Noob Member With Hotrod Project

[Ralph]

Hi all!

Firstly, WOW! I never knew this site existed until a buddy of mine Andy told me about it and that awesome matte black Camaro he keeps going on about, I then find out it's a MK club! Well I live in MK and technically the body I am using for my project is a 1931 Ford Model A which is a Yank version so... Here I am!

Now this project of mine is a love hate one, some people love it, some hate it and I am sure you will know why shortly!

I am not building this for anyone else other than me so yes things could and maybe should be done differently but they won't be as this is my car (well currently it's just a bath tub and some parts but will be a car one day)

'Code Name B-52' as it has been named has spawned from my personal love of hotrods mixed with my want for a modern drive train, my last project was a '67 VW beetle with a 6.5 inch roof chop, stretched arches and a rad paint job, the plan was to stick a scooby lump (the cries of traitor go up) in the back and run it as a street monster but a new job forced a sale so that left my life...

So now that things are fairly steady again it was time to strike with a new idea and there had always been a huge V8 hole in my car ownership. So grouped together with a couple other guys we formulated V8UK and I suggested we should have a 'project' to work on, write about and eventually make it into a publicity tool.. What better way than with an out and out Rod!

My hardest decision was what to go for, last year at Billing I was parked next to a 32 delivery and the tubbed rear end fully had my attention! With a fully chromed big block with super charger to match, my mind ran wild and I thought YES that is it!

Started to look for a fibreglass body as I wanted this to be able to live outside and be drive-able in all weathers and not have to be too precious with it... I instantly got distracted by realising I could build my dream car for roughly the same cash a '30s coupe! So all other plans went out the window as I told the lads I had put an order in for a body!



The plan was always to have a tube chassis, not built for drag racing but for safety and performance handling on the road, this means     full custom suspension setup and I can use any running gear I want as the chassis is being made to what ever spec I want!

The donor car... When talking to GM Bodycraft (guys putting the chassis together) we decided it will be so much easier to buy a running vehicle that we can use pretty much everything off, as we are going for a tube chassis and modern stylings this is where the big block idea left the building (partly down to costs also as I want this to be finished ASAP). So the hunt began, now noise and power were the main concerns but it also had to be easy to bolt in and not have a monster ECU to get stumped by, so a slightly older modern car was needed...

An XJR was on the cards, huge super charged lump & a great sound track to follow... Wiring nightmare... Abort.

What next, hmmm, Lexus LS400 or Soarer? Possible, very cheap freeing up more cash for other goodies but just a bit dull, then this little BMW 540i popped up on ebay, looked amazing and had 15 mins of bidding left to go... V8 CHECK, low miles CHECK, cheap price CHECK, IRS CHECK, noise.. well I didn't have any time left to research so this was unknown...



Bid.

Win.

Ah, it's in Bournemouth... Oh well ROAD TRIP!

2 days later we headed to the coast in the V8UK Monaro to pick up the new toy.

It was too good to be true, the car is in amazing condition and runs very smooth, the trip home was great fun giving the old girl a good work out! The car was completely stock so the noise was pretty bass heavy but fairly quiet until the loud pedal was stomped! The term 'woofely' best described it.

Only one thing for it, rip the insides out and then rip the exhaust off. WHAT A NOISE! it sounds amazing, couldn't be happier with it! So now we have a fuel injected V8 with low miles on the clock and a great base to start building a car off.

The factory power figures are 286BHP the rod will weigh (with a wild finger in the air type calculation) around 1000KG when it's done give or take so should make it into a little street rocket!



Not very american and not very traditional but that's not me, love how hot rods look and how they sound, love how modern cars drive and go... It's a half way house and will never really drive like a modern car but will be a lot closer than most. The noise and looks is something I will be able to live with forever and to me that's what 'hot rodding' is all about, build what you want as it's your car.

I will try and keep this thread up to date and welcome all feedback!

This is my first project so a HUGE learning curve to come!

[Andy]

Good first post Ralph, but failed miserably to suss out the photo tags. (I think I did the same)

Hit the button above the reply box with the coloured shapes in it and copy the picture URL into it.

Also should've included somewhere this smilie as it doesn't get used much!  

Oh and welcome!

[Roadkill]

EDITED -

If using Photobucket I use the "get links" option and select the "for forums" option . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Ralph

my last project was a '67 VW beetle with a 6.5 inch roof chop, stretched arches and a rad paint job, the plan was to stick a scooby lump (the cries of traitor go up) in the back and run it as a street monster but a new job forced a sale so that left my life...

