Projects Kustom From Outer Space..France calling.

Now you'll have plenty room in your shop!

 

About the Fregate, I bought a brand new Ford Capri V4 radiator, but I'm not satisfied with my purchase. It is too small, I messed up


Today, I moved the car with my 5 reverses. Next week, it's Buggy time, Lowrange is in jail

 

Yeah, a real open space

 

I believe your radiator will work fine if you put a shroud around the fan to the radiator and let the fan pull the air through. With your metal skills (that you have demonstrated) that should be a piece of cake.

 

^^ that's not a bad idea.

 

And maybe an electric pusher fan in front to help things along....

 

From day one, I never tire of reading your post. Thank you!!!

 

I'm sure that bit of kindness will come back to you. Good job!

 

You must be able to negotiate only the springs?
https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1169896117.htm?ca=22_s

 

Hello Rickyy, thanks for the link.
I need front suspension springs, I don't think the rear springs are the same.....?

I'm stuck about 1 month with this fuckin' springs.....I cannot work on the Fregate, I need to move the car, but I can't because the car touch the ground. I'm not in hurry, but nothing happen, and I don't like that.

I'm waiting news from a hamb member who can have parts......I think it will be ok for differential, and nothing sure for rear end fixation bars and front suspension springs.....

I really need that 2 springs first......

By the way, for September, I'm looking for 2 aftermarket 16 hubcaps for my 16' Military Willys front wheels.
Something like Hollywood flipper, or maybe Lyons, or 50's Chevy truck accessory (the problem for these rare parts is the price and I only need 2).
If I can't find this parts, cheap reproductions like new sombrero caddy or if someone have 2 1961 Polara 16" hubcaps, something Kool in 16".....I have check hubcapmike web site, but shipping and custom are X2 for 2 hubs...... and I can't find a seller for only 2 on eBay.

Same problem for Intellitronix universal dash (150$), the global price (250$) for me is very expensive ( I understand that "pro" pay taxes, but 100$ for a bubble mailer in usps!!!.....damned.)
So I'm waiting used parts or the best deal.....sad, but i do according to my means.....

 

OK HAMBers, how can we help Rat out?

Rat- Is it possible to get some dimensions of the springs:
1. wire diameter
2. outside diameter of the coil
3. Pitch of the coil (measurement from coil to coil) without the weight on the car.
4. Approximate weight at the front of the car.



Based on the picture you posted on the page 2 of this thread, we could approximate the overall height of the spring (or guess at it from the tool box in the picture). Is there a spring manufacturer anywhere near where you work on the car. I'm sure here in the US Eaton could bend an approximate pair for you if we could give them the minimum information. I'm willing to pitch a few $$ in if others will too.

You have had an enraptured audience watching you build this car. Maybe we can pay for our entertainment and help you at the same time.

The same goes for the hubcaps. Who has a pair of 16" caps that might fill the bill for Rat. If we all pitch in, let's all say we played a part on the build of this Kool car!

What do you guys think about this?

Rat- Can you raise the car temporarily by putting in some coil spacers. With your build talents, it seems you could come up with something.

 

I'm in. Spring book handy, will search.

Sent from my SM-G955U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Perhaps here :
https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1165455605.htm?ca=22_s
https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/726708088.htm?ca=22_s

 

Question about the springs though. Won't the spring's rate need to be a little higher? Not only to handle the extra weight of the new engine and transmission, but to keep the front end from going squirrelly over bumps? Just a thought.

Sent from my SM-G955U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Hello Irishjr, first thank you for your great message.
About the springs, you gonna laugh, but actually, I cannot check the springs because I have park the car with a trolley jack and on one side there is a wall, and the other, parked cars.... (and summer holiday's cars don't move..).

This is not a joke, but I can't tell you the dimensions now....
The car is plenty of dust, under the sun (no rain about 2 month), looks like abandoned, but no dents or stolen parts.....


Nobody in my country formed springs, or if someone in France can do this, it will be very very expensive. Thanks a lot for your solidarity, generosity and idea, but I do not want to believe that I will not find original Fregate springs in France!!!!!!.

 

There's a French guy from Paris who posts on hamb and he makes himself custom fibreglass hubcaps......maybe he can help.....I can't remember his name

 

About hubcaps, for the new futur Lowrange version, with my taildragger look (I hope so, when my springs come ;-))), of course I prefered originals custom vintage American hubcaps in 16", but Lyons or Hollywood flipper are rare, so maybe reproduction like....



and I can modify a little these hubcaps......there is not a lot solutions in 16", and original Cadillac sombrero doesn't fit on my wheels. I'm only looking for a pair, not 4.........
If someone own something, my overall budget is between 0 and 170$ (postage included). it will be great.

