Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

Tweet

Thanks Dave... it did go fairly quick... Laying the windshield posts back really simplified it. Too bad it won't work for everything.

Now I have to give some thought to the frame, cage, and powertrain. Got to get Tom's coupe finished up and on it's way home then I should be able to get back to all my projects.... Still have a couple fenders giving me fits on the coupe, hope to get the problems corrected on them this week and move on.

As of now, plans for the frame are an NHRA legal--but still streetable chassis. A couple new things I want to play with on the chassis, get more into that as the build progresses. Giving some thought to using a 4.6 and 5 speed, plus the 8.8 rear end out of a donor Mustang---but I still like my Windsor's hooked up to a good 5 speed with a 9" rear.... Guess I don't have to decide today. Could just build me a 302 so Scooter and I can have our 302 shootout I guess.........

Originally Posted by Daver

....I don't think that wind wing is gonna fit !

Daver.

Haven't decided what I'm going to do there yet Daver... Might just add some 20 ga. to square off the window opening and at the same time provide a place to mount some mirrors... Windows in the doors are going to be done the easy way, removable lexan with a lightweight framework. It's going to be a fair weather only car, no use adding a bunch of weight with all the window regulators and tracks.... As always, going to be weight conscious on the build, once a racer, always a racer I guess....

Yo, Dave....have a peek at a '78 Ford Granada rear end. It has the same 50" width, but it has the fat tubes. The mustang has a skinny, stepped down tube were it meets the backplate. Also, the Granada has a cast steel (not iron) housing, and as an added bonus....the Granada rear brake shoes are metallic.

Now, I don't really know what years the Granada's had all these features...but you might want to check it out.

Daver.

....as you can see, the brackets are easier to weld onto the fat tubes.

Daver.

....here's a better shot....as a super bonus, the drums are finned. (yeah baby)

I've still got a good selection of 9" rears, most with the big bearing ends so that's not really a concern as I'm sure I'll have to narrow it to get just the width I want. The lil' Bronco is a bit on the skinny side, so I want to get as wide a track width on the rear as possible... As usual, I'll just pick the tire and wheel combo I like, then narrow the housing and order up a set of axles..... I'll be running discs on the rear, too... Heck, might go with a brand new housing, both Comp Engineering and Moser sell a fabricated 'moly housing at a decent price now.....again that old weight issue... If the weight is down where I think it should be, could even spend the big bucks for an aluminum center section and lose a few more pounds of ugly fat.... All that depends on how much horsepressure I decide to build for it....

Lots of considerations, and lots of things to ponder. Just love this part of the build, always have!!!! The decisions made now can at times have a huge effect on the overall performance when the build is complete.....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Thanks Dave... it did go fairly quick... Laying the windshield posts back really simplified it. Too bad it won't work for everything.

Now I have to give some thought to the frame, cage, and powertrain. Got to get Tom's coupe finished up and on it's way home then I should be able to get back to all my projects.... Still have a couple fenders giving me fits on the coupe, hope to get the problems corrected on them this week and move on.

As of now, plans for the frame are an NHRA legal--but still streetable chassis. A couple new things I want to play with on the chassis, get more into that as the build progresses. Giving some thought to using a 4.6 and 5 speed, plus the 8.8 rear end out of a donor Mustang---but I still like my Windsor's hooked up to a good 5 speed with a 9" rear.... Guess I don't have to decide today. Could just build me a 302 so Scooter and I can have our 302 shootout I guess.........

I'm sure it'll all come together faster than you think. At the moment I have the 'grinding wheel' blaaughs! I've decided to get away from finishing the frame up....and do a little body work to break up the monotany. Been a long time since I've got to spread body butter on a panel. Kind of looking forward to hand sanding. I bought a air knife years ago and realized real quick I was better off doing it the old fashion way....by hand.

Dave G.

yeah, go to change off on what you're doing once in awhile.... The Bronco is fun, so when I've had a good day and still a bit of ambition left or when I actually get something done, I reward myself with a bit of time working on it.

A change is good and Dave I know you have been offered plane fair and a comfortable bed and bring the wife , some good food along with Chicago's great weather . But heck I will try it again we could work well together .

Ain't warm enough there!!!! Got a lot of stuff to get done right here this winter..... Like to get back to Texas for Christmas...not sure that will even happen....

Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

Originally Posted by hotrod1943

Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

I'm not old enough to remember the old hot rods but I grew up drooling over Hotrod, Super Chevy, and Streetrodder magazines in the early 80's when I was a teen. Then got married, kiddos, job, and a mortgage. So when I joined up I felt the same way. It was like stepping back in time. I love this site. So many wonderful folks here. Glad you joined!

Sometimes I wish I grew up in the 50's....but dad says "No you dont!" Still....I think I'd of enjoyed fixing up the old jalopy's and cruising the strip. I feel left out when dad and his brothers talk about the old drive-in theaters....soda shops....jukeboxes....hops.....neon signs.....and those perty car hops with roller skates. I think I was born in the wrong era.

Dave G

Dave G. I know what you mean. I think the McCarthyism thing might have been pretty scary, but the cars and cruising were very cool, probably why American Grafetti is still so popular( which for all of you comcast cable people, it's free on demand this month!).
I wish I lived during a generation where we knew all of our neighbors and the family unit stuck together, and the worst someone did to you was honk a horn, not flip you off as they cut you off on the highway! (yet there are many good things today...the new dodge challenger, internet for places like this, and the advent of the bikini!

Originally Posted by hotrod1943

Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

My first car was a 48 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe also back in the early 80's was givin to me by a guy I worked with . Very clean 2 small rust holes in each fender wish I had never sold it . Still have the fender badges and the rear view mirrow in the garage .


Dave S sure its warm its all in the thinking

Guys, I'm old enough - and the glorious nifty fifties weren't!!!

Let's start with a few simple things:
- No TV beyond your local 1 to 4 channels(well that isn't really something I'd miss now)
- No decent highways - Interstates were just being built at the end of the '50s
- No a/c in your homes or cars
- Telephone service beyond your town was poor
- Much of America was still going through rural electrification.
- The military draft - Korean War(60,000 dead, 100,000 wounded)
- Civil Rights movement - nasty
- McCarthyism and a commie under every rock
- Schools had the "duck and cover" drills against the Russian Menace/atom bomb
- Cuba and Castro's regime
- There really weren't many 'hot rods' contrary to popular belief
- Drive-in restaurants
- Dad had 2 weeks vacation and 2 or 3 holidays.
- Pay, $1 to $3/ hour. $3000 a year was a lot
- Air travel - it took 2 days coast to coast or to Europe.
- Cars started rotting out in 6 to 12 months (i.e. the Tri Five Chevies and Fords)

And there were some positives - Elvis and some good music, movies were pretty good - not the violence seen now, family life still existed without both mom and dad needing to work to pay for their mini mansion, two cars and keeping the kids in expensive toys, drug use was still not rampant, the police could really do their job, and people still cared.

But I need to put my soap box away and go help some folks with a project