Rebuilding my sedan for Autorama Detroit

I was going to take my AV8 roadster to Detroit this year but setbacks with the engine (3 different flatheads) put me too far behind schedule. I decided to take my sedan, but after almost 5 years on the road it was pretty grimy. I honestly started out just cleaning it up. The next thing I knew the neighbors were helping me lift the body off. Since I had easy access to everything I thought it was time to make some improvements.

After breaking three transmissions I got a new builder and had the old TH350 rebuilt. I lowered the rear shock mounts to give the car some rake, now it sits at 3 degrees. After breaking the rod end on top of my axle I realized that it was doing more than just maintaining pinion angle so I made up a panhard bar and mounted it to the snout of the rear axle. I made a new breather for the rear axle, and added a fuel shutoff valve back there as well.

I've split two radiators as well so I think there was some flex in the front of the chassis. I added two support pieces from the cross member forward to the Z to help resist torsional forces. I knew my headers were junk so I ordered a kit and made up a new set of lakes style pipes. Since I had an extra roadster body laying around I threw it on the chassis as a guide to make the headers. Took the whole front end apart and greased everything as well.

Today I'm working on making new subrails and a floor. With hopes of having the body on the chassis this week so I can get ready for PAINT! This car has been in lacquer primer since it's been on the road. I've always wanted to paint it but never got around to it. That's the goal, hopefully I don't run into any major snags and I can start bodywork pretty soon. Less than three weeks till load in day at Cobo.



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Few more in progress pics


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Nice work! Any ideas on a color?

 

Lookin good Scott. How is the body coming?

 

I'm thinking Honduras Maroon or some other variant of ruby or dark garnet. I didn't get the body on the frame today and now I'm at the bar so I don't see that happening tonight. Hopefully I can get on the body tomorrow.


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Go Scott go.

I can't wait to see it at Cobo.


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looking good Wishing you success in completion on time... See ya in the D!

 

can't wait to see it there! Looks good.

 

Thanks guys, working 12 hour shifts the next four days really cuts into garage time but I'll make it. Wouldn't be Autorama without a down to the wire thrash.


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Good luck - I look forward to seeing you at Cobo

 

I think the basement is going to be the place this year for sure. Wait it always is for me anyway. I will be looking for your car man!
Jay

 

See you there Martin, thanks Jay. Got the body on last night to see how it looks with a little rake. I like it but the more I look at it I should have shortened the wheel base while I was at it. This thing looks a mile long now! Oh well, I've got a new chassis for it that's a lot shorter but this will have to do for now. Working on subrails tonight.


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Awesome! Go man go...

Are you gonna make us wait until the D or are we gonna see pics in paint?

 

still have that 6 duce set up ?

 

Wish you well, like the roadster too. Tim

 

Is your sedan from Toledo?

 

With the body back on the chassis I started trying to get the back half squared up so I can make the rear subrails. You can see how much the body came up in the rear in the shot with the tire rub. I'm going to try and get the engine fired up after I straighten the headers out a little more. Two weeks till the deadline.


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Looks pretty good from the front.


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Paint is the last thing on the list. I'm going to try but I work 8 out of the 13 days (12 hours at a time) before the show. Hopefully I can get it running and moving tonight/tomorrow and I can focus on the floor and paint.

 

Yes I still have it, but I think I might be saving it for my coupe.

Thanks Tim, the flathead for it is going together right now as well. Maybe by the end of the year it will be rolling.

Nope, Bay City Michigan Mike53

 

Good luck,,Lucky,,HRP

 

Thanks HRP!


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Bad ass the rake looks better sounds like you've changed you're taste since you started driving the car. Shorter wheel base would look cool but in your time frame you're pushing it as it is...LOL Good luck I'll be looking for the car at COBO!

 

Shorter wheel base for sure. The rake made the car look even longer I might do that after Autorama. Tastes have definitely changed over the last five years. Still plugging away at a pretty period correct AV8 roadster right now too.

 

I see the roadster in your avatar looks bad ass! Don't take the comment about the wheelbase the wrong way because you car is pretty awesome! I know my idea of cool has been refined since I started slumming it here on the HAMB.

 

No worries n847 no offense taken. It definitely needs to have a shorter wheel base and I'll probably tackle that after the show. I have the subfloor and seat mounts Almost done. Not sure if there's enough time for tin work, but at least I can stool try and get some paint on it when this stuff is finished.

Bled the brakes, and it moves in all the gears it's supposed to. Hopefully I can take it around the block tomorrow. Here's some of the subfloor.


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It's looking good. Hope to see it at Cobo. CTJ

 

See you next week scott looks cool

 

Se you there Ed! Well I'm sad to say the car isn't getting painted. I left my painter a week and he said that wasn't enough time to paint it. So, that sucks but at least it gives me some more time on the interior.

I got the subrails done and the body squared up on the chassis. It's a lot more solid, the doors close better and the belt line is all lined up. I'm going to try and finish up the tin work on interior tonight. I bolted one of my Dad's old tool boxes and it left enough room for a cooler as well. Button up the headers, wire up the headlights and it should be all set for move in Thursday morning.


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Looks great Scott.

See ya in Detroit.


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