353 replies to this topic

[Abell82]

Currently the remaining list is:
Gpugh1976
Roadhawg
Bandit1

[BKcustoms]

I have sent Gpugh1976 a PM.

[Abell82]

Updates, please.

[gpugh1976]

I received the pm and responded with my address.

[BKcustoms]

I'll mail it out on Monday.

[dyl_w@comcast.net]

Updates, please.

If i can ill jump in i specialize in bodymods

[Abell82]

If i can ill jump in i specialize in bodymods

We will have to see how it goes. This Snowball was to be wrapped up a year ago. Maybe it's time to start another?

[BKcustoms]

Snowball is on it's way to California, I meant to post sooner but my Internet was down for a while.

[gpugh1976]

Awesome! I'll let you know when it arrives!

[gpugh1976]

Snowball arrived today! Here's what I pulled out of the box.





And it looks like the engine made it in one piece....

[gpugh1976]

So after assessing everything, I've decided that I'll tackle the frame/suspension part of the build. When this started, I was thinking that this was originally going to be a traditional custom but after looking at that monster motor, I imagined a 50's custom that someone got ahold of in the 70's and threw in a blown big-block and made it more of a 70's street machine but kept the original body mods. I'm envisioning bright-colored paint, Cragar SS wheels on white-lettered radials, bucket seats, etc.

So I pulled out all of the suspension/frame related parts that came with Snowball and here is what I have to work with to put the rolling assembly together. Everything you see in the pic came with Snowball. Whatever I need that's not here, I will rob the parts box for it.



I then started by temporarily gluing the frame rails to the underside of the floorboards. I'm using Elmer's glue so that I can easily pull this back apart once I have things mocked up.



Stay tuned......

[gpugh1976]

So tonight I raided the parts box and I tried several sets of Cragars and also some American Racing 5-spokes and nothing was looking quite right. I tried on this set of smoothies for size and I felt these fit the bill perfectly!

[gpugh1976]

No problems with the front but then I tried 'em on the rear. It was so tight that the wheel wouldn't even squeeze in or wiggle down between the fender and the inner fender well.




These cars have very little wheel well clearance so unless we went with the stock skinnies and hubcaps, I had to come up with a plan. ..............

I got it!

I cut the inner fender well to the width of the frame which would give me enough room. This will not be a full tub but more of a stepped-tub. It will be subtle enough that it would be hard to notice but it gives me exactly the room I need.



And VOILA!! Plenty of room!



Now I've just gotta pretty everything up a bit and replace the plastic I cut out. Stay tuned......

[Jantrix]

Ah we finally get a good look at whats been done. A lot of things going on stylistically, it'll be interesting to see where this ends up.

[BKcustoms]

I'm glad to see it made the trip safely, Your wheel choice fits this car perfectly!

[gpugh1976]

Thank you!

I should have some more progress pictures up soon.

[blunc]

Nice to see continued progress on this.
I was once part of a club group build similar to these snowballs and it was a little frustrating waiting to see the completion which seemed like it wouldn't ever get done even though you finished your own part.

[blunc]

The front and rear wheel openings are fighting each other, possibly before the paint goes on this could get resolved...

[gpugh1976]

There's still a lot of bodywork and possible mods to be made. I'm just trying to get it up on all fours. Someone else can worry about that part! Lol

[gpugh1976]

Here you can see what I did with the "tubs" if you want to call them that. They are basically "attached" at this point and roughed in. I will clean them up a bit before I pass Snowball along.

I used a donor piece from a '54 Delivery I'm currently working on. As luck would have it, I didn't plan on using the back half of this piece anyways.



Here are the wheel wells cut out and sized down to fit. I took several vertical splices out of them to get them to the right size and then took out quite a bit at the bottom to get the height right.



Installed....



And while I was waiting for the glue to dry, I started playing with the rear suspension. I chose this rearend as it's dimensions are spot on and I got it all trimmed up/cleaned up and ready to go.