Vintage racer build

[BigIrish]

Yep, I like that car alot!

OK, I'm liking this look much better. Got the engine & rad shell about where they will sit in the frame. The boards are my deluxe seat mock-up - right over the rear wheels like the above car. Still plenty of room for my long legs & pedals even with the engine pushed way back.

Very tight clearance for the oil filter. I'll shift the engine to the passengers side about an inch to make room and also make more pedal room.

 

[Flipper_1938]

That does look better. [cl

 

[jfg455]

I love how tall and skinny the whole build is! Tall motor, tall stance, skinny body. You going to look for some skinny 18's or something for wheels?[P

 

[Rat_Rods_Forever]

great start, I like that your using the 6 cyl ford. [cl

 

[BigIrish]

You going to look for some skinny 18's or something for wheels?[P

I could use Model A wheels which are nice & skinny but I personally don't think they are safe enough for highway speeds.

I just got some skinny solid steel rims 5" wide with some tall & skinny bias plys on the way. Nice large diameter wire wheels are mostly hand-made and too expensive, but it would look great.

 

[BigIrish]

Got my pizza cutters in the mail today from Coker. 640-15s up front and slightly larger 670-15 in the rear, '41 Ford center caps. I was told they would come in grey primer but they turned up painted a nice satin black, which is what I was going to paint them anyway! It makes me wonder if they accidentally gave me a set that were powder-coated, which they offer. [S All mounted, balanced and full of air. Man it doesn't get any easier than that.

Not exactly period correct, but I didnt want to shell out for new wires and didn't want to fool with rusty old ford wires and billet adapters. Maybe someday.

Also got my Wilwood pedal assemblies. The little guy is for the clutch, the other the brakes. Speedway sells an adapter so you can run a standard ford style dual-feed master. They'll go a little somethin' like this...

 

[BigIrish]

Got a few more things done. Battery box, steering box, front shock mounts, and got the radiator mounted.

Radiator was a total PIA, had to fab a frame to go around it that would also hold the '30 shell I'm using. Painted it satin black. It looks OK I guess, but I might end up putting some mesh in front of it to hide it some more. Also managed to dig up some hoses at the parts store that I cut down to work - that's always a fun exercise.

 

[rainman]

Really starting to look good Irish keep em comming!!! Love the whole concept.

 

[Sam_Fear]

I think the radiator looks good as is in the shell. I'd screen it if the rad sits back from the front of the shell a 1/4" or more, using big 1/4" screen.

 

[hillbilly4008]

Dude, you gotta read this thread. The body came out wicked, and everything was done using simple tools the average working man can afford.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397816

Im gonna start collecting parts for mine right away.

Are you going to street this thing, or race only? That was probably a stupid question...

 

[BigIrish]

Actually I read that thread a year or so ago and got lots of good ideas for when I built this one:

http://www.ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12757&highlight=speedster

I built that one like this guy did - using small square tubing. Works fine and was alot of fun, but I want a more substantial cockpit this time.

I'm just gonna run it on the street, but I want it to look like it belongs on a track.

 

[hillbilly4008]

Awesome build. I never noticed the thread before because honestly up untill about 3 days ago i wasnt into speedsters. I dont know what happened but something sparked, and now i HAVE to build one. Im pretty compulsive....

I'll be watching this build closely.

Im finding parts, but nobody wants to let them go. Friggin hoarders...

 

[PA41]

I dont know what happened but something sparked, and now i HAVE to build one. Im pretty compulsive....

.

I hear that--- Flippers doing one and now BI -- and I like long hoods-----and I just got this new welder--be perfect to do chasis work.

But I got fenders to finish...

But I NEED a single seater. Almost a motorcycle.

I NEED one BAD!!!

PA41

 

[jfg455]

Flippers doing one and now BI. But I NEED a single seater.
I NEED one BAD!!!

PA41

Hahaha! Relax, It is ok, I have vehicle A.D.D as well. Now if I just take the left over cowl, and this frame part here, I could just.....[[

 

[BigIrish]

Got the chassis all broken down, finished welding all the stuff I had tacked together. Painted the frame & rear axle satin black to match the front end. Have to paint a few small parts then I can re-assemble and start on the fun stuff (the body).

 

[BigIrish]

Got it all back together, rolled it outside for a few pics. Also filled it with water and fired it up for the heck of it.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Wow! That is neat just as it is. I woulda sat on a bucket and just stared at it awhile. Artwork.

 

[BigIrish]

Used some plywood and masking tape to mock up what the body could look like. The front part of the cowl will need to be a couple of inches narrower than this to look good, and the back part of the cowl will be an inch or two taller than the front...should look pretty good then.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Do you have a particular car your molding this after, like that earlier posted Mercedes, or are you just kinda slap stuff up and seeing what sticks?

 

[BigIrish]

A bit of both. Looking at other cars for inspiration then changing things I don't like.

I think the rear bodywork needs to be a few inches lower as well...