Projects Austin Somerset Gasser Build (DragNasty)

I think that a blower application was probably well down on their priority list when doing fit up checks on possible combinations.

Roo

 

Mine seems to fit fine, just indexed a little different.

 

Well I had big "AUSTIN" plans for the four day weekend but the "Tryptophan" hit me pretty hard this year (if you know what I mean)! I finally hit the shop this morning with some tedious body work on the tap. It is amazing the lengths I will go to avoid body work:


That pile of scrap metal used to be the all but complete trunk area of the Austin.




I have not been happy with it since it went in. But this morning, the more I looked at it the more I hated it. The tubs (from about 10 pages ago) looked cool but honestly caused a lot of complicated metal work around them. Because of the tight space, the entire area had to be pieced to together and while it was 80 percent WELDED in place, it still needed several hours of finish work. Not to mention it just didn't fit (quality wise) with the rest of the car. SO....out came the plasma cutter...and out came all the sheet metal and cage area out back. Plus quite a bit more of the original body that I had been trying to work around.





I got it all cleaned out and installed the lower rear fire wall across the back of the cage just aft of the seats. Plus two filler pieces to connect the back panel to the former rear doors.





I am building a simple 1"x 1" square tubing frame work that will allow me to them install a top piece from the rear window deck area down to the top of the firewall above. Then that is it. That will leave the entire rear area completely open. It will also allow me to mount the Fuel Cell to the chassis in that area (which is the way it should have always been). It will also allow access to the suspension, brakes, wheelie bars, rear end etc. through the trunk... I am very happy with the new direction.


The plan for today, finish the rear and few places on the firewall, paint the firewall, drop it back on the chassis and get it road ready...we are about ready to fire the beast!

 

Wow, almost complete and then cut it apart! Devoted man!! LoL!

 

That is a very nice adjective there, thanks. Although "devoted" was not in the list running through my head at the time: Stupid, idiotic, dumb ass, %*&^#@*!!! ...But when it is wrong it is wrong and I knew it was wrong last year when I was doing it...now THAT is what really deserves some expletive adjectives. LOL

 

It has been a while since I have had time for the Austin but this past week I found a killer set vintage Offy valve cover breathers. Even with the valve cover extensions, clearing the comp cams valve train girdles is still an issue and there is no room for a standard push in breather.


These things are just the ticket and match the patina on the valve covers perfectly.




So I made a paper pattern. I drilled bolt holes and before mounting the breathers, drilled several vent holes etc.


They mount on top with minimum intrusion in the cover. Not too mention the look pretty good as well.

 

I also started the process of removing the white letters from my slicks and front runners. I have always planned to do it but reading the rules for the Meltdown Drags, it has to be done (to both sides of the tires). After doing some research I found the consensus is "Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner" on a rag. It did work very well.


Not sure I need to do it, but after removing the text, I sprayed the area with an Armor-All tire foam treatment.


It looks pretty good...now 15 MORE! Yikes! What we do for the right look...lol.

 

Patina? Fancy ass wuss word rust and corrosion!

 

Actually basic construction metals tend to physically transform over time due to natural environmental conditions. The texture and color of the metal surface changes with an oxide layer forming on it in the initial stages. Soon this layer converts to a hydroxide layer. Later this hydroxide layer combines with other elements in the atmosphere and finally the metal surface gains a stable mineral composition that is very resistant to any further alteration. I thought "that" was a bunch of fancy ass wuss words so I simply chose, patina.

 

God those M/T valve covers are the coolest BBC covers ever made.
Those breathers are perfect for them.
Now, about those radiator hoses..........

 

I know...the stainless hoses are just temporary to fire it up. I had them laying around from another project. I have not had the time to spend an afternoon at the auto parts store with my hanger pattern looking for a perfect fit...LOL!

 

M/T covers were all ways the best looking for any engine. To bad didn't make them for a Cad.

 

Yep, had a few small blocks over the years with them, but there is just something about a big block with M/T's that just seems so..........manly.
Kinda reminds me of how Tim (the tool man) Taylor sounded..................well, you know.

 

Awesome Build!!!!! Subscribed

 

Good comeback.

 

Lol...

 

Well a pretty productive day with the Austin. This morning I finished up the sheet metal in the trunk, seam sealed it all and applied a coat of bed liner black. I also undercoated the rest of the body and finished the firewall. Then we rolled the chassis out and washed it in preparation for putting the body back on.


My carb builder has the carbs doing a few secret last minute E85 tricks as we are getting ready to fire it soon!



Our handy dandy lift additions from a few pages back made quick work of dropping the body back in place.


Finally for the first time in months, the Austin is about to take up only half the shop.


