Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[Itoldyouso]

That's quite a bit of car for that amount of money. Nice to see a guy who actually comes in at the figure he was shooting for. So many people say they are going to build a car for a certain amount, then go waaaaaaaaaay over . I don't know any of them personally, but I hear they are out there.

Don

[Ken Thurm]

[stovens]

[Hotrod46]

JR You're a trouble maker!

I sure hope my wife doesn't read your last post. I keep tellin' her that it takes lot's of money to build a car!

Pretty impressive though.

Mike

[J. Robinson]

That's me, Mike, trouble maker through and through. I've never had sense enough to keep quiet... Here, I'll fix it; have your wife to read this:

Dear Mrs. Mike,
Cars are very expensive to build. I only get by so cheap because I steal all the parts and materials. I expect to go to jail any day. Please let Mike spend all the money he needs so he won't have to steal parts and go to jail.

There, that ought to do it.

Yeah, Don, I've heard of people like that. I've never met any, but I know they're out there...

[Hotrod46]

Thanks JR!

I feel better now! I don't think she'll buy it though!

Mike

[Itoldyouso]

No Mike you are doing it BACKWARDS.........you NEVER tell your Wife what your cars or parts REALLY cost.....NEVER!!!!! You have to automatically move the decimal point to the left when fessing up to buying some new stuff.

Years ago I was dragging some new find home and my Sons who were about 6 were in the car with me, and I cautioned them "Look, when Mom asks how much this car was, it cost $ 25.00." Dan said "But Dad, you aren't going to lie to Mom, are you??" I told him yes I was and "someday you will understand why!!"

Just last night Don and I stopped to have a beer after washing our cars for the car show we are going to Saturday, and we were talking about that very story............he tells me he now understands WHY!!

You will still get your butt chewed out, but not as bad as if she knew the truth.

Don

[stovens]

My wife is fine with upto x amount of money a month from the joint account. Anything more becomes a negotiated item, or comes from my personal savings(sort of an allowance for adults!)
Every once in a while, I fudge like Don says, that works sometimes!

[J. Robinson]

My wife never asks and said once that she didn't want to know as long as the bills are paid and there is a little left to go places, etc. Then one day she happened to wander past while I was on this very forum telling someone that I had just over $7600 in my coupe. She didn't say anything, but over the next couple of months I think she replaced her entire wardrobe and doubled her collection of shoes... I guess that's a small price to pay, though. Besides, half the income is hers anyway; we're both teachers and she makes as much as I do...

[stovens]

JR pretty much the same here, equality and honesty go along way.

[BradC]

Sorry guy's no wife to lie about anything, I spend the money till it runs out, (then print more) LOL
BradC

[Itoldyouso]

JR pretty much the same here, equality and honesty go along way.

Yes it does. And when that fails chauvinism and deceit usually get the job done.

Don

[falconvan]

OK boys & girls, it's been a while since I did this. Way back on page 18 I updated the cost of this project; I haven't done it since. Back then I had racked up a total of $2223.58. Since that time I have determined that I couldn't use the seats I had bought, so my son will be using them on a project of his and I can deduct the cost ($209.88) from the previous total. That brings the previous figure down to $2013.70. The lumber I used in the seat construction and body reinforcement was leftover stuff from jobs around the house and Ron punched all 104 louvers as a gift to me free of charge...

Adjusted previous total: 2013.70
Misc. nuts, bolts, rivets, etc: 88.11
Steel & aluminum: 161.62
Fiberglass mat: 12.06
Resin: 20.00
Body filler: 9.68
Fuel pump: 44.88
Paint: 373.01
Windshield frame & stanchions: 403.90
-------
Total: $3126.96

I'm getting close to the $4,000 mark that I was shooting for; maybe I won't go over it too far... Maybe $4500?

My hats off to you for sticking to your plan! I've changed directions so many times on my coupe that I'm afraid to add it all up. I do my best to finance it myself with selling parts and side jobs so I'm not dipping in the household fund.

[J. Robinson]

I almost forgot... I was poised to begin disassembly when I realized I had almost forgotten about the upper steering arm. I have never seen an aftermarket upper steering arm for an Econoline spindle, so I would need to make one. In addition to improved appearance over the stock Econoline arm, I wanted to raise the front of the drag link up to improve bump-steer geometry. Also, when attached to the stock arm, the drag link rubbed the front tire when turned sharply to the left. Several pictures were necessary to explain this, so this installment is broken up into 3 sections.

I began by removing the left wheel and brake drum and taking out the two 7/16" top backing plate bolts. I disconnected the drag link fron the old stock arm and propped it up on a deep socket about where I wanted it to be when finished. Next, I used a tailor's tape measure to determine the overall length of the round stock I would need to fabricate the outer loop of the arm. In this case it measured 16".

I could have used a piece of round stock and just threaded the ends and, if this piece was made of 1/2" stock, I would have. However, since I had to use 7/16" stock to fit the holes, I decided I wanted the strength of grade 8 hardware where the threads are. The upper part of the arm would be plate gusseted, so strength is not in question there; it's the area that has to straddle the upper part of the spindle that had me concerned. So.., I took a pair of 6 inch long 7/16" fine thread grade 8 bolts, cut the heads off, and added a section of 7/16" round stock in between to come up with the piece I needed - 7/16" round stock with grade 8 ends. I also needed something to make the boss for the drag link bolt. ACE Hardware to the rescue - I found something called a shaft collar that is perfect for the job.

[oldrodder43]

Darned if you don't continue to amaze me with your fabrication skills and your ability to think up all those parts and such! Good work, again! Perley