I'm gonna build an altered.

[Skip]

Tires and wheels look great!

Tires and wheels look great!
I've been looking at a lot of pics from "back in the day" since I found my toy, and Torque Thrust wheels are like the second most popular after the slots (Hildebrand preferred, but who can afford them?) I have only seen one that I remember running American 200s. I have a pair of 8.5x15s and a pair of 10x15s that are tempting to use on my toy, but I really like the slots and Torque Thrust better in this application. <sigh>

Don, you are really setting off my ADD.

 

[Bamamav]

Yeah baby! Looks great! What are you planning for the front, 10 spoke spindle mounts?

 

[donsrods]

OldIron, that isn't a jackstand, it is my wheelie bar !

Thanks, Flipper and Skip. Skip, you are right about Americans being popular back then. I had one of the first sets in our town and ran them on my 64 Chevy convertible. I think I paid $50 apiece back then and had to save up to get them.

Bamamav, Thanks. I haven't decided on front wheels yet. I have been doing the math, and while spindle mounts aren't cheap (like $500 each) by the time I buy the two Wilwood hubs that I want to run ($135 each) and then buy two bolt on wheels, I am almost there costwise. I want to get Christmas out of the way and then decide.

Today I went to a friends car repair shop and had the tires mounted on the wheels. I have been sweating bullets, didn't want the wheels to get scratched during mounting, but he did a superb job and took good care. I love the look, and they really got bigger with air in them !



I slid them under the car, and this is about where they will have to sit to clear my coil overs and disc brakes.







Next week my Son will be available to do some welding for me, so maybe then I can get the rails welded up.

Don

 

[bob w]

Excellent wheel and tire selection. They look great positioned like you have them.

 

[donsrods]

Thanks, Bob. I think they look a little old school, which is what I wanted. The more I think about it, having the tires a little further apart on the back might not be all bad.........it might handle better or be less squirrelly if it gets out of shape. But that is just a guess.

Don

 

[Torchie]

[cl [cl[P [P
Torchie.

 

[jfg455]

Thanks, Bob. I think they look a little old school, which is what I wanted. The more I think about it, having the tires a little further apart on the back might not be all bad.........it might handle better or be less squirrelly if it gets out of shape. But that is just a guess.

Don

I'm thinking it'll be squirelly no matter what! What is the wheel base? about 88"? It is looking great so far. How about color? you going with a bright color with a ton of flake or just a more sublte single stage? (Popcron emogee)

 

[DJ3100]

Like the wheels and tires. They are going to look good in or out.

 

[soltz]

Love it all, good job. (clap-clap-clap)

 

[jott]

I would have a hard time keeping this off of the street. Its looking too cool!

 

[donsrods]

Thanks guys. No, the wheelbase will be about 100-101. I just stretched the steel frame slightly from the wooden mockup to mainly give me some room for my Moon tank and enough engine room length.

Tonight I went to the shop for a few hours to start cleaning up the mess I've been creating with all the junk I've been dragging in, and I cut up the wooden frame. My welder (my Son Dan) is playing out of town this weekend, so I might be able to get him to start welding up the rails this coming week. Then, when Ron Popes front end parts come I can start figuring out that end of the car.

Don

 

[donsrods]

This is going to be a GOOD WEEK ! I am off for 3 days in a row (had to use my Holiday days or lose them) and my MT front tires showed up yesterday, my gasser 10 spokes are being delivered today, and probably tomorrow I will get the entire front end assembly Ron at RPM built for me ! [cl[cl

I LOVE opening boxes. Film at 11.


Don

 

[sgtpontiac]

Oh Boy!! they come bearing gifts.....

Yeah....can't just lose those days.....I've got some I gotta burn up or lose as well....so taking a few Fridays and Mondays off....nice build by the way....to head back on track....

 

[Flipper_1938]

Wider makes it less stable when traction is a problem. The tire with "more grip" has more leverage to rotate the car. A narrower rear axle reduces the length of the lever.

 

[donsrods]

Wider makes it less stable when traction is a problem. The tire with "more grip" has more leverage to rotate the car. A narrower rear axle reduces the length of the lever.

You may be right, in fact, we are rethinking the entire rear frame setup. After talking with my Sons, who are better at this new fangled suspension stuff than me, and also talking with Ron Pope on the phone about it, I am considering going with a tucked in four bar setup that will put my tires much further under the body. It will mean I will have to make my kickup more of a 90 degree angle than the 120 it is now, but that is no big deal.

That way, I can make a higher kickup, put the four bar frame bracket on the front of the kickup, and put my coil overs directly under the frame rails. They were in the way when I planned on putting them outside the rails, but will not be a problem if I do it the new way.

This is the toughest frame design I have ever done, and it keeps evolving. My original plan, to run a solid mounted rear would have been SO SIMPLE, but everyone keeps telling me coil overs are so much better, so I have changed to do the rear that way.

If this car keeps changing like it has been, pretty soon there will be a hemi with blower and nitro fuel in the tank. (only if I hit the lottery though )

Don

 

[I-R-POPS]

Pretty soon there will be a hemi with blower and nitro fuel in the tank. )

Don

Now we're talking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[forbigpicture]

Yeah, what Pops said.......
hope you hit that lottery....

 

[jfg455]

This is going to be a GOOD WEEK ! I am off for 3 days in a row

That's a vacation to me! 3 in a row?? awesome![cl[P

 

[donsrods]

It is a vacation for me too, my two days off are never together, so I don't know how to act !


Ok, car **** ahead !!!!!!!!! I picked up my wheels today and took them and the tires I got yesterday and had them mounted. I think these will work out fine. They were the narrowest wheel I could get (4.5 inches) in the style I wanted, but they should handle well going down the track.

Of course I had to take them to the shop and set them next to the rear tires. Look like big and littles to me !







Don

 

[Bamamav]

They are looking the part for sure! Since you got the bolt on wheels, you can now run front brakes if you want. Probably be safer that way anyway.