Back in Black! rpu build thread

the only thing i see wrong with it...

it might be to nice to drive.

seriously.

 

Full credit for your perseverance Dan, Its a real nice car to be proud of

 

Dan, from day one this has been one of the badassedest RPU's going. Great job and really well thought out all along - just can't wait to see pics (or vid) of it MOVING!

 

Congrats thus far,

I think he meant doing donuts & broadside up the street.....

Cheers, and get er done,

Drewfus

 

Hi Dan,

I noticed you seats are mounted very low. Can you provide details on how your mounting them?

 

Nope, it's top secret

It's kind of one of those "it is what it is" kind of things. The car being channeled so far suffers from losing interior room, so risers are out, unless I make the seats 10" tall

It is honestly more comfy/roomy than it looks. Not new caddy comfy, but I'll smile plenty once I can drive it.

I am going to weld a couple of front-to-back supports under the floor to bolt the seats to thru the bottom pan of the seat where the supports are in the seat. Attached is an earlier picture of my subframe with some photochopped mounts to give you an idea of what I mean. BTW, are you driving the sedan yet-we need a video!

Dan

 

Well, here's a tip Dan. If you want to be like me and be able to drive your car, you need to be like me and say "That's good enough".

My car is far from perfect, still not finished and has a lot of things I need to re-do, but as you point out, I can drive it. I'll still be working on mine long after you are cruising trouble free miles.

Pete

 

What kind of steering setup are you running? Sorry if i missed it if its posted already

 

Stunning.

 

Yeah, I finally came to my senses on that one, it'd be way too much.

Pete, I am with you. I have taken a little break the past month on the car, zero progress. Work has been really occupying a ton of time, plus I needed the break. This car (in one of its MANY forms) has now occupied many years of my life. It has also consumed every penny of cash that existed. I wouldn't trade this time for anything, but I need to wrap it up.

Still on the fence on this one, but I MAY satin the body myself and, well, actually DRIVE the freaking thing for a while. Though I feel the car deserves better, another part is tired from not seeing light at the end of the tunnel. And a paint job like I WANT isn't cheap, even starting with new sheet metal. Once I get to that point it will only delay it many more months to save $$$$$ for paint.

So the bottom line, I dunno...

Time will tell, to be continued.............................








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starting to sound like me, buddy. Get a move on. You don't wanna be associated with me, do you?

 

With my recent RPU addiction I read this whole thread and want more.

Updates?

Great ride and really inspiring.
-Tyson

 

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Dan whilst on holiday and the car looks even better in the flesh thanks for the hospitality Dan.

Dan i reckon a real pale gloss green will look great and top it off with some dark green and off white striping You done a real nice job so far.

 

Dan! Didn'y you hear what I said? Get a move on!

Get that sucker in primer and sealer, then host a BBQ for your painter friends on the HAMB and make 'em bring their skills! Dead broke accomplishment is what we do, Buddy!

 

I've seen the build up of your car over many months well done to you !! Time money patience and oh did I mention time........
I have my forty ford for many years and Im still tinkering and trying to "finish it" I think that some times we just have to make do and enjoy.............go and have some fun with it buddy................you know you want to !!

 

No sense punishing yourself Dan, just because the car deserves better. You are right, it does deserve nice paint but just between you and me, it won't know the difference. If you do prime it and drive it for a while, you're not selling anyone short, including the car. You'll be doing what guys have been doing for years and you'll love it.

It's funny. Lot's of stuff I wanted just right on my car is now either scratched, chipped, oily or covered in dust....road dust. And I don't care. Neither does the car.

Drive the fucking thing!

Pete

 

Even Kangaroo shit !

 

Man, I've kinda dropped off the radar for a while now! I honestly have not made much progress for a variety of reasons. Work has been really crazy, & I kind of needed a break. BUT, I am really anxious to get back on it again.

