Hot Rods 28 modified build downunder

Well, I finally got motivated to go out to the shed about lunchtime today. I can get a little peak into the bell housing through the clutch fork hole. Enough to confirm what I suspected. The hydraulic line fittings on the Howe throwout bearing run really close to the back of the pressure plate assembly. When I push the clutch there must be just enough deflection to make them come together. Hopefully not a really difficult fix, once I get it all apart.

I was trying to explain it to Eddie, my boy, this afternoon and my best explanation was that it would be about the most difficult part on the whole car to get to. Nothing else would require as much work to access. He offered to do whatever needed doing with his small hands. That was cool.

But I need to stop crying about it and get it done.

I tried to upload some video of the fire up yesterday onto photobucket. Didn't work. Can anyone give me a quick lesson on the simplest way to put some videos on here?



Just one more to keep it interesting until I work out the video thing.

 

Great job Striper, you must be a happy man right now. Nothing like firing them up and bringing them to life - now it's a real car!

 

It'll be real when I drive it. By Monday it will probably be a pile of parts on my shed floor again.

It was great to run it though. I'm very happy about that bit.

Pete

 

Just reread this great post, you have done a great job on the documentation, and even better on the build. I have been collecting parts for my next build – so far I have a 27 chev cowl, a 25 chev chassis, 38 I beam and bones and a 52 flaty.

I have a question about your front suspension set up as I will be doing something very close to what you have- are your shocks single action?
I have a set of double action shocks but have been told not to lay them down.

I have straight bones and will be using a ball and cup set on each end of the bones -I am getting new ball CNC cut to weld into the ends and new repro cups-( as used in the original location) to mount them to the chassis. Also I will try to get the spring hangers more forward on the bones.

Again great build.

 

Wow, just stumbled onto this tread. Spent the better part of 3 hours reading it. Your fab work is amazing. I would never beleive that it was your first time doing this stuff. (I really don't beleive it) I hope you all the luck finishing it.

 

Congrats Pete, looking great and it's good to see that nailhead sitting in there proud as anything.
This is what real hot rodding is about-one step forward and 3 steps back. After all if it was that easy everyone would be doing it LOL

Keep at it and be careful when you pull it apart and don't scratch anything!!

swifty

 

My shocks are single acting. Double acting would sure be preferable but these were cheap, they fit nicely and look old. Yet to see how well they work.

Using the original style cups is a nice idea. That will look great. Placing the spring further forward will get you far less snide comments and sly looks. It just didn't work for me

It is my first time building a hot rod. It's not the first time I've held a welder or worked on a car. After all it is just welding and working on a car....just a lot more of it.

Thanks for taking the time to read it all.

See Swifty, the guy above doesn't believe I'm a first timer. I'm sure to you it is quite obvious. I now fully understand why guys build their cars completely without paint and then blow 'em apart for paint. How the hell am I going to get it all apart and back together without scratching it?

Huh...beginners

And yes Swifty, the nailhead is the car. It fits so good and sounds very nice. I just had some home made baffles in the ends of my headers under the car, not too loud but loud enough to appreciate.

See you at Newstead

Pete

 

great looking build....

 

Only just found this thread.One phrase comes to mind:
THE DOGS BOLLOCKS!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WHEN EVER IT IS!!!

 

Thanks for taking the time to share
I got some great ideas

 

Looking good Pete...You know all these small problems will be forgotten when you drive it for the first time, you will then have a shit eating grin that won't go away for days.

 

These things are sent to try us.... Well done on the finish, can't wait to hear that Nailhead.

 

congratz, looking awsome

 

Very nice. Can you tell me what the wheebase is. Did you strive for that number or did you just go with what looked good. Thanks for taking time to share with us.

 

Pete,

Congrats on firing it up, I hoisted a pint for you on that! Sorry to hear about the clutch problem, but I know you'll hash it out. I know exactly how you feel about that, and the problem of not being able to access things, or having to pull the body to get to it (Untill I put the body back on the '36, I didn't realize that I can't even pull the left hand valve cover off the 472 as it's under the firewall, oops). I had to cut a hole in the trans hump for it as well to get to the fittings on the trans for the cooler lines. I could see 'em from underneath, could get my fingers on them but no way get the fittings AND my fingers in there. Oh well, the floor mat will cover that all up .

As far as taking it apart and not scratching things up, I can't even put things together without scratching them! The steering column for instance, flawless shiny black on the bench and looking great, even tho I covered it with masking tape to install, is gouged, sratched, and knarly looking now. Might as well have put it in raw and just spray bombed it afterwards, 'cause that's what I'm going to have to do to make it look decent now.

Speaking of steering columns, hate to point this out, but yours is on the wrong side...

Looks great man, and again, nice job with the build thread!

Brian

 

Pete,
This whole build/thread is really inspiring. I didn't pick up that this is your first ground up build. Holy Hannah!! Phenominal work and engineering. Continued good wishes getting the kinks ironed out and on the road.
Mark

 

The wheelbase is 109". I drew the car out before I started and that just seemed to fit. I stuck close to my drawing throughout the build. It was only a profile drawing but it showed me where everything had to fit and I kept everything as tight as I could. I hope it looks good to others. I like it.

Brian,

We are definitely on the same page with the scratching etc. I can't believe the trouble I went to in some areas just to have to touch up with a brush afterwards. I dare say I have a bit more of that coming

 

Been trying to figure out youtube for a day or 2. Let's see if this works. This was our first attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2tLbOyGGk4

Well that seemed to work. For some reason I tried a number of times to upload this next one to youtube and it wouldn't play ball, so I somehow managed to convert it to a dodgy wmv file and it uploaded really well. Just shit quality. But at long last .... here it is...the nailhead running. The video sound does it no justice whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXheBMMelGg

Pete

 

Nah, the second video is shit. I can't hear George Jones singing.

Congratulations, it's a wonderful moment when that engine fires up for the first time, and props for putting up the video where it DOESN'T fire!

 

That's just sealed it. I'm going to the Chopped show and give the '34 weekend a miss.

 

That must of been a great feeling!!!! congratulations!

 

A good day!

 

Pete,
That's awesome-congrats! Man, you are really getting close to the finish line-your car looks really good

Dan

 

Thanks guys. I just came in from the shed for some lunch. Just about ready to lift the body back off so I can get at this f*(^&%#g clutch. It's a bit depressing undoing stuff you thought was finished. But I suppose we all go through that at some stage....don't we Dan?

 

striper you are one talented son off bicth, you do good work man I take my hat off to you buddy. some of the best stuff i seen , workmenship wise is from down&under!!!

 

Hey Pete, great to hear that you got the engine running after all these years. Just remembering our trip to pick it up from Sydney and the local footy team at the pub that we nearly had fisty cuffs with on the way home. Let me know when you are coming down to pick me up for a spin.

 

I didn't think it was rude to stare. They WERE wearing dresses.

 

Probably Rugby League players then?

 

Pete,

Sounds wicked good. Here's a photo of my fender bracket, I put them back on permantly today (after I knocked one of the rear ones on the floor and scratched it. It (almost) buffed right out...

Brian