Projects 26 T Roadster Pick Up build Thread

DETAILS!

 

Yup, just edited it to be clearer. 1/2” space to allow for rivnuts to hold the fuse box and anything else I will need to mount on it.

I probably could have gotten away with a smaller panel but I thought why not just go right across the width of the firewall and have more space than I may need rather than not enough.

 

The extra space is another good place to hide stuff. Most thieves don't know how to work wing nuts.

 

Hmmm, if he’s a pipe fitter I guess that extra space is where the bottle opener goes

Really lookin forward to this bit of the build as I’m always thinking over little tricks to wire and route things and you always seem to have the whole bucket of them.

 

The wing nuts are temporary to make it easier to remove the panel as I will be doing many times before it’s painted and all the stuff is mounted on it.
Final installation will involve nylock nuts.

 

The electric fan was giving me a problem in that I never really liked having to use one.

I decided to try to see if I could find and fit a mechanical fan instead.

The main issue was my tie rod that passes behind the rad.

With a Derale 13” flex fan using a stock 50s Y block fan spacer I was able to get the fan within 3/4” from rad and in front of and 2” above the tie rod.

With full suspension travel there will still be room for every thing.

And no fan control or wiring issues.

 

VERY good choice. I went through the bullshit with electrical fans on my first T Bucket. NEVER again! Plus.... on your build, it would have stuck out like a whore at a debutante ball.

 

Make sure you show us the tech when you build your shroud please! Always impressed with your fab work


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Amazed at how well this build has been thought out and how you have fixed these "little" issues in ways that without reading this thread no one would ever know there was an issue. First Class!

 

Way cool and please watch your fingers on the edges, those blades are sharp !! JW

 

Oops! Just saw on the other thread that you are not building a shroud. My opinion is it would look cleaner with a shroud.


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I’m still considering it although I don’t think I’ll really need it.
If it’s just for appearance I’m not sure.

It would probably help with function but with everything being so bloody tight as in no room for anything it’s a major pain in the ass

When I was removing the electric fan and the mount I found out I had a choice, remove the whole radiator and lights etc just to get it out from where it was sandwiched between the rad and the water pump pulley or get the demolition tools out.

I didn’t want to pull the whole front of the car apart

I had to cut the electric fan mount out with a 2” cutting disc on my die grinder essentially destroying it to get it apart and out.

Trying to install a new electric fan or even put a new fan belt on would have been a major problem and a disassembley nightmare as it was set up.

I remember that I had put the fan belt on and even mounted the electric fan to the rad before I set it in place.

At least with the mechanical fan I can work on things there and also changing a belt would be easy.

A shroud would have to be removable in pieces.
I’m not sure if it’s needed or if it would even be effective because on the bottom it basically has to be a sheet of metal right up against the radiator core because of the clearance needed for the steering tie rod.

That’s why if you look at the electric fan mount I had built previously you can see that I’d opened that area up with large holes for air flow.

As I said in the other thread my buddy doesn’t run a shroud and he has never needed it.

 

Don't you ever sleep???

 

Too late I already bled on it. And I knew better

 

Soon getting tired now. It’s 9:22 PM here

 

Plenty of room

 

I think it will cool fine without it, my off topic big block car has a flex fan and no shroud and zero cooling issues, just may look a little more “finished” considering the level of detail you have built it to. I hear you on the space issue, i know it’s tight!

Please don’t think I’m criticizing, this is one of the nicest builds I have seen in a long time.


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Worst case scenario, you could make up a shroud in two pieces and fix it from say either side or whatever works.
But for now I'd just run it as is and assess before going to all that trouble.
Glad you are achieving what you really wanted...

 

That fan is big enough that there will be plenty of air flow and its only when going slow the fan really works...... and you aren't going to be going that slow are you, Larry !!
I have a Model A radiator on my T with a 301 SB Chev with an old stock type four blade fan with no cooling issues. JW

 

Not sure if you have laws in Canada like we have in NZ, but with an exposed motor and fan we need a shroud to keep fingers safe (well safer) and this is what I came up with. It is in no way to help air flow, only a safety thing. I used 2mm aluminium and it mounts to the radiator/surround mounts, easy to get on and off if the need arises. JW

 

Gonna paint that bare aluminum on the blades?

 

Nope, they’re stainless steel and they can stay just as they are.
I’m fine with the contrast.

 

If anything I would polish the blades, but I have a background in metal polishing and love shiny stuff of which there is already plenty to look at on this rpu.


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Nice idea but I wouldn't hire a hemophiliac to do the polishing if you know what I mean.

 

You learn quickly to pay attention to which way a polishing wheel is turning in relation to the edge of a piece.....


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I’m quite capable of polishing it but for right now I’ll leave it the way it is.
It’s bolted on tight which was no small feat trying to line up the holes and start the bolts with barely enough room to get my fingers on them.
That and everything is moving around.

I already spilled some blood on it too
Perhaps if I had thought about polishing it first

 

I agree it’s not worth fighting to get it off again, looks just fine the way it is![emoji3]


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A few changes are in the works.

Yet again

I had the extra pulley machined off of the balancer pulley and gained some room to set the tie rod back with some carefully planned and placed bends using my JD2 bender.

That will make sure nothing hits.

And I have a design in mind for a shroud.
Details as it develops.

 

Hmmm curious to see what’s happening

 

Is your shroud for safety or functional cooling or both? JW