Hot Rods The Belly Button Bucket Build Thread

All of that sounds pretty darn good to me!

Tonight I reworked the wire form - the main focus of the rework was to soften the radius to gain both floor space and aesthetics, but maintaining a flat top to make it easier to build a console at a later step.

I have been working off centerlines, trying to mirror left and right from center. Yesterday, I used my tubing bender for brake lines to make the bends, but today I devised a make-shift 3 1/4” radius using a hole saw clamped in my vise.

I marked the hole saw with a reference mark, then lined up my mark on the wire to start the bend, 3” from each end. My vise has a notch, which happened to work out great to hold the wire. After that, it was a matter of cut out previous wire, tack in new wire, and repeat. Once I had them all replaced and verified fit, i tied them all together, roughly 3” apart. Special thanks goes to my girlfriend who got a crash course in welding to help me weld a couple of the ones that required 3 hands.

I could definitely squish this form a little tighter to the trans in some areas, but not without compromising a uniform flat surface on top or symmetry left and right. I think this will work out rather well.

I think my next step will be to create a flange out of 1/8” MDF like I did on the rear crossmember cover, to give the fiberglass something to stick to. After that, make a pattern, wrap it in tape, then lay up some fiberglass! I think that’s my plan anyway- we’ll see how it goes!

Pictures:

 

Not a ton of progress tonight but I did a lot of staring at the upcoming steps. I did manage to cut out the flange for the transmission tunnel.

 

Nice work, shame to cover that up!

 

I guess you could glass the underneath side & leave the frame on??

 

My dad had a similar idea when I sent a picture to him - I think if I'm careful, I can re-use the wire form on the 32 roadster project, because that has the same transmission and similar floor layout - seems like I could just change the height to get what I need for that application.

 

Tim, you have been going the extra mile on each part of the build, so please don't take this wrong.
Would a fine wire mesh cut and fit be more solid than tape to get the form? It could be covered in plastic sheet to keep from embedding it when the 'glass is laid up.

 

I was going to wrap the wire form in construction paper followed by packaging tape, or something similar, prior to laying up the fiberglass. I believe wire mesh could work as well. I'm not certain what method will be best, but I'll know more than I know right now this evening after some attempts are made! I watched a couple subwoofer enclosure videos where they wrap the box in felt, then glass over that. I don't think that would be easy for me to do due to the wire form, but it might help for a later project or two. This is all brand new to me, so I'm just winging it.

 

I spent the lunch break today wrapping the wire form in plastic - I first tried cardboard but that wasn’t gonna happen… I did my best but still had quite a few wrinkles using the plastic. Eventually, I scrapped that idea and wrapped the whole thing in packaging tape. It is reasonably smooth and rigid now, so I’m gonna stare at the wall for a few then go be brave and attempt a lay-up.

 

That's the ticket!
Are you cramped for footspace Tim?
You might consider sinking a heel pocket in there somewhere before you lay it up.

 

That looks interesting. I just hope that ratrodder and I can pull something off like that.

 

Well, I got it done. I *think* I can get by without a heel notch- we’ll see soon enough.

For the flange, I hot glued it to the wire form from the backside in a few places- my thinking there is it will be easy to remove the wire form once the fiberglass is set up, but the hot glue will hold the flange during layup.



I then took some rough measurements of what seemed like the best way to section the lay-up- you can kinda see the pre-cut pieces staged here:



I did 2 layers matte, 1 cloth, 2 more layers matte, 1 more cloth, then 2 additional cloth layers in the bellhousing area to protect against a clutch explosion. Overall I’m pretty happy with the results.

1st layer:



3rd layer (first cloth):



and completed:



Once it’s set up I’ll fill/sand/repeat.

 

Wow, nothing like diving right into it Tim.
Again, nice work.

 

Nice! Guess I gotta git me some 1/4 inch rod...

 

Wow that looks really nice!

 

I used 1/8” and it seemed to work pretty good. I’ve seen others use TIG welding wire, too.

 

Looking good

 

Tim, could you add a bit of a curved flange to mirror the dash panel around the flat top?
I drew the loop, then decided the driver's side should be shorter to allow foot room, but this is the idea. I figure using a flexible foam tubing and more 'glass would be fairly easy.

 

I was up pretty late last night keeping the heater going in the garage to allow the resin to cure- brought it in this morning and popped it out of the wire form. Seems to have worked pretty good! Now for the fun part of sand/fill/repeat.

 

You're thinking a similar thought of what I am - I think toe boards are next in my future, then I'll move onto console/dash waterfall. I'm still in a fog on how it will look, but there will be a round, pronounced edge similar to my sub-dash, that flows down from dash and back to seat. I'm pulling inspiration from the late-30s Lincoln Zephyr dash, C2 Corvette and 60s era Mustang interiors.

Standby for some pictures.

 

Ok, cross your eyes, stare into the sun, and visualize a blend of the following images, and that's where my mind is at.

 

Good plan. I have a plan of something along this to.
But problaby i cant attach the dash to the console becouse of the shifter.

 

Nice work on the tranny hump! Made that look easy.

 

Got it trimmed out on lunch today- seems pretty good as-is. Might do a scuff and fill after I stare at it some more, but more or less gonna move onto toe boards now.

 

Wow!
You could sell them Tim.

 

Very impressive work Tim!

 

Thanks, but I don't think I can compete - Speedway sells theirs for like $75 - I bet I have at least half that in resin and matte/cloth. I do know how I could improve upon it when it comes time to make the one for the '32, though, so there's at least value in going through the motions.

 

I love my Wescott 32 roadster body but I can't say I love the transmission hump.

 

I’ve seen your work in some of the pictures you’ve posted- I know you could make a fantastic transmission cover.

 

Tonight I did some staring and scheming next steps, but I also fit the cover over the shifter and emergency brake.

 

Maybe I missed it but which pedals are you going with, the round ones in the last photo or the moons up a few posts?