BODY, Custom Grill Shell TECH.... H-BOMB get's a FACE!!

[bobbleed]

Played hooky from the Bleedster and whipped up a grill shell
for Max Wedge's H-Bomb.

Max is kind of a MONSTER, so I wanted this thing look EVIL. I wanted to make a shell that looked like a deformed 32ish shell with an Eddie Munster widows peak.

I'm pretty happy with the way it has turned out so far. I still have a bunch of welding to do and I may Peak it a little, but so far so good. I think it fits the long and low look of the car, amd it is definately different!

He has not seen this yet, so I hope he likes it.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-3-2.jpg

I started off with some 1.5" U-bends and tubing. and fabbed the "Widows Peak" first.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-1-1.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-1-2.jpg

Then I trimmed the U bends and atttached then to the peak forming the top of the grill opening.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-1-3.jpg

Then I added some tubing to the sides and used the rest of the U bend pieces to make the bottom of the opening.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-1-4.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-1-5.jpg

Next I bent some tubing to make the rear edge of the shell.
Then I welded some spacers to it that will double as mounting tabs when it is done.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-2-1.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-2-2.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-2-3.jpg

Next I attached the two pieces together and started to skin it using cardboard templates and 18 gauge sheetmetal.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-2-4.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-2-5.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-3-1.jpg

I finished skinning it and added a skirt to the bottom.
Then I rolled it out side to see how it looked. It fits the mustang radiator well.

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-3-3.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-3-4.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-3-5.jpg


So there you have it, a cool, cheap and unique grill shell for the H-Bomb!

[SwitchBlade327]

that things bitchin' for lack of a better word. Alot easier to build than one would think too.

[Nads]

That is utterly badass, you fucking rule.
I hope you didn't get sick from welding all that galvanized tubing, I know I did when I made up my exhaust.

[sodbuster]

Very cool. I like the way you think Bob and all that and you play a heck of a guitar while walking down the bar.

Great Craftsmenship.....

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[injectedA]

Damn man, bleed on.http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
This has to be the first tech for the new HAMB. Completely out there but full of information. Hell yeah.

Makes me realize how spoiled we are, welders PC's and digitals. This is to damn cool.

[SwitchBlade327]

yeah repost this in the tech-o-matic, I'm tired of seeing nothing in it....

[Hellbound_Hootch]

looks AWESOME,,,,

i'm glad i didn't DISTRACT ya'll for more than a weekend,,,,
I know max was ITCHING to get over sunday,,,,

you DUMBASSROCKSTARBOYS,,,,

MISS hellbound hootch

[CAS]

Pretty cool for a glamorous rockstar!
Looks awesome! You're spoiling Max.

[Meester P]

What is there not to like??? You do good work . http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[deuceguy]

Very nice! This is excactly the technique I've been using to make a miniature duece grille shell for my grand-daughters mini-rod.

[bobbleed]

Thanks guys! I am pretty proud of it. Yeah, Max has it good, the little bastard! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I sand blasted the tubing before I welded it. Obviously it is still coated on the inside, but it is a lot easier to deal with!

[ESnacky6]

Bobbleed- I think that grill looks pretty f'n cool..!!
all homemade-fabilicious-like...
more people should try making their own grills...


why does Miss Hootch,,,,,, type like GERM,,,,,,???

...just curious...

[CAS]

Dude...I don't see the poop tank in the background!
Show it off! Be proud!

[Neppy]

<font color="green"> Coming from a talentless nobody like me his may not mean a damn thing but...that is utterly fucking beautiful. </font>

[Max Gearhead]

Hey Bob, that radiator shell is beyond cool, it's frigid! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Very nice work! Max

[BARNETT]

Great job and it matches the car and Max perfectly (from what I've seen of Max here and on the KD site, anyways).

[Sailor]

Very cool indeed!

[side_valve]

Great work Bob!! The h-bomb is coming really coming together. Very cool!

[Petejoe]

Wow! What creativity. Great work. Thanks for taking the time to take the pics and share it with us. It just gives us all ideas to go on.

