Here is an update on the coupe I mentioned.
All this, new Walker Radiator, SS headlight bar, new saddle tanks, a new set of B-ville fenders(complete kit), sitting on a TCI perimeter frame.
$4k
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Here is an update on the coupe I mentioned.
All this, new Walker Radiator, SS headlight bar, new saddle tanks, a new set of B-ville fenders(complete kit), sitting on a TCI perimeter frame.
$4k
Good shopping !!! Love coupes, but they are starting to go through the ceiling. Nice stance, too.
Don:3dSMILE: :3dSMILE:
Did we really pull off the look of a roller that well?Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
Its all sitting on jackstands.....haha
Thanks.
I gotta buy some of them low jackstands, mine sit way too high when I have them mocked up to look like they really run.:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
Don
SORT OF AN UPDATE:
Spent a little money this week on the project. Ordered a front spring , rear spring perches, and rear spring mounts from Speedway, about $ 145.00 with 3 day shipping. Also ordered front perches from Total Performance because theirs have a smooth top, and won't need to be modified to work. About $ 60.oo with shipping. Then I won an oil pressure gauge and ammeter on Ebay for $ 4.50 plus $ 7.00 in shipping. Should have the spring and stuff by the weekend, so I can get the front up on wheels, maybe.
So now the total is up to about $ 1125.00. I would have built the perches and shock mounts to save some money, but sometimes it is easier and cheaper to just order ready made stuff, and faster too.
I'll post more pix after the weekend. I plan to drill about 14 one inch holes in the I beam, and try to get the spindles and backing plates on.
My Kid is trying to convince me to scrap the frame and build a new one, but I think it will be fine. All that we need to do is reweld all the existing welds, because they are a little marginal. Even if I have to crank up the old arc welder to get really deep penetration. The back is going to get cut off and Z'd real deep, so all that will be left of the old is the front cross tube and spring perch.
He just likes to build frames. Me, I want to get done sometime in this lifetime.
Don
I love the suicide front end, just make sure the axle isn't lower than the rim when the tire is flat. They have a name for that but I don't remember what it is, regardless of what it's called, it wouldn't be a fun ride during a blow out.:cool:
Scrub line. And I don't think it will get that low. But that is a good point.
Don
Ok- quick update on the 50 delivery,
I found a donor frame today at the junkyard- it's a 70 El Camino, and the whole rolling chassis only cost me 150 bucks ! I will have to cut it down a little, and box it in, check the bearings, the bushings, ball joints, tie-rod ends, ect,- but I'm getting excited now.
I pulled up the floor mats on the delivery to get the seat out and found Aluminum sheets zip screwed down on both sides pans...haven't gotten to the back yet to inspect it, but so far I am thinking all I'll need is one sheet of steel, and about 50 lbs. of wire...lol.
Total cost of build to date : 650.00
Will post some pic.'s as soon as I remember to buy the damn batteries for the camara
Will post some pic.'s as soon as I remember to buy the damn batteries for the camara
Yeah, I just robbed every flashlight in the house to keep my camera going. Finally broke down and bought some.
Sounds like your project is going to take a major leap forward with the new chassis. That's really great. Plus, you get modern running gear and brakes and all, and can go to any auto store and fix it. Smart move hambiskit.
Don
PROJECT $3 k TAKES A SLIGHT DETOUR:
For those among us who have young children, let me give you a snapshot ahead into your future. At some point in time, YOU will become the CHILD, and your KIDS will become the PARENT. I'm not talking about when you are in Sunny Hills Old Age Home, and are drooling all over yourself, I'm talking about it happening a lot sooner than that.
What prompts this observation is that my Son has been telling me that he doesn't trust the frame under my low-buck project. The tubing is heavy enough, but he doesn't like the welds. Ok, I told him we would reweld them all. Then he tells me he thinks the front tube crossmember is made of water pipe, not DOM tubing, and he goes on to measure the outside diameter, and confirms it probably is, because it measures differently than tubing would. SO MUCH FOR MY LITTLE EBAY BARGAIN !!!!
