Welcome to Club Hot Rod!  The premier site for everything to do with Hot Rod, Customs, Low Riders, Rat Rods, and more. 

  •  » Members from all over the US and the world!
  •  » Help from all over the world for your questions
  •  » Build logs for you and all members
  •  » Blogs
  •  » Image Gallery
  •  » Many thousands of members and hundreds of thousands of posts! 

YES! I want to register an account for free right now!  p.s.: For registered members this ad will NOT show

 
Like Tree12Likes

Thread: Dragster body
          
   
   

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 43
  1. #1
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    Dragster body

     



    This is a project I did last summer. A friend of mine was recreating a 60's
    era Chassis Research dragster which were offered in kit form back in the day.
    He had done a great job on the chassis, and drive train, and needed a simple
    body of the style in vogue at the time. I had always wanted to try forming a
    dragster body so I agreed to give it a shot. There won't be too much metal
    shaping as these are simple bodies. I'm just an amateur at this so it will be a
    learning experience.
    I'm using .063 3003 H14 alum which is heavier than .050 commonly used, but
    holds it's shape better. The owner isn't worried about weight, this is a fun
    car, not a record holder. Not having a radius break I decided to use my slip
    rolls which are 36" w/2" rolls. I fabbed an xtra large handle to help with the
    shaping. I'm only rolling about an 8" stretch of metal to form the body shape.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  2. #2
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    Here I'm fine tuning the leading edge which bows out when rolled. This is caused
    by the rolls bowing in the center from the high pressure. I had to wrap a 2 x 4
    with a towel, and beat on it while still in the slip roll to get it close. I got pretty
    good at this before the job was over! LOL

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  3. #3
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    The owner wanted the firewall seperate from the engine plate like many cars of that
    era. I formed a 1/4" firewall that will be sealed to the engine plate later.


    [IMG][/IMG]

    Drilled, and tapped the frame for recessed fasteners. The first Dzus clip is installed
    at the top center of the chassis hoop.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  4. #4
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    I welded a piece of angle to the rear hoop to mount a Dzus clip at the desired
    body panel height.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    These 2 x 4's are the hi tech spacers used to set that panel height. There is a sample
    try piece laying on the cowl to help visualize the wind screen shape.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    rspears and 40FordDeluxe like this.
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  5. #5
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    [IMG][/IMG]

    This panel still needs the cowl shaped, and the hole for the steering shaft.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  6. #6
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    I have shaped a wood buck to use as a hammer form which is under the panel.
    The top piece of wood is prevent distortion.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Another view.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  7. #7
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    Here I have metal worked all the forming marks.

    [IMG][/IMG]
    Template time.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  8. #8
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    I was going to use a engine turned piece of alum, but changed my mind. Will
    address this later.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Notice the Dzus about 5" in front of the wind screen.

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  9. #9
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    This tool is available from Summit to counter sink the Dzus fastener.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    I ordered the weld plates from Summit SUM-G1624, the flush head fasteners
    SUM-G1640

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  10. #10
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    The spring determines the tension on the body panels. I adjust the tension by
    bending the spring to either tighten or loosen the grip of the fastener. The tension
    varies since some panels over lap which doubles the thickness resulting in a
    different tension than a single panel. Bend both sides of the spring evenly above
    the rivet.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    I adjust the spring before welding the plates on, and use a small tab to simulate the
    over lapping panel. It's easy to bend the plate so I do it in the vise, and make small
    adjustments on the car.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  11. #11
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    This shows how bending the plate keeps the finished panel clear of the weld
    and hanger.

    [IMG][/IMG]
    Mocking up to determine side panel which will have 3 sides attached.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  12. #12
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    I ordered 1/8" polycarbonate from Sheffield Plastics. This stuff is amazing, I
    could not shatter it with a hammer, and was able to run it through my bead
    roller.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Here shows the step I rolled to butt against the cowl panel.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  13. #13
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    I did use a heat gun to shape the panel, but you could proably get away with out it.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    I made some wood bucks to clamp to the main chassis rails. The rear end has been
    pulled back out of the way in this pic.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  14. #14
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    Can't have too many clamps!
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Yes! I love machinest blueing, helps these old eyes see the line.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

  15. #15
    RichB's Avatar
    RichB is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Portage
    Car Year, Make, Model: 31 A Coupe
    Posts
    567

    This panel is running about an 1 1/2" past the firewall as there will be a panel
    below the headers.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Finally located the hole for the steering, I had fabricated the steering arm previously.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Rich
    http://www.clubhotrod.com/hot-rod-bu...del-coupe.html

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Links monetized by VigLink