New HA/GR build, throw me some ideas

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Alright, so i've had these old frame rails behind the house for a few years now, they were to warped to build a street car out of, so I cut them up, threw in a couple crossmembers and started mocking together my own HA/GR.....now i just need some more ideas.

Heres a little info on what i've already got for the build:
- 1931 chevy frame rails
- 1940 ford front axle and un split 'bone (not planning on splitting them)
- 1967 ford 9" from a Bronco
- 8BA flatty I built a couple years ago
- Ford 3-speed '39 truck style
- set of jeep/willys "smoothie" style 16" wheels, same as the ford bolt pattern (the willys guys love to find these things)

I am slowly getting the mock-up together, but i don't want to stall when I get to that point, so please throw some ideas, constructive critisism, and comments my way before I get to deep into this thing.

Sorry the pics a little messed up, sun was not in a good place when i was shooting the pictures.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/HAMBdrags.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/HAMBdragsflathead.jpg

[64 DODGE 440]

Looks like you have a good bunch of parts to start the build. Find an old kitchen chair to set between the rails for the seating layout and set the parts around the engine so you know how much foot room you will have and start setting the rest of the parts in place. Sitting there and making engine noises helps with the engineering part and gets the creative juices flowing, that's how ours started.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189651

Start a build thread and enjoy the process, we'll all chip in with ideas as you go along. Take your time and enjoy the build. We have had several setbacks on ours, (health things and finances) but when I get frustrated I just go out and sit in it a while for therapy and the journey continues. If you have friends involved that helps too. Without Old6rodder giving me direction and seed parts we would have never started ours and crewing with him at the races and a couple of passes in the Barn Job have really kept the fun and enthusiasm flowing.

Don't be afraid to be different...that's part of what these cars are all about. Building it how you want to and having fun. Welcome aboard, looking forward to seeing your car come together.

[OBFB HA/GR]

Oh yeh , the build is always fun . Tom I thought I was the only one that sat in the chassis and made engine noises and practiced shifting .
Get that build under way and get skidding I say.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Ha, I've sat in the driveway on that rear cross member a couple times imagining where every thing will sit and flying down the the strip. Keeps me motivated, should be back at it this weekend.

[ScottV]

You don't want any ideas from me, I just threw everything into a pile and hope I'll come back to a completed car. Not to mention the IRS crap :confused:

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

No new updates for this week, should be back at it again this weekend.

[64 DODGE 440]

Progress may come slow....but keep at it. Here's our beginnings...

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/6001/11212007rr03dr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


And where we are now...

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4657/asstjuly192010009w.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/i/asstjuly192010009w.jpg/)

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

That is one hell of an interesting car 64, should be damned cool to to see it go down the track. Very interesting front end set up to, no issues with it wanting to rock to one side or the other?

[64 DODGE 440]

That is one hell of an interesting car 64, should be damned cool to to see it go down the track. Very interesting front end set up to, no issues with it wanting to rock to one side or the other?

Seemed to work well for this car going quite a bit quicker than we ever will, with a much narrower rear track.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8577/jeaafdsb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Don't feel like it will give us any problems.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Good deal. no doubt it would work, just never seen that style before.

[64 DODGE 440]

No problem Nailhead. I'll admit the thought processes on our build have stretched the envelope at some points. We have had several periods of down time that have allowed for much scratch pad engineering along the way and have developed some concepts a bit out of the normal box as the build has evolved.:D

[Old6rodder]

OK, here're a couple "Vrooom, vrooom" photos from my build .........

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5168936044_73baf27798.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9255485@N04/5168936044/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/5168336253_57820e7c88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9255485@N04/5168336253/)

[ScottV]

OK ... I guess I'll throw my photos in too

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/VETRAN_883/HAMB-Paul005.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h268/VETRAN_883/HAMB-Paul008.jpg

[Katuna]

OK, here're a couple "Vrooom, vrooom" photos from my build .........

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5168936044_73baf27798.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9255485@N04/5168936044/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/5168336253_57820e7c88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9255485@N04/5168336253/)

Did you make squealing tire sounds too?

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Alright, after dicking around all day at speed world here in AZ, finally came home and did a little work on the car. Drug most of the parts out of there repective hidding spots, set them up for some inspiration, and dove right in. Pictures are still uploading, so they will be posted in a few min, but wanted to throw this out as a teaser.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Picture time...

