Projects Giant speedster project

Multitasking

I'm getting the dash and firewall and rear wood thing (the piece of wood that caps off the back of the chassis) ready for spraying with clear urethane. To do this I'm taking them over to a vacant unit I've got and setting the pieces up in a little office. It's the only place I've got that's relatively dust free. Once that's done I can permanently mount the dash and firewall. I've been waiting for the sign shop to print out the stencil so I can etch the instrument panel. Once the dash and firewall are installed I can wire up the engine--which shouldn't but a day--then actually start up the speedster and drive it. The sign guy says he'll get to it this week. Other than that I'm also making the metal to hold the roll on top of the door. It's got a real good twist to it so I can't make it out of the same heavy stuff I made the piece behind the cockpit. Therefore I used a 1/4" rod to give it a little stiffness. Seems to work. Once the roll and routing are done I'll get back on the upholstery.

Jerry

 

I took some pictures of a Hispano Suiza speedster at a Miller Meet some years ago for upholstery ideas. Looks like a simple overlap, and a button halfway down.

 

Awesome speedster! I don't know why I'm trying to be fancier than Hispano Suiza. Probably should have stayed with my original rat rod concept.

Jerry

 

hey that Hispano Suiza has a third seat hint

 

H. Suiza got nuthin on me. I got a third seat too. Might not get around to upholstering it for a while though.

I sprayed the dash and stuff today. I'll have to wet sand and buff them still. Left my camera at home so you'll have to try and imagine what the pieces really look like. Then I worked more on the roll retainer (you like that name?) on top of the door. One more to go. They're a pain to make! Still waiting on the sign guy.

Jerry

 

@#$%! Chip!

I chipped the paint! I knew it would happen. Here's how it came about. I was mounting the right door and as I shut it gently, it touched the bottom sill and chipped the paint. There will be more. The rest of the day I spent wet sanding and buffing the wood pieces. I could have mounted the firewall but the rod connecting the radiator to the firewall had to have longer threads cut on it and then repainted. So tomorrow maybe I can get things mounted.

Jerry

 

OK...You got the first chip out of the way. No excuses now, get on with it and put that thing together!

 

Have you thought about finishing your wood with a varnish or other oil-based finish? The reason is that with poly the finish will not age - it will always look the same - as opposed to generating a patina.

BTW your level of attention to detail is inspiring. Well done.

 

Really? I'm going to spray some of that on my face. Wait, my wife says it's too late. Damn! The varnish just took forever to dry and I'm a man in a hurry. The firewall is in. Pictures tomorrow.

Jerry

 

I was wondering about when the sacrificial chip would happen ...funny that the thought entered my head about when it happened...A little blood spilled the in that spot and it will be fine. Hey the damn steering wheel what about the steering wheel

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I'm SO glad you only said that you thought about spraying it on your face...

I heard that there's going to be a seperate "Giant Speedster Steering Wheel" thread starting up soon!

 

Damn, left my camera at the shop again. I'm going back tonight during Alex's hapkido lesson and get it. Stay tuned for a late post.

Jerry

 

Two days

Two days of work and not much to show for it. I got the firewall in for good which meant I had to mount the rod that stabilizes the radiator. It can't just mount to the wood so I had to make a little sleeve that went through the firewall and hit the aluminum cowl. Then I had to make a fancy brass plate to cover the sleeve. The rod wasn't threaded long enough so I had to extend the threads. Ever try and hold a 3/8 rod and thread it without buggering up the rod? I clamped it in the lathe chuck. Of course the paint got ruined so I had to strip it and repaint it. That took all day. Today I made up the brass plate on the other side of the dash. I had it fashioned by lunch but there was some interference between it and the door so I spend hours adjusting the hinges and grinding here and there to make the thing acceptable. I've about given up on the sign guy and went over to retrieve my instrument panel. I want to go for a drive! He was closed. I'll see him Monday.

Jerry

 

not to late to go underslung?

 

The next one.

Jerry

 

Ok..... ")

 

I'm thinking like this.

 

Uh-oh, did you just reveal your next project? That looks cool, but hopefully your version will be finished and as nicely detailed as The Special.

 

That looks like my Buick project.

 

There you go...Thinking again.

 

Next time try adding a drying agent. Japan or somesuch.

 

Steering wheel ...

 

I was actually discussing the steering wheel with Don today. He says 8 segments with two overlapping layers. If I was more of a wood worker I'd try something like this website. http://woodworkerszone.com/wiki/index.php?title=A_Wooden_Steering_Wheel

Jerry

 

I made everything except the steering wheel ?

 

You should be able to knock that out in between visits from travelling monks and squirrel hunting...

 

Just found this thread, I'm going to start reading the entire post from the beginning now instead of the first and and last page. Hope there is a video of the engine running in there somewhere...

 

That's what I was thinkin'. Maybe just buy a big old vintage wooden steering wheel for your project. Or, maybe buy one that needs new wood and perform your wood-working magic on it.

Really looking forward to seeing your speedster headin' down the road, Jerry.
Umm...you know...hopefully with someone driving...lol.

 

Here is your new wheel.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wooden-Ship...s-Wheel-Nautical-Steering-Wheel-/221136410020

Now can we get this thing on the road.

 

a wheel wrapped for grip could have any sort of heritage ... maybe from a pizza delivery or speed boat or tool
???

 

Not big enough. The OD needs to be 19 3/4 inches. ID 17 inches. Don says he's going to make it. This means maybe if he feels like it.

Jerry