Projects Almost Funny - AWB Barracuda Funny Car Build

I took it apart, trimmed some, and put it back together. I also added a tube along the top to hold everything together, and put the front valence on so I could get the front end of the fender where it is supposed to be. I think it's close enough, now.

 

Squrriel, I like the wheel out of center on the new version. It looks unfactory.

 

Glad your keeping score. Your definitely winning. Very cool


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Looks great Jim, so glad I didn't comment on the lower body line earlier as it looks like you straightened it quite nicely.
How long until we get to hear the elephant bark?

 

I wonder about the hood, without seeing the vehicle some hoods have a taper from back to front. But, I guess if you can do this and it looks good, the hood will not be a issue.

 

Will this be the mold for glass fenders or are you going to run them?

 

I like it

 

Nice work, great eye for details.

 

Looks Good, Jim. Kinda makes you appreciate what the racers went thru back in the day. Seems like they changed every week trying to get an edge.

 

LOVE IT!!


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Reminds me of the Ole..Phony Pony FC..... http://www.draglist.com/artman2/uploads/1/09_brogden_irwindale_1-1-68.jpg

 

Yes. I intend to pull molds from these fenders, but I might not get that done right away, so I might run the steel fenders for a while.

As for the taper of the hood..it will be interesting to see how that works out. I left the "extension" part of the fender, at the back, straight. But there is 3" total taper in the hood from front to back, 1.5" each side. The idea is that the original hood will still fit, and require 15" long straight extension pieces added behind it. I still don't know how that's going to work, but I have several ideas.

 

Looks better!

Pat

 

Hey, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Nice work Jim, that's gonna be a great looking car.

 

Are you going to run it a little nose high ? I know you're shooting for first edition funny car and I would assume it will have A/FX influences.

 

I'd like the nose to sit down just a bit....

 

Looking forward to seeing it Drag Week. I know the kind of effort this project requires. Great results ahead.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

By the time this style car came out (second gen funny car) the front ends were starting to come down. The tires were better (early 65) as racers moved away from the pie crust tires and into the wrinkle walls. The cars didn't need the front end up for weight transfer any more. They also started to lower them do to the aero dynamics as the cars started to approach the 200 mph mark. Better handling was achieved with less air under the car. This is also the time front and rear spoilers started to appear. I think jim is on the right track. It will look correct for the era.

 

I'd like it to sit nose down a bit

I find looking at pictures helps, it's easier to focus on different things
Especially when you start cropping.
Don't hate me now - You didn't ask for it but here's my .02 on my observations

If you want the fenders to look sorta right but stretched , that lower body line needs to come down.

The upper line crests just about the door handle then continues down to the headlight at a pretty good slope and is no where near the door elevation at mid fender and certainly at the headlight.
If your fender's upper line followed that without violating that line too much it would flow better. The extension has a dip, then the top of the fender at about the first third of the arch violates the line with a bump. Raising the extension and lowering the fender at the headlight would get your flow into mud range. It will never be perfect unless you'd make a new fender top from the cowl to headlight, but it doesn't have to be,

If you'd print these out and cut them up, stretch the blue one out 15 " to scale and cut your pic to line the body lines up you'll see what the metal needs.




Here's one trying to come straight off the door with minimal drop at the headlight ignoring the lower line. It still drops a quite a bit.

 

I plan to work on getting the lower line to be pretty much straight with some magical bodywork...and then adjust the front fender height to make it in line with the door. And let the upper line be where it ends up. I have been thinking pretty much exactly as you describe. Thanks for taking the time to make the pictures, it really highlights what's going on.

The thing is, this is an old race car, built to go racing, not to satisfy the styling dept. I am OK with it looking "wrong" to some extent.

It's a fine line, deciding how nice to make it...

Other fender is roughed out.

And I got some stuff in the mail today.

 

31Vicky beat me to the punch... Yep, the fender is running 'uphill' just a bit. And I also like that you appear to be filling the 'leftover' stock rear wheel opening. A slight flare around it would be perfect...

 

This car is really coming along. Very cool project! Nice work Squirrel

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Looking great.....it's not a Pasedena Art College project but a badass street/race car.

 

Looks cool, At first glance that towel hangin on the rack reminds you of flutes stickin up out of the engine bay

 

I did some work on the rear, too. It's fun trying to figure out just how much room to leave around the tire...I perhaps left a bit too much, but it should work ok. I added a piece of small round tubing to the edge.

 

I agree Squirrel, these old A/FX cars didn't have big budgets to worry about perfect body work. They were just happy if their new extended front end didn't blow off going down the track !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)

 

Oh man. I hope the previous post hasn't open the back door for 31Vicky to chime back in about the wedge affect.

 

Never noticed before but that Barracuda definately has some 53 Studebaker lines. Looks really good.

 

Phtttt
No need for captain obvious here.
I have my own stuff to worry about.