new idea for my AV8

[kustomkoupe]

heres an idea i have for my car...this is a straight tracing of a real picture of the car and then lowered and stuff on the paper...its a track nose..full belly pan hallock windsheild....also in the picture i did the stretch on the 1/4's to move the back edge of the interior front 3 inches(this is a big step but i figured out how to do it with minimal cutting)...anyways just figured i would share and see what anyone might think...as of right now the car is going to be "not low" 32 shell etc. just a basic plain jane roadster looking deal

so this is just another idea that will add alot more work...but i think it may be worth while in the end


oh and i guess i should mention...the car is/was a sport coupe...so i added all the body lines..its stretched roadster cowl posts(1-3/4" taller)...shortened 3 inches in the doors (cowl pulled back) and channeled 4 inches over an A frame

thats about it i think
zach

[metalshapes]

Looks cool, I like it...

I sectioned the 1/4 panels and doors to fit the Roadster cowl on mine.
Because I wanted my car to be real low.
And then I flatened the top part of the cowl too.

I did not realise you were using a Roadster cowl with your Sports Coupe 1/4s as well.

[kustomkoupe]

yeah i was actually looking at the pictures of yours and i thought thats what you did...i had that idea but i thought that leaving it taller would be better because i channeled it(seem eassy to stretch the cowl posts)..you dont hang out as far now...this is jsut an idea though

heres a picture as it is right now if i finished it and dint do anymore body work aside form finish it

zach

[metalshapes]

Wow...
looking at those two pics its hard to believe the difference that bellypan makes...
Are all the main bodylines pretty much in the same location in those two pics?
You should build it like that, man.
How would you make the nose? Make it out of metal?

[kustomkoupe]

in the non belly pan pic the rear of the interior is moved front 3 inches...im working on a nose right now...3003 h-14 aluminum...i have plans to do an all aluminum 27T at some point so it was for that...but maybe it'll end up on this car...who knows....its a 1951 hilligas sprint nose that im copying..i can always build another too


as for how to build it...the low version will be alot longer time then the non low version because i would make the..windsheild...ww2 seats..nose..hood(with slight radius in front) belly pan..new frame with big kicks.....with the not low version...it would be done in 6 months or so...its pretty much just details on that one now...its a tough call....how bad do i want it done as opposed to how far do i wana take it

zach

Zach...i like the low version. But you gotta come up with a plan and stick to it. Too many guys waste time and money changing their minds. Then they get fustrated and sell the project cause it never gets done.

If the low version is going to take too long. Build the new frame and drive it for a bit with the 32 shell while you work on the other nose. Then switch the front sheetmetal over the winter when you can't use it anyway. Same with the seating. Put a bench in till you get the airplane seats done.

My 48 has changed so much over the years it isn't funny. The first time I drove it I had the stock running boards, no top,no bumper,no roll pan and the only interior was a seat and a steering wheel. I added stuff as time and money allowed. Plus I had fun driving it the whole time.
Clark

By the way if you want to build the low frame I can show you how I did the one for my RPU. It sat pretty low and it only had a kick up in the back.
Clark

[kustomkoupe]

thanks for the advice...my problem is....i would rather sell it...i want a "real" roadster...i have all these real deal old parts and i want to build a true to the T traditional car...but this is what i have...if nothing becomes after hershey and carlisle...im gona just go with it..and just have fun with it...maybe try to make some money and build my dream 31 roadster down the road a bit..im just having such a hard time completing something that i dont see as "perfect"...so far this low slung track nose job is as close as ive gotten in my mind...i still think though..that if i have a plan and stick to it...i can be done by spring...when i started the car in february or march i had no idea what i was doing...so i took alot of time for easy steps...now that ive done them once..or twice...it wont be bad to do it like this...i mean its basically starting over right now if i do this...if i leave it high the only major step is making the doors fit...but it seems like alot of work gone into something that looks like grungy old roadster.....now if i make it low and sleek then its worth all the effort...seems someone in the 40's-50's would put the effort into something like that


who knows...im so lost...its hard to do your first car from scratch i think.. to many options


oh well we'll see what new idea i come up with next week

zach

Real roadster??? The car is what you make it! My RPU was not a "real" RPU but I loved that thing. It was everything I wanted and then some. Keep what you got. Get a game plan and get it to the Showdown!

