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Projects Belly Tank Build UK

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by JamieUC, Jan 3, 2021.

  1. hardtimesainit
    Joined: Jan 24, 2009
    Posts: 625

    hardtimesainit
    Member

    Great project, beautiful work !
    Regarding power source... Ford 4-banger is/was used and classic. Early V8 requiring more space and heavier ?
    What gauge aluminum is body ?
     
    loudbang and Stogy like this.
  2. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Thanks all for the reply's
     
    Stogy likes this.
  3. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Yes a bit of a shortage of saltflats in the UK but I do live a half hour drive from Pendine, so the racing will be on the sand.
     
    dana barlow, Stogy and Baumi like this.
  4. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Hi Hardtimes I did think about a four banger but its gonna be a beast with a blown flathead. Body is made with 2mm 14 gauge 1050 aluminium.
     
    Toms Dogs, loudbang, Stogy and 2 others like this.
  5. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    Excellent fab skills!

    I have a hard time drawing a straight line with a ruler.
     
    loudbang, Stogy and Baumi like this.
  6. Yes - great build skills there !
     
    loudbang and Stogy like this.
  7. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    OK sorted out a few more photos to post , I'm not quite up to date but the next couple of posts will cover the last four or five months of work done on the tank.

    Started work on the chassis, box section, cut in half to make C section then pie cut every six inch or so to form curve, this was quite lenthy process to get the shape of the tank and keep it that shape once all welded up.
    Tank15.jpg

    Front crossmember bolted in, at this stage everything is just tacked or bolted together till I get ride hight/ suspension travel dialed in.
    Tank16.jpg
    Rear axle is solid mount with magnesium vintage Halibrand center section.
    Unfortunatly I havent got a magnesium rear cover so brought a aluminium one, will have to figure a way of aging it to match the magnesium, any tips on this would be appreciated, or any leads on a magnesium one.... I know im chasing the unobtainium again.
    Tank17.jpg
    Tank18.jpg
    Then on to front end , Im using a model A axle but with 36 wish bones, bones are split so need spring mounts to be heated and bent straight. First photo shows before and second shows them just after straightening. I havent got oxy aceltylene so a big propane torch and some paitence was the tool of choice.
    Tank23.jpg

    Tank21.jpg
    Got the lathe going and turned up a couple of bungs for the wishbones
    Tank20.jpg

    and welded um in.
    Tank22.jpg

    Well thats it for today..
     
    ratrodrodder, EVL401, brEad and 18 others like this.
  8. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Hi Sailingadventure
    Nice to see you posting here, Ive looked through your tank build on your website many a time in the past, its a great build with lots of usfull info. Have you got any video online of it racing?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  9. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Part four of my belly tank build, as I have said earlier I started this build about 18 months ago so this insalment will cover the last couple of months and bring the thread up to date so ongoing posts will be about what I'm actually doing with the tank rather than whats already been done.

    So I've got my 49 flatty and my mercury 3 speed box ready to go in so it was time to get busy on the lathe again and make an adapter to couple the gearbox to the quickchange, rear axle is solid mount so no propshaft.
    Tank24.jpg

    This was a bit of fun on my litle Myford lathe, but after many hours of chip making the adapter was ready and it was time to see if the engine and gearbox would fit.

    Tank25.jpg
    Well it all fits and thers still a bit of room left for me to squeeze in.
    Tank26.jpg
    Time to put some wheels on and roll it out of the corner. The back wheels are space savers and are being used as they are the right hieght but will not be used on the finished car. I'm waiting on a set of Vintiques 18" gennie steels from the states at will be used on the rear.
    Tank27.jpg
    Tank28.jpg
     
    ratrodrodder, EVL401, Jet96 and 43 others like this.
  10. j hansen
    Joined: Dec 22, 2012
    Posts: 5,202

    j hansen
    Member

    Excellent!
     
    loudbang likes this.
  11. lowrd
    Joined: Oct 9, 2007
    Posts: 405

    lowrd
    Member

    Serious talent, damn! Do you need an apprentice?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  12. edvdummy
    Joined: Apr 8, 2016
    Posts: 13

    edvdummy
    Member
    from Germany

    Beautiful work,

    you already know whether engine front or rear ?
     
