I might've missed it but are you making a fiberglass nose piece or making it out of metal?

89rs, Stay tuned....

T_Raven, .063 3003 H14 Aluminum is the plan.... It's gonna be a long process but I have most everything ready to start. I need to round up a couple more tools.

Well, that and I am going to be out of town for about two weeks soon.

Chris

:wow: ALUMINUM !:yes:

That's the plan!!!! :yes:

Chris

^5,,,, I plan follow your build upon my return,,,, the idea of an aluminum bumper is very interesting indeed...

Chris I'll look forward to seeing your progress... Of course I share your basis for the early birds and I'm very excited to see so many birds under construction this year....

Yeah,

Cats out of the bag now... Should be interesting. I had a full weekend of activities, none of which involved working on a nose though. I do have my English Wheel all put back together and tuned in now though.

Hopefully I can post up some progress pics soon. Work is taking me out of town in two weeks and that will put a damper on things for sure. But I will work on it as time allows.

Chris

Good point Aron.

An air hammer might just be your best friend soon....

Little by little I am sure it will be done. The best part is you have started the project. In the future you will see your creation. :cheers:

Wow it's been a long time since I have had anything to post. Work and life getting in the way of the fun...

Anyway I have finally had some time to start forming the nose.

First I made some hammer forms from MDF.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1485.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1487.jpg

Then I made some patterns and glued some 1/16" welding rod to them to get the inner shape I needed.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1492.jpg

Then I started shaping.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1495.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1496.jpg

All done.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1498.jpg

More to come.

Chris

Now for the aluminum.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1503.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1504.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1509.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1510.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1512.jpg

Chris

Thanks Aron,

Hmmm, a polished nose section.... That would be different for sure!

I think with the changes I have planned for the lower valance (still working out the details) people will know it is not a factory piece. Of course they will probably assume it to be fiberglass at that point.

Stay tuned.

Chris

We have twins!!!!!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1515.jpg

With the grill inserts.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1517.jpg

Finished the welds off.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1519.jpg

Well I have been working on a Rendering.... Keep in mind I am NOT a photoshop expert (obviously)!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...Bird_3_GA3.jpg

I have been working on this for some time now it does not show any of the "special" things I want to do with the nose but the hood is close to what I am after. My pencil drawing did not transfer to PS as well as I would have liked but it is close. It looks much better in the pencil drawing as the openings are a bit taller.

The hood is meant to look like a '69 Trans-Am on steroids.

Chris

Next week???? I was out tooling around town last night! LOL...

Seriously though I.am heading out of town today for a week so.progress is gong to be at a stand still again. Slow and steady though.

Chris

Wow!!!:yes: :thumbsup:

Great stuff! I really like what you're doing!

Thanks guys!

I wish I could get the rendering a little closer but technically it is just for reference when I start to build. I have noticed a lot of the really cool rendering never make it to the metal. Maybe mine can be the opposite. :)

I was cruising Craigslist the other night from my hotel room and low an behold a Iwata LPH-400 popped up less than 30 minutes from my house for $150 in really good shape. It is now in my garage. If only I was just ready for paint...

Chris

One of the more interesting builds here. :thumbsup:

Thanks!
I think (and maybe I shouldn't think/type this) I will have some time to work on her this weekend...

Chris

Subscribed!
I like that you are doing so much yourself. Including making your own tools and nose.
Keep those pictures coming please.

As requested.

More tools...

World's smallest English wheel (probably).

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1541.jpg

Progress on the grill openings.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1540.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1539.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1538.jpg

While that probably does not seem like much progress I had to re-make one of the openings after my first attempt at adding a flange failed. Learned a lot though... :)

Chris

Ok, flash back time here....

My drag car from "back in the day",

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...SAMRACECAR.jpg

The power.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/DCP_2998.jpg

The engine is not all that "pretty" but with 722hp at the flywheel (all motor no spray) so it has the "go" part down pretty well.

