Vintage racer build

[BigIrish]

I suppose I finally accomplished enough to start a thread for this one.

General plan for this is a speedster-type body on a hot rod chassis. The first pic is roughly what I'm shooting for in terms of looks.

Got my frame rails started - grafted '32 front horns onto 2x4 box tubing. Left a 4" tab on the backside which I bent down and used as an internal fish plate of sorts.

The blue thing is my 120 horse BEAST I'll be using - 200 cube ford small six and 3 spd manual out of an old mustang.

 

[CORPO]

this is going to be a cool build! [P ill be watchin

 

[earthman]

BI's doin' it again! [

 

[BigIrish]

Had a fine day off to enjoy the sub-100 degree weather for once. Got the perimeter frame finished. I have a slight "why bother?" rear Z on this one since it will ride pretty tall and I want the engine & trans slung low in the frame like those ol' racers.

Also got the last piece of my six-banger puzzle in the mail today - a 25-spline slip yoke out of a '62 econoline that I spent 2 mos looking for. Finding parts for old Ford 3 speeds is not as easy as opening a JEGS catalog unfortunately.

 

[bob w]

Nice job on the frame, Big I. The Model A rails look real good on it.

 

[Flipper_1938]

BI's doin' it again! [

OK. This thread just took a strange twist. Why are you talking about bi-sexuals? [ddev

 

[BigIrish]

Managed to score an Exploder 8.8 rear with disk brakes, limited slip, and 4.10 gears at the first yard I looked! Even has new looking pads and the brake lines are intact.

4.10s were available on the 99-01 Eddie Bauers & Limited only, but most had the 3.73. The other years & models had a 3.27 or 3.55.

 

[kzoldman]

Nice find BI.!! Using a 97 Explorer 3.73 myself. Found a short side 31 spline axle on ebay for 20 bucks and cut the long side down to match. This centered my yoke. Just a thought if you need it narrower.

 

[BigIrish]

Got the rear suspension all tacked together. I'm not a huge fan of the chromium on this build but they don't seem to sell coilovers that aren't chrome or billet.

These are 140 lb springs, seem like they will be nice and cushy on this light car. We shall see...

 

[Flipper_1938]

I'm not a huge fan of the chromium on this build but they don't seem to sell coilovers that aren't chrome or billet.
.

If you are looking to get rid of the "brand new" look, you might play with some brick acid to try and dull the chrome.

I would disassemble the coilovers and do the components individually, so that you don't ruin the shocks.

 

[jfg455]

looks good. Now I understand your other post about the frame horns and how much you had to lose to mate them up. Not going to use parallel leaf front and back like the speedster in the pic? looks like some nice work as usual. [P

 

[BigIrish]

I think that car has a transverse or semi-elliptical in back, due to the short rear overhang. I actually did want to go that route, but it's just way easier and cheaper to use the ford style transverse spring setup in the front and coilovers in the rear. I could always paint them black if I really don't like them.

I'm looking forward to getting the chassis stuff done so I can get to the fun stuff - the body!

 

[BigIrish]

If you are looking to get rid of the "brand new" look, you might play with some brick acid to try and dull the chrome.

I would disassemble the coilovers and do the components individually, so that you don't ruin the shocks.

Good idea. I was also thinking of disassembling, scuff & shoot them black to match the chassis.

 

[BigIrish]

Finally got my front end all painted up and installed. Painted the brakes with caliper paint too. No rust on this one!

Dropped the frame over the engine to see what it would look like. The engine will be mounted a little lower in the frame and the suspension should settle down a couple of inches once the weight is on it.

Ignore the junkyard roller wheels!

 

[BigIrish]

After looking at this awhile, I'm thinking I need to move the radiator back behind the axle and push the motor back. I want it to look more like the pic of the maroon racer than a Model A.

What thinks ye?

 

[Flipper_1938]

After looking at this awhile, I'm thinking I need to move the radiator back behind the axle and push the motor back. I want it to look more like the pic of the maroon racer than a Model A.

What thinks ye?

Have you seen this thread over on the H A M B? It is the motherload of vintage racecar pics. It might help you define what you really want your car to look like...or confuse the hell out of you. LOTS of cool cars and history in this thread.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=380814&highlight=auto+racing+1894

 

[BigIrish]

Yeah I have gone through that entire thread! That's actually what inspired me to start this project. I'll mock it up tonight again with the motor & rad more rearward, see how it looks.

 

[Flipper_1938]

This Mercedes is one of my favorites. The rad is definetly moved back.

This Chrysler is close to axle and looks pretty good too.

similar car from a different angle.

 

[BigIrish]

I definitely like the looks of that Merc the best. I'll have to look into fabbing some belly pans like that - car looks much lower than the chassis actually is.

 

[Flipper_1938]

I definitely like the looks of that Merc the best. I'll have to look into fabbing some belly pans like that - car looks much lower than the chassis actually is.

I have more pics of that car at home. If I find them, I will post them.

Same car? If so, its in the Porsche museum.

maybe not the same, but close to the same era mercedes racer