Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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It's 19" wide by 23" tall, pretty sure, it's dark now or I would go measure it. I will post the exact's tomorrow after I get back from cruising to Willow Springs for a show.

Thought I'd add that there is a picture of the car on page 34 of the sept. issue of HOT ROD .

Very Cool, I'll check it out.

Dave, the exact dimensions of the radiator core is 20" x 20". The whole thing including the tanks and mounting flanges is 22 1/2" wide by 24" tall. It's a stock '48 chevy radiator and I have two friends here in town that are not having any problems with thier stock radiators working so I know it is shot. I took it to a show 12 miles away today and it got up to 250 so it's done. I am going to take it in to the shop tomorrow, I hope that that does the trick.

Whats everyones plans for thier cars this winter?

Brickman, I haven't kept up with this very long thread but I look at it every so often. I lost a lot of time this summer working to pay for my 'glass '29 Bebops body but it was beastly hot in my garage anyway so I only got a few things done. Now I am trying to get the chassis finished so I can mount the floor-fenders and cut out the holes for steering column, brake pedal and trans+hand brake. I figure I can only work up to about New Years before it is too cold to work in my unheated garage and then wait until the end of March to get back to it. I am close to discouraged but hanging in there. The next move is to hang the body from a 2"x10" frame I have installed inside my garage rafters so I can move it up and down on ropes for cut-and-try fitting of the floor pan to the chassis. I also spent a lot of time designing and making a wood and cardboard full size model of a 13.6 gallon gas tank to put in place of the rumble seat; it will be lightly padded for a kids seat covering the tank which is being made for me by Rock Valley out of 14 gauge stainless steel for extra strength so some small kids or one adult can sit on top of the tank, it will be covered by 3/8" plywood and thin padding to look like a stock rumble seat. I also admit waiting until the cold season has a lull for the nearby Cobra shop so I can get some help setting up the universal shaft around my steering column and headers. I am going to get some help for this critical step from John York who builds Cobras year round but usually has a lull around New Years so he will work me in to install the steering sometime during the winter. As Bob Parmenter mentioned in a recent post, it takes some fire in the belly to keep beating one's head against a total build and I wish I was just restoring an
existing car, but with help from folks on this Forum I will keep chugging along and eventually get it built, but as of now next summer looks like too soon to finish with what I have to do yet.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I totally understand the "Garage" Thing Don, I have to take it one step farther for I don't have a garage. I have done 70% of my work outside in the elements. Keep the faith buddy, just keep reminding yourself what will be there to enjoy when you are done. The best thing about building a car is that everything that you do makes you one step closer to being done. I really like the idea of the hidden fuel tank, very cool.

I'll spend the iwinter on the Ranchero and or the roadster. Also went out Saturday and dug my old '71 Ford Pickup out of the warehouse. I've had it for 14 years now and never have got around to finishing it!!! Think I might get it done first, body is in primer, engine and trans are installed. Seat and headliner have been reupholstered and done for about 3 years now, might as well get it finished, I guess.....

Sounds like you have a great selection of projects Dave, and a nice shop too I may add. Some of us sure know how to do it up right!! Got any spare room in the shop for an old Chebby?

No spare room this year, Brick. The garage is quite crowded, but I do have room to work on any of the 3 so I can't complain. Sure is fun just working on my own cars and not having to worry about customers!!!!!

Don,
I think the idea of the hidden tank is a great idea. I would suggest that you find a source of Russian Birch plywood to support the seat. I am in that business and there is no other plywood that has the strength per sq. ft. that the Russian plywood has. It is equal plies of 100% Birch veneer (about 1.5mm each) that are glued together and therefore you get about the maximum MOR (modulus of rupture)& MOE (modulus of elasticity) vs. the thickness of any plywood made. It comes in every thickness from about 3mm (1/8") to about 25mm (1+") and everything in between. For your application any grade from CP/CP to BB/CP to BB/BB to B/BB (in that order will do. That is from the cheapest to the most expensive. You should be able to find it at a local industrial plywood disributor. If you let me know where you live I can get you pointed in the right direction. We are one of the largest importers in the country and deal with many. It will also be much lighter than Home Depot plywood because you can use thinner plywood and still get the necessary strength. If you think it wil get wet ask for T1 (exterior glue).
Hope this helps.
MikeC

I like that marine plywood idea for my back seat support, I want to get very strong plywood to hold some big speakers eventually.

Thats too bad Dave, I guess it's coverall's and insulated underwear again this year! I have another engine coming so I will be switching engines out. I hope that there is no snow early this year!

The front handles are comming of now then hidden hinges on the front drs. If the money holds out the interior will get done, if my heating bill dosnt kill me

Love the Terraplane Dick.
Purple People Eater.

Great looking car, Dick. I know what ya mean on the heat bill.....