Projects Giant speedster project

Just run a broom handle through the bender, how difficult could it be?

 

rather fond of this...almost big enough for your car. 19" od, 16 1/4" id. took half a case of corona to make.

 

I have a wheel almost just like that one. Love the cord! I contacted a wheel guy who will make me a dandy wheel out of walnut for $135 which is a pretty good price but Don has indicated he wants to make one. That could mean trouble.

Jerry

 

One small step for...

I figure if I'm going to drive the speedster I better be able to get into the driver's seat. That means putting on the running board even if there's no fenders. Somehow I had everything on and fitted before dismantling things for painting. But now after painting--nothing seems to fit. The paint has distorted the frame and body. It's the only answer. With the running boards on I'll have to finish the intermediate step. The intermediate step on the driver's side is going to be my champagne cooler. Nice! I'll get to that later. For now one step will do. The sign guy promises the instrument panel will be done in a couple of days. From the thumbnails the photos looked like they really sucked, I think I bumped the settings. Better tomorrow. Bad, bad pics!


Jerry

 

go mang

 

The way that exhaust runs, the champagne should go on the other side, or it would he the champagne heater!

Keep the warm food on the drivers side, kept toasty by the exhaust.

 

The car is right hand drive.

 

Steering Wheel

"A man's got to know his limitations." Three points if you can name the actor and movie. In the interest of time and quality (I'm remembering the paint and upholstery) I've decided to go professional on the steering wheel. Thanks to Jack Innes for recommending Kevin Allen. He makes nifty steering wheels for a very reasonable price and even builds speedster bodies. I probably should have had him build mine. Here's his website: www.woodbykevinallen.com I know you guys wanted me to make the wheel so you could revel in my failure but seriously I have enough failures here.

Jerry

 

that looks like a trimmed off outer edge from a stuffed crust pizza .. something you have had access to all along who knew?

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch.

I stopped by the sign guy--that's Michael at Mountain Country Signs--and he had my instrument panel ready. He really did a nice job. The designs might be a little over the top but you have to have a little something for the ladies. I'll have to do some experimenting with the nitric acid before I put any on my instrument panel. BTW, that perforated metal is going to be the heat shield on the exhaust. Next I put some supports on the second step then cut out a piece of .25 aluminum to go on top. I wanted a shoebox type lid even though there's nothing to open. There's really no strength involved so I figured what-the-hell who needs TIG or Heliarc. I thought I might try some of that low temperature aluminum brazing rod you see guys sell at the car flea markets. I bought some Hobart rods at Tractor Supply. I flows on real nice and bonds good and strong. It's actually more like soldering than brazing. We'll see what it looks like whe I clean up the weld tomorrow.

Jerry

 

Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force

How many points do I have now?

 

Absolutely correct! You're up to 37.4 points! That qualifies you for a free can of Fix-a-Flat. Hold on while our operators get you information.

 

Soylent Green is people!

No wait, I didn't mean to say that. What I meant to say was: Low temperature aluminum welding rod isn't aluminum it's zinc! I just found that out. That's why you can use it to weld carburetor float bowls and die cast stuff. Zinc! Schmink! Who cares? It's still got an incredibly high strength and you don't need a TIG unit. Oh, yeah, it's only mostly zinc--with a smattering of other metals thrown in. You do have to grind a bit. And hey, how many people can weld and make it look like whipped cream? Now picture that step with a SEAGRAVE script on one end and the Seagrave logo on the other. Now picture the perforated heat shield in place. Now picture... Enough with the picturing already. I'm getting a headache.

Jerry

 

I think I'd rather continue to accrue the points. I'm shooting for that cast-off pizza-pan-hubcap!

Did you say you can weld/braze/solder zinc into whipped cream or shaving cream????

 

now now now ...was there ever a prior weight to compare with the slimmed down ,modified for speed , aerodynamicaly fluid condition of the "gird my bloody loins speedster " weighs now...?

 

Big party at paperdog's house this weekend to celebrate that we just went over 500,000 views! Congratulations everyone! Couldn't have done it without you.

Jerry

 

Ugly is to the bone!

I spent half the day bending and fitting the perforated shield under the step and when it was done I stepped back and took a look. That thing was UGLY! It looked like some kind of RF shield in the back an old tube radio. I ripped it out. So I got to thinking. The other side has a wine cooler. I'm going to insulate it with cork and line it with galvanized tin to look like an old ice box. I've even got a brass builders plate from an old ice box. This side has the exhaust pipe running through it. Mmmm. Heat. Then it hit me. PIZZA OVEN! I can build a box with a door and cook pizza while I drive! Rolls owners have those fancy picnic boxes with plate and cups and Grey Poupon and stuff, but I'll have cold beer (or Chablis) and hot pizza. Hot damn!

Jerry

 

Pizza oven? Maybe a hot dog cooker and bun warmer...it's an ex-fire engine after all!

 

Pizza oven? Genius! So how about delivering one to me when you get her going? Say pepperoni and mushroom? It's only a couple (thousand) miles........................

 

Well yeah! We gotta have pizza!

 

Ha! Now that's hilarious.

Did you make a final decision on taillights? Found this image over on the taillight thread:


And...

 

Jerry,

It might cut into the Pizza business but have you thought of lagging the pipe with rope ( fireproof stove door seal type)? This is often used on steam pipes in steamboats. The picture below shows the method but it is on household hot water pipes - could not find a good picture of a steam pipe.

 

were ready.... we bought 2 gallons of milk on the way home

 

Next will be recipes and advice for driving times to match food doness.
look up" hay box cooker " your almost there ..

 

I worry that without that shield your paint will blister near the exhaust? Maybe only 1/4 circumference on the body side for that shield? I doubt anyone knows how hot that pipe will get on this motor

 

Jerry
Just so you know it is a piping 4 degrees at Paperdog's house this morning.

 

4 degrees? No problem! We move the party to paperdog's shop. Fire up the woodstove.

 

Jack, I was going to wrap the pipes with 1" flat wrap but I like the look of rope. I'll check it out.

 

paperdog, don't you have a copy of Manifold Destiny?

http://www.amazon.com/Manifold-Destiny-Guide-Cooking-Engine/dp/1416596232

 

HEY where is everybody?
its 17 degrees now..
ITS GETS DARK HERE AT 4:30....
Hope the crab dip keeps for 3-4 days