|
Post by spex84 on Jun 19, 2015 2:09:20 GMT -5
I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by sharing this so early But over the last few days I didn't feel like working on any of my other projects...I wanted to cut some plastic. And the latest SAE with Tim Boyd's very nice emerald green fenderless '34 on the cover reminded me that I've been wanting to build an authentic "east coast" style hot rod for a while now. The term might be "east coast", but cars with that style were built across the US...and Canada. A couple of my inspirational references were west-coast Canadian cars. So the tentative plan right now is a channeled, unchopped car with the Lincoln/MEL/FE blob out of the Double T kit for motorvation, a '32 grille shell, and removable cut-down '32 fenders. I'm favoring a butt-dragging stance, but changes to the wheels and tires might level it out or even give it some forward rake. It needs taller tires in back for sure. So far...the frame is crudely Z'd in back and narrowed to clear the fenderwells. Fenderwells and frame are bobbed. Bumper brackets and frame horns removed. '32 fenders cut down into custom splash-guards. Interior from the 34 Ford street rod 2 in 1, relieved in the front to allow it to sit higher within the body, so no sectioning necessary. Firewall is recessed... I have not decided on an intake yet. 6x2? Dual quads? Latham blower? We'll see...
|
|
|
Post by lo51merc on Jun 19, 2015 10:39:46 GMT -5
"Firewall is recessed...", that's for sure! Looking at the cowl now, with so much room under the cowl and forward body sides, you could trim away some of that unnecessary material. Just sayin'. Interesting idea using the Deuce fenders. Gary
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jun 19, 2015 12:38:09 GMT -5
Haha, yeah...I recessed the firewall about half of what it is now, and then found I'd made a small error in calculating the location of the back wheels, as the centerline of the wheel arch moved a little as the body was channeled....so more space was needed. Now the firewall could be replaced with a flat piece, and the side "wings" cut down. On one hand, those wings have always bothered me and I'd be happy to chop them off. Ont the other hand, they're part of what makes a '34 and I'm trying to keep the car looking kind of awkward, not too slick. ...so based on that, I think I'll keep the current firewall, and just trim the wings down about 4mm. That will create space in case I want to run header dumps out the sides. Still trying to figure out if it needs headers, or something more flamboyant and eccentric like zoomies out the sides.
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jun 21, 2015 1:47:11 GMT -5
So I've been doing some reading and looking at ref photos, and it appears the engine in the Double T is kind of a blend of Lincoln Y-block (valve covers) and MEL (most of the rest of it). The MEL has equally-spaced exhaust ports with spark plugs in between, with the plug wires coming in from the top. Oil filter is low on the front left, vertical. Front distributor, vertical. The Lincoln Y-block has exhaust ports spaced more like SBC, and the plug wires come up underneath the exhaust manifold. The stock manifolds themselves look a bit like ford y-block. Oil filter is rearward on the left side, horizontal. Distributor is in the rear, and angled. So...I've started modifying the heads to look more like a Lincoln, and found some Ford y-block headers in the parts bin. Close enough. The headers dump right into where the steering shaft would need to go...wondering if I'm going to worry about that or ignore it for this build. It's intended to be more of a sketch than anything. The stock firewall has been flattened, retaining the bead detail.
|
|
|
Post by cycolacfan on Jun 28, 2015 13:36:17 GMT -5
Great progress, am watching with interest
Have to say that while fenders on the rear but not on the front seem to look okay to my eyes, front fenders with open rear wheels always looks a bit odd.
Just my 2c though.
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jun 29, 2015 14:29:52 GMT -5
Mike--thanks, I'm probably going to put some rear fenders on it, probably molded in. Just need to find or make some...
|
|
|
Post by ChrisV on Jun 29, 2015 15:41:53 GMT -5
Mike--thanks, I'm probably going to put some rear fenders on it, probably molded in. Just need to find or make some... How about the restored custom rear fenders from the recent reissue of AMT's '32 Ford Vicky?
|
|
|
Post by Bernard Kron on Jun 29, 2015 18:01:58 GMT -5
I'm probably going to put some rear fenders on it, probably molded in. Just need to find or make some...
