Projects Introducing the Roofus Special

It's pretty cool here in eastern North Carolina...gotta imagine its at least as cool in Kentycky!

Updates?

 

Nope. I've been playing with a 54 studebaker coupe.

 

Hi flipper. I am also building a boat tailed speedster with an jag motor. Would love to see some pics of yours, none of the photos in this thread are showing up.


Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.

 

I can see some pics now. I think the problem might of been partially on my side. Thanks for posting and just to make you feel better I have been working on my build since 2002!



Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.

 

Do you have any pictures posted anywhere of your project?

 

No. I haven't been around the forum for very long and I'm not sure if it's 'hamb friendly'!

 

sent you p.m.

 

No progress, but the guys at work are giving me ****....so maybe I will get back on it. Thinking of going 4 cylinder. That jag motor is kinda heavy for my unproven "engineering" choices.

 

Still taking up space on the workbench....holding c-clamps mostly.

 

Ever finish the Stude?

 

Still working on it....

 

Multiple project-itis... I hear it's been going around for a while, hits some of us pretty hard.
Just giving you a hard time - I've spent several nights this past week or so reading through this thread - dude, you've got some great ingenuity here! Keep at it! Revisit your inspiration photos or whatever it takes to get the juices flowing again.
Like several others, I've got a hankering for a speedster / boattail racer too. Even picked up an old tractor gas tank that has the right shape. Now I just need the rest of the car...
Ok, enough about me, this is your thread. Git back to it!!

 

Any updates ???

4 years, 4 months since last progress
I don't know if I can wait any longer

Mike(y) in NW N OR
(ex KY)

 

You will have to wait for a long time. Flipper changed course. He's now working on a '54 Stude coupe.

 

Maybe not too much longer, dad and I have been talking about the boat tail with dad's new next door neighbor. The juices are starting to flow again.

 

How does that song go? ...."You've got to prime the pump...."

Not trying to rush you @Flipper, we just need our next fix!

 

How about one of the old Atlas engines? Namely GM Vortec 2900. 185 HP stock. Keep it "old skool" by going with a Chevy 181 or the Pontiac slant-four 195 (1/2 a 389). I-H made a couple of slant 4's as well.
All of these engines are inline 4-cylinder and capable of making pretty good power.

 

I'm ditching the sketchy A-arms and switching to Jaguar XKE control arms thanks to marketplace.

Hopefully I can make this work without having to redo EVERYTHING.

 

At least the Jag arms are made to just bolt on. Alignment with shims?

 

I think so. that is what i plan on doing.

Arm is threaded onto cross shaft....caster can be adjusted by screwing the cross shaft. Not exactly pretty, but they should be way stronger. (Pic for reference for what they could look like if painted)

 

Looks good, Flipper!

 

For them to have been bought on a wild ***ed guess that they might work....they are pretty close.

Uppers the way they would be on an XKE


Uppers mounted on the wrong side


Lowers are close enough that mounting pad design could make it work.

 

Damn it's hot in Memphis right now. I was thinking about playing with the xke suspension bits. ....nope.

 

Hey, if it helps, you guys will eventually get our weather and we're in for a big cool down starting tomorrow. We were in the 90's yesterday. Tomorrow, mid 70's.
Hope you see our weather soon.
...btw, are you still thinking about going with a 4-cylinder? Would be cool if you could snag an Offenhauser.

 

An Offy is definitely out of my price range...although it would be cool. I will probably stick with the jag motor. It's a big fat pig and only 160 horsepower, but I don't need a real racecar engine in this thing.

Sorry it took so long to reply.

 

Ok maybe it isn't as big fat pig-ish as I was thinking. The 1954 version that I have is the 160 hp version. This 1960 model is supposedly 210 hp. It is definitely more rev happy.

 

Step up to a 4.2, its 260ish hp. Its only an inch taller than the 3.4.

 

This one is paid for. It will do me just fine. It makes pretty noises and should make this go-kart go fast enough.

I need to get off of my *** and start playing again.

 

The Crosley Hot Shot roadster only had 26.5 hp out of 44 cubic inches (748cc). It was a stellar performer since it only weighed 1100 pounds. It had a better power to weight ratio than most larger cars. It's not always about engine size...

 

Yeah, lightness goes a long way.

This jag motor isn't light even with the aluminum head and intake. From what I've read, 687 lbs for engine and trans....but it looks cool and sounds so good with the factory split headers. I'm tempted to throw some big cams at it just for fun.