Projects Austin Somerset Gasser Build (DragNasty)

Well I planned to really get with it on the Austin this weekend with 70 plus degree days on tap. However I started Saturday morning taking a quick look at Dad's '32 and how easy it would be to install carpet (which unfortunately for me was rolled up in the shop just waiting for a 70 degree day). Anyway that is where I ended the day Saturday BUT albeit with a nice carpet job complete and the Coupe all back together.

Sunday morning I was up early and ready to go. I decided the night before to tackle something this day that I had been procrastinating on for months...the tubs in the trunk. Now I know if you have been following along you remember not long ago that I completely ripped everything out back there and re-designed that area in a way that I would not need tubs. It looked so good and I felt so confident that we installed the body back on the frame etc. etc. etc. However the more I looked at it the more I knew I had messed up (Shut Up GONMAD!) LOL!

Anyway with the body back on the car it was going to be an all out fight to get in that tight area and produce something worthy of the car or at least up to my standards. But I was taking deep cleansing breaths as I walked to the shop. Slow and steady was the plan. Be calm. Be one with the car. There is no hurry. Take the whole day. Just be... It was a very pleasant walk down the driveway to the waiting shop building. However upon arriving at the door I realize my daughter had my keys since she borrowed my car and Dad has the door opener in the Coupe and his set of keys with him at church.

I quickly destroyed the tranquil morning with an all out (Clark W. Griswold) temper fit in the driveway. I was pretty deep into it when I noticed my neighbor watching from her flowerbed. I gave a little wave, took more deep cleansing breaths and retraced my steps back to the house.

 

Wow that sounds just like my weekend all these great things I had on tap to get done and not one of them accomplished worst part is I didn't get anything else done either one thing for sure the weather outlook is pretty good for the week so keep after it and it will get done

 

So....after church (LOL) I started in on the Austin. This is what I came up with while sulking around the house all morning watching America's Funny Home Video reruns:


This is a custom cut piece of .080 aluminum. I started with a poster board paper pattern and trimmed on it until it fit perfect. Then I used the pattern to cut the aluminum. As you can see, I installed tabs on tub so that if I ever need to, I can easily remove them. I followed the rear portion of the wheel well but when I got to top which was right at the rear roll cage down tubes, I chased them the rest of the way up to the cabin. I really like the way it turned out.


I installed the shut off switch and ran the 4 gauge hot wire up front. I picked up the wire yesterday and man was that stuff expensive, $4.00 per foot. I figured 10 feet would be more than enough so I got 12 feet (you see I know myself way too well)! Anyway after it was in place and tucked here and there, if I had purchased 11' 8" of it, I would have been short.


I welded the battery holder base in place and picked up the cables. I went ahead and installed the ground cable to a really good ground point and wired the shut off switch and positive cable.


Since the the fuel pump is back here on the other side, I am going to wire it directly off the shut off switch terminal with an inline fuse and an on/off switch on the center console. That will keep me from having to run all the way up to fuse box for power.


With the fuel cell back in place, you can see there is not much room for error back there but it is all in there!

 

After getting a really nice jump on the wiring over the past week or so I decided to take a look at switches. I had a $100 gift card from Summit Racing that we won as a door prize from a car show last summer so I picked up a couple of "store bought" switch panels. LOL! Since the driving position is set so far back in this little hot rod, I am going to be installing all the controls in the center console area for easy and quick access.

 

A couple of different (although dusty) views while she set on the rack this weekend.




And check out those rear slicks...ONLY 4" of each tire makes it on the standard lift treads (Precarious)! Since she was going to sit on the lift for a while this time while we plumb and wire her, Dad came up with the great idea to calm my nerves and give the Hooziers a break!


That is the super heavy duty cross member (drip tray) that came with the lift and the .25" steel drop in plates that normally keep you from rolling off the lift after it is up in the air. .....clever

 

You better get busy and work on those tits on them rear slicks.

 

Its not the tits I am worried about! I am going to have to do about 60 burnouts just to wear the flat spots off the stupid things from sitting so long (LOL!)

 

Only 60? I think you need to do MANY MORE! Like maybe till the tread come thru!

 

Well actually I am not planning on the tires being on the ground that much anyway, so it will probably be aright! LOL!

 

Back tires not on the ground? Huh?

