Project Schism - another offbeat '23 Ford T

[toddshotrods]

Time to update. Front crossmember starting to shape up.




Rear crossmember.




Starting to work on the cage again.



My over the top shifter. The main arch is going to be a fabricated, tapered, I-beam. The shifter will push and pull rocker arms, that push and pull the shifter cables, which run under the engine and radiator.

[toddshotrods]

I used the pair of cheap plastic Jeg's seats as a buck to start creating my own design fiberglass/carbon fiber composite bomber seats.






We're also going to attempt to make a carbon fiber plenum/aluminum runner intake, based on the factory intake manifold runners, and using plain weave prepreg. It will be interesting to see how much power we lose, and how many pounds of boost it will take to rip it apart!








Now time to go to Goodguys and get some more inspiration...

[toddshotrods]

We're still chipping away. Some of my team was ready to work tomorrow, but I told them I am going to Goodguys, and holding the to-do list hostage until after the weekend is over! Maybe their dedication and persistence will pay off and we'll drive it in the show next year.

I update the mock-up in Rhino frequently to get an idea of how all the ideas are playing out together.



An interesting feature is the electric motor controller. I am planning to put it in an antique clock style glass (actually polycarbonate) dome. I'm trying to actively feature as much of the car as possible. Instead of hiding stuff that doesn't seem to fit the theme, I try to repackage it...




Rear crossmember with the muffler pockets hammered out and welded in.





First door bar cut, notched, and tacked in.





Selector arm mounted on the shifter.





Now off to Goodguys and get some more inspiration for how I can push my little team to new heights... If you see a little old dude, with a handful of 20-somethings, and this on some of our backs, it's us.

[toddshotrods]

We bored a hole in the shift rocker arm, then turned a sleeve to fit it and accept the spherical bearing.



We're going to make a cap, with reinforcing ribs, for each side of the shift rocker arm. One side will be welded on, the other will bolt on, for bearing removal/replacement.



I figured out the location then had one of the guys cut the selector arm mount. He's probably the least experienced on the Team, just learning to work with tools, but he's also one of the most consistent, dedicated...


Here he has cleaned that mount up a little, and hammered it to shape. We also made the scrolled pieces for the clevis mount on the end of it.


And, we're starting to form the top and bottom plates of the I-beam mount.




The rear crossmember is coming along...



... and the front.



I trimmed the seat shells. They're going to get rolled beads around the perimeter, and lots of detail.

[dug]

Lookin good! keep at it

[dirtshark]

So cool to see someone looking way outside of the box...great stuff, keep it coming!!!

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by dug

Lookin good! keep at it

Originally Posted by dirtshark

...great stuff, keep it coming!!!

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by dirtshark

So cool to see someone looking way outside of the box...

I kind of live out there, somewhere. I try to come back in and touch base occasionally, but always wake up back out there where I was.

[toddshotrods]

Who fabricates a rolled and tapered I-beam, just to mount a shifter? I guess I do, with the help of a crazy-azz crew that doesn't see anything wrong with realizing my visions. The top and bottom plates are almost there.




Roughing out the ribs and end caps for the shift rocker arm.





The other door bar on the chassis.





I'm also making progress on the grille. Now, it's going to be an exposed carbon fiber shell, with a metal mesh grille (preferrably stainless), with copper (I think) nipples to mount the mesh insert. The nipples will go through the shell, like a wire wheel, and be visible on the outsides of it. The emblem will be cast in copper too, I think.

[waynieZ]

Wow your doing some awesome stuff! Very Impressive.

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by waynieZ

Wow your doing some awesome stuff! Very Impressive.

Thanks Wayne!