Thread: My From-Scratch project

Tweet

The last time I went to the Hershey meet was about 15 years ago but I recall there was a guy there manufacturing full fiberglass replica bodies for Auburn Speedsters which also have a swoopy style. They look pretty good as the boat tail form but the bodies were not cheap so you need to look at the other thread on the "Roofus Special" if you want to fabricate a less expensive body with a LOT of innovative body work or try to find some person with an unfinished kit car body. I am just saying this to let you know there may already be 'glass bodies out there if you look in Hemmings or other "classic" builder sites. Another approach might be to look at plywood boat plans as viewed upside down. Depending on what you plan for fenders (or not) a 12' motor boat with a v-bottom might look pretty good upside down and those plywood plans usually involve only a few large pieces over a v-frame; the wood can be painted or varnished for a unique "woody" look! Just to let you know that I have also dreamed about various home made bodies but your welding ability could make it all possible. Have you studied the Roofus Special thread?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

The last time I went to the Hershey meet was about 15 years ago but I recall there was a guy there manufacturing full fiberglass replica bodies for Auburn Speedsters which also have a swoopy style. They look pretty good as the boat tail form but the bodies were not cheap so you need to look at the other thread on the "Roofus Special" if you want to fabricate a less expensive body with a LOT of innovative body work or try to find some person with an unfinished kit car body. I am just saying this to let you know there may already be 'glass bodies out there if you look in Hemmings or other "classic" builder sites. Another approach might be to look at plywood boat plans as viewed upside down. Depending on what you plan for fenders (or not) a 12' motor boat with a v-bottom might look pretty good upside down and those plywood plans usually involve only a few large pieces over a v-frame; the wood can be painted or varnished for a unique "woody" look! Just to let you know that I have also dreamed about various home made bodies but your welding ability could make it all possible. Have you studied the Roofus Special thread?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I don't really plan to do one as complicated as the "meteor". Just found it on a site about Duesenbergs, Thought it was interesting. Ive been wanting to do something a little different than a bucket roadster. I have about 145" wheel base and I've been thinking about one like a Duesenberg with the front and rear seat, or maybe a boat-tail. I've tried to build a couple wooden boats over the last few years, but never had room for them in my garage, and the weather ruined them before I could get the fiberglass over the seams, and the body covered with epoxy. I'm also not really that good with the wood working. I cut up my last attempt just last week, and took it over to my dads house to burn up, so I really dont want to look at another wooden boat for a while I can weld pretty good. I have an ARC welder but I dont have 220 at my house, so I can only use it at my dads house. I also have a wire feed welder that I can use at my house, so I've been using it alot. I think my biggest worries is the compound curves though. so I'm thinking about something without alot of them. There's a website called hotrodders.com that has a bunch of guys journals, and a couple of them show some metal working tips, and building tips that I've been looking at, as well as the ones here.
I think if I make up my mind now on what to built, I'll more than likely change it 5 more times before I start the body. What ever I finally decide, I know it will be "different".
Oh yeah, and I have been reading the Roofus one too.

I'm working on my 4-point rear end right now. Making the brackets for the rear bars, the shock and spring mounts. I'll have a picture of it in a day or two when it's done.

Sam