Hot Rods WINTER PROJECT: The LEGION SPECIAL from the Beginning to UPDATE #7! Matt Gets INJURED

OK, from the beginning and on through the NEW update #7 for the WINTER PROJECT contest...

This project officially started on the evening of December 12th and has been an "after hours" build two or three nights a week and partial Saturdays.



UPDATE #1

The design is really starting to take shape the more Matt (Seret Customs.com) and I talk about and screw with the car. We worked a few hours last night and it was just like the fifties, bro! It was even in sepia tone...amazing!

I got the frame going while Matt made a bunch of noise.

For the frame, we put the body on a sheet of wood, squared it to the edge and traced it. Then we marked where the rails will extend in front of the firewall. That was cut (shitty by me) as a template and followed for the first rail. Then we attached uprights to the first rail to use as a jig for the second. I felt like a retard having to ask Matt to tack the shit for me. I can MIG pretty damn well, but not TIG, and that's what he has at the shop.

Matt worked his craftsman magic on the rear corner of the body. He shaped a really nice piece and it's not even all the way done yet.

We are getting some pretty killer ideas. This thing has a shit-load of potential and I can't wait to roll it!

p.s. You might be seeing it at Bonneville or El Mirage.

The plan...


Matt doing his thang!






No-buck frame table


More magic!


*cough*cough*...i think i have the black lung....








Uprights...




Just like the fifties!


Help me daddy!




First mockup on the rails


With the unfinished corner piece in place




We reshaped the cowl to door transition to have a little more of an old Indy car-ish look

 

UPDATE #2

Matt Seret (Seret Speed & Custom in Vallejo, CA - Seret on the HAMB) and I are making some more progress on the Legion Special. It may not look like much to the layman, but the metal shapers (and fans of shapers) out there can appreciate what is coming together.

It still may not look like much, but we are getting pretty stoked!

The sketch is getting dirtier.


The new frame gets a front crossmember.

WTF? Is that the only pic I have? Just a hole in a frame rail? Way to go!

Matt test fits...


...trims...


...test fits...


...trims...


...adjusts...


...trims...


...then, voila!


One more trim and it's time for another mockup.


MATT, SMASH!






While Matt did the hard stuff, I started on the body top rails. Started on the bender...


...relief cuts to perfect the bend.

 

Stitching it together.






The rear kick. The idea is a "real" early hot rod stance. No ass-end-too-low rat rod crap!






The rear crossmember will attach and detach sort of like a trailer hitch, but bolt in way more solid.

Starting on the inserts for the rear crossmember.


Simply the best!




Matt starts to rule the scratch-built dashrail.




Dash.




My first try at TIG. Anyone want to buy a MIG? Not pretty, but it will work.

 

The transition from "door" to dash takes shape.










My homework last night was SPEED HOLES! Now it's gonna haul ass!














This morning's latest mockup.

 

UPDATE #3

OK, here's installment #3. Another day at Seret Speed and Custom in Vallejo, CA. We actually got a little farther than I took pictures of. I'll take more tomorrow. My two weeks of vacation is going by fast, but it's really starting to come together.

So far I think we have about 3 nights and 3 or 4 days into it.


Link to previous progress threads:Update #1 Update #2

Some guy with a flattop looked at Matt.


The dash getting attached to the dash rail.


Rat rods RULE!




On all fours!










Matt wasn't happy with the fit of the Nash sheetmetal on the cowl, so he chucked it and replaced it.

 

New motor mounts. Tomorrow the motor will officially be IN.

 

Update #3.1

Matt and I worked at Seret Speed and Custom New Year's Day, yesterday and today again on the Legion Special. Well, Matt got sidetracked on his new '37 and it's been giving him the finger all the way. He did get it sitting on the new 4" lower front end though, and the new stance looks killer!

Anyway, I made my second and third attempts at TIG welding. I'm really starting to like it - way more control than MIG. Plus I don't feel as retarded anymore because I don't feel like I have to ask Matt to TIG for me. I still want him to do the "money" welds that will show, but I feel good doing the "behind the scenes" stuff.

Here's a mini photo update because I didn't get as many photos as I'd have liked.

The motor mounts are done and the motor is IN! The tranny crossmember is finished and it and the tranny are IN!

Not bad for only two weeks!

Links to previous progress threads:Update #1 Update #2
Update #3



Attempt number two at TIG - motor mounts for the Chevy 194. Not the best ever, but not the worst ever either.


They cleaned up pretty nicely.


This one's for Brewsir.


Fonzie's amputee cousin (he lost his legs fighting a bear - not the kind in the woods), Ponzie, helped out a little. He is WAY cooler than The Fonz.


Matt got these panels all tacked in, but I didn't get a pic.


He also made progress on the transition from the side rails to the dash. It's going to be amazing!





