Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[Itoldyouso]

That windshield looks perfect with the rollbar and all. Good choice. Don has the Perfromer on his bucket too and it gives good protection from the wind. He also bought their mirrors that screw into the posts because he wasn't able to see anything behind him otherwise.

The other thing you are going to like Jim is that battery. My car sits for weeks at a time and one revolution and my engine fires right up. It has made a believer out of Dan, and he is going to use one to fire the 455 Olds in his car.

You are really coming along well. If not Turkey Run, Billetproof for sure.

Don

[Bob Parmenter]

The slant of the windshield works particularly well witht the stretched cowl.

[Dave Severson]

Looking good! I sure do like the angled windshield!

[stovens]

J.R. I like those metal brackets to the windshield. The slant looks very cool and retro!

[brickman]

Nicely done Jim, I like the way you improvised the mount and it looks like it works great. I too like the slant of the windshield, it just looks like it fits perfect. I really like the car and the way it sits, looks like a big guy like me could even sit down in the car and get into cruising.

[J. Robinson]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Before I decided on the windshield, I mocked it up in cardboard. I tried it straight up first and that was OK, but when I laid it back and stepped back to take a look there was no doubt which one I had to do. From your reactions I must have made the right choice...

[simpsongreg68]

are you going to make bracing for the top sides of the so it hold its shape?
I really like the front and back bumpers, what rate are the springs on the front ?

[J. Robinson]

I think you left out a word... top sides of what? If you are asking about the body, I have already done that a couple of pages back.

I don't know what the rate is on those front springs, but they are pretty stiff. They are Honda Civic "drifting" springs that I got from a kit on Ebay. I may have to change them for something softer, but won't know for sure until I drive it.

[simpsongreg68]

the top panels of the hood, will there be braces on the back of it, so it holds its shape? just curious, oh yes by the way have you ever seen richard pettys headrests in the older cars? A round tube bent into a cricle with a peace sign in the middle, and a pad on the front, just a thought would like to make one for myself, keep up the good work

[J. Robinson]

Ah! OK, the hood sides have a 1/8 x 1 flat stock strip spot-welded along the top edge that the hood top overlaps and latches onto. That keeps the bottom edges of the top panels straight. At the top center, where the piano hinge is attached, there is a 1/8 x 3/4 flat stock reinforcement strip on each hood half. Since I did that, though, I have been considering replacing those with some small angle iron for extra stiffness. One day when I was working on something else, I laid my angle grinder on the hood and it sagged in the center. I realized, all I need is for some ham-handed fool to lean on that hood a little too hard and it will be permanently deformed...

On another note, I had a bit of good fortune on Saturday. I picked up another S-10 engine and 5-speed trans for $100. This one supposedly has less than 500 miles on it since a complete rebuild! It's nice & clean and you can see some of the edges of the new gaskets & permatex oozed out in a few places, so it's definitely been apart. It's supposed to have new pistons in a fresh bore job, etc.

As the story goes, this guy bought an S-10 that had a mint body, but high mileage driveline with a smoking engine. He had the engine rebuilt, but was disappointed with the lack of horsepower, so after about 500 miles he pulled the engine back out and stuffed in a 350. This 4-banger sat in the corner of his shop for the last year or so until a mutual friend got us together...

[Itoldyouso]

Wow, that's a really good score on the engine and transmission. A little cleanup and paint and you should be able to drop it in.

Bet you are off today because of the hurricane.......that's one more day to work on our rods!!

Don

[J. Robinson]

Yeah. Just waiting for the rain. We're supposed to get some wind and 6 to 8 inches of rain starting around lunchtime. Are you through the worst of it already?

[Itoldyouso]

I guess it is pretty much over for us, I slept through it. It seems to be over Immokolee right now, and heading on a NE track that seems like it will have it exiting Florida somewhere on the East Coast around Daytona or thereabouts.

I'm looking out the window and all I see is lots of rain and some wind, but not nearly what I would call high winds. In a little while we are going to head over to the shop so we can do some work on Dans car. Gotta try to find somewhere open with oxygen for my torches, ran out the other night, and we want to bend his steering arms down to clear his radius rods. So far no one has answered their phone, so I guess everyone took a hurricane day off.

Now I just have to find lots of recipes for all this Spam I bought.

Don

Well, just called Northern Tool and they are open, so I guess I'll head up there and get my oxygen tank exchanged.

[stovens]

Don good to hear you guys are O.K. and spared the Hurricane outfall. I just heard about the weather you guys are having out there on my way home early this morning, from work! I thought hurricane weather usually started in Sept. and Oct. Seems a little early for them. Anyway, glad all is well with you guys!

[J. Robinson]

Stovens - The "official" hurricane season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th. The most active part is usually August and September, so we are right in the middle of the busiest time. Four years ago we had "Charlie", "Frances", "Ivan" , and "Jeanne" all hit Florida within a 3-week period , beginning in mid-August...

Don - Spam makes a pretty decent sandwich if you slice it, fry it, and put it on a bun with a slice of Swiss cheese. You can also dice it up and use it as ham seasoning for soup beans...

The outer bands of rain and wind are starting to hit here now. Doesn't look like it will be too rough unless we get tornadoes...