The car was built in my Dad's garage, my boss at the time and I did the back half chassis work, I did all the aluminum (without a brake). Then after the first season I front halved the car myself. Mind you I was 20 or 21 at the time so some of the work was not all that "polished" looking (the wiring for example).

After a few years we put the fiberglass clip and doors on it and added the "Pro Mod" wing. Actually that wing IS a Pro Mod wing... we pulled templates for it off of Bill Kulhman's (SP?) 200 MPH Camaro. That was really cool.

The engine was a 380 CID SBC with Trickflow 18* Aluminum heads. I did all the port work in the manifold and heads along with all the machine work (save balancing), assembly and Dyno testing personally. Oh, I built the 850 alcohol carb too (including the booster change, metering block fuel curve work and air bleeds).

Come to think of it the only thing we did not build was the transmission. I either personally built the parts or was very involved in the process (wing and paint for example). My uncle actually laid the paint down. I can remember blocking on that car for HOURS on top of HOURS.... Can't wait to do that again... :rolleyes: :P

Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane with me. Back to the project at hand...

Chris

Nice!:thumbsup:

Thanks, I REALLY miss working in the machine shop. I.T pays the bills better though. :(

After re-reading it sure sounded like I was tooting my own horn a bit... sorry about that, I was trying to show that I have been down the build it yourself road in the past. I will never forgot the guys that told me (us) "you can't build a racecar in a garage. :rofl: Sure you can! :yes:

I am a firm believe in doing what you can. We didn't have a lot of money growing up so I learned at an early age to fix what you can and if you can do the work yourself you can save money and control the outcome.

Chris

Sounds like a great way to grow up!
I had to learn what I know (which is not much lol)
the same way. Hands on, lacking funds to hire out.

I can only speak for myself here but your earlier postings did not sound like "tooting your own horn". Not at all.
Be proud of the skills you have, they are serving you well.
And I know that your postings will help at least me on my own project. :cheers:

Cool thanks...

I keep forgetting to post these.

C5 vette knuckles (yes there IS four of them... :unibrow: )

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1687.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...d/DSC_1688.jpg

I picked these up for $155 shipped to my door off the Corvette forums.

Chris

Any recent updates?

No not really...

Work has me going crazy and then any time I have had to "myself" has been used up on spring projects around the house. Unfortunately we are looking at replacing the siding on our house this year so we are going to be gearing up for that project soon.

I hope to have some time here and there to work on it.

Thanks for checking, I'll post an update as soon as I have one.

Chris

Ok, so the new update is there is still no update... The wife and I are working on re-siding our house and boy has that turned into a big ol' can of worms....

Ended up having to tear apart the front wall to replace some water damaged wood and OSB. Seems the person who last sided the house was not familiar with how water flows... :rolleyes: :willy:

Anyway, if you think cars are expensive.... WOW! Don't start a house project...:wow:

Oh, I did pick up a Iwata LPH-80 off eBay for a screamin good deal. I also found an LPH-400 locally on CL a few months back and so now all I need is a primer gun and I will be set!

Chris

Hey, I got moved to he projects page! Now I HAVE to start working on it!!!

Aron, I got real lucky with the 400 as I was just looking through the tools section on cl and it popped up. Right time right place a they say...

Small set back.... Well maybe not so small. While working on the house Saturday I injured my right eye pretty bad. We have an appointment Wednesday afternoon for another ultrasound scan of the eye to try to determine if any damage was done to the retina.

So that puts the house project on hold which of course puts the car project back as well. Not complaining though, I still have one good eye for sure and I am still alive! Lord willing I will be able to regain sight in my right eye. Tiem will tell on that.

Chris

Ouch! I hope your eye will be ok. Keep us posted.

What happened if I may ask?

Thanks guys,

As for what happened, I took a Drywall Key hole saw to the right eye. I deflated the globe and it needed 143 suchures (sp?) to close it backup. Not so good...

Anyway, I will be wearing safety glasses a LOT more from now on! Thing it I normally have my work glasses on but that day I did not for some reason. Anyway, I will keep you all up to date as we get updates.

Chris