Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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You mean they won't accept the car because of the wheels? If so, that is pretty goofy on their part, his sedan is very oldtimey in every respect. See, that is the reason I have dragged my feet on getting my car and Dons car registered, I can't seem to get an answer from any Poor Boy if our cars are acceptable or not. I have posted on two forums asking that question, and no response. I am not going to drive 4 hours to be turned away for billet pulleys. From the show info posted, it looks like they are being very narrow in their admittance policy.

As for the steering thing, yeah, he wants to keep it oldtimey sort of, using a traditional box type steering setup. We have looked at every possibility. We propped a F100 1956 Ford truck box up there, too wide to clear the starter. We considered a Vega cross steer, but he has no way to install a panhard and he has an all chromed front end waiting to install, so he can't weld any brackets to it for the panhard to mount to.



I think what we are just going to use a Flaming River Corvair box like Don and I are using. It will tuck up pretty tight and clear the starter and the arm points down, which is what we need too. He was supposed to order one from Speedway today so that we have it to try to install next weekend.

Don

The truck is looking super sweet don, your son does some amazing metal work!! Even if you cant bring the cars, are you still gonna try and make the show? I was looking forward to hopefully meeting up with you guys finally, since we always miss each other somehow. Let me know.

Thanks John, same here, we want to finally get to meet you too. I really would like to take the cars if possible..........do you know if there are still any openings and if we would be turned away if we would be able to preregister? Like I mentioned, the "rules" I saw posted said no billet, and our cars do have some billet and shiney stuff, so I'm just worried they would nix our entry.

I figured since I was personal friends with one of the head trophy makers and all.............

Don

Don

The RPU is looking better everytime I see it! Dan has a great eye for style.

I know he's probably already looked at cowl steering, but I think (for what that's worth) it would look very good on that car. I know it's a little over done these days, but it still looks good if done right.

BTW How does Don(the other one) like the dual quads on his bucket? I'm thinking about them for my T.

Mike

Don , tell your son I'm impressed with the crossmember so much I may steal it for one of my next projects. Don't worry I will credit him for the inspiration.
Ooo I will buy him a beer for design usage fee's. Remember to keep me informed about billetproof, because you never know when I want to drive 15 hours for dinner and a car show.
BradC

Thanks guys.

Mike, he actually had a BMW 2002 steering box in the first two versions of the car, setup as cowl steering. What he didn't like about it was that it complicated the inside of the firewall where your feet go and took up some valuable space there. So this time he wants one that is outside the cab entirely. It did work well there though and was easy to mount.

Don likes his 2 x 4 setup, but hasn't gotten enough miles on the car for us to dial it in yet. (He just got a new forged steering arm to replace the broken one, and we are redoing his entire brake setup, so the car is semi torn down) His carbs are running very rich right now to the point of blackening the plugs. I ran the same setup on my '27 and it was just about right, so we just need to fiddle some more with them once we get it back on the road. He and I are getting together Thursday night to work on it and hopefully get it off of jackstands for a change.

Brad, steal away! I get some of my best ideas by stealing them from other people. It was actually not too bad to make. First we made a masonite template of the front and rear portions so that we could get a nice pleasing shape that would dip below the pan. Then we cut a front and back piece out of 3/16 steel. We cut most of it on the bandsaw and used a metal cutting blade on a jigsaw to cut where the bandsaw wouldn't reach.

After that we punched holes in it with various sized holesaws and clamped the front and rear pieces onto a 2 x 3 inch piece of box tubing. The box tubing kept the pieces in alignment and also kept them from warping from welding. Then he and I hand bent the top piece out of 3/16 x 3 inch flat stock so that it would make the top "cap" of the crossmember. He left it sit up a little so that when he welded it all up he would have lots of weld to grind down and make the rounded edges you see in the pictures. He then removed the box tubing and finished welding it all underneath.

Finally, he just happened to have a pair of Pete and Jakes radius rod mounts that were the perfect size widthwise to use for the motor mount portions. He bought some 442 Olds engine mounts that these go to. All he had to do was shorten the P and J mounts and weld them onto the crossmember. He still has to weld the crossmember to the car, but is going to do that when he finishes boxing the frame.