After seeing back together again I am very motivated for the first time in quite a while.

 

Looking good mate!

Roo

 

Nice job on the valve covers, I have a set just like them on the left here.

 

Been thinking going E85 myself. Quit the dilly dallying. So fire it up already, so you can tell us all how it runs on Obama gas.

 

I know, I know. It is coming. No one is more impatient than me.

 

A bit out of build order but I just had to share... I spent the better part of yesterday putting the cage back in place on the rear (photos coming later). With all the rear sheet metal gone there is tons of room for the battery, fuel cell and fuel pump etc. It also started a conversation about a chute. I know it is a bit premature since we have not even fired the crazy thing. Dad and I were talking about what kind of chute it would need and I know you are going to think this is crazy vain but I said my big problem is their color. I don't want a blue, red or yellow chute on the car because they won't match it. See I told you it was vanity. When I close my eyes and see the chute opening, it is black. There is some irony there, as in real life if I ever do actually pull the chute my eyes will probably closed as well...LOL!

So later that night, I am sitting around watching TV and I get a text from a good friend that builds race cars. He said do you need a Parachute for the Austin? I text back something like "funny you should ask...." He is building a Super Comp car for a guy in Colorado (a very nice and very OT fire engine red '69 Camaro). He said, and I quote, "The guy is SO vain that he wants the stupid parachute to match the car." ...I was appalled!

Anyway, he said he had already installed it so no sending it back. If I needed one he would sell it to me "on the cheap." I said, what color is it? You guessed it....black. I reluctantly said....well, if it will help you out, I will take it.....LOL!

Brand new, Diest 12' Quad up to 180 mph....should look something like this:

 

The only problem that you may have with that is getting it to open--12' is a lot of chute for the speeds you will most likely be running.

Roo

 

Ooops...sorry not sure how I got that in there...it is not 12'. It is a Supercomp chute 150-180 mph

 

Black will hide all the grubby finger prints.

 

So back to tidying up the trunk area. Sunday I installed a 1.5" square tubing brace (1) across the back area of the body. Basically side to side welded to the inner fender wells. I placed it about an inch from the rear chassis cross member (2). Then I welded a piece of .25" plate to the square tubing so that it simply sat on the rear cross member. Then I drilled it and that area becomes the rear body mount (3).

So you probably noticed the rear roll cage legs have been welded back. Actually they are the nice bends from the front legs. If you remember between the blower audible and alternator placement, we have to rebuild the front legs of the cage as well. Normally I would have just completely replaced both those legs but where they attach to the cage there is triangular piece of plate that ties three bars all together and serves as the upper seat belt mount. So to avoid a lot of work, I spliced the rear legs back together.


To make a really strong splice, I took a smaller piece of roll bar tubing (that just barely fits inside, in fact you nearly have to drive it in) and placed a 24" piece of it inside, 12" either side of the weld point. I also drilled a .5" hole every 2" up the bottom side of the both pieces. Then I just welded it all in place at the joint and all 12 holes up the bottom. I think we are good. I also fabbed up another fuel cell holder. (Note: Never turn down a good old fashion bed frame if offered up, I can't tell you how many have found their way into my projects for light duty work...LOL)


I am very happy with the new placement of the fuel cell. It is now 4" lower in the trunk which is going to help a bunch with fueling. I got tickled at Dad showing the car off to the neighbor last night. He pointed out that we were redoing the trunk area to lower the fuel cell. When the neighbor asked why, Dad said in a race car it is all about lowering the center of gravity. The neighbor was impressed. Myself I am a bit skeptical, considering this crazy thing has a center crank hight of 24" LOL!

 

So are you going to have any tinwork for wheel wells?

 

No. I really thought about this a lot. I know it will be a bit messy without them but honestly I don't have anything back there of great value. The Battery will be in a sealed box, as will the fuel pump. That just leaves the plastic fuel cell. The advantage however is total access to everything: Rear end, Brakes, Suspension it is all right there and workable from the top, not just from the underside. The entire cab area is completely sheet metaled off, welded solid and seam sealed. Finally the whole trunk area in question has been bed liner treated.

 

We are very excited about our race team shirts. That sounds so official when I say it that way. Okay, Dad and I a pretty excited about our shirts. LOL! I designed them and just received a confirmation comp back for approval. They are scheduled to arrive just after the first of the year. This is what they look like:


I had to compromise on the "Injection is nice" line as Dad probably would not have worn it with the real saying on there. However the direction I took makes me laugh nearly much as the original...if not more!

 

It'll be messy for sure. My main concern would be the flying rocks stuck in the slicks and what they do to your quarters and deck lid. Just thinkin.