have you tought about enclosing the stacks into the hood like the crossram '69 Camaro you're modding? Though that would require pumping some holes into the hood and I don't know if you (or the owner) would want that...

Now if you could just talk the owner into putting some tires under it.

Would be cool but might be a little to custom looking. Owner is dead set on it looking pretty factory appearing - at least at first glance...

So what's the latest on the grocery getter?

Here are a few updates on the Fairlane. The car is also currently about to begin the body work phase so these are some catch up shots from the last month or so.

Filled all of the factory seams on the car. here is a good before and after on the driver's sail panel.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...ture222933.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0171.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0006.jpg

Fabbed up an aluminum center console. A machined plate will be made to match the ribbed/finned look of the original Galaxie consoles of the day. (The stock holes for heat and stereo are still to be filled in the dash. A ribbed insert will be machined to house a center A/C vent and A/C controls.)

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0070.jpg

There was a lot of unique work done under the hood. I was out of the shop unfortunately and did not get a lot of good completed pictures before it was torn down.
Upper radiator close out panel fabbed to enclose the custom radiator and BMW latches.
http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0381.jpg

The inner fenders were designed to have some what of a stock feel with the thick beads.
http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...ture223036.jpg

We then went back and fabbed aluminum tanks into the fenders for the coolant overflow and power steering reservoir.
http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...ture223082.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...ture223079.jpg

Amazing work Phil!

I Love it!!:yes: :yes:

Any chance you guys offer unpaid internships? I'd love to hang around for a week just to learn some metal fabbing skills.

Everything you do is FANTASTIC. I'm originally from Naperville so lodging wouldn't be too far away :thumbsup:

Sorry if I missed it, but what are you using to fill the seams? no-lead body solder?

Fantastic fab work as usual. This car is freakin' killer!

I love the fab work, and thats a slick idea for the tanks .:thumbsup:
wiedemab beat me to it but I'd like to know what you use for the seams too.
Thanks.

looking killer guys! Love the inner fender panels!:thumbsup:

Thanks. The seams are filled with actual lead. One of our fab guys has a lot of old school experience working with the stuff. We fill these seams a few different ways depending on the construction of the car. A lot of cars we will cut out the seam and weld in a new section of sheet metal. In this case, there was no way to access the back side of the panel because of the inner structure. So we could not hammer and dolly the panel after welding.

Wow...simply amazing. The work you guys do is absolutely second to none. Your facility looks awesome as well. If I decide to leave the sunshine state and head that way, I'll look you guys up. Keep up the great work and continue posting pictures.

looks great. how are you controling the climate in the shop? thats a long time to keep a car in bare metal. concrete floors will be sweating up a storm here pretty soon

Another awesome build at RS.

But wait a minute.. is that a '62 Galaxie nose to the left? Do tell!

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...ideHeight2.jpg[/QUOTE]

y'all have some very cool projects going on maybe someday I can be at that level:hail:

[/QUOTE]

Thanks Kevin. That nose was for a 61 Starliner that we did a custom chassis for. There are a few build pics on our web site. American Speed Company is actually building the car, just sent it to us for the chassis portion. http://www.roadstershop.com/custom-c...d-61-starliner We currently have a 61 Sunliner in the shop for a custom chassis that is just about finished.

No climate control in the shop. We scuff the cars down regularly and keep the bare metal pretty well oiled to prevent rust. Once the cars are ready to start body work we metal prep the entire car to kill anything on them and then prime the car inside and out to create a barrier.

what kind of oil that sound like it would grab all the dust floating in the air

If there is dust settling on the car than it isn't getting worked on fast enough! :lol:

Any dust on this 63 or do you have some updates?:lol:

stellar FAB work!

Thanks everyone! - The 63 is over in the body shop so I should have some new pics soon!

A couple of small updates on the Fairlane:
With the exterior metalwork and leading complete, the car is now over in the body shop.

With the first primer coat down, the bodywork can begin:

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0007.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...042-Copy-1.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0459.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0041.jpg

While the bodywork is underway, we are beginning a couple of nice details that should improve the car and keep it as stock looking as possible.

The first is a set of stock looking, custom made wheels. The customer wanted the wheel to look like a factory rim, only larger, to accommodate a larger brake and take advantage of the handling improvements and ride comfort of the IRS FAST TRACK chassis.

The idea was to take the look of a '56 Ford hubcap and scale it up with a machined replacement. This would be set on top of a newly machined 18" wheel and center, designed to look like a factory steel wheel, only 18" in diameter.

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Fairlane1.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Fairlane2.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Fairlane3.jpg

We will also be working with Classic Instruments to re-create and modernize the existing gauges (which already look quite cool).
First order will definitely be a speedometer with bigger numbers to let you know precisely how much fun you are having with that Kaase motor... :unibrow:

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/DSC_0010.jpg

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC_0006-1.jpg

Hell yes, that wheel design is spot on.

I see a trend coming where these cars will look more and more stock, but everything underneath will be all new technology just like this fairlane. Very cool touches.

Insane. I love it :thumbsup:

That is just what I wanted to do with my wheels, have an 18 inch wheel but look like the stock steel wheel with a dog dish hub cap only bigger to fill in the wheel better!! Man I need to look into doing a set of these :thumbsup:

Nice work, as usual!

I agree. I actually like that idea and would love to do that someday.

Superb....
 

I am new to the forum but not to RS cars, as I am a big fan of your work.
I really like the little fairlanes...and that motor is SICK.

I've been preaching that for years. Too cool.

Tanks for all the comments everyone! :thumbsup:

The Fairlane is back up on the lift for some seriously intricate exhaust and header work. Lets just say when you stuff a Kaase Boss 9 motor into a Fairlane, nothing near the motor is going to be a 'straight shot' when it comes to the headers. Fortunately, it makes for some really cool looking headers! :cool:

You can see what we were snaking around here:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7...5d3cc78e_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/7...39211ef9_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7...c759a522_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7...5fc5638e_b.jpg

And the result:!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7...735968c6_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/7...d01071aa_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/7...5ddd84e0_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/7...6494691a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7...60a4df2a_b.jpg

Been following this project and others on Facrebook, very cool looking. Question, am I looking at 2 retangular tubes next to eash other or seamed tubing on your frame reinforcements?

I'd say seemed based on the fact that the "line" goes away where they have ground on the tubing.



Please, I beg you, do not do any finish work to the headers. They look amazing as is right now.

Um yeah............those are sick. I love this car.

Thanks!
Mike, the rectangular tubes are single tubes and you are seeing the seams.

Mike and Tone, I agree with you guys 100%. I was going to wild on my Chevelle and decided not to for that reason. Motor, wheels, brakes, frame etc. are all modern, but leave the body and stuff alone. I was going to cut the hood up with custom vents and stuff and decided to just leave it stock.

Oh, and I cant wait to see those wheels. Talk about 3 piece wheels...those are 5 piece wheels. RS just raised the bar once again.