Panels for my Model A.......

[tdoty]

Just wanted to let everyone know I didn't give up on this project........................................it was just put on hold for a bit. I was working with my "e-wheel" and decided it just wasn't going to cut it for building the "A" - and got busy building another I have been gathering parts for. It's almost done now, just need to finish up the anvils, adjuster and upper yoke. I'll probably put off painting it and making it perty until spring.

Luckily I shouldn't need air for this part of the project - my compressor locked up tonight! It was a decent little compressor too - quiet and reliable until tonight. Guess I can't expect much from a compressor I picked up at a garage sale 5 years ago for $40, huh. Looks like I'll spend the weekend compressor shopping instead of working on my car though.

Again, just wanted to let the people who were following this know why things suddenly stalled.

Tim D.

[anders nørgaard]

Tim,

Good to hear "The Voice from the Cheap Seats" again I'm also working on a whell a little stiffer and bigger than my "Vise Wheel" 8)
What happened to your compressor?

Looking forward to see some new panels on your "A"

Anders DK

[rookie]

Hi Tim. Hey, your out in your garage shaping metal for your project, that's a good thing! Even if life does get in the way sometimes. If your Rodster turns out anything like the pic you submitted it will be really cool! In your minds eye, what do you see for an engine? Since you are building a body without the chassis, just keep everything somewhat square by using "X" measurements from the windshield posts or somewhere similar (IF you haven't already done so!) Keep up the posts, they help all of us.

Happy hammering, Phil Gilmore (rookie)

[roger n cindy]

hello timD. this months issue of street rodder page 110- sweet .
it's a glass body but looks like what you want to build ?
roger

[tdoty]

Roger, haven't seen this month's Street Rodder yet, but I'll have to check it out! Like I've said before, the Real Hot Rods kits are pretty popular, so I'm going to have to do something to set my car apart!

Phil, Yup - lots and lots of measurements to keep everything square and symetrical ! For the engine, well, I have 2 ideas there. I'd like to go with a 2.3l Ford 4-cylinderand a T-5 tranny - but I haven't run across a 2.3 in quite a while. Failing that, I'm going to recruit the 4.3 V-6 that came out of my Monte Carlo - it still runs great and ought to have plenty of pep in a lightweight roadster! I'll back it up with either a TH350 or a modified 700r4 (gonna look into modifying a 4x4 tranny into a shorty 700 ).

Anders, the pump on my compressor locked up - looks like a rod bearing is on it's way out. I tore into it and got it turning again, but I'm not banking on it lasting forever . Never had any problems out of it before - so little in fact I only bother with checking the oil about every 6 months. This time there was a lot of water in the oil (it's been changed now), I'm guessing condensation. Our weird weather might have something to do with it - 63 on Wednesday, 14 on Friday (those are the actual highs). Might have something to do with the condensation in the pump?

Anyway, I tore it all down and got the bottom end "unstuck", lubed it all up and put it back together for now. Still sounds like a rod's knocking though. I have no idea who made this compressor (or for what purpose, it's not exactly a "normal" air compressor ), and, therefore, no idea where to get parts for it. I'll come up with something

Here's a little PhotoChop job I did to illustrate what I have in mind - except maybe the color .


Tim D.

[anders nørgaard]

Hi Tim,

Well, sounds like a new compressor in the near future

Yesterday (while this site was down) I browsed the net to check out, what else interresting might show up

Stumbled over this one. Might be of interest for you, as I know, you don't have any chassisframe (yet). Here's a link for inspiration 8)

http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/Chassis.htm

(I could use it to make a Midget version for my 2 boys 8) )

Anders DK

[r.w.dewar]

The car in the article is a real hot rods kit. Bob.

[Gonejunking]

Hi Tim
To bad you live so far from me, I have 2 extra compressors, I'd give you one! When I mentioned using spring clamps, I was also thinking of those clamps that use the squeeze grips. They would hold up to the springback.

Anders:
I also have a 4 yo boy, who has now claimed my cyclekart as his!
Look out, if you start now, you will be building him some type of car, every year!

[anders nørgaard]

The car in the article is a real hot rods kit. Bob.

Bob,

I'm not sure if that post was addressed to me

I think I might be able to scale the frame down to fit a cyclecar 8)

Jeffrey,

I know I have to look out on that one

But that way SWMBO will let "her boys" go to the shop and make noise (and alot of fun) 8)

Anders DK

[tdoty]

Originally Posted by anders nørgaard

Bob,

I'm not sure if that post was addressed to me

I think I might be able to scale the frame down to fit a cyclecar 8)

Anders, I'm thinkin' that one was aimed to me. The Real Hot Rods kits have become quite popular, and make great looking street rods! I've had the "lakester" idea in mind for several years, and now I have to work even harder, because Real Hot Rods is making a 'glass version of the car I wanted to build . Luckily, not everyone builds the kits the same, might be able to get some more ideas ! Okay, okay, I've got enough ideas - what I need to get is some work done on mine :shock: !

Jeffrey, wish I was closer, I'd drop by and take you up on that offer! The spring clamps work okay, now that the panel fits the curve. The "ratchet clamps" that I have are crap, and don't seem to want to hold the panel on the buck very well. They'll clamp the crap out of some 2x4s, but don't seem to be working for this . Maybe I ought to break down and buy some decent ones? Hey, Wally World has a bag of plastic spring clamps for $4.44, and they're doin' the job :wink: . Honestly, I bought the Clecos, and hadn't had a chance to really use them yet .

UPDATE TIME:

Got the ewheel put together and in the garage last night! Works tons better than the old little one. Still only a 20" throat (was going to be a bit bigger, but decided to go with a lower adjuster vs a top adjuster - I'm short, okay?), but mucho stiffer than the 18" throat wheel with a 1 1/2" square tube frame . Still using my 4 1/2" upper wheel though - the 6" caster I was going to use is WAY out of round :roll: . I'll either true it up or buy an actual upper one of these days, but the little one works fine for now.

Anyway, I'll be ready to dig back into working on the panels very shortly - I'll get some pics marked up for Randy and we'll see what we can learn here!

Tim D.