Lookin' good! The AMT kit rear fenders are easily trimmed and shaped to suit. I did a '34 with the kit rear fenders and front cycles fenders a few years back. I think it might have been my first TRaK W.I.P.
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jun 29, 2015 21:39:53 GMT -5
Thanks Bernard, your coupe is one of my reference points I have an original '32 vicky in the stash, but have been reluctant to cut it up or part it out. I'll probably cut the kit '34 fenders down...or maybe even use the'32 fender units I made the fronts from, if I can get the curve to match. ChrisV: great idea, though--there's a guy on the Show Rods forum building a 32 new-issue vicky with cut-down front fenders and the molded rears, with a deep channel. It's a great look!
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jul 5, 2015 23:33:38 GMT -5
So I cut up some '32 rear fenders with the intent of making some wild molded cycle fenders, but they just didn't look right on the '34. Pulled out the 32 Vicky and tested the rear fenders in that kit, but they are a little too short and the molded-in taillight bumps would have sat at a funny angle. In the end I cut up a set of '34 fenders. They're just tacked on right now but will eventually be molded into the body. I was obsessed with 6x2 intakes for a while, but now I'm kinda over it and feeling like this one needs either a 3x2 or maybe even a blower. Tried the Latham on it, didn't like it much. If I can keep it all-AMT that might be neat. Right now the same-size tires are killing me, even if that's an era-correct detail. If I put on slightly larger/fatter rears, it will probably come up a little in the back to be more of a level stance. Might tilt the deuce grille shell back a little as well. ..oh, and plunked some cycle fenders on the front to visualize how those could look.
|
|
|
Post by froghawk on Jul 7, 2015 10:13:44 GMT -5
Very cool hot rod. Has an authentic period look without following the traditional formula
|
|
|
Post by Dennis on Jul 11, 2015 13:06:08 GMT -5
Bitchin' project, Chris!
The rear fenders you made look perfect, good shape and proportion. I say go with the blower and row of 3 carbs. The tall engine helps balance out the exaggerated length of the car. Front fenders are a must for this type of car. I think all they need is to be rounded at the ends.
What tires are currently on it?
|
|
|
Post by ChrisV on Jul 11, 2015 16:24:42 GMT -5
The bobbed rear fenders are very nicely proportioned!
If you want fatter rear tires, that match (Revell, I presume) whitewall tires, Modelhaus T135 slicks have very similar outer whitewall diameter. For a mid-sixties' appearance, you can add a set of their regular and deep-offset Rader mags...
|
|
|
Post by spex84 on Jul 11, 2015 21:31:05 GMT -5
Thanks guys! Dennis--the tires right now are Revell, like the ones in the '50 Ford pickup kit. They're slightly fatter than the old AMT firestones and slightly smaller diameter. I have a couple sets of Modelhaus rear tires that might work, and are slightly wider and taller. Maybe T160 and 170 or something like that. If I can conserve the Modelhaus parts and use kit tires, I'll do that...seeing as Modelhaus is sadly closing up shop. I have some T-130 slicks, but they're set aside for a different project.
I think what I really need to find is something more like the rear tires in the Ala Kart new tool, or perhaps some 1/24 Monogram T-bird tires.
*off to the bench to see what I can cook up*
|
|
|
Post by Dennis on Jul 11, 2015 23:19:41 GMT -5
I thought that's what tires you were using for mock up but wasn't totally sure.
I've never had a set but it seems that people like to use tires from a Monogram '53 Vette. They are bias ply whitewalls and enough bigger than typical to make a nice mildly bigger rear tire. The same ones might be in the T-Bird you mentioned. Only problem with the new-tool Ala Kart tires is that the wheel holes are pretty small diameter. I think those wheels scale to 14 inch or so. A bit under size just like the engine in that kit.
|
|