I know it's been said a million times here, but this is about the coolest project on the HAMB right now...and it originally came from my hometown! I wish I was old enough to have seen it cruising the streets...had to be about the meanest thing around. It's good to see that it is in good hands and being returned to the badass that it once was. Can't wait to see it finished.
Love your coupe and your comment on an earlier post! Your wife must have a good sense of humor! Richard D will fight any bug that comes within 2 foot of his beer, besides Richard can crawl faster (you know I love you Richard) Doc, the motor is going to Shelby Goodman this Sunday for machine work, so I am trying to finish some things while I have it. I got four hours in last night. I reworked the trans tunnel and cut out another front floor and got it ready to weld in. The end result was more leg room. I still need to finish the steering and firewall before the motor leaves and I am in the middle of 14 - 12 hour days, so we will see how long I last (can't hang like I used to -I'm dragging this morning).
Kathy... I don't mean to act like a parent, but being several (I'm being kind to myself) years older than you I just want to remind you that our turkey leg can wait. Having Tuffy done for the Roundup should be secondary to being there yourself...
Thanks Eric! I do listen to my body more than I once did. Here's a picture three weeks before LSRU one year. Rewired and putting in the glass! 23 hours straight and I was ready to roll and then the rear end exploded - heartbreaking! Had I made it to LSRU, it would have been worth it! I would like to think I am smarter now! I hope when we have our "Turkey Legs", it is in celebration!!
OK, the trans tunnel looked cool but I opted for more leg room and redid some stuff. I could have added to the floor that I already had cut out but I decided to start a new one and fix a few other places that I was a little short. Note the old one to the right. Got it roughed in and cut the shifter hole. Almost welded it but decided to wait until the next night. Good thing cause I had forgot something. Made a bracket, welded on some bolts, and fitted it to crossmember. It took forever because I needed to make it removable and easy to get to. I can just reach it from the firewall (if needed). Got it tacked in. Starting to look like a car (at least I keep telling myself that). I still need to figure out the cooling issue. It doesn't appear that Ron ever ran a mechanical fan. The only way I can run one, is to raise the grill up to this height. I just set the grill and lights on for mock up, but I need to find some Unity H-1's with the 4" lenses. My other option is to put and (dare I say it) and electric pusher fan in the grill. I am going to think about this one a little more. Big difference in appearance that I am not sure I am willing to give up. Which will put the fan about where it needs to be
Looking good! Put me in line for a ride, I can't wait! I know you don't want to change the overall appearance of the car but make it drivable. If that means having an electric fan so be it. I'd rather see it tearing up the roads than looking nice in a parking lot because it is overheated
Hey Kathy, "Tuffy" is really looking good!! I don't know how you get so much done - especially while working long hours. I'm jealous and can hardly wait to see it in person. As for the radiator/grille placement, obviously the decision is yours to make, but we all know we can't get by with marginal cooling down here in Texas. For what it's worth, I've always thought the original radiator/ grille placement was a real "detractor" from the overall look of the car and I can't imagine a radiator that small will be adequate for keeping that hemi cool in our climate. I would vote for a "variation" in favor of a larger radiator mechanical fan. Even with a "pusher" which will be less effective than a "puller" I'd be concerned about cooling, and the mechanical fan will look much better than an electric. Just my $.02. - Eric
Do you have '32 Ford measurements (body)? I will check if it is suitable for the chassis I have. I am willing to buy the part if you have drawings with measurements.
Did you consider mounting a radiator in the trunk or maybe under the car somewhere? You would be able to run an electric fan out of sight, and keep the grille the way it originally was. It seems like a dumb idea, but if you do it right it wont be as silly as it sounds.
I love this build. I showed my wife part 1 and part 2 as I drooled. Now my wife is afraid I'm gonna leave her for someone like you (LOL). I don't recall if it was posted on here or another site, but a guy used the cage from an old house fan and mounted his electric fan inside the cage, then attached to the radiator. Looked very old timey. Just a thought. Can't wait to see the finished car.
Merry Christmas to you Gary! Hope you had a great one! Hopefully we will take it for a spin at LSRU! Yeah, but it will be one fast go-kart!! I'll take Memphis for a ride - if Mom will let me? Eric, still trying to figure out what I want to do. I may leave the mechanical fan for now and come back to it. Sent you a PM. Not dumb at all. I considered attaching it to the deck lid with louvers. Thanks for the kinds words. I think you are talking about Bobby Greens thread and I have looked at it. Not much of an update but here goes! Levi (Kona Cruisers) and Heather (Kittens Mittens) came and picked up my wheels and mounted the slicks -and even delivered ! How's that for friends - Thanks so much! So I wanted to roll him out one more time before I start tearing him apart. I am pretty pleased with the final stance but I think the rear needs to be up just a little. Hard to tell here cause he setting on an slight incline. Ty was saying "I love Tuffy"! He really got excited when we pushed him outside!
I think the car looks better with the grill shell in the pics now as compared to the original sectioned grill. Car is coming along really good you should be very pround.
Kathy, the car looks unbelievable, i can't get over how much you have gotten done. The work you have done looks great, i was in awe when we were over last. I would go with the bigger grille shell and bigger radiator, i think it would look better and run better just my .02 for what its woth. Keep it up, it looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! Call me if you need help, i'm always down.
Sure Kisam!!! Memphis would love a ride especially because his father is such a slack ass that he doesn't have anything running of his own ahahaha!!! Looking good!
been half assed checking this out, I really like the shell where it is in your mock up shots. The original was set way too low for me(out of proportion), and from looking at them, maybe that's why he didn't run a fan..The whole motor was basically in the air stream. Driving these cars is as much fun as building them for me.Cant wait to see more, and please see this reply as my 2 cents...
Another small update... Work got in the way for December but I got a little done or at least my 84 year old Mother did. Is it legal to work the elderly??? She asked if she was going to be on the HAMB - I've never seen her this dirty- note the ring around her nose and neck! Anyway she did a good job on the exhaust manifolds but the next day she said "My back and hip hurt, I'm not workin on Tuffy today"! I got the recessed firewall roughed in and started boxing the master cylinders mounts. Bent up the brake pedals to work a little better in the limited space. Picked up the drivshaft. These guys are fast - I dropped off the yoke about 1pm and they called me the next day at 8 am to say it was done - great people! Bought me a Christmas present - Note the play on words - I am guessing that Ron would have finished Tuffy in about 1959 1/2?? Maybe Kay can chime in. Look for more next week. I have parts arriving daily. How many days till Roundup???
The Jalopy Journal