[Kustm52]

Looks great...thanks for taking the time to take the pictures and share it with us. Gives me some ideas to play with on my own project...I can always learn from seeing how other people work through a project. Got one question though...the shell looks really close the the tierod, it's not going to hit when the wheels are fully turned is it?

Brian

[38Chevy454]

That looks good Bob, matches the style of the rest of the car perfect. Very creative and gives the rest of us some inspiration and ideas to soak up for our own rides.

[andysdeuce]

That is one bitchin grill shell!! Hell even the radiator fits. You are one talented s.o.b...ingenuity at it's best. If your buddie does'nt like it...kick hs ass!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[John_Kelly]

Very creative concept. Nice job!

John www.ghiaspecialties.com (http://www.ghiaspecialties.com)

[continentaljohn]

I dig it Bob , can't wait to see the H-bomb this summer. Are you boys having a show sometime?

[The Fidgiter]

I dunno man, I'm torn. DAMN good work though, nice job. I'm not sure I like the rear of the shell, it's to much of a transition from the front in to small of an area. Though in the second to last picture, its looks really badass with that peak on the top. On the bottom, it needs more curvature. Like get some bends 1.5x the radius of the current bends. I think it'd flow a lot better. I do love raw, scratch built metalwork though! Keep it coming.

[mikes51]

Great post and great shape on the shell! We need more like these on the HAMB.

[bobbleed]

Thanks again!

I'll admit that I ussually think home made grill shells are gay, so I am a bit torn about this shell myself. I had an idea and went for it!

It's hard to see something besides a 32 shell, so anything else looks goofy! I think that overall it will work when it has a grill and headlights. I guess we want to set this car apart from all of the other 44" tall sedans with 392 HEMI's in them! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The back edge will have a lip on it and there will be a small bead around it. That should help finish it off.
As far as the lower edge I was gonna round it off more, but I went for the "Cow Catcher" look. This is Wisconsin and there are lot's of Cows (BIG GIRLS) so you never know when one of them is gonna get in the way!! That thing might come in handy! HAHAHA

BTW, Side Valve Laura wants to be you driver, she won't stop talking about it!

[side_valve]

excellent Bob! The plan is to find some open wisconsin roads next spring for a shake down and testing. we need a good flat 5 miles, the course is a 2 mile approach with a timed 1 mile. She needs to get some time off in the middle of Aug. 2004

[Jaker]

COW GIRLS- nice
The grille looks awesome! Are you guys going to the bike/car show at Hal's on Saturday? Maybe I'll see you there.
Keep up the good work, and don't neglect the Bleedster too much!

[Kevin Lee]

First things first - that grill is the shit. What are the plans for the headlights and is the H-bomb getting the same 60's show car treatment/paint as the bleedster? And as long as we're sharing opinions I would have made the bottom of the shell flat and wider on the bottom than the top. So when I build my 44" tall Hemi powered A sedan that's what I'll do. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now the tech questions. What's up with you guys flipping your spindles so the tie rod hangs out front? Telecaster did this too I think - I'm looking at it and thinking there's no way your ackerman could be right. That's theory though and could mean jack shit in "real world rodding". I thought about doing this to get around having the tie rod directly under my spring u-bolts. But I'm making a dropped tie rod to clear them instead.

Second - Will the tie rod clear the front of the shell when you turn lock to lock? Maybe the shell will be set back further.

Damn man, looks great. Didn't mean to nitpick.

[Big A]

More than cool... it's Cugat. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[bobbleed]

Awsome Side Valve! I'll put her in "training"!

The tie rod clears the shell just fine, although it dosen't look that way in the pics there is plenty of clearence. The spindles were switched side to side so all of the geometry stays the same. The reason we are running the tie rod out front is that we are running the spring behind the axle between the wishbones and to drop the tie rod low enough to clear would be scary. I am usually not a fan of the tie rod sticking out in front like that, but because the grill is tucked right up close to it it balances out OK. These cars are so DAMN low that we had to break some styling rules to get them that way. BUT, I think the way we are doing it balances out well.... It doesn't look like an after thought as it does on some cars with the tie rod sticking waaay out in front.