 

I guess so...LOL! Everybody says it is going to fly!

 

Calling for nice weather this weekend
You going to fire that mother up?

 

We have the Southwest Missouri Drag Racer Reunion and Hall of Fame Inductions Saturday so I won't get much done, but I am getting really close.

 

Deucedup do tell more of this reunion deal

 

Well another Saturday down the tubes for the Austin. I had already decided not to plunge into anything too deep on the Austin with the Southwest Missouri Drag Racing Hall of Fame ceremony set up looming in the late afternoon. But I did work on Dad's '32 a bit. Changed out the electric fan from a very aggressive and noisy puller to a much more appropriate pusher that hides behind the grill. I also installed a headliner in it before the show. By the way, I got to meet "wrenchbender" from this site and put a face with an avatar. It was a pleasuring hanging with you Mr. Jackson.

 

So Sunday my daughter flies out to Atlanta (mid afternoon) so I really wanted to keep it simple in the shop but at least try and accomplish some of the little things that need completed. The goal, install the oil pressure, water temp and boost gauges....how hard could that be.


It is a little hard to see because the bright flashback from the white headers, but just above the spark plug (half covered up by the header flange) is the passenger side plug where the temp sensor installs. So here is what I am thinking, I still have to install the crank case evacuation system which requires removing the header anyway so lets get it done this morning and while it is off make the needed flange edit to get to the plug.


So I took the plasma cutter and notched the flange and then cleaned it up with a sanding disk on the grinder.


Then I drilled a 7/8" hole in the main header tube just below the collector. After I drilled the hole I sort of wobbled it out to make it oblong so the tube went in at the right angle to make the whole vacuum deal work.


After playing with the oblong hole a few more times I got the tube in side the header .75" and at just the right angle (according to the drawing on the instructions). Finally a set of instructions I can understand! LOL


Then we welded it in place and did a bit of clean up grinding. This thing is on the inside of the header collector (towards the chassis). You will have to look for it to even see it. Finally, since the header was looking rough anyway from the build, we sanded any areas that needed it and did a quick light scuff on the rest of it. Finally we re-shot with three more coats of the white VHT header paint and two coats of the Satin Clear VHT header coating.


I really like the finish this time around. The clear has given it a really nice smooth (and hopefully a bit of stain resistant) finish. The first time around the flat white seemed a bit chalky and susceptible to getting dirty by just having someone look in its general direction. We shall see how this all works out.

 

So meanwhile back at the head plug. Between letting welds cool down and layers of VHT drying etc., we kept working our way back to the plug in the head that started all this today. As you might have noticed in the above post, it is an original plug with the square hole in the middle (somewhere off in the distance I hear ominous music playing).

These are usually a serious pain in the backside to remove. So before we even started we put some heat to it. Finally, I stuck the standard 3/8" ratchet head in it and gave it some pressure. No go! In fact the ratchet head was a bit too small for it and felt as though it would round it out a bit if we continued. I did not have a square bit so while we let it set with penetrating oil all over it, I took a large grade 8 bolt and made one. After a few final grinding adjustments, I had a square bit that fit perfect, in fact you had to tap it place (excellent)!

I welded a nut on the end and went back after the nasty little plug. However after putting a breaker bar on it and some crazy pressure with a 4' pipe on the bar, all I managed to do was twist the grade 8 bolt tool in half! At this point, I broke one of my cardinal rules (when faced with an unmovable object, recognize it for it "steadfastness" and walk around it). But I had already modified the header flange and everything...(famous last words)!

So with heat, penetrating oils, and pressure so far coming up short, I had another idea (a bad idea). Carefully start drilling the plug out just large enough to get rid of the square and just deep enough to get my extractor bit in it. After doing just that, I was back on it with the beaker bar and pipe. I did manage to turn the extractor but not the plug. The teeth in the extractor dug in and as I turned it simply cut their way deeper into the plug. After about a half turn with the plug not moving at all, I backed it out to discover I had not only chewed up the sides but also penetrated the back of the plug. Now we are committed or should be committed which ever the case maybe!

I went ahead and carefully drilled the hole larger making sure not to get into the threads. The plan was now try and break what was left of the plug loose from the threads. But no go, even that last 1/16" of material seamed to be welded in place. So now we are done. At this point, the only thing we can do is carefully drill the plug out a bit more to clean it up and drive an 11/16" freeze plug in place and try our luck with the other side.

