Projects The Buntline Special A/Modified Roadster Build

It's awesome that your using the computer to write this build up, doing research on your build, snapping pic's of your work in progress, and not sitting on the couch playing video games!

 

I have not heard the term "pruned", looks to me like the locating tabs used when it was on a diesel have already been machined off. Or is it just me cause I saw some guys pruning a tree today!

 

matt, glad to see your working on the project, i talked to you at cranes house. will keep an eye out for parts for you also.

 

Matt, great project, all of us old farts from the 60's remember the Buntline Special, and I'm sure we're all a bit envious that YOU actually decided to take on such an ambitious project. We're all ears....subscribed....

Brad Outlaw

 

To prune the blower I will have to have the flanges at the bottom of the blower where the bolts go through machined off. I will see if I can find a picture. Matt

 

Here is a picture of a pruned blower. Matt



Photo by: Mike the Photo Guy

 

Thank you for all the compliments everybody. I should have more pictures soon. Matt

 

Over the weekend I picked up a new part. A ross steering box!

 

Matt me boy,,,go back and look at the Blower in post 59 & then scroll to post 67.
Those are 2 completley different style souperchargers/ cases.
The 6/71 in post 59 has already had the locating lugs machined off,and that should be the one you'd use on your build.
Keep going man,,,yer on the right track!

 

These are not completley different. At one time my blower a 471 (post 67) had the same style flange as a 671, like Matt's blower. However in 1959 nobody made a intake to mount a blower to the top of a Olds engine, so the Hollish Bros, trimmed all the flanges off and made their own intake and drive set-up. This was a fairly common practice. It was called "prunning". If you look at my blower, the "top" of it is actually the bottom. It was flipped up-side down and spun around. Really, it was.

 

Matt, What kind of body do you plan to use?

 

Here is a better picture of a pruned blower that is on Todds car. Matt

 

I am trying to locate the original fiberglass 23 t-bucket body that Dudley made in 1960. If I can find it that is the body I will use.

 

So lately I have been mostly collecting parts. Well the reason I have just been collecting parts is that I have been working on a place to build the car seeing as I do not have enough room in our garage to build it. Since September I have been helping cleaning out my neighbors barn, making it into a work shop so I can have a place to build the car and work. It is almost done! It may not look like much but it is a great place to work and it is not as dirty as the pictures make it look. When I first started on the barn there was only a 1 foot wide path to walk through and it had all kinds of stuff piled up. In the process we had to evict some unwanted animals, but is almost done and I am very excited. All thats left to do is cut the bench tops (the plywood you see on the floor) and run a airline and then a few small things. Some of you may reconize the bike Sorry for the bad pictures. Matt

 

Matt,....

I have seen that part of the barn sense way before you were born,.... It has NEVER looked that good !,... In fact,.. In the general vicinity of the band saw I shot a opossum. And the frame that my 33 Coupe is on, hung from the rafters in that barn from the 1970's until I got it some time in the 90's

I thought the Widowmaker was still over at Rectum Hall,.... You my friend, got a Really big brake when our buddy decided to let you build your car there. Do us proud.

Good job Matt !, Now keep your grades up and get to work !!!!

 

Bravo young man, you can do it, take your time and do it right. I remember the racer and always thinkin that carb manifold was a wild one. After the bad boy winged express and friends at the H.A.M.B. drags I have total new interest in these smokin machines. Cool bro! ~sololobo~

 

Ya know, when we were cleaning it out there was a shelf about were the bandsaw is and when I went to move it I couldn't. The shelf had a opening in the back at the bottem and had an area under where something could live. When I picked up the shelf there was a really old nest and as we were shoveling it in the trash I saw these bones and it ended up being a possum skeleton that had been there for years (the skin looked like leather) Maybe it is the same one! I have had a lot of fun cleaning the barn and have learned alot to!

 

Lookin good Matt. Now, get to buildin!!!!!

 

Is your neighbor E.J. Potter?

 

Looks alot better than the last time I was there. Good Job.

 

No,... In fact E.J. isn't doing very well,... E.J.'s very first "Bloody Mary" bike and the very last Widowmaker bike that E.J. built and ran, now belongs to our buddy who is letting Matt use this space.

 

sounds like your have the knowledge, the drive and the support....TIME TO FAB! Best of luck!

 

This is what its all about starting a young un and the spirit of the old timers live on as do their stories and legends

 

Here is a link to a video from the 1960 Nationals. At 8:45 in the video the Buntline Special is running the Tennessee Bo Weevil. The run is the final for A/MR. The Bo Weevil won. Dudley had brake problems that is why you see him leave so slow, he actually ran a faster time, but because of the brake problems he lost. Enjoy.

http://s840.photobucket.com/albums/.../?action=view&current=VTS_01_1_mpeg1video.mp4

 

Way to go Matt. It is refreshing to see someone your age take such an interest in the roots of our hobby/obsession. Be sure to let the HAMB know when you hit a blank wall as there are a few of us here that will be more than willing to give you a hand or whatever support you might need. Thanks for giving us old timers a little hope that all won't be lost when we pass on.

Frank

 

frank,i have met matt. and i have to say i have never met a more commited teenager in my life. this kid is the real deal. and has a real supportive dad. this project will get done. stay tuned.

 

At the beginning of my build I thought that the original Buntline used a T-bucket frame. But through some research I found out that the original Buntline had a frame that was just straight 2x4 with a 3in round tube front cross member and a 2x4 rear cross member. Today I was able to go out and buy the tubing need for the frame. I can't wait to start building the frame! Here are some pictures. I just set the tubing up in the shape of the frame. I still need to cut all the pieces to the right lengths.

 

Subscribed.......

 

Bare with me ,.. this is all related. I just put in 8 hours at the shop on a Hemi 32 Chassis for a pal,.. Picked up my wife from work, sat in the car as she was shopping for about 2 hours,.. listening to the radio,... and occasionally nodding out.

I get home worn out,... Just as I sit down and fire up the old computer from the comfort of my old blue recliner,.... The Phone rings,... I look and it says "Matt Bee",... When I pick up the phone, I hear this young energetic voice,... going 100 MPH with his hair on fire !

Well at least that's how it sounded to these old ears. Matt is going on about his frame & his project, After a few minutes I am smiling ear to ear,.. It seems any exposure to Matt's contagious excitement, drive and passion for building this dragster. Has a way of rubbing off on innocent bystanders.

After he hung up, and my mind is now going 100 MPH thinking about the "Buntline Special",.. It occurs to me,.. This is exactly how I felt when I got off the phone with a pal back in the day,.. when we still had the excitement and passion that can only come from a guy in his teens building his first Hot Rod. Now, I can't wait to get back in the shop first thing tomorrow and start making sparks !

Keep the fire lit Matt !,.. There are a lot of old timers keeping there eye on this project with a smile,.... reliving there younger years through your youthful eyes.

Now,... get back to work !,... and don't let this go to your head,.... Cause yer still a punk,......

 

I have been pretty excited all week becuause it has been pretty nice out (I think that nice weather just came to an end! 20 degrees in the barn when I walked but I was able to get it up to 40 degrees!) and I have been able to start laying stuff out on the frame. The first thing I did was lay out the radius on the front of the frame. Then I layed out my hole for my front cross member. My goal for the weekend is to get the holes for the front cross member drilled. Its always good talking to you Dennis. Thanks for the info and help!