build. I will start with the roadster pick up since it will be the easiest body to produce then move to the regular roadster followed by a "Vicky" and 3/5 window. I chose the 36 frame to base them off of because the body will be about 4" wider then a 33/34 and the rear frame kick up is greater as well allowing for different ride height set up with out doing body mods. The RPU will have IFS and IRS and for a power plant I am running a 93 Lincoln Mark VIII 4.6L quad cam and AOD so I know that is definitely not a HAMB set up but the body build should fit right in I hope. Anyways I have a few more parts to gather while I finish the next 2 customer builds then my doors are closing for customer builds while I get the first LFD car built and show-able. I plan to leave the outer skin of the body in bare steel but finish the engine compartment and interior. Kevin LFD Inc. Here is a quick job I did today for a friend's 46 PU so he can run cowl mounted hinges with the 1pc hood and use gas struts as well. Once he figures out what he is going to run for a latch then I will finish off the front and blend it all in.
kevin. excellent work. I too am in the same boat (car) as you. I am also in the process of designing a custom body from scratch to build on an available bare ch***is. nothing wrong with it. keep shaping!
Oh i'm so subscribing to this one Show us your tools, step by steps, i smell a tech week winner! And don't worry about not being hamb friendly, if it's metal shaping it's friendly. Keep up the amazing work, maybe some more of the ambitious hambers will post up to.
That's one lucky kid. Not only does his Dad build him something real cool, but one day he can learn from you how to do it himself...
I was waiting for this post. I caught a glimpse of it on 67-72chevytrucks.com, but you wouldn't share. btw look up member Pat Pryor. he is building a model a from scratch.
Thanks guys, I will be doing posts and some simple step by steps once this build get under way. I have one more customer build that will require my ch***is table then it is set up time for production. I will have tons of time in the bucks and jigs but things will "SHAPE" up fast. I too would love to see more home built pics from guys because just looking at the "normal" builds on this site has got me so excited to get going on my stuff. Bill feel free to send me the pics. Go to my site and click on contacts. Then I can size them and post them up. Hitchhicker I will look him up tonight. Here is a small step by step I did for a chevy site on wheel tubs if you want to check it out. Wheel Tub filler panel How-to Kevin LFD Inc.
Thanks for the kind responses. Right now I am head deep in cleaning and re setting up my shop so I will have room for everything and be productive. I just bought a older cast iron Wysong 16ga stomp shear and a Whitney Jensen 14ga combination, box pan brake and I was already out of space to begin with. My shop is only 1100 sq, I know bigger than most but still never big enough So in a few weeks I should be all set up to start playing with getting my RPU started. So stay tuned Kevin LFD Inc.
one thing I do not see is the beer fridge and if you can I would put the compressor outside in a shed ...... but nice werk.............
Soda fridge is in pic 5 and in the new lay out it is next to the comp. Once we re-do our 2 story out house I will be putting it in the down stairs of that and then swap it for a screw style down the road. I talked with the HVAC guy on the job site to day and he is going to make a few duct runs for me so I can get rid of my air return box in the middle of the ceiling and run the ducting through the joist bays to keep it clean. Then down the road I can add roof top AC/Heat Kevin LFD Inc.
Got a lot done but have even further to go now! Found out my roof is shot and to have a new flat top put on is out of my budget right now. But since I am a metal framer by trade and I have a large stock pile of 16ga 6" studs at my house I have decided to build a new conventional roof. It will have the same rack as the house and the same high definition comp roof (those I can do) and dormers to let in some light. This will also bring my ceiling from 10' to almost 15' and allow for both ends of the shop to have some loft space for body and jig storage. I will also now be able to have a nice lift in the shop if I so choose to down the road. I can do the new roof for about 5K as were the repair on the old one was in the 7K range for tear off and replacement with all the cap flashing and what not. Well here are some pics of the shop tonight. I will cut the ch***is table down to 12" high this week and get it leveled and bolted in the floor then I am ready to start playing with the ch***is design for my RPU while I am finishing a customers 41 chevy PU. Kevin LFD Inc.
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