Here are some better shots that might explain it more.

Don

PS: If you show up at Billetproof, I'll buy YOU a beer.

Don is that all, jeeze I'd have slapped together something if I knew it was that easy!
Seriously you guys do very nice work! From those of us who are non metal welders we salute you!

Well, thanks Steve, but I'm one of those non-welders myself.........at least when it comes to nice looking welds. Luckily Don and I have Dan to do the pretty stuff for us.

Good thing he works for free.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks John, same here, we want to finally get to meet you too. I really would like to take the cars if possible..........do you know if there are still any openings and if we would be turned away if we would be able to preregister? Like I mentioned, the "rules" I saw posted said no billet, and our cars do have some billet and shiney stuff, so I'm just worried they would nix our entry.

I figured since I was personal friends with one of the head trophy makers and all.............

Don

Don you might not want to mention you know me, alot of the clubs showing up, kinda want my head on a stake!! I made an opinion on another forum ,that did not sit well, part of the drama i was talking about!

As far as your cars go, i think they should be ok, but you still might want an "expert" opinion! Your son is good with the hamb guys, have him consult the "experts" over there and see if they will gratnt you immunity.
You can also try the southerngreasepit forum, they are real cliquey, but alot of them are heavily involved in the show. Im sure ol don garlits would love to have your cars there!!

I looked at the website for Billetproof... The only billet on my car is the rear wheel spacers, which aren't visible, and I did 100% of the build myself, so it should "pass". I may leave the coupe home and just go as a spectator, though. I don't want to get all the way there and not be able to get my car in... I've got to think about this for a while... The following weekend is the Spring event at Daytona. I know I can get in there...

If those guys are as hard nosed as the guys who put on Hot Rodarama here in Tacoma anything that even resembles billet will cause you to be turned away, especially if they are enjoying "a full house".

Here's an idea. Many moons ago before well publicized events caused the standard for participation to expand to numbers with multiple zeros in them, we would be tickled to have a gathering of 10 cars, give or take. So, why not pull together a group of you, meet up someplace near the event, put the most likely to be rejected car at the front of the group. Pull up as a string of rides, if the first guy gets booted, you all just drive off (single finger salute optional ). Do your own mini-event based on comraderie, cruise around, have a meal together, B.S. (no problem there with you guys ) and just flat out enjoy being together around a common love. Whiz on the snobs!!!

Bob, I couldn't agree more. In fact the longer I think about it, the more convinced I am not going to go. I pulled up some of their "rules" from their website:



Here are the rules. Read 'em and weep:

* 1964 and earlier TRADITIONAL style rods and customs ONLY!
* No visible billet anything! Especially wheels!
* Traditionally styled choppers and bobbers ONLY! (No modern West Coast Choppers, OCC style fluff bikes)
* No trailered cars (race only vehicles excepted with prior approval)
* No digital gauges (it's not traditional and it's ugly)
* No IFS on fenderless cars (it's not traditional and it's ugly)
* No mag wheels made after the 60's

Keep in mind that we have the right to refuse any vehicle WITHOUT A REFUND, so read the rules carefully and decide for yourself. Don't cry when we turn you away, tears stain billet.


I really don't need this show THAT bad. I just don't care for the narrow interpretation of what is acceptable or not. They can keep their show......I might go to Daytona instead a week later, if anything. I don't like hanging around with snobs, be they the high buck ones or the guys on the other side of the fence.

I'm also turned off that no Poor Boy has responded to the two requests I have made for clarification.........I THOUGHT they were a pretty good club up to this point.

Don

This is the "rule" that really makes me shake my head:


* No mag wheels made after the 60's


So what do they do, have a mag wheel expert who can carbon date your rims just to make sure they weren't make in (gasp) 1970!!!


I just don't need any car show or cruise that much.

Don

Sounds to me that they cater to the "pure rat rod" crowd. And I mean the clowns who cobble together a bunch of garbage and call it "old school".