Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Thanks Mike. Yep, we made the same comment as we were coming back (Dan was riding shotgun) He said " Pretty amazing to think that this was something that a year ago we were welding up the frame for, and now it's running down the road." It is satisfying, and it is also cool that people received it so well. I got comments ranging from "cute" to "bet that's fun to drive" , and everything in between. Makes all the sweat and bandaids worthwhile.


FMX, you could take an existing frame and cut it up I guess, but it is just as easy to start from scratch IMO. I know it seems logical that you can just cut off the back and add whatever steel you need to get it down lower, and that can of course be done, but you would be better off just building one out of new tubing. Probably cheaper too.

As for the lowness in front, a T bucket type suicide front end will get you down, but to get it really low I had to go beyond that. I mounted my spring shackles on the lowest point on the car, the gussets on the wishbones. By doing that I was able to lower it more than the normal mounting point that they use on the batwings.

One thing that surprised me the most since I have started driving it is that I don't really have to baby it over speedbumps and coming out of driveways. I have seen lowriders creep sideways very slowly when entering parking lots and stuff like that, and I thought I would have to be careful too. But I am able to drive it like a regular car and it hasn't bottomed out yet. I guess the short wheelbase and the fact that the low suspension parts rise with the tires gives it enough clearance under those circumstances. I ran into some really horrible road conditions around Orlando where it was hard to avoid very rough pavement and bumps, and it was never a problem even at highway speeds.

I'm reposting a couple of pictures for you to see how the bare frame looked, and also some of the front suspension. Maybe these will explain better what you would need to do to get it down as low as you would like. BTW, sounds like you are getting some good parts together. Take my word for it though, go with the automatic. Even two pedals were tough to fit in there........three would have been impossible.

Don

Originally Posted by FMXhellraiser

Don, do you think if I just order the Speedway Motors frame kit with the 10 inch kick up and just cut it and add a 14 inch kick up then it would be as low as yours? How about the front? I see they have a few different front and rear suspension set ups and I like the arch spring in the back instead of 4 link and coil overs since it is more of a vintage look. Like I said, I still have a 302 here, 3 speed tranny (probably put in a automatic for more room like you said but have access to a C4), 57 Chevy rear end or even a 9 inch housing and have access to the internals and I have old axles for it) and I have a few other parts laying around too. As for paint and body work, that wont cost me much at all since I will be doing it myself and have most of the materials already for that.

I have an idea, why don't you start a tread on how to build a roadster for less than $3,000! We would all love to follow along We would all be happy to participate with Ideas and suggestions along the way.
Ken

Nah, I don't think a thread like that would fly. Probably wouldn't go for more than a page or two.

I spoke to the machine shop that did Don's heads. He says two things can cause a stem to gall up in the guide.......lack of lubrication or if the valve kissed the piston and bent it. I think that is what happened. Remember a week ago when the pushrod bent and the screw in stud broke on that same valve? We attributed it to the pushrods being too long. However, now giving it more thought, probably that valve got kissed a little and it bent the stem just enough to make it not ride right in the guide. Over the couple hours he drove it the thing probably got tighter and tighter until it froze up completely.

We will pull that head tonight and if it looks undamaged otherwise I'll drop it off tomorrow to have the guide honed and a new 202 valve installed. Hopefully we can have the car running by Dec 2 for the big downtown Ft Myers car show. That would take some of the sting out of him not having it at Daytona.

Don

Hey sorry i missed you guys, looks like a good party ensued after i left.

No way I could do one for under 3,000 bucks. Especially if I buy from Speedway Motors. Don, I may take your advice on frame from scratch. After shipping and everything, I will end out more most likely. When I am ready I will just go ahead and talk to you about it more if you don't mind like the size of tubing, thickness, where to get the front end parts at, etc. I want mine just as low as yours and no higher. I don't like the stock height most T's are, they look goofy to me.

Good plan FMX, I'll be happy to tell you anything I know and help in any way I can.

John, yep, we had fun, and really missed having you there. We are starting to think we are never supposed to actually meet each other, especially after last year. At Billetproof we are going to all hook up for sure.

Don

Don, do you mean to say I can get Lobster here without going to Maine ? Great now what do I do about tuesday night dinner.....LOL. I'm sorry I didn't get to hook up with any of you guy's.
BradC

Yep Brad, and you can get NY style pizza, oh, nevermind.

If I knew you were coming I would have made sure to be by my car. My lousy Metro PCS phone stopped working outside Deltona and my Sons and I couldn't even call each other up in Daytona. All I got was a message that it was out of my service area.

Since you like to travel Brad, try to make a point of going to Garlits place for Billetproof in March. By then you should be sick of snow and need to come to Florida for some vitamin C.

Don

Don, make sure you keep my number, because you never know where I will show up....LOL you know like a bad penny. I really like the stance and how low your T is, the pictures just don't do justice. I will have to get a ride next time.
BradC

Yep ,billetproof for sure. Our club is going in full force so no matter what ill be there.And brad ,you should try and come down for that one, it should be a good show.

Hey don, how far is it to orlando for you guys?the rumblers groundhog show is in febuary, maybe you can come up for that.

I'm here to tell you guys Don's T looks even more impressive in person than it does in his build thread. It was also really great to finally meet Don and his sons, first class people. The same can be said for J Robinson and Hotroddaddy and his wife. I wasn't able to take any group pics because my number one son ran off with the camera, but here are some individual pics of Don's car, J Robinson's coupe, and Hotroddaddy's Merc taken that same night.

Don, I have an OT question.

You said you visited with Chevygirlrox. Did she say if they ever determined what was the cause of her wreck? I followed the thread, but don't think they ever said. Lot's of speculation though.

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

Don, I have an OT question.

You said you visited with Chevygirlrox. Did she say if they ever determined what was the cause of her wreck? I followed the thread, but don't think they ever said. Lot's of speculation though.

It was a little noisy when we were talking, and I asked her that, and I think she said something about another car running into her, but I could be wrong on that. She ended up with the front tire going under a guard rail, and she had 6 broken ribs and a ruptured spleen, I think. If it is the one that I saw in some pictures, it was on it's side with the open part of the cockpit right against the guardrail. I am not 100 % sure, but I think the one pictured below is her's after the crash. Very pretty young lady, and really into cars too.

John, Orlando is about 4 hours or so. February might be a go, thanks for the heads up.

Don

That's the right car in your pic Don.

Originally Posted by Gastrick

That's the right car in your pic Don.

Ouch!! She is sooooooooo lucky. Do you know any more details of the wreck??

Don