Thread: Does this qualify as a Hot Rod?

Tweet

Ultimately the paint color and scheme are your call, but I think on a classy sportscar like this one a simple paint job with maybe the stripe down the middle and around the grille would set it off. It would be like if you took a nice Vette and dolled it up with some of the graphics you posted, it would look garrish, IMO. Less is more, sometimes.

There was a Viper running around here years ago where the guy paid big money to have it painted like a snake! Wish I had a picture to show, but let's just say the paint scheme "detracted" from an otherwise cool car. Some of those graphics would look good on a tuner car, but your sportscar is way too classy for that.

Don

Fuel tank arrived yesterday. I can finally stop playing with paint and start playing with wrenches again.

Started the fuel tank installation by adapting my Z fuel sending unit to my new '56 Chevy fuel tank. I chose to keep the five bolt mounting set up of the tank in case I later decide to switch to aftermarket gauges.

PA010145.JPG


The first step was to adjust the travel of the float. In the old Z tank, the float travels almost 11 inches in it's arc from empty to full. The new tank is only eight inches tall. I cut the float arm and adjusted the length until the float's arc was about 7 1/2 inches. I wrapped the float arm with a little wire to hold it together.

PA010147.JPG


I then hooked up test wires and checked the gauge readout. A little fine tuning, accomplished by bending the float arm, and it works perfectly. I then spot welded the two pieces of float arm and ground it smooth.

PA020217.JPG


I then drilled the five holes into the sending unit rim.

PA020221.JPG


The raised center portion of the unit won't allow the mounting bolts to lay flat, so I made a spacer out of a large washer.

PA020220.JPG

The spacer makes a nice retaining ring.

PA020225.JPGPA020227.JPG

I'll cut more of the trunk floor and finalize the position under the car, then fab some mounts, install the pick up tube and vent and make a new trunk floor.

PA020211.JPG

Nice.Good to hear from you.

Can you explain please why you went with a fuel tank from a 56 Chevy and what was wrong with the original Z tank? Does the Chevy one hold more litres to run the V8 longer between fuel stations? Just curious thanks.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Can you explain please why you went with a fuel tank from a 56 Chevy and what was wrong with the original Z tank? Does the Chevy one hold more litres to run the V8 longer between fuel stations? Just curious thanks.

SHORT ANSWER:

It allows me to run duel exhaust through the rear valance and it holds around five gallons more than the original Z tank.

LONG WINDED OVER EXPLAINED ANSWER:

The circular hole in the previous post is where the spare tire well used to be. The original Z tank bulged up on the right side of the well, then ran under the well covering almost the full length of the rear valance. Because of this, most builders simply run duel exhaust under the tank and outside the rear valance. This leads to ground clearance issues on any car even slightly lowered. Some builders opt for side pipes like the Cobras. Neither arrangement appeals to me, I want the stance low and I don't want to worry about burning the hair off my legs exiting the car, so the old tank and spare well had to go.
After researching tanks and fuel cells, I found this one (1955-56 Chevy Steel Fuel Tank) at Tanksinc.com. It has the right combination of features I was looking for. Dimensions that will allow room for mufflers on each side with the exhaust exiting through (not under) the valance. Its only eight inches deep , so ground clearance isn't an issue. Filler neck on the right side. Sending unit mount located on the side, not the top. Larger capacity. And the big one PRICE!! On sale for $125. Most of the fuel cells I found start at more than that and have half the capacity. Heck, a universal tank with less capacity at Tanksinc is $215.
And the geometric shape of the '56 makes it easy to fab mounts.
Turns out they sent me a tank with a fuel injection tray, so it would be easy to convert if that later becomes an option.

Nice work on the tank & sender. Glad to see you're still at it.

Now that you have go go juice storage, your getting close to driving it!

If crazy things happen when you push down on your right foot, it is a hot rod. SBC in something that light, things WILL happen, so it is a hot rod to me.

Great to see your still working on it AND posting pictures

Thanks for both answers and I agree with all the reasons behind the research and then the purchase of the chevy tank. I also like the idea of the pipes exiting through the valance panel as it is those little extras that will make your car outstanding. Heck the extra work you have put into it ,it would be a shame to start cutting corners now.So again,thanks for the answers and yes, keep posting those photos and progress.

Looking good! Last I remember you were doing fiberglass work. I have been busy myself building a center console using the console from my 98 Blazer as a mold. Looking back it would have been cheaper and easier to cut up an actual Blazer console to fit

Don't post those body fitting pictures on any Z forums!

Oh I'm still doin' fiberglass work. That never seems to end.

What's the console going in? Are there pics somewhere? I like to see the process.

HydridZ.org is the only place I dare show a chopped up Z... It's actually expected there. There's even a 250 GTO owners thread for projects just like mine. Unfortunately, they tend to be all about making an exact replica of the Ferrari, where I'm about getting a custom look.

Originally Posted by Fauxre

HydridZ.org is the only place I dare show a chopped up Z...

I know what you mean there!!!! Many years ago I did a guy's 240Z with a SBC, 4 speed, and a 9" Ford rear----Spring came, he had the car all done and took it to a car show....A couple of the local Stock Z Zealots saw the car and tried to start a fight with him because he had committed a sacrilege on such a sacred car!!!! When the clowns realized how terribly outnumbered they were they decided not to start the fight, and were escorted from the premises by a couple of the guys from the club that put on the show....

Custom touches and major mods that suit the owner is the only way to build a Hot Rod, if others don't like the results, too bad!