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags2.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags3.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags4.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags6.jpg

You can see the stubby back of the frame I started with, no room for a rear axle and the down sweep was going to make it hard to fab something up, So I cut it off, and added about 20" of 2x3" .120 wall I had in my scrap bin after making the chassis for my barracuda drag car. The '31 chevy frame is between 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 depending on where you messure the frame, so i will have to add some plate and gussets later. And of course I had to add me own "Vroom Vroom" pictures as well. Not to bad for 2 hours worth of work, mostly in the dark.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Oh, I also set the front and rear ends in place for roughly a 120" wheel base, the engine and trans are going to slide back another 6" or so and the shifter is going to get cut down quite a bit, without the board under my butt, its right inline with my neck.

[64 DODGE 440]

Lookin' good!:D

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Forgot a couple from the other side showing the Zoomies do clear the frame. Also used a couple straps to hold the rear end in place for an idea or what it will look like. Will make up some plates for it tomorow or next weekend.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags7.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags8.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags9.jpg

Also, the frame isn't as crooked as it looks in the straight on shot, the engine isn't centered and I was standing to get a good shot of it, not the frame.

[Skip Pipes]

Looks good, keep us posted on progress.
Nice to see some diversity in a Ford V8 as most of us "westerners" have built inlines.

[ScottV]

He's done more in 15 minutes than I've done in a year !!! :(

[64 DODGE 440]

He's done more in 15 minutes than I've done in a year !!! :(

Sounds like you need to do something.:D

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Ok, not as much done today as last night, made a pattern for my axle mount plates, dug out some 1/4" plate to cut the mounts out of and drug a couple wheel sets out of the scrap bin that used to me my parts shed.

Front wheels are 16" Jeep/Willys rims with the 5x5 1/2 bolt pattern for the '40 spindles, rears are an unknown year 15" with a 5x5 pattern for my Bronco 9in axle. I am thinking a 6.00 or 6.50 tire for the front but not sure what to run on the rear yet. Suggestions are welcome, i'll look through the theads for ideas also.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags10.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags11.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/A440cuda1/HAMB%20dragster%20build/Hambdrags13.jpg

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

No worries, it'll be atleast a week till I get anything else done. Have to track down a plasma cutter for the mount plates, drop the rims off at the powder coaters, order up a set of front spindles as I can only find one for the '40 axle, and it needs kingpins and bushings anyways. Add to that I still have to actually work this week, I don't plan on even touching this thing till saturday at the earliest.

[Old6rodder]

The "accepted cheater" tire for HA/GR is the L78 Coker. Technically it's a skosh oversize but it's what most are running and it's a good street tire for the strip. Can be had blackwall or white.

[64 DODGE 440]

The "accepted cheater" tire for HA/GR is the L78 Coker. Technically it's a skosh oversize but it's what most are running and it's a good street tire for the strip. Can be had blackwall or white.

I haven't dealt with them (yet), but Coker lists the tread width and diameter of their various tires on their web site so you can use that for help in tire selection.

http://cokertire.com/

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

I haven't dealt with them (yet), but Coker lists the tread width and diameter of their various tires on their web site so you can use that for help in tire selection.

http://cokertire.com/

Sounds good, i'll give them a call before the holidays, would be nice to have a roller by the new year....

[Old6rodder]

Yeah, they list their L78 as just under 6" but it measures just over in real footprint. It's likely a legal thing for them, so their advertised dimension's accepted, making'em a "legal cheater". ;)

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

No updates this week, Hurt my back pretty bad last week picking up a new tub for my '57 CJ3B willys jeep tow rig, had to get steroid injections in my back today so i'll be laid up all week healing.

[64 DODGE 440]

No updates this week, Hurt my back pretty bad last week picking up a new tub for my '57 CJ3B willys jeep tow rig, had to get steroid injections in my back today so i'll be laid up all week healing.

Ouch!! Take care of that back...the car can wait.

[Toymaker]

Your on your way and I like the looks of it! I have this picture of an HA/GR idea and although you don't need it I'll post it anyway.
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr84/Toymaker1/Vic-King-1961.jpg

[Toymaker]

"O" and is the sun ever in a good place in Arizona:D

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Thats a pretty neat car there, and no, I never have a time till the sun is down that it is not shinning right into my garage, nice in the winter, but 140 degrees in the summer in there is to much.