Cunning Plan is our resident VW freak.  Artb is also into his VW's but is just a freak in general, really.



just gonna try and edit the first post to show pictures . . . Wish me luck . . .

[Ralph]

Top editing skillz yo!

haha that is one wicked smilie thing!

Let's give this a whirl...

After removing some pipe to get it to the correct length for the Rod the Beemer now sounds like this... (holds breath for ****** up video link)



Thanks for that Mr Roadkill but the VW is long long gone!

Does anyone else use GM Bodycraft for fabrication stuff or is everyone hardcore and do everything themselves?

I'm hoping by the end of the build I will be fairly confident to crack on with it myself..

[Ralph]

Boom would you look at that! Nailed it!

[Incursus]

Welcome

I do like a hot rod  

Tempted to get one myself...at least it would fit in the garage

[Incursus]

Quoting: Ralph

holds breath for ****** up video link

Quoting: Ralph

Boom would you look at that! Nailed it!

Good effort  Certain older members have endless trouble with that *coughFBodycough*

[Ralph]

Awesome! Glad there is a fellow Rod fan on here! What sort of thing would you be thinking?

I have my eye on this at the moment... Just in case...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161190702723?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161190702723?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Well I say that, it now appears to have been ended early so that is off the cards! Damn! Probs for the best though!

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Ralph

Does anyone else use GM Bodycraft for fabrication stuff

To be honest I'd never heard of them until I saw them crop up on Facebook (Andy likes them) recently . . .

A Rod is on the books for me, too, one day.  It'd be a '32 Roadster with a 390ci Tri-Carb Caddy mill / Lasalle Manual trans.  Would want a 'glass one as I think I'd use it a lot.

If I'm honest, though, after the Z28's finished and the '58 Caddy's underway I think my next project will be a '68 Charger.

I may wait though . . depends on where I'm living when that time comes.

[Incursus]

Quoting: Ralph

What sort of thing would you be thinking?

Not narrowed it down that far though I like the Ford Pops and Model B's and as RK says '32 Roadster are

Though I'm a Mopar fan at heart..even though I currently have a SN95 Mustang

[Ralph]

Ah very cool!

Well I'm sure I will make plenty of mistakes for everyone to learn from but that is part of the fun of getting stuck in and doing it.

Not a convertible fan but a roadster would tempt me a little haha

will see how this first one goes, once that is built a new house is on the cards as the mrs keeps moaning and then a 55/56 Ford F100 will be my next toy!

The mrs really wants a Ford pop too so who knows when that will turn up for me to spend money on haha I want her to go more Anglia sit up and beg though, they have a bit of a harder face so will see if we can both meet in the middle haha

GM Bodycraft are awesome, Gary (owner) is such a nice guy and an absolute wizzard when it comes to fabrication, I'm sure he mentioned he went to one of the MK Yank meets in his Escort (Baby blue MK1) not sure if it was you guys or if there is ANOTHER yank MK lot I don't know about!

You guys still do meets?

Be very cool to meet some more local Yank Yobs!

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Ralph

'67 VW beetle

Quoting: Roadkill

Cunning Plan is our resident VW freak.

Reporting in.


Welcome, I love a good project thread

Quoting: Ralph

Awesome! Glad there is a fellow Rod fan on here!

You make it sound like we would hate it, but if it has wheels and an engine, I think most of us get a boner.

Quoting: Ralph

It was too good to be true, the car is in amazing condition and runs very smooth

Yep Seems almost a shame to chop it up

Quoting: Ralph

Not very american and not very traditional

Meh

Quoting: Roadkill

will be a '68 Charger.

I have a video for you, I'll post up in a new thread....... No, not that kind of video, you've had enough.

[art b]

welcome aboard ralph ...

that should prove to be an interesting project,
have you seen of one done b4...?


im so tempted to put a scooby into by bay ...

Quoting: Roadkill

Cunning Plan is our resident VW freak. Artb is also into his VW's but is just a freak in general, really.

roadkill is...
a bloke who drinks too much free beer
and cant moderate things properly because of his fat fingers...

[Ralph]

haha awesome!

Well you all seem like a sound bunch so far!

This thread has been posted up in a few places and some 'hotrod purists' have taken a big dislike to it as they realise there is no Ford or Chevy motor going in to it!!

haha

Here is a shot of my grille to give you an idea of the stylings along with a quick paint shop render... Oh yes I am keeping the beemer wheels ;)

[Incursus]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

You make it sound like we would hate it, but if it has wheels and an engine, I think most of us get a boner.