Your first hot rod is the hardest. Most guys that want to build a hot rod I try to steer towards a fat fendered car. They are easier for a first attempt. You are young and talented, your first car doesn't have to be your best. More than likely it won't be. I guess what I'm trying to say is quit worrying and have fun building the thing!
Clark

[kustomkoupe]

thanks clark

i rolled it outside today...built a new body line on the top of the quarters...mocked up a door and windsheild...looked pretty darn good...i think im still gona keep looking for 31 roadster parts though...cause i have everything i need for this one already now...and i know a 31 will be in my future

zach

cant upload pictures now or id post a picture

[hammeredabone]

Kustomcoupe, your ideas are cool I like the low version but Clark is right on, do the high version, get it on the road and enjoy it. You will have plenty of time next winter to do the changes. I am not trying to tell you what to do just pointing out a trap of building #2 before #1 hits the road just dilutes your time and finances to get #1 on the road.
The reason I know this is because that's exactly what I have done the last TEN years(allthough this is like #7 or 8). No more, sold all other projects and am focusing on just getting a modified together.Hope to see pics of your roadster soon.

[kustomkoupe]

thanks for the advice...i know i can see that coming...ive got 5 projects to go on right now

29 sport/roadster
31 truck
37 coupe
32 coupe (race car)
and streamliner (belly tank?)

ive been collecting parts as i find them for any and all projects

the roadster is the closest thing to done...i have all that i need for old parts for it...just a matter of nuts and botls and seals now really...and a few months work

so i guess maybe i should juist get it done..im sure the not quite perfect will be overshadowed by the enjoyment of broadsliding the dirt roads of central PA http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thanks
zach

[kustomkoupe]

well i finally got a cable for my camera so heres some shots to show my car kinda as is...i still think i need to move the rear of the interior front 3 inches...(stretch the panel above the trunk)

anyways heres some "real" pictures to show my point

the door is cardboard and the hood does not fit...its juct sitting together to give an idea of what it looks like

i do have a body line temporarily built on the top of the 1/4 though to show how that will be...the top of the cowl posts will have to be raised 1-3/4 inches to match the body line on the doors and 1/4's

ok here it is...i have 3 pics to post

thanks
zach

[kustomkoupe]

pic2

[kustomkoupe]

pic3

[fab32]

Only one comment about the 3 pictures you posted. GET THAT THING ON THE ROAD. That is one sweet looking ride and if you don't want it I'll be right over with my trailer.
I can't imagine that car sitting a minute longer than it would take to make the tires roll. I think the extreme low stance that's popular now has no base in recorded traditional rodding history. I just can't find pictures of cars with the rocker panels 2" off the ground.

Frank

[kustomkoupe]

the height isnt the problem...i already built the frame 2 times...first was a 6inch kick...now its 2 with an A spring to have room for a quick change

my problem i see lies in the 1/4's they look too stubby

heres a picture of the other side with it raised slightly in the rear

zach

[kustomkoupe]

heres where to cut the quarters the top edge would slide down and the "notches" will match and then just make a filler pannel to make up the difference in the double radiused area

[kustomkoupe]

heres shots with the hallock windsheild frame

[kustomkoupe]

#2

[50dodge4x4]

My vote is to get it done and enjoy it. I've always heard that you have to build 3 cars before you get what you want. This is # 1, right? After you have driven it some miles there may be many different things you want to change that may not be apparent without having driven one.

Get this one done, drive it like you stole it, figure out what you like and what you don't like, move on to the next ride. Just my 2 cents. Gene

[Drewfus]

my 2 cents....

1. keep building, don't stop/change direction.....do that later when its done.

2. proportions....looks 'out' due to that channel job and those tires. Normally I'd say fix it, but.....see point 1. Add (later on when you get it driving) a 4" bellypan, and see my drawing (approximate measurement from dash to inside of drivers compartment).

3. loose that 32 shell....stay with the 28 shroud, keeps the theme flowing, and saves on having a 'special' bonnet.

4. tires....5.00x16front.....7.50x16 rear.

Cheers,

Drewfus http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[kustomkoupe]

thanks
as for the 32 shell...the stock hood wont fit anyways...i shortened the body 3 inches...the cowl is pulled back..that fixed the stubby front end when i channeled it and left room for the v8 without any firewall recess

as for tires...ive got 6.00 16's up fronmt and 7.00 16's out back


now the interior length issue

when i sit in the car fully extneded i have the seat front about 3 inches from the back of the interior...hence the 3 inch movement i want to make back there


i just have a hard time working to an end if im not pictureing what i want

ive told myself over and over that im not gona do it just to do it...no matter how much time i put in it so far...if its not what i want i want to change it...maybe thats not the way to go...but i cant seem to get beyond that

maybe i gotta just stick this in the shed and forget about it for a while...then come back with a fresh perspective


i just want a "real" roadster...

zach