Ace-Garageguy Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 (edited) A while back, I got on this '32 gluebomb thing, and I bought a lot of them on ebay. I was getting a lot of ideas for different looks for the old iconic Deuce, trying to come up with things that hadn't been done before. Of course that's pretty near impossible with the '32. The idea was to have a ready supply of body shells and frames to mock-up ideas as they hit, and to re-use salvageable kits instead of springing more $$ for new ones. This one wasn't too bad really, just dusty and unloved. The idea here is a sports-car/ Deuce hybrid. Drawing is a rough sketch of the general chassis design. I've been involved with aviation structures for a long time, and about 10 or 11 years ago started thinking about the possibilities for an all-composite, semi- or full-monocoque chassis for a hot rod, so this build is an exploration of that major theme. Mocked-up........ It's taking a lot of scale-engineering and cut-fit-cut-fit, but it's still moving slowly forward.. Edited November 15, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy
Bartster Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 l love the "cut-fit cut-fit" method! l have many going on that l alternate when/if l get stumped. l like the looks of the mock-up & love your suspension choices. Should be a cool ride, l'll follow along. Bart.
Danno Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Now that's KEWL!! Where did you source the windshield and top? Nice concept.
bryan_m Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 that looks cool!' reminds me of a plymouth prowler.... cheers bryan
TedsModeling Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 I like the thought process and the initial look. I can't get tired of seeing hot rods and street rods. Especially '32's. I'm following along.
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 24, 2012 Author Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) Thank you for the interest, gentlemen. Where did you source the windshield and top? Danno, the windshield is from the Aluma-Coupe snap kit, which is smoked plastic. The top came in with a bunch of mystery parts, and I don't know what it's from. One clue is that I have an identical one molded in clear / translucent plastic. Both windshield and top are too wide by a good bit to fit the '32 shell, and will have to be narrowed. Bartster, I get stumped a lot, and swich projects until the answer bubbles out of my subconscious. The cut-fit cut-fit method is sorta like doing a jigsaw puzzle where you don't have a picture of what it's supposed to look like when it's finished, and only 1/3 of the pieces are fully cut out. Edited June 24, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy
Bartster Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 Seems l remember a '50s Corvette with a clear top?
Bernard Kron Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 This one has what is starting to appear to be your characteristic "roadster stance" - which is a good thing IMHO since it's particularly attractive in a sportscar sort of way. I've had a composite monocoque Deuce 3-window coupe with independent suspension all around and rear-mounted transmission on my to-do list for a long time now, so I'll be following this project with interest.
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 24, 2012 Author Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) I've had a composite monocoque Deuce 3-window coupe with independent suspension all around and rear-mounted transmission on my to-do list for a long time now, so I'll be following this project with interest. It's interesting you mentioned the coupe, Bernard. One of the decision points that has become a sticking point here is whether to use the cowl and quarters as stressed panels in true monocoque style, or to just make them un-stressed skins, in order to be able the remove them to show the chassis work, and also to, in pretend 1:1, allow coupe body styles to be interchanged. Edited June 24, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy
Bernard Kron Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 It's interesting you mentioned the coupe, Bernard. One of the decision points that has become a sticking point here is whether to use the cowl and quarters as stressed panels in true monocoque style, or to just make them un-stressed skins, in order to be able the remove them to show the chassis work, and also to, in pretend 1:1, allow coupe body styles to be interchanged. For my coupe I plan to simply open up the doors and trunk to show off the structure that way. I plan to have the outer skin be apart of the structure throughout, with the obvious exception of access panels like the trunk lid, doors and hood. With all the panels in place I want the car to look much like a traditional chopped and channeled 3 window. At the front I will probably go with lateral structures cradling the engine and extending to a front box of some sort that will take stresses from the suspension and steering and support the stock grill. I'm thinking something along the lines of the foot boxes like the ones I have on my frogeye Sprite which would extend to the bell housing and then narrow outside the engine block in some manner. I guess now I'll have to move this project up in my build list since I've started blabbing about it... Anyway, get started on yours so I can rip off some of your ideas!
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 15, 2016 Author Posted November 15, 2016 Another one back from the dead. This one's been reawakened by a thread on a somewhat similar and also slumbering build. Now for the new, more in-depth material. The basis for the build has been primarily the Boyd Alumacoupe, for the front suspension and pickup-points, the body shell from the '32 'bomb, and another gluebomb chassis, this one from a Revell Sting Ray III. which donates the rear suspension, gearbox, and pickup-points. Gearbox, suspension and chassis being fitted to the body shell to determine axle centerline and ride height consistent with the mockup. The windshield, by the way, is Alumacoupe, but it's too narrow to work on anything but the mockup. Purple chassis in the center is the Stingray III unit, and the little chunk to the right is all that will be used on this build. It's all that's necessary to support the diff, springs and control arms for the rear suspension. The yellow slab is the floor-pan from the Alumacoupe, with everything unnecessary removed. Location of engine will be as shown, with just enough clearance to get at the valve covers. Engine will be an LS, not the earlier SBC in the pic. Alumacoupe floorpan will be cut on the dotted line, joined to the SRIII rear tub. Then a little sheet styrene to make up some torque boxes, etc.
Bernard Kron Posted November 15, 2016 Posted November 15, 2016 Glad to see this back. As mentioned above, I'm carefully following along to liberally steal some excellent construction concepts, as evidenced here in your latest post!
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 17, 2016 Author Posted November 17, 2016 Glad to see this back. As mentioned above, I'm carefully following along to liberally steal some excellent construction concepts, as evidenced here in your latest post!I seem to remember now that you have been thinking along these lines for a while. I ran up on a couple of walls, but I think I have a plan to bring this one home finally.Cool looking project, keep it goingThanks for the interest. I should have bought some carbon and Kevlar decal material at the ACME meet this past weekend. There was a vendor there who had some spectacular Corvette C7R bodies in all-carbon, and I kept thinking "I know I need some of this stuff but I can't remember what for". Duh.
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 17, 2016 Author Posted November 17, 2016 I agree, keep it going ! It's been going now for several years.
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