Technical the difference between something functional verses something functional and aesthetically pleasing..

@Stogy - Nice work!

 

Nuff said.

 

I do wish car makers would get back to aesthetically pleasing designs of functional components. I just marvelled at some of fine automobiles from the golden era while at Hershey this year. The pursuit of absolute greed has really sidelined any creativity in the modern era. So sad. That is why I admire those who take the extra time to express themselves and their creativity in their builds.

 

Maybe if I was drunk! Very, very drunk.

 

really dig that!

 

It's art Alan...I guess a bit of a hybrid being Showrod/Hotrod/Custom...

The one Flathead Pete shared a form of the same but also a tribute to the past...

Many, not all Hotrod/Customs are truly not as practical as their factory cousin's especially when the search for the look came on strong...

'Practical' being a mix of the two terms functional and aesthetically pleasing...

What do I mean by that...for example chopping the top decreases vision, removing heaters to conserve weight, removing hoods and fenders removes weatherability...and on and on...

I guess when going fast is the main criteria it lessens the focus on many critical and aesthetical items...but many in Hotrod as time went on began focusing more on Aesthetic/Appearances as well and like the Factory Auto, beauty was equally in the eye of the beholder...

 

I looked up the Uncertain T and here's a quote...

'While the car ran, it had no suspension, no shock absorbers, and no front brakes, effectively making it a trailer queen.'

So its technically not a Hotrod...

It's as I said Art for the eyes...it's a huge cog in the Culture...

 

To me, that looks too busy.
Beautiful though?

Ben

 

I'm having trouble making things that are functional and now folks want it to be aesthetically pleasing as well? Argh!

 

Often more than two days.

 

It's also a Factory aka OEM config that may have been hands on customizable at that time. But I do without a doubt believe this type of styling helped influence both Hotrod/Custom...

Busy could equally applied to engines in Hotrod/Custom though...one only has to visit any Show me your Engine Thread here to see everything from simplicity to all out everything overload...

 

From my understanding, there was a rear suspension on the Uncertain T.
The rear axle was undersprung, and pivoted at the u-joint.
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Steve_Scott's_Uncertain-T
Also, the partial quote before from Wiki misses the part before that mentions a torsion bar front.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertain_T_(show_car)
"Torsion bar front suspension was a rarity in customs (or any cars) at the time.[12] Scott's use of a 1960 MGA rack and pinion to operate the drag link was also innovative.[13]
While the car ran, it had no suspension, no shock absorbers, and no front brakes, effectively making it a trailer queen.[14] "
Here are a bunch of pics that show more detail.
https://www.tbucketplans.com/uncertain-t-exposed/
While I agree that it was not a functional street car in the sense it had design and build choices that elevated form way over function, kind of like a hardtail bar hopper chopper, it did have some semblance of suspension but no shock absorbers.

 

The motor mount is something I bought. The alternator mount I fabricated. Form follows function

 

Nice alt bracket!
While I understand that design of a belt driven accessory mostly has the adjustment side on the extension side instead of the compression side, I hated Ford's p***enger side mounts that required lifting the alt to tension, then tighten the adjuster (three hands!) down at the bottom of the engine bay.
Yours is better! The only concern would be the small amount of contact on the pulley (90 degrees?), but I doubt you are requiring a big output draw.

 

I’m a bit limited by self imposed restrictions…..I didn’t want anything on top of the engine, and I want to run a hood. That’s the form dictation

 

nochop, I get the form completely! I also described what is typical, how you overcame that with added structure to make it cleaner and easier and the minor quibble that also is probably not an issue in this application. I hope it came across as discussing a successful application of form and function, not a slight. I also keep seeing questions about basic generic stuff and like to sprinkle in a few points when commenting on good details that hopefully causes others to absorb and consider what is different and why.

All in all, much better than modern stuff where they put a small oil screen under the shroud, 3 piece intake, coolant lines and main wiring harness that can plug up and starve the engine!

Also, I gotta ask what is going on with the exhaust flange in that first picture? Typical thickness on most of it, except the front port which is twice as thick.

 

It did come off as a compliment, writing is not necessarily my strong point, thank you sir appreciate the conversation

 

Answering your question about the header flange, when I started the build, I ordered the headers with a gen/alt bracket not knowing where I was going to mount said generator or alternator…..follow me so far (lol)…Like typical builds (and lack of plans) that location wasn’t going to follow my vision so out came the cut off wheel, hence the thicker portion of flange.

 

Functional and pleasing to the eye. The power discs let me run with diabetic feet and still look not too ugly.

All credit to D-Russ from whom I stole this tech.

 

Aesthetically pleasing is just another ingredient that engineering can include or ignore depending on what the designer is trying to achieve. It is part of the engineering. I do think there is a point where many vehicles can become overly enamored with trying to be aesthetically pleasing that they become gaudy . Exactly where that point lies is up to each individuals tastes. Like the old saying about defining ****ography...........I know it when I see it.

I like designing for function and within reason don't usually care much for things that serve no real function. I don't mind seeing something thats built with the "look" of function as long as the original idea was functional. Kinda like a louvered trunk lid on a streetrod. Its origin was based in land speed racing, and for a purpose. Even though it serves no purpose on most street cars, its roots were authentic.

That said, there are times when things are added purely for aesthetic purposes that really define/refine a vehicle or an area on a vehicle. I guess I would call that "aesthetic engineering".................

 

Gorgeous

 

Not being critical. Just stating preference. Having said so, beneath the hood on mine is a MESS. I can see what I like. Just unable to get there.

Ben

 

Bonus points for No Chop for hitting the mark. That whole mount/alternator bracket just flat shows what a bit of attention to detail produces. Very little expense involved but probably most of a day in the shop spent getting it it to the point of satsfaction and fit and finish.

Plus it moves the alternator down out of the the natural line of sight as far as the engine goes and most of the attention it gets is from the "how did he do that, I gotta look closer" brigade. And yes it does move with the engine and is firmly attached to the engine and not the ch***is.

All this makes me want to wonder how many guys looked at this thread and started thinking that they should go out and pull that little bracket or mount or ?? that they knocked out in 15 minutes to do a simple task back off and spend a bit of time cleaning it up and making it a bit more pleasing to the eye while still being just as functional as it has always been.

 

Thanks for the kind words sir.

 

I can never remember, is it "form follows function" or vice versa,
myself, I'm pretty happy how this turned out!

 

Both....If i have to make something, it has to be tight, and has to look good at the same time. I don't know any other way. Time doesn't matter, but it still has to have a look, but that's for my eyes.....
Worst yet- i'm the guy that points out to myself what is the hack item on a cherry build..........My eye's go to the worst.
I just have to look at my stuff, and if i'm ok with it, then it will fly.....
I'm no pro, but if it is acceptable, then i'm good....... Results may vary.........

 

Like nochop and DDDenny I didn't want any thing on top of my engine to interfere with its visual. (In my case 3x2's.) The alternator slides up and down tight to the block. Bracing design came after reading posts on here about people having bolts break off on designs that only used the 2 block front bolts.
The pieces


Pieces ***embled


All the way in (down)


All the way out (Up)


Radiator mount to eliminate the radiator to firewall rods.

 

They do look cleaner with the updraft carbs:

The manifold side, the outlet is huge, almost 4" IIRC;

 

I like the way you incorporated the alt down low letting the engine receieve the attention its due without appearing cluttered. Very nice aesthetic engineering while being functional as well. How many amp is the alternator you used? I plan to mount my alt dow low on the other side and hoping to find some way to incorporate a/c and mount it low as well. Haven't quite reached that point yet for moch up, but you did a really nice job on yours.