Not true!  It's just the way I'm sitting!  

[Incursus]

Quoting: Ralph

What sort of thing would you be thinking?

Quoting: Ralph

Here is a shot of my grille to give you an idea of the stylings along with a quick paint shop render... Oh yes I am keeping the beemer wheels ;)

Yup that'll do

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Ralph

as they realise there is no Ford or Chevy motor going in to it!!

Don't even get me started on that . . . Many builders recoil at the mention of Cadillac mills, too - that's why I'm getting my motor built in California !

[Ralph]

Quoting: art b

that should prove to be an interesting project,
have you seen of one done b4...?

I have taken inspiration from the Factory Five setups (which I didn't know about before starting) but know a few drag racers which is what steered me towards the tube chassis setup, then the ******* (can I say that or is this frowned upon on here?) about with the VW engine I vowed never to have a carbed engine EVER AGAIN! This I have since been brought back round to liking the idea of but not for my hotrod!  

Quoting: Roadkill

that's why I'm getting my motor built in California !

That's a bit extreme haha but fair enough! Wouldn't it have saved you a ton of cash to go to say Pro Build American or Peter Knight and get something made/rebuilt in the UK to save on shipping and all the rest or is the costs out there out weight all of that? I'm sure you have done your research and have your reasons but there are some sick engine builders in the UK and I kind of like supporting us brits... not in a (see Andy used it again) kind of way but just more of a home grown type thing?

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Ralph

Peter Knight

Yeah, I spoke to him . . . I quoted his words somewhere on here but they were basically "If it's not a Gen I SBC, throw it in the bin".

Muppet.

I'd called him regarding porting my LT1's heads (Gen II SBC) . . . he seemed honestly shocked that anyone would want to (despite them being technically superior and lighter than the Gen I's) and said he'd want around a grand to basically lower himself to do it.

My final words were "would you be interested in doing a big block Cadillac build ?"

His response : "No".

F*ck 'em.  Once I actually starting working out the costings it was actually coming in cheaper to get it built in the states - at least there you've got a REAL choice of builders.

The guys building my motor specialise in BB Cadillac motors and I'd trust them to know what they're doing.

I wouldn't trust Knight as far as I could piss him with his attitude !!

[Andy]

That engine I'm looking at buying was built by him...

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Ralph

I kind of like supporting us brits...

Ahh, you'll probably learn the hard way then . . .

Let me see . . .

I used to use US Auto (until they quoted me 5 times the price for some standard spark plugs and a week's delivery . . . I got Bosch platinums from the states in 5 days, for less)

JW Racing were good.  Providing they were actually interested in helping at the time . . . go in with something not of a _______ (insert car from limited list here) they couldn't really be ar$ed.

Then there's the engine builders . . . . Mopar = O.K, Ford = Good, Chevy = Better.  Is there anything else ?  

Quoting: Andy

That engine I'm looking at buying was built by him...

You're safe.  It's a Gen I Chevy.  

Sorry - I've just re-read that and don't mean to be so negative but it p!sses me off trying to help out U.K firms - I've done my bit, I've had enough.  Each to their own, though, of course.  

[Ralph]

haha Ok so everyone has a different experience with people, I have seen some amazing engines built by him for some nostalgia racer Mustangs and heard nothing but good things from the Chevy guys but if he is a specialist in that then I guess you can't moan when you ask him to do a caddy motor kinda like going up to Samsung and asking them to fix your iphone, they will just say no despite there probs being a guy in the back room that would know how to fix it...

I will be lucky as I don't need yank parts for mine!

Really good guy is Ron Haslett, he would build a mean motor for you as long as you had the parts, yet again parts is the hard part..

He may well need to know where to get them all from but... I will just stop talking ahaha you have your engine sorted to this is just a ramble.

But I genuinely have a lot of faith in the UK guys here. It's all about just finding the right person! We don't have machine shops on every corner like those lucky bastard yanks!

Dibbers, your new motor is sexy.

[ianjpage]

welcome to the forum, looks to be a great project, keep the updates coming as enjoy seeing the progress

Quoting: Ralph

You guys still do meets?

Nah not really as the attendance went down and down until it was literally 2 maybe 3 people there everymonth so we canned the meets.

[Ralph]

That's a shame...

How about a big summer meet up once a year or something?

Does the MK Car Show still exist? I know they didn't do one last year which was a shame as we were going to pile down with a loada muscle cars and have some fun!