Projects Modified Lakester Build (THUNDERCASKET)

PM'd you my pick list, it's probably not complete and is mostly stuff for the other car.

I think the main thing I need to get done on the lakester is the STEERING. I'm still trying to get it figured out.

I think that and my clutch linkage are the last two super road blocks. After that I've just gotta get the pedals modified to clear the bellhousing and put a floor in the front.

Then move to attaching the rear and doing the back floor. Then take it all apart, rebuild the engine, finish weld the frame and body, paint the frame and body, re-assemble, run fluid lines, and wire it.

Oh, and mount lights once I figure out what I'm going to use and how. I picked up a 46-48 tail light housing at Fitchburg that i think may fit the contour of the touring body if I flip it.

 

Got a plan together to support the top end of the nose now and got it started this weekend. Didn't get super far but I gave myself a bit of progress to digest.

I also flattened and shrunk that flare I had on this panel back down because I didn't like it.

 

This picture resembles your car. From Cool Cars Square Rollbars

Albert Quagliaroli
Glastonbury Ct.




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I can see it. Looks like 35 headlights even! I'm going to run mine with 36 rings and lenses.

I am also mulling a front nerf bar along those lines. I'm considering re-bar to make it. I know most of the ones I see are tubing, but I could swear I've seen some old ones made out of re-bar on race cars.

I did actually get out into the shop this weekend after a long enough period for spiders to have set up many traps for me. I can always tell I've been out of the shop too long when I collect a bunch of cuts and scrapes in just one day (five, to be precise).

I got the support strapping for the nose done. It all fits now so I'm good with it.

The next mysteries are how to deal with my pedals and how to go about making the floor. I've got my steering box location pretty well figured out now (and it won't be a peach).

 

I actually got back out into the shop again over the weekend. It's been a busy summer, I just turned 40, and I haven't been out there as much as I'd like. I have been having a lot of fun though.
But I got a good day in and have my steering box location mostly solved. I got the first hole drilled through the frame and a bracket almost fitted. I hit a point where the day was running out on me and I was going to have to disassemble a bunch of stuff to grind down a weld that was interfering under the rail so I'll pick back up there next week hopefully.

 

Good to see you back in the garage pat. I think we all like seeing progress on your build. Keep it up man ... you get closer to the finish every time you complete something.

Happy 40th also !!


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THANKS! Yeah, this is very true. When I've been out of the shop too long, I've learned to pick something small that I can either complete, or get most of the way there with visible results in one day, to get started on. This fit the bill because I've been thinking about it for a while, so I had a good idea already what I needed to do.

So, here's what's going on. I am making the bracket out of 3/16" plate which I will gusset, if not run a spine around the entire perimeter. I have my drag link set level and parallel to the tie rod. The pitman arm is level to the ground and in line with the tie rod and drag link. The top hole on the steering box happened to line up with a hole I had made for mounts that I decided not to use which was a nice bonus. The bottom two holes require a bracket. I was delighted to discover that said bracket and mounting holes lined up far down enough for a socket to clear the frame rail!



This box was already cut and has a U joint in place already. My placement seems to work out just right as the U Joint sits just under the top of the rail. This solves all my clearance concerns for making headers later. I just need to decide how I'm going to locate, secure, & run the steering now. I also need to buy some new joints, shafts, & a drag link now that I have a fixed point to measure from. So, seat placement needs to come soon.



Also, I need to get out there more than once every 4th week because OOF! MY SHOP MUSCLES HURT! Seriously, when I'm good about making shop time, I feel great, but when I get out there after too long a break, I feel it in my joints and meat for several days after. HEED THIS WARNING, YOUNGER BUILDERS!

 

MILESTONE: STEERING BOX MOUNT IS MOUNTED.

Now I can route my steering and order a correct tie rod (easier said than done apparently).

SO, this morning's issue is that my eye to eye measurement is 31" for this steering box on this drop axle in this model A frame. The easy route, Speedway, only offers 30" and 32" which begs the question, do I get a 32" and cut it or do I find another option?

