29 Delivery Build

[3quarter32]

Hey Mike, Thanks for the compliments on the donuts. Yes I have the trim rings and baby moons for them. The rears are 15 x 8, and the fronts are 15 x 6. I have 2 inch backspace on the rear, and still had to add a 1 inch spacer. I used a Maverick rearend, I think was 56 1/2 wide. Rally America made the wheels for me. Jimmy is the man there.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Finally, its a roller! Seems like forever since I ordered the wheels. Well, almost, 10 weeks waiting before Jimmy at Rally America bailed me out. He came through when nobody else could. Now I can lift the body and roll the frame out of the way, so I can put the body on the body dolly, then finish the frame up, and paint. Sure seems like a lot of put together, and take apart, over and over..Maybe I should dust off the roadster?
Lee

[T=Test]

I say it usually takes about 3 times to get the build like you want it, sometimes more! But will be worth it in the end!

[3quarter32]

Ya, your correct on that. I figure at least 3 more times with the body on and off, and that not counting removing for paint.
I took the body off today and set the engine and tranny in so I can locate where to weld the radiator mounts and other things. Hoping I can get by with the radiator 3/4" from the fan blade without the need of a shroud. I can always add that if the engine runs to hot.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Ok, what is going on here? I leave for a few days to go to Florida, and I get back here and it is freezing.
I did do some re-do's on the brake lines. After looking at Mikes, I decided to clean up the way mine were done. Also, embarassed to say, I had the porportioning valve on the wrong set of brakes. Live and learn. Hope to get the frame finished up in the next few days and get it painted.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Just about have the grill finished. It still needs fit to the frame, and mounts built, but that will have to wait until the body is back in place. Added some to the bottom side and a lip for the hood to sit on.
Lee

[sstock]

Coming together nicely, nice job on the grill. Keep the updates coming, liking your build very much.

[Mikes27T]

Looks great Lee!! I like the grill alot also.

[3quarter32]

Wish I could take total credit for the grill, but it is the one that Spirit sells. I just lengthened the sides and built a 1" lip for the hood to rest on. I think it will give me more the look I am wanting.
Welded the radiator mounts back on yesterday and mounted the radiator. Only need to weld on fuel tank mounts now, and it will time to paint frame. Yahooooooo!
Thanks for the comments, Lee

[3quarter32]

Put the body back on today. Now I can get the grill height where I want it. Modified the hole in the floor for the shifter. Steering u-joints cleared the engine ok with room to spare, whew, hadn't thought about that. Found that the front brake lines that go to the calipers would make contact with the wishbones. Had to cut off the AN male nipple, drill and tap for a 90% elbow. Taping stainless ain't fun.
Lee

[Mikes27T]

Looks great Lee!! Love the way it sits.

[sstock]

Lee, that Nida core floor is pretty stout stuff. I remember having to cut through that stuff to set my ebrake mount and handle. If I remember right, between the floor and insert, it was over an inch thick. Car looks great.

[3quarter32]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Fortunatly, I didn't have to cut much of the core part out. Have everything in the shifter area with enought clearance now, and building a fiberglass cover to hide the cutout. It will be removeable for easy acess to the shifter, or when I remove the body again. I will post a pic or two after the glass dries, and I get the part trimmed up.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Ok, here is the cover. Pretty simple to make. Now need to get the wife to make a boot to cover the round hole and attach to the mixin stick.
Lee

[Mikes27T]

The cover came out great! I've been trying to decide if I should go with a Lokar floor mounted shifter or a trans mounted shifter. I'm leaning towards the floor mount so that I can put it where it will be comfortable.

[goufos]

wow mike- keep the photos comming ! im learning a lot here . been following the posts! i too was gong to try a floor monted shifter- the one uning a cable- but the lokar shifter that i wanted does not come in a floor shifter because i was going to put a 32 inch double bend in. thats the one you have to run without a cable- so i just have to do what you are doing. question mike- the cover you made- how is it going to stay down? bolts , latches, and would you put some sort of rubber gasket on it ?----------goufos

[sstock]

For the bucket, I think the floor mounted shifter is the way to go, otherwise it is almost under the dash. I put mine way back so I could rest my hand on the shifter handle without a stretch.

[3quarter32]

Goufos, I will use some rope type putty to seal the cover, and hold down with four screws.
I used the Lokar tranny top mount shifter, with the shifter mounted all the way back. I should have gotten the tail shaft mount instead, since that is where it ended up. I almost got the floor mount, but for some reason decided against it. Luckily, the shifter location now is just fine. I like luck...
Got to finish up the radiator mount today, and finish up the grill mounts.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Found a great deal on a lift yesterday. Really don't need it, but couldn't pass it up for the price.
Starbird show is this weekend. I put the roadster in yesterday with the club car display. Will be spending most of the weekend there.
Lee

[old round fart]

Lee, Is the show in inside show? Things look like I may be able to make it. John

[3quarter32]

Yes John, it is inside. It opens Friday noon, and runs thru Sunday. Hope you make it. I will be at the Tulsa Roadsters display on and off most of the time. Give me a call if you make it.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Well, I didn't like the first fuel tank, so I had another one made. This one is made correct. It is aluminum, and is almost a shame to hide it under the body.
Lee

[Mikes27T]

That is sharp Lee! I is a shame to cover that up!

[3quarter32]

Have the tank mounts on the frame now, and tank fits right in there. Today, I finished all the welding on the frame, and it is at the sandblasters now. I will pick it up tomorrow and take to powdercoater. Body will have to go back on and off one more time, then on to stay.
Here is a few more shots of the tank mounted.
Lee

[old round fart]

Looks great! Are you going to fill the tank from outside the car? Have you thought about a drive shaft loop to protect the tank?

[3quarter32]

The fill cap will be on the side of the car, just above the fender well. Yep, thought about a shaft loop.
In all these years, I have never had a driveline come apart. So far, I have always felt a bad u-joint before it got to serious.
Should get the frame back from the powder coater Monday or Tuesday. Then I can get serious about getting stuff together to stay.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Haven't accomplished much in the last couple of weeks. Today about 4pm, I got the frame back from the powder coaters. The rearend and frontend is back is place now.
I did get my lift installed in the shop. Not to bad of a job to put in. Took a couple of hours to tear it down, load it and about 3 hours to get it set up and in place. Going to be nice to have, but kind of a hassle also. Since my shop is only 24 x 40, I will have to work under it or on it. My other junk takes up to much room. I have to keep the roadster in there too. Once the engine is back in, and the body back on, I will have some breathing room again.
John (old round fart) paid me a little visit yesterday. Had a nice chat and shared some old stories.
I will post some pictures tomorrow.
Lee

[3quarter32]

Here is where I am today. Frame is finally going together to stay. Need to run fuel line from tank to front, close to where the pump will be.
Lee

[Mikes27T]

Looks great Lee!! Like the lift also!

[goufos]

Hey mike! When you put your body on- is there any special body mounting rubber? Or pads in- between the body and frame??---------just courious--thanks:d