The T body will get massaged onto four front fenders to get that speedster look... Lots of fun fabbing ahead! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Will try and finish engine mounts tomorrow... Or at least start! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Kinda like this... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
It would go beyond massaging into surgery. If you're OK with the flow of the body being disrupted at the cowl, you can do it, but I don't think you'll ever be happy with it. You'd be MUCH better off not hacking up the Tudor and finding a Touring body or at least a cowl. They are out there and tend to be fairly inexpensive.
Thank you for the insight... I guess we will see. If I hacked that body to nothing it wouldn't be a total loss! On with the mounts... Found 2 fender struts from an old chopper build 3/8" thick steel. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
After 30-40 mins of grinding, belt sanding and rolloc disks... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
A quick test fit... Ok so I need to get engine in place and line up my angles... To judge where the bottom portion of the mounts will sit. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Just my observation but with a boat-tail speedster style build, not addressing any of the other, obvious fabrication issues, is the wheel-base you have, now, not too long? (No measurements have been given.) I read through all of this build and think you are totally insane, but then so what? We all are, in our own way. If I were going to build a speedster like you envision I'd just build a buck for it and wrap the idea in aluminum. Get yourself an English wheel, a shot bag and some plastic hammers and start building panels. (Google up the Blastolene Special, I think that's the correct spelling, for ideas. One crazy car. I think Leno owns it, now.) That's the way the cars you posted examples of were built, for the most part, and were one-off specials, or limited production models. I'm like you, I love boat-tailed cars and would build one myself if I had the money. Also, if you have an air hammer, buck riveting is doable and looks miles ahead of pop-rivets. It would allow you to mix and match panels without a lot welding (though I know you can do that, too). I have high hopes for your efforts and considering the piece of rust the body you have is in, I'd probably build something else, too. I mean that. The real problem is by going too European, American hand-made body, you lose the flavor of the Hot Rod style. I think this is the dividing line that has turned off those who were enthusiastic early on. No offense intended but they had expectations that are being abandoned and we all know disappointment is like pissing on the fire. If you're by yourself, only you and you dog will know. If you're with a group it has other results. In this case a lot of folks have been following this thread thinking you were going to pull a Tall T Hot Rod out of your hat, after a lot of thrashin' and cussin'. I know you get my drift. Sporty cars are not everyone's cup of tea, and boat tail cars have a certain whang to them not everyone hies to, especially folks who talk, eat, breathe, dream mostly Hot Rod Fords. No matter what the outcome, you are the one who will live with whatever little monster you bring into the world, good, bad or indifferent. And, through this all, you have gained my respect even if you take one of the wheels off and build a side car on it. Carl
Wow Carl! Thanks for the words, they mean a lot. I hope not to upset anyone, that has never been my intent and many have helped me in my quest of de-ratting. This T body will be used, in a custom form (read as: absorbed into my dream) I am on my own, with no group and a cat named: you guessed it, Whisky! I am probably more certifiable than insane also... But it comes with the territory... For people expecting a chopped T, the process will start similarly but then end there. I really need to build this for me now, and have never felt this strongly until I started de-ratting... Whisky Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thanks Daddio! Just as long as you still accept me I will refrain from killing myself... From working on this T that is! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Finished bolting up the motor mounts (part 1) But really need my transmission to go any further setting up the pinion angle etc... More to follow on that. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
In the meantime I cleaned up the bellhousing with scotchbrite green pads... the bolts... And attached... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
switched to the plasma cutter... And then went back and forth between the PC and reciprocating saw... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The body will have the tail grafted on along with the fenders... Lot more fabbing to come... I can't believe how rusty this body is/was and how much work it still needs! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
in the interim the top of the body is being used a coat hanger... Lol Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