[mudflap261]

what make engine ,is ita standard or autoany other info

[Four Banger]

Rocky, did you photoshop that pic, or did they actually put a Pontiac slant four in the old Midnight Oil dragster. That is my dream car, right there!

[Toymaker]

Rocky, did you photoshop that pic, or did they actually put a Pontiac slant four in the old Midnight Oil dragster. That is my dream car, right there!
I found the picture on the "We Did It For Love Site" and don't know anything about it. I went back and copied this for ya Banger'.............

"Only info I can find on this odd duck is "Vic King in 1961". Looks like a cross between an Indy car and a dragster. Seems to me I saw this car a few years back at the CHRR after it was restored."

[Old6rodder]

I have color pictures of it (or a terrific clone) from the '08 Antique Nat's with a Riley (esque?) top end, and some original black & whites with a nose puffer on something with an OHC as well.

The Poncho'd car in your picture is sporting sheet metal cut-outs fitting the puffed bodywork, suggesting it's the original car. Those cut-outs are absent on the Nat's pictures I have, suggesting a possible clone there.

Unfortunately several other points appear to be identical (roll bar, etc), leaving me very curious.

Here (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65454)'s a thread on it from '05.

Some of the Forever Fours members come by the Trompers meetings, so I'll ask about it next chance I get (likely not 'til February though).

[Four Banger]

Yep, it does look as if those holes were for the origonal Sparks head and blower tube. Back in the 60's, Lindberg sold a model kit of this car, and it was among my collection. I loved this odd little car as much then as I do now. This must have been a pic taken between the early days of the car, and it's eventual restoration. Man, that Pontiac must have made the car right side heavy!

[17dracing]

"Love that look" toymaker , I'm thinking about building another one myself . I had so much fun in my old one .

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Well, not real progress so far this weekend, need axle mount brakets made and now I am out of gas for the welder and my oxy/acet. Waiting for payday for the spindles, and I now have some serious issues with my front axle. The whole thing has been out side for many many years, so when I started to strip it, everything needs a good blast of WD40, a heat wrench, and a big hammer. Took a couple of day but I got ALMOST everything off of it. One of the spring perches is seized in the axle. Easy enough, I'll hear the axle a little and try and tap it a little. I loosed the nut a couple turn, heated the axle and hit it just enough to knock the threads on the perch and force the nut down into its concave area in the wish bone.
Not a bit issue, I get a big washer, weld it on the nut (no threads, wouldn't grab unthread, just spun) and used a small gear puller to force it off the perch bolt. It was slow, but I got it to come off with a little force and a little turning.
Now I still have the perch bolt stuck in the axle...so I heat the axle again and smack the perch bolt hoping it'll free up....No luck, the damned thing split right up the middle into 3 pieces...looks like a steel banana peel. You can see when the bolt had been broken for a long time about a 1/4in down, then the new fracture from there to the inside of the wishbone. The only thing holding it together was the original nut (original crack started at the cotter pin hole.
So anyways....im suck with the axle, out of gas for the welder, out of gas for the torch and still need to make a bunch of parts....on the up side, I did get the tub mounted for the tow rig, cut off the rusted cowl and dash and then welded in the cowl and dash from the original CJ3B mounted the fenders and hood, just need to cut the floor out and start fitting the 350/350 combo. Pictures will be added as soon as I get around to it.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

ok, the holidays are finally over and I can get back to my never ending line of rotating projects. I haven't touched anything but my tow truck(not the willys) since my last post. So does anyone have a suggestion on how to free up a seized spring perch bolt?

[Toymaker]

I used a 1/2" air hammer and rattled mine out. The common 3/8 Air Hammer might do it but I had access to the 1/2"

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

ha...im going to have to burn mine down first...when we hit it with the hammer, it split into three pieces and folded out like a banana peel....its going to be interesting to get apart.

[Nailhead dodge roadster]

Updating old over due posts for the masses.....This project was abandoned and parted out, all but a couple select projects were also sold. I may start another HA/GR once I get up to WA in a couple weeks....could be a winter project...maybe a quick spring thrash, we'll just have to wait and see.

anyone in eastern WA have any potential parts they want to sell? let me know.
Eli

[duke182]

too bad. looked like a good start but a fella has to do what it takes some times.
good luck with the next project, whatever it is.