Projects The Wee Terry Coupe Build Thread

I have got the dash fitted up with the gauges now.


I made up some aluminium spacer rings to lift the tachometer and speedo off the dash a little.

 

I have taken bit of a step backwards this week with the coupe. I really wasn’t happy with the body position - the rear wheels were well forward in the arches, making it look a bit awkward, but also making it much harder if I ever want to run fenders in the future. It also meant stretching the hood if fitted. I decided to relocate the body in the stock position but this meant moving it forwards a good inch and a half. Bulkhead collided with back of the motor. I decided to cut the bulkhead to recess the motor into the front of the body, allowing me to gain the bit of space I needed.

Then I cut the end out of a scrap Fordson tractor tank (the same as the style I am using for my gas tank) and will use it to fill the void. It needs lots of welding and trimming when the body is back off the frame, but this shows the general idea.


What it looks like from inside the cab….

The same fuel tank has also donated one of its brass filler necks to fit an external gas cap. It just needs a 2” hole cut out and soldered in to place.

 

...EnFo...I like that......Is that English Ford? The reverse tank in the firewall is a neat alternative to a wheelbarrow too...

There's so much going on here everyday I missed this Thread...not any more...I have some building to look through...

 

Thanks. Apparently yes, EnFo is "English Ford". At this time US product used "FoMoCo". Around 1963 the UK changed in line with the US.

 

Love the tank end recess, I think I would flip that so it could be read from the motor side, that would have a few folk scratching there heads .. Its a bit of fun that is .. and a unique personal touch. Thats what its all about .

 

Thanks Ian. Yes flipping it had crossed my mind. The inside of the tank (that’s facing the motor) is quite pitted, too so it would look better the other way round. As always, it will add several hours to the job!

 

Looks good

 

What are you using to paint everything black out of curiosity?

 

Black paint!
It's a brand called Tractol. https://www.tfmsuperstore.co.uk/products/tractol-syn-enml-black-gloss-3102-8/

 

Thanks man, looks thick and glossy. You just brush it on?

 

Some is brushed on, some with a spray gun. They also do aerosol, which I have used in places.

The paint is good quality, but is let down by my prep and application.

But the car is going to be rough and ready with hopefully a few neat little features to make it individual.

 

Got my steering box and column finished off.

I also removed the ally screen surround and chopped down an old steel one.

 

There has been a bit more progress on this…

 

Very nice work!!!

 

I have been doing a bit of work on the coupe since getting the sprint car to Pendine in May, but lots of little jobs here and there that don't really add up to much. One thing I wasn't happy with was the mesh I had used to hide the chinese radiator. I like the idea of a stainless insert of some sort, but couldn't find any mesh that had a close enough spacing and didn't look too much like, well, mesh I suppose.

So I made a rough and ready jig to hold some 3.2mm stainless filler rod at 8mm spacings and silver soldered a cross brace and frame round it. A set of stainless studs brazed to the inside of the shell allowed me to bolt it in place. I am quite happy with the overall effect, although you can still see the radiator, the grille draws the eye enough I think.

 

I have also been playing with the fuel filler and decided to use a nice brass Ford Tractor fuel cap that I had collected up from somewhere, somewhen.

I machined one cap to adapt a piece of 2.1/4" stainless pipe to the top of the tank and then fitted a female fitting to another piece. they will be joined by a short section of rubber hose, when I can find some that has enough flex in it.

 

Good idea. Hides the rad well. Great job on jig as well. Looks like its all coming together.

 

Thanks. Yes, it feels like I am ticking a few jobs off the list now.

Had to go backwards on the steering box, because of clearance issues, so I have an F1 in bits for rebuild at the moment.

I got the tank connected up last night and bolted my toolbox down. Also been making a bracket to hold a fog lamp… I used a wheel nut with the centre drilled out, stuck into an old 3/8” ring spanner - it needs a bit of finishing and the base that is riveted to the lamp shell is loose, so it looks a bit 'droopy' in the picture.





I also got the firewal recess flipped and tacked into place.


There are a few more things I want to do while the body is on, then the next move is to lift it off and have a closer look at plumbing and wiring. Clutch linkage still needs to be addressed, too.

 

I have got the F1 steering box in place now, seat mounted, screen in and have finished off a few other little bits on the body, including a slam panel for the trunk (thanks to an ignorant courier, my stock one got squashed on it's way here). I have the trunk skin and hinge/latch arrangement to sort out next. I plan to make the hinges and in one of the pics below you can see the louvred skin that I need to try and wrestle into shape.

Still lots of little bits to do before I lift the body off again (some of which are things I have already done, but am not completely happy with). Here are a few pics of how it sits right now.

 

Looking great! You have included some lovely & unique details

 

Really like this build, been following on Meltdown, So, this paint, what primer have you used? I see they sell a couple.

 

Thanks. I appreciate it - it feels like it is consuming far more hours than it should, but many are sacrificed to the gods of learning!

Tractol do an etch primer, which I have used in places, but have had most consistent success with the red oxide. It seems to bond well and dries quickly. You can lay it on thick and flat it down.

 

Thanks, as its enamel, i think it will work on epoxy, which is what I want to use i'll look into it.

 

just found this on 'tinternet'
'Enamel can not only be painted directly over epoxy paint, it requires it as an undercoat.'
so thats good..
although then I found this on another site..
'However, some of the alkyd enamels and other one part paints and varnishes may not properly dry on epoxy resin coatings.'

 

@Little Terry...looking real good...love your ingenuity...

 

Thanks @Stogy
More to come soon hopefully....

 

I’ve started working on my headers/exhaust. There have been lots of ideas since I started the project, but it feels like I need something fairly eye-catching and wide to fill out the front end of the car have settled on this (although I have been known to do a U-turn on occasions).

All the bog roll centres that I have saved up have come in handy. I have done the easy bit, now I have just got to make it in steel!

 

Many hours of cutting and grinding later (and still plenty to go)....

 

Nice fabricating/progress..looking good.

 

Dig that!