  13. rpm56
    Joined: Nov 29, 2013
    Posts: 99

    rpm56
    Member

    Pretty sure he does.
    20210111_102922.jpg
     
    EVL401, Drylake, 48fordnut and 3 others like this.
  14. 282doorUK
    Joined: Mar 6, 2015
    Posts: 416

    282doorUK

    Marvellous stuff, will you be boxing the rails eventually?
    Looking forward to seeing it run at Pendine, if I ever manage to get my'28 Chevy down there.
     
    Blackbob and loudbang like this.
  15. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,366

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    Stunning project. Excellent workmanship and engineering.
    Subscribed.

    I am amazed any time a hot rodder not in the USA takes on a project using vintage American powerplants. It is hard enough to do it here but must be doubly hard with an ocean separating you from sources of many parts.
     
  16. Frankyboy
    Joined: Aug 25, 2014
    Posts: 10

    Frankyboy

    That looks the nuts mate , wish I hand the sold mine in some ways ! But to many projects ! Hope to see that at pendine ! Tho I fear it won’t be the only one !!!
     
    loudbang likes this.
  17. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Yep an extra foot or two would been nice for fitting everything in but wanted to keep that early belly tank look, anyways I'm a skinny short *ss:D so wont be to much of a squeeze for me.
     
    48fordnut and loudbang like this.
  18. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Will box the rails, not all but in key areas, plan is to have full roll cage so that will stifen the chassis up some.
    See you at the sand, hopefully running my coupe this year, if were allowed out to play..
     
    48fordnut, loudbang and 282doorUK like this.
  19. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Hi Frankyboy your right I dont think I will be the only one running a tank, this thread has aready caught the attention of another VHRA member building a tank to run at pendine.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  20. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    Very impressive. It looks great. I'll look out for you, hopefully it will happen.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  21. JamieUC
    Joined: Jul 8, 2013
    Posts: 170

    JamieUC
    Member
    from Swansea UK

    Hi Mart been watching your youtube channel, I brougt a Buma boring bar last year and googled "how to use Buma boring bar" low and behold your youtube channel pops up with not only a Buma but a Buma boring a flathead..aewsome.
     
    loudbang and the pinstriper like this.
  22. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    That's ace.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  23. Cliff Ramsdell
    Joined: Dec 27, 2004
    Posts: 1,343

    Cliff Ramsdell
    Member

    No one said it yet, SLICK......

    Nice job on the build, love these kind of builds.

    Cliff Ramsdell
     
    loudbang likes this.
  24. BS!
    Joined: Mar 17, 2010
    Posts: 193

    BS!
    Member

    Unreal work. Subscribed!
     
    loudbang likes this.
  25. Brand Apart
    Joined: Jan 22, 2011
    Posts: 808

    Brand Apart
    Member
    from Roswell GA

    Great job, Love this build...just wondering why not clean the axle tubes up rather than try to distress center section to match?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  26. Easy-Off oven cleaner will put a gray tint on the Aluminium
     
    loudbang likes this.
  27. roddering
    Joined: Feb 18, 2008
    Posts: 244

    roddering
    Member
    from Arizona

    Out of this world amazing! Can't wait to see the finished project. :D
     
  28. redoxide
    Joined: Jul 7, 2002
    Posts: 756

    redoxide
    Member

    Brilliant . Look forward to seeing this one at Pendine should we be fortunate enough to get there this year ..
     
  29. nobby
    Joined: Jan 8, 2006
    Posts: 1,206

    nobby
    Member

    porsche 912 or 914 steering rack
    put the spindles back stock
    centre steering
     

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