Vintage racer build

[BigIrish]

Lots of tedious but necessary work done in the past week. Decided to add belly pans which added alot of work. I welded flat strips everywhere that I pre-drilled holes in. Those will provide a nice flat area to rivet the aluminum to.

Also added an internal rear bumper to keep the F250's away from my tank and back of my head.

 

[BigIrish]

Off with the body to do final welding, paint the frame and start skinning it!

Also whipped up this contraption that holds my M.C. where it would normally mount to the body. That way I don't have to disconnect it and re-bleed the brakes later. Win! That is one thing I really hate.

 

[earthman]

That looks like it will be a very sturdy body.

 

[Thunderrug]

Front axle

Love the build!! I looked thru your build and can't find where you got the front axle and suspension? Could you point me in the right way?

thanks and looking forward to seeing your body work? Aluminum? Going to leave it shinny like chitty chitty bang bang??

 

[BigIrish]

I got everything suspension/brakes/steering from www.speedwaymotors.com. If they have it, I generally buy from them.

Yep, going to leave it unpainted aluminum. May look into doing something to age it and give it more of a satin look - not sure how to do that yet though.

 

[BigIrish]

Painted the birdcage today. My hair is a little more silver now.

Also mounted the seat belt retractors. It will have 3-point seatbelts like a modern car. The last pic is where the shoulder belts will pass through to the cockpit.

 

[Tim...Ok]

looks great..you may have the first build in history with seatbelts attached to the rear bumper I like it..

 

[BigIrish]

Got a few body panels on today. It's going alot faster than I figured it would. These rivets look great after they are finished with the shave tool - wish my camera could zoom in on them.

 

[nunattax]

petrol tank

where did u get the petrol tank.what are the dimensions how much does it hold how much didit cost whats it made from thanx

 

[BigIrish]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Black-Poly-Fuel-Tanks,5404.html

Here it is - various sizes, I got the smallest.

 

[Flipper_1938]

Wow, you are flying on this build. The car is looking great!

 

[zzrodder]

Boy, that's really coming along nicely [cl. The body structure looks great in silver - what paint did you use ?

 

[earthman]

If i could produce something like that i would already be wondering if there was a market for them

 

[BigIrish]

If i could produce something like that i would already be wondering if there was a market for them

Trust me - it has crossed my mind more than a few times. Maybe once this one is done I'll put it up for sale at a high price just to test the waters....

I just used rustoleum "aluminum" color paint. I really like the rust-o stuff b/c you can get rattle cans that match exactly for touch-ups. But mostly b/c it won't kill you like modern catalyzed paints. I would like to use a nice catalyzed paint but I personally won't without serious ventillation and a very good respirator & maybe a full suit.

 

[BigIrish]

Got the rest of the exterior done, pretty happy with it. Now I just need to do the firewall & dash panel and then I'll drop it back on the frame.

I'll put a big ol' racing number on the back and sides of the cowl.

 

[PA41]

Lookin Great!!

What did you settle on with the riviting?

I think drain-O (any caustic) will dull the 'lunium for some 'patina'..

Ya considering any fenders?

Keep it up!! 'preciate the effort showing it..

PA41

 

[PA41]

Lookin Great!!

What did you settle on with the riviting?

I think drain-O (any caustic) will dull the 'lunium for some 'patina'..

Ya considering any fenders?

Keep it up!! 'preciate the effort showing it..

PA41

 

[BigIrish]

I'm using these rivets and the shave tool listed. The Tech Specs explains a little more how these work. Super cool! I'm having fun with these

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Olympic_Rivets_p/vts-179.htm

Nah, no fenders. Cycle fenders might look good on the front but I think it will look good without.

 

[Sam_Fear]

That is amazing!


Is that enough rivets? Just wondering if vibration/stresses of driving might require more rivets for better distribution of stress.

 

[BigIrish]

Is that enough rivets?

I think so. The shear strength of the rivets is 465lbs and the tensile strength is 245 lbs. The aluminum is 18 ga and feels pretty substantial. They are spaced 5" apart. I guess we'll see!

Got my dash in and a big 5" antique-looking tach the wife got me for xmas. I think this will be my only dash instrument. I'll have an oil pressure gauge on the engine block. Maybe something similar for water temp.