Hot Rods Modified Murray - Race to the road! Progress in Review!

Headers look great Scott! I finally bought myself a plasma cutter for doing brackets and such best thing I ever did.

 

This is why I cannot build something this intense and stick to the brackets that Henry or others make is that I cannot afford to build my cars let alone buy the tools to make them better haha!!

 

LOL well I saved for quite a while to get it.

I figured by the time I added up all the money I spend on cutoff wheels, saw blades, grinding wheels and sanding disks to make brackets it wouldn't take long for the plasma cutter to pay itself off not to mention the time saved.

 

I can't get over how nice those headers turned out. You are a badass.

 

Thanks everyone! And thanks Cactus1! I'm pretty stoked they turned out like the vision... Just with the drive 35/36 drive shaft wouldn't have had so much pitting. Going to take a ton more work to get them out. GAH!

We have a plasma cutter in the shop, but it's kind of hard to cut such small pieces when they're this thick. I can't seem to get a good cut with our plasma on anything much thicker than 1/8". So, I cut it with the grinder. I only used 3/4 of a cutting wheel... But DAMN it made a MESS!

 

What size Plasma do you have? Mine is the smallest one that Miller makes and I can do 3/8" if I go slow enough. Might need a new tip.

When I do small stuff like brackets I usually make undersized pattern out of some thin hardboard and just use it for a guide. Makes for way less cleanup and grinding and easier to get it precise compared to freehanding it.

 

Yeah, that is definitely a tool I'm not graceful with! It will cut up to 1/2", but 1/4" much more comfortably. Lots of slag and edges aren't any better than flame cut. Tried wood patterns when I made the gas tank mounts. Still took a TON of work to clean them up.

Maybe I've killed the tip... (shrug)

GREAT tip!!! I'm going to keep that in mind! These headers will NOT be chromed, so I'm not too worried about it. Black jet coat. Evil.

 

Plenty of air pressure! I usually have the regulator between 90 and 120 psi, and it's a huge compressor. I usually turn it up over the recommended setting when cutting. Seems like it has a hard time blowing through, though. I hold it virtually ON the material (sometimes actually on it, even though they say not to) and it seems to just sit there and blow molten metal everywhere but through the work piece.

I try to clean the work piece, but sometimes don't get all the grey scale off. Should that matter?? Any other troubleshooting worth mentioning?? Sure would make my life easier if I could use this thing without making such a mess of the parts.

 

I always run my tip right on the metal never had a problem. I also always start on an edge and move in to the piece. I find I get the same results as you if I start in the middle of a piece of steel. I never remove any of the mill scale before I use it.

 

Crap. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I try to go super slow. Sometimes what I would consider TOO slow, but I'm going as slow as I am to give it time to blow thru. But when it doesn't it's like it just pools the metal and creates havoc until I have a big orange puddle. It DOES seem that there's not enough pressure from that description right there, but I can't turn it up any higher. Maybe the air pressure is dropping extra before it comes out of the gun/torch??

 

I would try a new tip first they wear out pretty quickly especially if you are blowing slag all over the place.

 

it s really looking great Scoot. Man if I had just one small protion of your talent, determination and patience, my cars would look a hell of a lot better than they do now.

On the other hand maybe I should just hire you to redo the back of my cab.

 

HAHA! Probably! I'll take a look... I'm guessing it's just trashed.

 

Thanks man! And hey! I told you I would help you with your cab!

 

Small update...

Linkage is setup! Still have to do a few more alterations and put all the CORRECT hardware on, but mechanically it's functional now.

Brackets welded up. TIG welded it. Still need a TON of practice, but just have to keep plugging away at it if I want to get better.



Had these linkage arms that were a little heavier duty than the ones on my carbs, but I didn't really like how they looked. They were polished right out of the foundry and were pretty rough on the back side, complete with saw marks. So I cleaned them up and repolished them a bit...





Also had to replace the sliding link for the progressive part of the linkage. The original was aluminum and WAY too sticky! And it marred the second the set screws for the collars were tightened down. So I made a new one out of stainless and that solved that issue.





Then it was on to assembling and adjusting everything...









Starting to really look crazy!!! Those orange wires drive me absolutely CRAZY, though!!! BARF!!!! I'll get to those later, though....





Next I have to figure out where to mount this monstrosity!

 

Nice linkage!

 

Nice work Scootie Tang! Those brackets turned out great and the linkage looks great as well. You know with all that's going on you engine would be hurt by hiding those wires under the stock VC caps across the top. Just a though.

As for that Fuel filter? Shit man, I have not idea where that's going to mount. You have no room left!!!

 

Any reason you couldn't mount it under the body somewhere?

 

I think you want that regulator as close to the carbs as possible so the pressure is as close to desired amount. The further you get the less reliable, but then again you have a gauge right there on the log so you can adjust it to get exactly what you need so it might work.

 

Scott, That intake set up is just bitchin' ! You sure have some time and thought in it's prepartion. Looks really good.

Dave

 

Thanks guys!

I want the regulator to be right on the fire wall. I have a place for it, but I have to do some interesting things to the aluminum fire wall insert as well as make funky bracket to go behind it. I want the length of hose going from the regulator to the distribution block to be LESS than 12-inches. Gonna be tricky!

Jeffy Cakes! No way I will hide the wires! I'm going to run some 426 caps/boots with braided wires. The orange wires are decent wires they just look like ass. Just using them to get the engine running good. Then I'll screw it all up with new wires. HAHA!

 

Looks really good Scott. Nice work.

 

I figured as much. As I was writing it I thought "he's never going to go for this"....in fact I don't think I have ever made a suggestion that you thought was a good one or one that you've taken. You've got a clear vision on the car and I'll just shut up, sit back and watch you work. We have have different tastes on things that that's what makes each and every car so special so keep doing what you're doing, it's led to a pretty nice hot rod thus far buddy.

 

Naw man! I've taken/used more suggestions than you'll ever know, from you! I just don't tell you so it doesn't go to your head!

 

Looking freakin awesome Scooter!!!!

What fuel pressure gauge are you running on the log?

 

I think I need a fuel pressure gauge as well. I might run it into the interior though. I wish I could find an interesting one.....what's yours off of?

 

It's just a cheapy Mr. Gasket regulator. It's REALLY chincy! Going to replace it with something a little better made. I just got it at my local speed shop because I needed something ASAP. Still not sure what I want to actually use. Maybe a Mooneyes, or something. Don't know.... Thanks Chad!

 

I would DEFINITELY recommend you use a gauge. Put it on the engine or close to wherever your regulator is so you can see it while you're adjusting fuel pressure on the regulator.

 

Extremely bad idea.
You are dealing with line pressure fuel, not an electric sending unit.

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