 

I have post a request about 2 months on this web site.. I have contacted, of course, guys from your links, but no one want's to ship only the springs......

 

Hello vetteguy402, maybe you right........I don't know yet, I remember that original springs are very strong, and 3 years ago, when I worked on the Fregate suspension, the mistake that I have done is for my first drop try, I heated the springs, so my original springs on the car actually are cut and deformed.....I'm an idiot! I need original to know how will be the result....Original Fregate suspension was really "high" and hard , it will be ok........ my front wheel are in 16" now, and I project to real whitewall tires.

 

Hello Mrquickwhip, you right, Olivier, the guy with a beautiful Ford Vedette, I have read a lot of his story about this homemade hubcaps, this guy rocks, and the result is always wonderfull.
He ask that the price for himself and the time spent on each hub cannot be really $$$$$$$$$. He creates hubcaps for himself, not for business, I completely understand his position, sometimes you can do things for you, but it's impossible for others at decent price.

It's more "simple" to find 2 Polara or sombrero reproductions and modify them by myself.....

 

In other life, the best is....

 

Give us something to work with.
What were the springs out of originally?
Does the spring taper in OD on either end?
What is the OD in mm of the spring?
What is the ID in mm of the spring?
How many coils are there?
What is the free length OA as in the pix?
Approximately how much weight is on the front total?

Heating a spring is a no no for so many reasons. Cut them instead.

I don't know anything about these kind of sites, but you might want to try setting up a Go Fund Me site, for those that want to help out.

 

The reason I asked is that we have ready access to off the shelf springs like these:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qa1-16ht250/overview/

Some of us have old springs we will never use again.

 

Hello wisdonm,

To resume the story, 4 years ago, when I have decided to lowered the Fregate, my first try was to heated springs, after the bad result, I have cut 2 or 3 coils, and that's it, this story was 3 or 4 years ago, and I don't remember anything about this modification and how was the springs.
The only thing that I remember is that springs are same coil upside-down. I cannot ask you how dimension was or coils numbers.....

That's because I need only original Fregate front springs......and after that, if it's not ok with this original parts and the new engine weigh, I will ask something about what I need exactly (I have already check Japan 4X4 truck springs....but with no original Renault reference, spring look like...spring.

Anyway, I hope I can find parts in France, maybe with French Hamb member (waiting news from one of them..)

About Hubcaps, and of course, I'm not the guy who ask money from anyone. I'm just a guy who share my story with you guys on the Hamb.

My difficulty is my way of life, and if people want to help me to find 2 "not so expensive" hubcaps for my car, it's ok.

but I really don't care if I cannot buy 4 rares precious hollygraal wheel covers at 1500$ and ask crowdfunding for that!

There is always a solution......2 hubcaps hanging on the wall off a old garage, or Ratatouille trash lid

 

We post at same moment

Thanks for that and for your help., your are a great person, I appreciate.


(for me Summit is over, they are pro, they use UPS, import charge, shipping taxes, you will be surprised when you see parts at 70$ must be pay 300$ when the part is in front my door!!!!.....Internationnal import charges with pro like Summit is THE problem for a French guy like me).

 

Thanks for that, and to try to help me.

For Hamber's, I think an identified American hubcaps will be more easy to find than unknown French springs car.

Post wanted here....
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/16-hubcaps.1071822/

 

From what I can find, the Fregate ran from '51-'60. Don't know if it helps or not. Curb weight seems to be approximately 2700 lbs.

 

I still don't know when I'll be able to look for the front springs, you could check maybe on your Estafette if they are the same.

 

Pas donné c'est sur..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Cadillac...ash=item1c765b735f:g:SJwAAOSwa~BYO66Q&vxp=mtr

Etonnant ces cerclos!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-16-Inc...ash=item4667fd2cae:g:isYAAOSwtfhYrmvL&vxp=mtr

Sinon un classique des enjos de DS Pallas en 16!
https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1140464767.htm?ca=12_s

Ceux ci sont rares ! le prix est plus que correct! (en principe c'est du 16"..)
https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1153445333.htm?ca=12_s

 

There is a company that makes springs in the north of france,
LRD.
They specialise in motorcycle springs but make others aswell.
I have freinds who know them.