So at this point I have to admit he is probably right, and the icing on his arguement is that this car is going to be a gift to my other Son, and we don't want him riding around in an unsafe car. Arguement closed.
Today I ordered 24 feet of new 2 X 3 3/16 wall rec tubing ( $ 86.00) and called Total Performance back and ordered a proper tube front crossmember ($ 25.00), so that we can build a good, new frame for the car. He is good at it, and will whip it out in a couple of days, and will do it on our frame jig, so it will be straight.
This will set the build back a week or so, but it will give us the advantages of having the right kickup built in right from the start, without the need to modify anything. Bright side, the spring and other stuff I ordered from Speedway showed up today,(those folks are really ok to deal with) so I can keep moving ahead on the front end suspension. Saturday, I am going to the wrecking yard to start measuring for an 8 inch or 9 inch rear.
I will take pictures as we start building the frame, to help anyone who may not have ever done it and who is curious.
I'm not sure when the Kids get smarter than us, but beleive me, it happens.
:D :D :D :D :D
Don
Great Thread Guys...I love to sit back and listen to you guys work through this stuff...it's awesome! Don, Good Luck with the build...I hope that it's a ton of fun for you. I know what you mean when you say the kids start parenting us...I used an innapropriate descriptive word the other day and my daughter said "Mom, you don't have to swear to make a point"...uh...yeah, I do ;)
Speedway rocks ...............
And Hell Yeah Jerilynne, I agree descriptive adjectives are often required to get the young peoples' attention :LOL: As if they don't use them outside of our ear shot ............... :whacked:
Kitz
Speedway DOES rock. You know, some places may have slightly higher quality on some things, but generally, I feel they really give a decent product at a very fair price. And, their shipping is unreal. I ordered my stuff on Monday, Thursday the UPS guy drops it off. I've used them for years, and have very few complaints.
Went to the shop today, and got a little more done. The Speedway front spring came in, so I wanted to get the brackets made to hang them on the wishbones. I don't remember this being done in the '50's, but currently, it is popular to mount the spring perch right to the wishbone, suicide style. Some people drill a hole in the wishbone for the perch, some people weld a tube to the wishbone to mount the spring shackle from, but I chose to mount the perch to a 3/8 inch gusset that we are going to weld to the bottom of the wishbone.
By doing this, it will drop the front end even lower, and also will reinforce the wishbone, which was never actually intended to take this load. I am using a '37 wishbone, as it is heavier and longer than the ones from a Model A.
The first picture is of the front of the unmodified wishbone.
The second picture is a blue template I made out of poster board.
The third picture is of the gusset I cut out of 2 inch wide X 3/8 inch thick flat stock, and a piece of that metal before cutting.
The fourth picture shows one finished gusset in place, with the perch (the chrome piece) in place. I drilled some holes to add a little detail to the piece, rather than leaving it plain.
The fifth picture shows the same thing from a different angle.
And, the 6th picture shows the mocked up front end, with the new, wider spring I got from Speedway.
Didn't get a whole lot done today, it was 95 degrees in the shop, but at least now my Son can weld the gussets to the wishbones, and I can get the front suspension started.
We won't be using this frame, but it will work ok for the mock up, because the new one we build will pretty much have the same dimensions.
How are some of you others coming on your budget cars?? We'd love to see some shots of those too.
Don
Woops. You can only post 5 pictures on one try, so here is picture number 6.
Also, we have burned up every 1 inch hole saw we own, so I am going to pick up a couple so I can punch the front axle full of holes. Maybe like 6 or 7 per side.
Don
Coming along there Don, and I found a motor today for mine- a "rebuildable" 350 from a friends kid for 100.00 bucks, I'll pick it up tomorrow.
