Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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I'd like that meeting, to get to finally meet some of you other members too. The east coast of Florida isn't all that far away, maybe we'll come to one of your cruises this Summer. Maybe hotroddaddy and some others can pop over too. That would be fun.

And, if worst comes to worst, there is always November and Turkey Run. The way you are moving ahead on your track car, you are going to be there in it for sure.


Don

Yeah im down with that, hopefully i will still have a car by then

Happy Anniversary Don. I get my "hotrod fix" every day by checking your posts. I am enjoying this thread a lot.---Brian

Dang, now I must go back and read the whole thread.

Is there a finished pic? what page?

Thats the purtiest tranny ive ever seen.

Don't know if the T will be ready that quick, but I've always got my coupe. I drove it to Indiana and back last summer, so it should get me to wherever we decide to meet.

Hotroddaddy is in Jacksonville, you're in Fort Myers; what is about halfway between? Kissimmee? Lakeland? just let us know when the T is ready. I'll probably be travelling in June again, but we'll work it out.

Hotroddaddy, are you selling your toys? What do you mean "still have a car"?

Don, we can't thank you enough for the time you put into showing us your progress. I know it's crossed my mind more than once that if you didn't have us involved you would have been driving it already.

You have definately been the reason more than once that I went out to the garage to work on my T.

A big thank's, Ron

Don.....you are a very humble man (not as in Uriah Heeps 'umble, but as in self-depracating,) who has given a lot of inspiration (and yes, entertainment,) to a lot of people. You have drawn a lot of other clever people to put forth their ideas to educate and inform, and very informative it has been.
I have really enjoyed your thread over the last twelve months, the best of it was that you didn't try to gloss over the hiccoughs, thereby enabling others to be aware of what to avoid.
You're a good bloke.
Thank-you.

John D Norton.
johnboy

Don what's your address so I can ship my trans down for you to paint. Are you sure you've gone over $3000....I mean with all the credit you should have gained by showing us such a good time. I really enjoyed the pictures and all great idea's everybody was able to share.
Brad

For the first time in a long time, I am absolutely speechless. The very nice words from all of you are way beyond anything I deserve or could have asked for. If there is anyone who is thankful, it is me. Everyone on this forum has been first class in all respects, and have made this project as good and as fun for me as it has been.

Knowing that some very educated and talented eyes will be looking at what I post pictures of has kept me at the grinder a little longer sometimes, and that is a great incentive to try to do the best job you can.

You guys and gals are the very best, and the reason this forum is of such a high caliber. I really hope some day there is a CHR Nationals, and we all get to meet. That would be the coolest.

I hate to post my meager little job I got done today, but here it is. I finally got the radiator bolted down, but had to first clearance the front of the mounting bracket to clear my headlight mounts. After that I tapped some 3/8 threads into the frame and got it mounted. I will still have to put some rubber insulators under it when I do it for the last time, and I am going to make up some radiator support rods to keep the top from pushing back under airflow at speed, but for all practical purposes it is now all done.

Here are some shots of that work, and once again everybody, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.


Don

I have to say Don, that this thread is the best on the web. I have enjoyed reading it everyday that I can log in. I may have started a little late in the game, I still feel a part of this build. You have helped a person like me who was in the sport and left it for quite a while and am just getting back into it. Members like the folk who have posted in this thread with advice and suggestions is why I have made this my number one internet stop. Keep up the good work. And to let you know, I finally have a few pics of my 52 and will get them posted.

Rick

Hotroddaddy, are you selling your toys? What do you mean "still have a car"?


Im facing some finacial troubles soon, so i might have to sell to get us through, im hoping that wont happen , but i must get through.



Hey don, ive liked youre thread the best because it shows the small unseen stuff you cannot find anywhere else, you have been great at documenting the stuff no one ever really writes about or shows on tv, the stuff that really goes into building a car. Even though i think most of us are mechanicly inclined, you have given us new ways, and new ideas on how to tackle the next job. If i ever get to the point of building one from nothing, i will be able to look back to see how things were done down to the smallest detail, and that is priceless. And now we have j robinson doing it which will give more help, i for one will benefit from this for years to come, thanks guys

Does this mean I'm forgiven?

One year,,, ehh?
Man,,, doesn't seem that long.
But it looks like you've fit three years of fabricating into it.
This is by far the BEST thread documenting a Hot Rod being built.
Hotroddaddy said it perfect.
But credit also goes to the writer.
Humble, humorous, and half nekkid (put on some pants ferchristsakes).
I am going to make a point of getting down there some day so we can shake hands, and swap lies.

Radiator looks great, I am a great fan of aluminum now more than ever. That is a great addition to the project.

Thanks again guys for the very kind words. I'm looking forward to this build ending so I can sit back and watch others, like J Robinson do his thread. It's just downright fun to look into another guys garage and see how things are being done, and his thread is breaking some new ground in a thread, like the tube frame and homebuilt hairpins. I'm also enjoying the 15 week build thread that is going on right now, as well as some others.

Tom (Supa Roosta) there was never anything to forgive, but I will take you up on that cold drink some day. Your foam idea was great, it was my dumbness in not thinking about the resin that caused the trouble. Even my Son looked at me and said "didn't you KNOW that? (and hes too big to spank any more. lol

John, hotroddaddy, sorry to hear you may have to do some things to help out the finances, but as someone who has fallen on his face more than a few times and had to do the very same things, let me tell you there is always another project or car down the road. You are a young guy, and when I had the young family responsibilities you have I sold lots of half finished cars to keep food on the table. Priorities are important. There are probably a lot of guys on here who have done similar things, and will tell you that this is just temporary and the next one will be even better. But I hope it doesn't come to that for you.

Brick, I too like aluminum anymore, and everything I am seeing leads me to believe it is a better material for radiators. I know there is a lot of controversy on that, but it is the one I am using in everything I have done recently, and probably will do in the future.

Thanks again all.


Don

Oh, I forgot to post the little things I got done today. I spent a good portion of the day helping my Son Don move his boat to another marina, so I didn't get a full day in, but did accomplish some things.

I guess it marks the end of a build when you start doing small tasks, and that is where I am. J Robinson just said it......in the beginning you make a lot of progress because you are doing major things, then it slows down because you are doing lots of little stuff.

The plan is for Dan to do the absolute final welding for me on Saturday, then Monday I am taking the frame to the sandblaster. But before Saturday I have a lot of little stuff to do so that I don't tie up too much of his only day off. Today I worked on the license plate bracket and taillights. The bracket that was on the Hollywood license light didn't leave clearance for my plate frame, so I made a new one by cutting up a stainless steel boat trim tab, and building two little tabs to weld to the frame to hold the light and plate.

I also mocked up the mount to hold the two taillights in the exact same position on the rear frame rails. Nothing worse than having one light higher than the other.

With those two little tasks done I think all of my brackets and mounts are ready for welding, and will spend tomorrow and Friday making sure that Dan can just zip along and get these final items all welded up. I plan on grinding the frame and brackets clean so they are all ready to go.

Here are some pictures of the license bracket I did, and the jig to hold the two taillights straight and at the same height. The last picture is a piece of steel I fabbed up to hold the two frame brackets that will hold the license plate and light. It will keep them straight until they are welded in place.

Don