You are off on a great start, I'm subscribed. Dean Lowe has been influencing young and old since his roadster pickup appeared on the cover of hot rod magazine in 1962, that article made a huge impact on me! That roadster pickup is still on the streets across the ocean and still turning heads. This is the original pickup at speed at Pendine Sands,Wales in 2021 setting a record of 121.96. HRP
Getting caught up too. I was really hoping you'd use the BEAST timing cover or at least work a nod to it in somewhere. You delivered!
I keep piddling with this old thing. I hacked up some really crusty old fenders to get a look at how the wheels are going to look under them. The nose will come up about 3” with some upcoming changes to the bat wing mounting. The bed will be slightly higher up once final mounted, too. I’m getting happy with the stance. It’s looking like it should. Every article I have on @Dean Lowe ’s truck mentions it was running Austin-Healey seats. I’ve seen him post here a couple of times saying they are “the” seat for an RPU. Those round-back tipping seats are only in early (and rust-prone) cars, so they are kinda rare. And pricey. But when Dean Lowe says get em, you get em. I finally feel like I have all the major engine-mounted injection components and fuel fittings how I want them. I’m pretty happy with my stab at disguising all this stuff. Also got the thermostat about where I want it. The fuel injection demands consistent and high power output, so a big alternator is a must. But I sure don’t want to look at it. We have some ideas about mounting it beside the block using half of an old mount, and extending the shaft beneath the Hurst mount. Tension will be by an adjustable idler pulley. The final result is TBD, but it’s a promising start. This week, I’ll be blowing it all back apart for a few chassis changes, firewall, floor, seat mounting, cowl structure, and headers. Stay tuned…
What a great looking build. ...but, I'm not crazy about the wire wheels on an RPU, either from a looks standpoint and whether tech inspectors at the strip will allow them. A more conventional wheel -and maybe front brakes - might be worth considering.
I hear ya. Nice thing is, early Ford spindles have good interchangeability and dry break fittings are NHRA legal. I’ll be running a front brake line I can use later. As for wire wheels, looks are subjective and I like them. Many examples of drag cars running them around ‘59-61, the era I'm going for.
Filmed at Riverside Raceway and in 1960, Bakersfield Smokers March Meet #2 Hello, You have chosen quite a few good looking coupes and sedans from the wire wheel group. We all liked that look as it seems a lot faster or at least, lighter in weight… Wire wheels are a great look for coupes and roadsters. The legal street weight limit is dictated by the local DMV rules. But, since you are using it for drag racing, the wire wheels should work fine. Make sure they are balanced and aligned prior to racing. some old Friday Art work: 1934 Ewans-Ramey sedan, Ford Parts Obsolete Shop Long Beach Jim Miles 1934 Ford Coupe from 1959 Some of the street roadsters for the street with wire wheels were smaller T-Buckets. But for the drags, we did see plenty of competition cars with wire wheels. Bob Sefton roadster… It is always fun to incorporate wire wheels in the front of any coupe, roadster or sedan… recent version of a chopped Model A sedan The 1959 red version of the chopped 34 Ford Coupe was built by Jim Miles and the sound was pretty intense. We saw it at the Riverside Raceway in December 1959, then in a few months later, at the Bakersfield March Meet #2. He made some great runs, but met the Hart’s Auto Coupe in one race. Jnaki Note: Later in the drag racing scene, Jim Miles is associated with the light purple Altered Fiat Coupe that has a tremendous explosion caught in a still photo. YRMV
I could, but that would undo all the work it took to put the axle there. I like the early, rowdy days of drag racing when guys were moving engines and axles around to gain any advantage. Just like the wire wheels, it may not be everyone's taste, but I like it. If I change my mind, the crossmember and spring are in the stock location, so centering the wheels is as simple as putting a Ford axle back under it.
Jim Miles' blown fuel coupe was a big inspiration. Later versions show the car with 12-spokes and without the Potvin.
The Jalopy Journal
