32 3-W Survivor "Tuffy" part 2

[kisam]

Todd,
That is exactly what I am up against. I was planning on sweating a 90 out of the bottom, about 6" pipe and 90 at the top of the crossmember. So up and over the front crossmember like you did. It took six stores but I got what I needed. I am planning on working on it tonight, but maybe your way is better. So how does the original neck connect to the box and what did you build the box out of?

[A 31 MO FO]

Kathy what a great job you have done on this car, and showed us all how anything is possible if you keep at it as you have done!!! Congrats again Robert,

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by kisam

Todd,
... So how does the original neck connect to the box and what did you build the box out of?

Kathy -

I was afraid you were gonna ask me those questions ... my father & I made that "little box" back in the '70s ... so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

I remember drawing it up and calculating its size to allow for unrestricted flow ... and IIRC, we fabricated it out of sheet metal (not brass or aluminum).

We ended up taking it to a local radiator shop to have it soldered (or braised) to the bottom tank ... re-assembled ... and pressure tested.

[kisam]

Originally Posted by HEMI32

Kathy -

I was afraid you were gonna ask me those questions ... my father & I made that "little box" back in the mid '70s ... so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

I remember drawing it up and calculating its size to allow for unrestricted flow.

IIRC, we fabricated it out of sheet metal (not brass or aluminum) ... and ended up taking it to a local radiator shop to have it soldered (or braised) to the bottom tank ... and pressure tested.

Todd, 70's Fuzzy - no way! LOL, I can't remember what I did yesterday, probably due to the 70's! Ok well since I bought the brass stuff, that is now the price of gold, I will try it first but may resort to your fix. Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by A 31 MO FO

Kathy what a great job you have done on this car, and showed us all how anything is possible if you keep at it as you have done!!! Congrats again Robert,

DUDE! No MoKan for you either?? Are you ready for Little River?

[HEMI32]

Originally Posted by kisam

Todd, ... Ok well since I bought the brass stuff, that is now the price of gold, I will try it first but may resort to your fix...

Kathy - Now you have me second guessing myself ... the more I think about it, the more I think that we actually constructed it out of brass sheets (same gauge as the Walker radiator) ... Damn, I'm getting old!

[patman]

How about making the box out of a piece of pipe that has been squished? Maybe you could hit up a plumber for some short scrap pieces of large diameter copper drain pipe.

[Hot Turkey]

Great job girl! I love it!

[kisam]

Time for an update. As usual work has been getting in the way, so last week I start on my Day Of The Drags thrash! Nothing like waiting till the last minute.
I bought a steering shaft adapter from Speedway so I could get the 40 steering wheel on. It worked out well and I felt a lot better about it.



Next on the list was the cracked exhaust manifold.



Duh, think I figured out why he was cutting out. I'm thinking it's the ethanol? Anyway I wanted to put a shut valve on the bottom of the tank so that's done.



Time for a special sticker!



Found valve covers here on the HAMB for a good price.



Cleaned up nice and look just right!



Installed



The car was setting too low. I couldn't get over a speed bump and if you compare the frame height you can see the difference. The third pic shows that Ron didn't have a dropped axle (which I didn't know when I had mine dropped). So I bought one from Andy here on the HAMB and swapped it out.







Onto the radiator problem. This is where the bottom neck was coming out and it was cracking the neck



Sent a PM to Bobleed to get some ideas. Sounded like up and over was the cure so this is what I started with. Forgot to get a picture up I flattened the pipe some.



Anyway I got it installed Thursday night. Then it was onto the tech inspection checklist. Fabbed up the emercency brake, catch can, neutral safety switch and seat belt. Louie S came through with a trailer for me. I could not find one in Houston to rent - maybe because of Goodguys? Loaded Tuffy up and headed to Little River. Here we are Saturday morning at my favorite event ever! Do cars smile?



The first thing I saw.



Time for a practice run. Got some coaching advice from Ron, Ray, and Charlie. So the plan was haul ass till the 1/8 mile and hold it there through the 1/4 and see how the brakes felt trying to get it stopped before the end. I really didn't want to end up in the river like so many have. Even though I had my doubts, I didn't get wet. Shaking like a leaf when I got back to the pit! What a rush! Here's Ty giving me advice, " You know the difference between the brake and the clutch Mom"? So I made my first legal 1/4 mile pass!





Got back to the pit and Tuffy was getting hot. After about 30 minutes, I kept thinking something isn't right. I walked over and felt the brass pipe and it was cold - stuck thermostat! Ron and I pulled the housing and cut out the center and reinstalled it. Just as I was climbing in the car for a second practice run they shut it down. Next was the real deal - only I was a little late getting there - I heard someone yell "Kathy that's your class running"- I was last in line.



Finally made it up there and the car won't start! He was cranking but nothing. Jumped out and checked the carb, I was getting plenty of gas. Back in it and cranking - wont start. If it's got gas, it must be ignition but it seems to be cranking good? The guy working the line is looking at me, "Waitin on a Woman" song is running through my mind. He finally looks at me and says "I'm sorry". I was a little disappointed but still smiling when Santa - Bigken comes to get me. On the tow back to the pit I notice a weird noise coming from the front when I realize the wheel looks loose. OMG! Looks like the lugnuts were bottoming out on the shoulder of the stud before the wheel was seated. Must have been devine intervention! We took Tuffy back to the pit and put on a battery charger and he fired right up. I'm not sure if the generator is doing it's job. A couple of old timers told me that high RPM's melt the solder in them? So a few more bugs to work out.

[kisam]

My helpers! Ron, Tanya, and Big Ken- Thanks guys!



George



Ty got him a pit bike.



Frankie and Jim stopped by - so good to see you guys. Frankie, I promise to take you for a spin when I get the wheel fixed!



Now this is what it's all about! It made me smile and I couldn't get over there to talk to her. Tanya said I had left the door cracked open and she just opend that door and started right in with her Dad yelling "No". Tanya told him it was ok. By the time I saw her she had one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter! My kind of girl -- If anyone knows who she is, let me know please.




Big thanks to the Kontinentals! You guys are the best!

[billylo]

Awesome pics....Thanks for the update.

[Paul]

thanks for the update, sounds like fun!

[Hitchhiker]

You know your car is awesome when a little kid climbs right in.

[Johnny Hotrod - BC]

Huge effort with great results!...congrats!!

[GaryB]

good to see it on the road,hav'in fun

[El Jefe]

it was a highlight for all of us to see Tuffy out there this weekend and I did get to see that first pass. Thta's whats it all about. I know it was a milestone for you and we were happy to be a small part of it.

[biggeorge]

great pictures!! Thanks for the update

[Richard D]

Good story. What numbers did you do on the pass you got to make?

[MR. FORD]

Really cool getting to meet you on saturday Kathy, and of course getting to see Tuffy in real life! You'll have all those little bugs worked out in no time, you should be really proud of yourself. Mark

[Chris Casny]

Awesome car, thanks for posting.

[chaddilac]

Dang Kathy!! Where the heck have I been??? Tuffy looks awesome!!!