I got batteries for the camara- it's broke- won't work and after 45 min.'s trying to explain to the little lady that it won't work, along with multiple demonstrations, we dug out the old 35mm, and guess what....it needs batteries- only a different kind than the ones in the digital ( which are new).
So pic.'s are coming- I got a scanner.
I am down to the ripping it all out stage of mine- I have removed the interior, and floormats. The front pans are gone so I measured up and went to find one complete with tunnel (a deeper tunnel) that would mate up with the 50. Found one in a S-10 that will work. Got it for hauling it and the bed off. I will cut it out tomorrow from the S-10 and set it aside. I have to get the el-camino chassis over to the shop so that I can do all the final measurements so that I can get it cut and sectioned. After that I will decide on channeling the body down over the frame- or just leaving it set stock ride height. (you know I'm going to do it). The rocker boxes are rotted away on the 50 so I will have to crossbrace the inner cabin before I can try to move it because it might collaspe- THEN I have to fix the rotten bead around the rear section where the factory clipped it on to keep the roof on it when I raise it.
I just want to ready the frame first before I pull it completely apart so that I can double check myself on the frame fit for core support, and firewall position.
More tomorrow........
Total to date 750.00
Amazing the free stuff that you can get, if you just ask, sometimes. You may have scored pretty good. S10 beds are a little pricey sometimes. The guys who bag them are always looking for new beds. (not sure why, but they are)
Delivery's are great as drivers. Lots of room to carry stuff that us roadster guys only dream about.:( :( :(
Anxious to see your pix.
Don
Yeah, you KNOW you are going to channel it. Another nice thing is that SB Chevy parts to rebuild are cheap, compared to the Fords that I play around with.
OK-what a pain in the butt here's some pic.'s :
and more from the crypt.....
one more time....
Wow, what a great project, awesome! I agree that Speedway really Rocks!
Hey Jim, pick up a 128meg memory stick and you can use my old Sony digital camera for your pics so ya don't have to mess with the scanner.
Larry M.
Hey thanks Larry- but 1 broken camara is enough for me...LOL ! Besides it gives me good reason to go get another one with all the bells & whistles.
OK- Quick update : I am starting to wonder if I can pull this one off, building the car to a safe hot rod under 3k I can do, building the hot rod engine could blow the budget.
I did pick up a set of 4030 domes, and rods today for 50 bucks- puts the build at 800. I still have to get timing chain, rings, bearings x 3,re-work the heads (ouch), I swapped a bumpstick I had for a carb.- 750 double pumper, still need to find an intake for it, re-work the block, oil pump, fuel pump, filters, oil x 2....man- it's gonna be close.
I got the frame for the swap from a 78 'Camino, and it's a factory 4 link set-up (sweet) and I will pull it over to the shop Monday- I stripped it at the yard, I will post some more pic.'s soon.....
i believe you can do it hambiskit, but if you don't you can say you gave it it a good try. :(
i believe you can do it hambiskit, but if you don't you can say you gave it it a good try.
That is the important thing, that you are trying. I agree that if you start adding some nice speed and dress up stuff, it can ruin the budget, but you have to build a car that you are proud to drive too. Sounds like you are coming along great, though.
As for mine, well there isn't much to report progress-wise over the last couple of weeks. I am still going to do it, but my Son and I decided if we are going to get his '29 and my '39 to Daytona in November, we had better start moving faster.Plus, he was building a '29 Fordor for his rod, but found a very nice '29 Tudor body about 600 miles from here, so we drove up last weekend and picked it up. He is knee deep in stripping that one down to take to the dippers, and I think it gives him a better shot at being done by November.
Here is a picture of the new one he picked up. He always wanted a tudor, and is going to build a little modified out of the Fordor. But he is having a hard time making the decision to cut the fordor up, as he has hundreds of hours of work in it.
Good luck on your builds, keep the $ 3 K torch alive.:3dSMILE: :3dSMILE: :3dSMILE:
Don
Hey Jim, I'm keeping an eye on you so no slowing down any:D But I can come over and help if ya need an extra set of hands.