EDIT: Remembered it's a So-Cal axle and therefore So-Cal carries a correctly sized tube. Now to figure out the steering shafts and U-Joints.

Other than that, I made some ugly welds, reinforced the holes on the bracket, and tacked it on to the frame.

 

Oh, I forgot to actually post this pic proper. I don't think I've put a proper head on overview of the nose this entire time.



I'm probably lopping the frame horns off because they're not stock straight and I think I can actually use them for Shock Mounts, which I haven't seen done before, seems fairly easy, and saves me some fab/cash.

I'm also considering running a sprint/midget rear bumper out front if the arc matches closely enough.

 

Nice to see you back at it Pat. Keep going and your "shop muscles" will hurt less and less. Pretty soon only your clutch foot will hurt.

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Yeah man, that was lesson learned, I've been on it at least a little bit each week now. I'm trying to get myself out for at least an hour each night or so as well. Mostly I spend that time FAILING at things like removing a crusty steering wheel from my 41 steering box, so, at least that particular 2 hours of failing didn't eat into my weekend shop time!

I just ordered some more components to play with. I discovered that 3/4" DOM tube is about half price from Speedway when bought as "steering tube" than it is at my local steel place (surprising) so I bought 5' of it and a quick disconnect steering collar kit since I've got a 3-hole wheel or two kicking around and getting this thing to steer has proven complex enough without driving myself crazy. I figure I'll run a DD to the steering box. I'm starting to think I may end up needing a couple double U joints though ($$$). We shall see.

I gotta shorten my pedals and get some flooring in too.

 

Failing is still progress


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Bobbing my horns today while I wait for steering parts.

I'm using them for shock mounts.

Not sure how I want to orient them or to put the shocks ahead or behind the axle.

Opinions?

 

I think the top looks better.


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Yeah man, I grabbed my neighbor Paul and we came up with the same conclusion because it echoes the drop axle instead of opposing it.

Here's what we came up with.

 

That's a really cool idea and looks great. Are you going to mug weld the gap between the front cross and the side rail?

 

Looks good Man.


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Yes as well as probably make a curved fill to tie into the nose.

Gentlemen, we have shock mounts.

 

And cigarette butts !


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I've never noticed anyone using the horns for shock mounts either, that being said. I'm kinda surprised, they look right at home.
Curious what the green/red piece is under the nose. Is that potentially a lower air damn maybe ? It would certainly go with the look you're trying to achieve.



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That's the F1 nose piece that I've had kicking around for a few years. It may find its way onto this car somewhere, but it's not on the definite pile. It's a throwback to page 4 (2013) and the first vision for this build:

 

Man I think that looks right at home in that pic... .02


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It did, with the 28/29 shell, but it's a little different now with the new nose.

 

Ya I get it. Like that look


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CLUTCH IS LINKED!

I love the feeling when a part fits!I bought this Equalizer shaft in a lot to get the pivot and was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was a perfect fit for my staggered F1 crossmember and pedal bracket mount.

Number looks to be 09A-7503 but it's tough to tell. The numbers on VanPelt seem to list 01A & 51A...

Regardless, I need to sort out the pivot location now because, as usual, something is in the way or close to it!

 

Weekend update, lots of chipping away. Last week I got my drag link, painted, and assembled it. It's not sitting quite as I expected but I think we're still good to go. We shall see when I get things rolled out in the daylight and an actual steering wheel connected. The steering box moves freely but I don't know if there's any play in it yet.



I got my headlights mounted too. It took all day and I had help for a couple hours. I'm fairly pleased with the location, but I may try a couple other options. I'm not sure I'm happy with these plate mounts I made.

 

Lookin' good! I really like the shock mounts.

 

THANKS!

I'm super pleased with them too, to the point that I kinda don't want to obscure them too much with those pesky headlights!

 

You could adapt some Prowler headlights into your nose piece.

 

HAH! AT LEAST THEY WOULD STAND OUT FROM ALL THE MINI COOPER LIGHTED STREET RODS!

37 Chevy housings were discussed though