So reluctantly I headed over to the other side (the dark side of the shop) and took the header off. I pulled a light over to take a look at the next victim and what I saw nearly made me throw up. There was a brand new allen head plug in this side. It was black same as the head but with the light, I could clearly see white Teflon tape around the outer edge. It was obvious the plug had to have been put in place after we painted the head. I looked around the back of the Supercharger at Dad tightening the freshly painted header and said what do you know about the plug on this side?

He said what do you mean? I said did you put this plug in here? He didn't remember doing it nor do I, but one of us after the heads were painted did. I put the allen wrench in and with very little effort at around 8 p.m. unscrewed the plug and installed the coolant sensor in its place. So putting it on the driver's side took less than a minute and the failed attempt at installing it on the passenger side took the better part of the day! But hey, look at the bright side, both my headers match!

 

Ugh! Better you than me!

 

But I did get the vacuum lines ran for the boost referenced power valves:



I have two ports on the back of the blower intake to use for vacuum/boost. I decided to use them both. One side I ran to the carbs and the other side I will run to the gauge.

 

And speaking of filling up holes, I installed the crank case evacuation heads into the valve covers with absolutely no modifications what so ever. I actually stepped out of the shop and looked around to make sure I was in the right garage! LOL!




AND! Believe it or not between dropping those pieces in and picking up a simple oil cap at the auto parts store, I filled every last hole in these vintage beauties! The only thing I have to do now is remove the riser breathers that I added a while back and block the holes I drilled for them to breath (they were prior to the evac. system decision).

 

Nice to meet you as well So you gonna fire this thing up now I'll be listening at my house I'll probly hear it lol

 

We are getting close. I warned my neighbors yesterday that it is eminent. I live in a really quiet, sort of historic part of Republic. We are definitely going to rattle some windows!

 

You will consume oil so watch your oil level

Sent from my LG-LS980 using H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Understood. I have ran this type of system before and you are correct. I am wondering though if today's synthetic oils might make a difference in the kind or amount of oil vapor inherent to this evacuation process?

 

Well there is the driver's side plug from the earlier post, removed and the 30 second install of the temp sensor. LOL


And believe it or not the original oil galley plug at the front of the block came right on the first try. Obviously it saw what happened to the last plug that crossed me!

 

So with the mechanical ends of the boost, oil pressure and water temp in place, I saw no reason not to move ahead and install the gauges. To begin with I chose their spots in the dash and mounted them. Then prewired all the lights both ground and power lines. I also installed the ground for the fuel and volt gauges.


After feeding the appropriate lines though the firewall, the original (albeit heavily modified) center dash slid right back into place.


So after sitting in the seat and making launch noises (and even planting myself back hard in the seat several times) LOL...I discovered there is an issue. I have a big "sun style" chrome tach that looks really cool and I was excited to put in place, but there is no room. The chopped top eliminates putting it anywhere on the dash. I mean the view is already crazy limited with the blower sticking up there like a "Hot Wheels" car on steroids!

The only place I could put it that was anywhere near functional was on the steering column right in front of my "comic relief" Cessna Horizon gauge that is installed in the dash. If you are lost, see post 41 on page 2 of this thread (MAN THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO!) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/austin-somerset-gasser-build.859106/page-2


So after a lot of thought and considerable whining, I decided to go this direction, this little 3.5" in dash tach is scheduled to arrive today and I am going to put it in place of the Cessna gauge. I know, I know it was a really funny bit but I have to think about function and that is really the only place to put the tach and rightfully so. Plus it matches the rest of the gauges. I am going to build a special box for the horizon indicator and mount it right under the dash where folks can still get a good laugh from it.

 

Looking good.
If that is a plastic oil line you may want to change it out for some copper.
Some tracks don't like the plastic lines.

 

Good call...I have a copper line kit sitting at the parts store waiting on me. I have to pull it all apart tonight to install the tach anyway so I will swap it out. Should have known better in the first place (brain fade). Thanks.

 

One more thing, please lose the wire nuts and replace them with proper connectors.

Roo

 

The caps are just insulators. The lines are all soldered together. I was out of heat shrink.