Ace-Garageguy Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) I unexpectedly got yesterday and today off, and though it's a financial blow of sorts, it's nice to be able to get so much bench time. While things are drying /curing / shrinking in on the first-string builds, I've been able to wake a few old friends from hibernation and get moving forward again. I started this one over a yrear ago, shortly after I bought a set of 1:1 American Stamping repop '32 rails. The plan was to use up a bunch of e-bay fodder in the basement, and turn it into a car. The engine was to be a 240Z Datsun with 3-Weber 40DCOE carbs, Porsche 914 front suspension, Z-car rear suspension, a Porsche 944 gearbox in the rear peeking out and looking kinda like a quick-change, a busted-up Kurtis Indycar nose from a long-ago restoration project, and the remains of a Cirrus SR22 airplane heavy-plexiglass windshield. At the time I had access to a 1930 Ford roadster in the shop, and pulled a bunch of measurements off of it. Shortly afterwards, a pair of rough but useable '30 quarter panels fell out of the sky, so it looked like that was the way to go. I also had a pair of NOS '36 Ford headlight assemblies on the shelf.. The first mockup was done on a junk frame, using an old and very inaccurate Monogram '32 roadster body. Since I was committed to using the 1:1 parts on hand, I did a quick engineering / component placement mockup too. It looked like I could make everything work, so the next task was to make up a fairly accurate '30 roadster body using the dimensions I had and a Revell cowl and a narrowed and hacked AMT '32 body shell. And then, a Revell '32 frame, modified with a rear zee to fit the stance. I kind of liked the idea of a wicked six, with the three Webers hanging out in the breeze.... The more accurate second mockup looked like this. Edited November 22, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) The bugeye headlights were necessary to give the tops of the front shock struts somewhere to live, and with shortened struts, the '36 buckets provide just enough room. I've since had a re-think of how to go about doing the front suspension, still using the Porsche torsion-bars, arms and crossmember, but with fabbed upper control arms and more conventional headlight placement. The hood had gone through some development, and I've found an almost free 1:1 350- 4-bolt main smallblock Chevy. Though the original Z-engine was capable of around 200HP and would make a fast car, the little Chevy can make a blisteringly fast car. Hmmmmmmm. The current mockup, with late '60s updated wheels and the small Chevy, looks like this. Edited November 21, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duntov Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 This is VERY interesting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Cranky Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Wow, that is looking super cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpier Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 whatzat little pokey out thing on the grille? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Starter for the engine - yes? Very cool build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilderness1989 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Cool!!!! Thanks!!!! Please keep us informed of your progress? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Looking very nice ... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 VERY COOL! WANT MORE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrewCfromSC Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 (edited) im digging this one! Love track style cars. what are the blueprint plans in one of the photos from? Drew Edited June 24, 2013 by DrewCfromSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 I wasn't really sure about this at first, but it is lookin pretty cool now. Looks like a STREET version of a 50's Indy racer. I take it that that was the idea? It's lookin pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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