Yeah, my build leans a bit to the other side as far as concept execution. I'm not going for the 'from-the-factory' level of finish. I'm kinda going function over form out of necessity. That and a lot of what I'm working with as far as the body will take an enormous amount of work to get perfect, so I've decided to not focus on it that way and focus instead on building it up to the level I see in a lot of old photos of lakes, drag, and track cars and maybe a little nicer.
We all have a vision and ultimately the same goal with our cars. Like I said I'm a detail type of guy and I want it nice and clean. I would like my time, effort and thought to be apparent when a fellow rodder looks at my car with a trained eye and appreciates the time and thought that went into it. It's been a year so far with little progress, so an additional hour of effort here and there focusing on details on each step will be worth it in the end. That's what I believe anyway. You've made some great progress on your car and honestly you will have a much more unique car than mine will ever be.
Thanks! Yeah, I'm not sure I even appreciate yet how different my car is going to end up. I hope I like it when I'm done! Yeah, I'm going for a similar thing, just with a much coarser level of finish and execution really. I think if I had started with a body in much nicer condition and not decided to go so far out with the design on my first build, I may have gone a more refined path. At this point, 4 years in, I hit a point where I have told myself that if I decide I don't like something that functions as it sits and doesn't stand out like a turd in a punchbowl, I can always change it some Winter after it's been driven all Summer!
Made some progress tonight cleaning up the front axle. I picked this up with the frame and many other parts from the same guy. He said it was a 4" mordrop that was "smoothed" after the nightmare I found after having my frame sandblasted I decided to not risk it and wanted to see first hand what was under the body filler on the axle. After sanding, scraping, chipping and wire wheeling all the crap off, it's not too bad. Better than I had expected ...they did a great job plating it but unfortunately I feel they removed the character from the axle. Up to 1/4" of filler in some spots ...what a nightmare it would've been if I didn't remove it. All cleaned up like I said it looks good. still lots of work to do to get it smooth and ready for paint (without filler) Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Well I lifted the body onto the chassis yesterday to get some measurements on how far I need to recess the firewall. Roughly 1-1/2" but I'll go 2 for some wiggle room. Someone had removed the area of the subframe where it rests over the rear crossmember already.. It matches up with the way the person stepped the rear crossmember on my original frame So I removed the rear crossmember in the sub frame after bracing the body. Reinstalled it after removing the sections I had to remove to allow the body to sit as it should, giving myself the 2" I needed to slide the body forwards after the firewall is recessed. . Baby steps but they're steps and each one is one closer ... Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Ya it is. I got it with the car. It's a walker set up for a sbc. Using it for mock up for my motor mount location.
Merry Christmas to all you guys out there who have supported me and my build. Thank you and have a great day with your family. gift from a friend. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Got some garage time as a Christmas gift for myself today. The kiddos left around noon to head to their moms. I finally got the old bushings pressed out of the front spring perches and spring. Separated the spring and reversed the eyes. I removed two leafs but may reinstall just to get things together and make adjustments after I get it on the ground. Next is to order new bushings to get my front end put together. Whipped up a stand with some random things for my drill press too while I had some time. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks Ron, i was told it was an old Mordrop that someone had plated at one point. Cleaned up good though. So glad to have finally got those damn bushings out. Ordered what I needed today to get the shackles in and keep moving forward. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It's hard to get the new ones IN, too! I made a tool to fit them and hardened it so I could wail on it. They sell the tool at some shops. Looks great! Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Oh man ... I can't wait. I'll be figuring something out as soon as they show up. Thank you !! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Been re reading my own thread for details regarding front and rear axles. I'm in the process of mocking up the rear but I'm at a crossroads. To start with I have a 3spd already converted to open drive. (Came with motor when I purchased it) I know it's not traditional as I would like. However it's what I have and that's my starting point for the rear. My dilemma is I have two banjos (closed drive) I can do an open drive conversion on. I know enough to stay away from the China stuff. Hotrod works makes the one I have been looking at. I just can't run the Dana rear I got from an F1 and not be disappointed with myself...I want a banjo under it. Even if it's an open drive rear. The lesser of two evils is to convert one of the rear axles to open drive. Which one ? 1. Axle that came with the car. According to many it looks like a model a with spring hangers welded to the axle ends. (They're not welded they look factory. See pic #1 & 2 ) the brake backing plates are upside down but that can be addressed. Is this in fact a 35/36 axle ? I have 2 sets of 40 rear plates if needed. The rest of the car/donor appeared to be 35-36 (X-member and front axle w/spring in front) Looks like someone removed 3 leafs at one point. 2. This is a rear axle I picked up in trade. I know it's a truck rear axle. I just don't recall year or model. I know the spring mounts will force me to move my rear crossmember. Not to mention remove the brackets U- bolted to the tubes. I have a 40 Ford rear spring if I decide to go this route. If that's in fact what I need. Can anyone ID it for me and additionally what issues am I going to run into with this regarding gearing ? Should I just forget about it ? Additionally. For the rear end in the first pictures I have a T-spring I can run to get it lower if I decide to...I have a set of weld on shackle/spring mounts for the rear if it's my best / only option Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
a better pic of the rear shackle mount on banjo 1. That came with the car. Meant to post this with my orig post. Thanks guys. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The spring on top axle I believe is a model a, the truck one I don't know. I think mine is 35-38 car-the truck one has huge brakes
Those look like 'a' springs. T springs peak more in the middle and the ends are more flat cause the frames were narrower
Okay. Those are going in the container. I'm going to drag the truck rear up and break it down. I may see if I can swap out the brakes for the 40 pass car brakes I have and put the spring on it and see where I'm at. This whole set up isn't going to work for me clearly. Thanks Ron. Much appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
However on a good note ... I've got some things mocked up on the front for the time being. Put the 40 steels on it for now. Like the way it looks. . Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Spent a little bit of time in the garage over the weekend. Decided on running the 40 Ford rear axle. I broke it down to get ready for a rebuild. Found out by the numbers it's a 39 with 3:78 gears. (VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT) not 4:11. Removed the rear step for the A axle and fabbed up a new rear step with 2X3X1/8 wall box tube for the 40 axle added the A rear crossmember, then reversed the eyes on the A spring. After I box the frame with I'll fish plate the step and it should be good to go. I had to walk away after 2 hours of running this thing in and out of the press. I always hope to get more done each day but I feel I made some good progress even though I went back a few steps with the rear. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I have over 2 hours into it now. I started by removing the arch that starts 9" from the center bolt on either side to the ends. Then started working on the 16" center arch I'm now working on the end arches again. I'm sure I'll have another hour to go. It's getting there. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Got the rear end all broken down ready to be cleaned. Need to order new bearings and gaskets this week. Got my spring perches cleaned up and finished reversing the eyes on the rear main leaf. Put together my 50$ sandblasting cabinet, I picked up a while back from a guy I bought some parts from. Looking forward to start cleaning some parts for paint pretty soon (yellow one was my final guide) Progress not perfection...getting there. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
'YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF!" "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead! Lookin' good , Brother!
Thanks Mike ! Finally feel like I am making some progress. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The Jalopy Journal