My & me dad & brother are heading to Daytona tomorrow for the Turkey Run. I am REALLY excited to go. My brother & dad will have there cars there, AGAIN. Me, not so much

I am so looking forward to finally getting to relax, go the the swap meet, & hang with my family. It is exactly what I need, & I know that seeing all those, umm, what do they call them, "completed cars" will get my ready to wrap mine up. Thanks for the interest guys, the pushes help keep you going sometimes

Dan

I'm with you my friend! Depending on finances & all that, I very well may go that route. Even if it is satin for now(or forever) It'll be fine. Thanks for the push

What's up Steve! Me & my dad really had a great time meeting you & Sue, we had a blast hanging out. You inspired me to get back on the project again too. Maybe I'll steal that wooden doll we saw in the restaurant to the paint store for a color match

Call me in Daytona, we hope to see you there Steve

Man you got that right. As a friend of mine says, "sometimes good enough is good enough"! I am definitely at the point that I would rather enjoy it that work on it forever

Pete, you are 100% correct. Its funny how it works. Even though my car has never been driven, it still isn't as "fresh" as it was just months ago, & all it's done is sit in the shop..... I'll see how the shiny vs. not so shiny thing plays out. Thanks for the push Pete, I appreciate!

Dan

Yummy

 

Scotty, I think I'm about to have a rustoleum party
I truly can define dead broke, it's the accomplishment part I need to work on

 

Dan you are just about there. Do what ever it takes to get her on the road.

Work out the little bugs that you will encounter and paint it when time and funds are available.

 

Well I am happy to finally have some progress to post! I have really had zero time to work on the car in the past months, so it felt great to spend some time with it today. I used a Kugel under dash m/c, & needed some way to be able to get to the m/c to check/add fluid.

I picked up a Brookville 32' cowl vent assembly at the Turkey Run(with help from dad, thanks pops!). The Brookville guys are awesome. We spent some time bs'ing with them, they are a great group of guys.

I decided to try to trim the cowl panel very close to the opening to minimize warping from welding. I left 1/4" around the vent opening, & cut it out. I cut out the cowl panel, and drilled 1/2" holes with a unibit in the corners. I found while welding in patch panels that it is WAY easier to keep an undetectable seem by cutting radiused corners instead of sharp 90 degree corners. Here's the start of the cowl cut-out:



I then cut out the straight cuts & had the cowl cut-out done. I then trimmed the cowl panel, and after a while of patient cutting/grinding, I had this:



I forced myself to be patient with the welding, skipping around & doing short sections, letting it cool before continuing. After a while of welding, & careful grinding, I had this:



I was REALLY pleased with the end result! VERY little distortion, everything stayed really straight. Here's some pics with the vent installed:





It gives me great access to the m/c, & I am thrilled that the cowl vent clears the m/c fine in all positions:



I also got the seats mounted to the subframe. It felt real good to spend time working on the car again, & I really like the look that the cowl vent gives. I think it will give some nice ventilation too, if I ever actually get to drive the car

Thanks for looking guys


Dan









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Splendid work Dan, It looks a treat

 

Hey Dan...
It's great to see you back on the project.
As usual SPLENDID work! Real talent.
I hope to get near mine again someday. Life just seems to keep getting in the way.
But I want to drive mine before life stops getting in the way all together... if you know what I mean. So for me... "good enough" is safe and good looking, not perfect.
Keep on keepin on.

 

I absolutely love the seats! I want to do something similar in my '47.
Did you buy them, or fabricate them?

If you fabricated, did you work from plans?

 

Doc, can you give me somethin for my eyes, they are burning!! Shing-A-Ling!! ~Sololobo~

 

Hahaha... that's what I was thinking... I've waiting for three years to run against you at Mokan and finally sold the Roadster after 26,000 I guess I'll have to build another and wait until you finish your Roadster before we can run them!!!

 

I like cowl vents.

 

That cowl vent was a great idea for m/c access and it looks like it belongs there!

Awesome job on the install...as uaual,Dan!!
Thanks for the update and keep on rockin!

 

cowl vent is a great addition...