[Skate Fink]

THIS is what the HAMB is all about!! Great work and a SUPER post! Thanks......... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[max wedge]

What the F...Just kidding! Looks great I'm on my way out with a devilishly good pizza (Pizza Pit).

Wait till ya see the tail lights....

[LUKESTER]

very cool Bob, I like how you can turn nothing into something, I wish I wuz a little more creative like that. You guys keep surprising me down there.......... LUKESTER

[SlowLearner]

Bobbleed, That’s AMAZING metal fab! That shell gives that Hemi coupe a real MEAN look. The "H-Bomb"for sure!
While you were at your art, Hackerbill posted a pic of a 30’s ‘plane engined racer built in England; Napier-Railton. Had a bit of the same widow’s peak. Looks like it would just eat any cars in front of it for solid fuel additive. Here’s another pic.

Also, have you thought of headlights? Seems to me that coupe is a natural for Woodlites, like on the Ruxton. Sorta slitty E&amp;Js. I think would give a definite sinister look. Like some of those knight’s helmets on suits of armour. An eBay auction of a pair just ended April 23rd with no sale, at about $200.00

Here’s the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=2411623738&amp;category=33 710

Pics show them on their side.
Just my 2 cents. Build ON!

[SlowLearner]

Here's that Ruxton. The lights would look better on the H-Bomb, I think. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[bobbleed]

Those lights are CRAZY! At first I thought they were goofy, but the more I look at em, the more I agree that the would rule on the H AND piss off some "OLDTIMERS"..... PERFECT!


Luke, Someday I'll have your skills to match my "Vision."
I've got a lot to learn, for now I'm just a dirtbag with a garage doing the best I can with what I have..... I guess maybe my basic skills are made up with a lot of HEART.... I got to get me one of them fancy welders you "WELDERBATERS" use!

As far as colors and details on the H- Bomb, those are up to Max, But I see Lots of blue pearl and metalflake... we'll see what happens, but I GAURANTEE the tail lights are gonna BLOW MINDS.

Time for work. You know I still think the shell looks a little funny, but I guess it will work for now........

[Wowcars]

Damn nice work bob, we gonna see that thing at '50s this year? Try this on for size....

[Tinbender]

It's been said, but worth repeating, nice job! Good post! Kinda refreshing.

[fatassbuick]

That is great! Very inspirational....that's something I'd like to do some day on El Slobo.


As if I have any talent for stuff like that.....

[mr57]

With them evil lites in there the car takes on a kinda Dr Doom/Darth Vader stature. You gotta do it!!!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

that is awesome, great job

[Farmer]

God bless it!

[tootallrodder]

That's fantastic. It's amazing what can be done with exhaust tubing, a welder and an imagination. I've used tubing like that to do up the console in my 36 and the panel transitions on the firewall. Can't wait to see the completed H-Bomb.

[bobbleed]

Thanks fellas! Hopefully somebody can use the info and make their own custom shell.

I just want to make it clear that the H-Bomb belongs to MAX WEDGE!!

I am helping HIM build it at my shop. He is doing a great job for his first Hot Rod! I'm proud of the little MONSTER.
I've given him lot's of guidence, when he asks me about something I usually say "Just make sure it isn't GAY." So far so good! HAHAHA!

Hopefully it will be rolling by BTT50's otherwise he will be the designated BLEEDSTER driver (Lucky little bastard!)

http://photo.starblvd.net/~bobbleed/3-4-1.jpg

[max wedge]

Bob doesn't realize how long I've been involved with car building. Here's a pic of my grandpa showing me how induction works:
http://photo.starblvd.net/~maxwedge/2-3-1.jpg

[kustombuilder]

that SUMBITCH is lookin killer. think the mad shriner will bring it up for the Rumble?? i wanna see it in person. nice work on the grill Bob and nice work on the car Max. those headlights ROCK too.

[NealinCA]

Bttt for the tech-omatic

[Mongo]

Mongo like!!