MINI TECH? We needed some short mounts for the front and rear bones, so I ordered two sets of them from Speedway and trashed 75% of them.

Here's the cut down plates and some pre-made gussets I had laying around.


The gusset before.


The gusset after. It had to be shortened to fit within the 1.5" frame rail so it got a little trim.


The cut down Speedway plate.


Tacked.


My third attempt at TIG. I'm pretty happy with the result.


The final smoothed-out product. I'm no Seret or Sellers, but they're not too bad. They'll get mounted this coming week!


I want to extend a HUGE THANKS to Matt for letting me invade his shop for the last two weeks. He usually works alone and rocks and rolls. I just tried to stay out of the way and let him do his thing. I had a blast - thanks Matt!

 

Then this happened...


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Update #4

OK, I've had a lot of requests for pics of The Legion Special on the ground. Well I was over at Seret Speed and Custom last night and we got a lot of little stuff buttoned up like the motor mounts, tranny mount and wishbone mounts, and I was able to get some photos.

We got some more planning out of the way too including how we will make the center/cowl steering setup. There's even a surprise in store when we finish the steering!

Tonight I'll probably get the master cylinder and brake pedal in - maybe even start the steering. Oh I also need to adjust the angle of the rearend by cutting and re-angling the rear bones.


Links to previous progress threads:Update #1 Update #2
Update #3 Update #3.1



From this....



To this, in less than three weeks!








Matt is just starting on this transition area between the dash and the side rails.

 

UPDATE #6 (there was no #5)

In case you&#8217;re just tuning in, Kirk! and I have been building a one man modified, similar to what would have been seen on the dry lakebeds in the late 40s.
Considering we started the build the week before Christmas and have only worked on it after hours, it is really coming together fast. Kirk is building the chassis while I have been doing the sheet metal.
Last week Kirk got the radiator mounted and started the steering box loop. I began the buck for the nose and hood.
By next week the aluminum nose should start to take shape, and the steering should be complete. then all that will be left is everything else.
Links to previous progress threads:Update #1 Update #2 Update #3 Update #3.1 Update #4



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Neat rat rod!

I liked this pic better...





Also under construction is the new Seret Speed & Custom logo, tee shirts, website, etc.








Snug Life!

 

Matt's injured???? What happened?

 

UPDATE #7

This update will be posted by both Matt ad I. Mine will go up first and the Matt will add his.

While Matt has been ruling the work on the aluminum nose section I have been sticking to the heavier stuff, particularly the steering hoop and steering box mount.

The '37 Chevy box that we had planned to use turned out not to be an option so we went with the mystery sprint car box that MAtt had at his shop. It will need two mounts. I have finished one.

The high-tech plan...


I started by cutting two sections of tube.


Then halving each.


They were a larger diameter than the mounting points on the box so they were compressed in the vice.


That left them with a peak.


So I clamped them in a machine vise and hammered the peak round.


That made the curve more correct.


They were trimmed so they wouldn't touch when in use.


The flat part of the mount was transferred to the plate.


Then cut. Then the tube sections were added.


The mount looked too clunky and didn't allow for the bolts to be tightened, so I adjusted the shape.


Then the gussets were cut and made incredibly faster by drilling SPEED holes!


My TIG skills are definitely improving and I'm getting pretty stoked, but I deferred to Matt for some of the tight spots after I finished my welding.


The final product.


In place. For a TIG newbie, I'm pretty stoked with that weld.


The whole steering assembly so far. One more mount to go.


I'm definitely falling in love with TIG!

 

Matt suffered an injury the other night while performing a dangerous maneuver during the nose fabrication. Please do not try this at home! If you do, please do so under the direct supervision of professionals and always wear a helmet and a seatbelt!



And have a first-aid kit handy.


Matt was incredible! He refused professional medical attention and continued to work even while severely injured. It was like watching a superhero or something.

 

See, this is why I love the HAMB so much. Great fabrication pics, a 3/4 Fonzi and a yappy little alligator bait for much added entertainment. Thank you so much, KIRK.

 

THAT is the FONZ!!!!!

 

Looking really good guys!!!! I forgot about the masking tape and gauze pad first aid episode...

I've been waiting for days for an update, nothing else to do while sick as a dog in bed!!!!

 

Fuck dude, I was crazy sick yesterday. Still a little off today.

I must have got it from making out with you the other night. Thanks a lot, jerk!

 

Sorry dude, I must have passed you my cold through my weiner....

 

Crap!!! Does this mean I’m going to get sick tomorrow?

 

Sorry.

 

Looking slick guys, super nice work!

 

Kirk-- Are those SUNG LIFE gloves available at the snugglers.com website? Those are hecka rockabilly.

Matt-- The track nose is looking killer you talented man, you!

Dirty-- Don't let Kirk touch your bikini area anymore.

love,

jay