Larry M.
http://moorefoto.smugmug.com/photos/67199821-M.gif
Damn, that eye thing is SPOOKY.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Don
Ya it is! I got it off the Homeland Security's web site.:D
Larry M.
if they dont get him this one will. :eek:
Ay carumba!:rolleyes:
Well....I guess the "ayes" have it- I continue...
OK- pulled the elky over to the shop today, the yard was supposed to spear the body and remove it but they didn't- tired of waiting so I'll do it myself. I've already got it ready to lift so I should have it off by the week-end & post some pic.'s of it then.....build cost still 750; lets see, rings, bearings, gaskets, seals, turn crank, line hone block,soft plugs, hard plugs,oil pump,rebuild heads....gonna be close guy's- I still need seats, and a sheet of steel.
Wow, this thread is helping me out a bunch. his is my fisrt project car, and I've been wanting to do a T-Bucket. I found a frame online(ebay) for 250, brand new. It comes with the windshield frame(why, i dont know). Do you guys think this is a good deal? Thanks again.
i would think so.
What kind of frame is it? Pro built or home built? Reason I asked is that I bought what was supposed to be a Total Perf frame and body on ebay a little while back, and the frame turned out to be home built, and not good at that. But I still got a deal on it, so I'm building a new frame.
Another factor is freight. I won a frame a couple years ago on ebay for $ 125.00. When it showed up, freight collect bill was $ 400.00 !! I had to go back to the seller (who said in the ad he got a commercial rate, and he worked it out with the truckline)
Aside from these two factors, you should be fine, especially with the windshield in the mix.
By the way, I had shelved Project $ 3K for a while, to finish up my '39, but now I have changed my mind. I am actually going to build the bucket to drive to Daytona in November instead of the '39. Reason is, the '39 is getting more complex, and I want to finish it right, and not rush it. I can pop out the T Bucket sooner, so it should be done on time.
I'm glad this thread is helpful, that was the intention from the onset.
Thanks,
Don
"I am actually going to build the bucket to drive to Daytona in November instead of the '39."
We are planning on making the trip from PA to the Turkey Run this year. Would be great to see your completed $3K project bucket there. I'll email you before the event to see if you still plan to be there.
Have you ever been to this event? It is the best. Take a couple of lawn chairs and a cooler of Coke (or Budweiser) and every evening is like Disneyland on A1A. Rods of every description cruising past for hours on end.
I actually like it better than going to the Speedway (except for the swapmeet which is huge)
I hope you go, and would love to meet you, I'm a Pittsburgh boy originally, and see you are from Pa. too.
Plan on it, you'll love it. And it is usually nice and warm too.
Don
The frame is built by Hot Rod Shop. He has 9 of them built, and they look solid. Think this is still alright?
Sure sounds ok. Have you covered the freight cost issue yet? These things are not only heavy, but long, and go at a pretty high shipping rate.
Just don't want to see you get sticker shock when it arrives.
Don
Another update, sort of..................................
One thing that has been keeping me from building the new Project $ 3K frame is that I didn't have the rear axle assembly I was going to use. I need it to set up the rear kickup, as I want this thing to sit really low. Today I went to the local U-Pic-'em junkyard, with tape measure in hand, and a box of tools.
I wanted a mid '70's Ford 8 inch, because they have very few brackets to cut off to make them suitable for a bucket, and the center section is kind of clean looking. But, there were no cars of this era there, so I finally settled on an S10/Blazer style. The best one I could find there was a 70,000 mile GMC Jimmy. They wanted $ 100.00 for it, or $ 125.00 if they pulled it. Well, it was like 90 degrees, the junkyard is all sugar-sand, and the no-see-ums were bugging the heck out of me, so guess which route I went? I even tipped the guy who cut it out for me. Well worth it.
So now that the rear axle is home we can start cutting up the tubing we bought about a month ago, and jigging up the final frame. I'll post some pictures as that happens.
Don