Bob-
Those aren’t the crude cars I was talking about. They are from the later years
and are just the opposite. Nothing new in the beginning. Most everything is
new on these. The early cars were my transportation. These never took me to
work, the grocery store or on vacation. My early cars were usually just a body
with a seat and a little heat for winter. These examples had interior, Power
windows, steering and breaks, cruse and air. While the motors would have a
lot race car stuff on them I built motors to be reliable. That not to say they
weren’t strong runners but nothing over 10 to 1 compression and 5 to 7 pounds
for the blower motors. I didn’t have to worry about find gas, overheating, or
breaking something. A 1950’s Olds V8 with around 200 hp in a car that probably
weighed 1200 lbs is and experience you’ll long remember.
Joe,
While there is no comparison between an outboard and these things the process
is much the same. There is a fuel system, ignition system, drive train. Repairing
a gas tank is much the same as a car body. Similar but without the expense and
all I need to have (and heat) is a 1 stall garage. These old motors reflect my
younger days as I’m either searching for parts or trying to make something to
work. At my age the discomfort form all the up and down takes all the fun out of
the car stuff. Trying to lay under a dash board would be more like being in a
torture chamber. Little of that is required to work on these old motors.
Buck,
That’s a 55 Chevy. For a time three of us shared a building, equipment, skills, and
expenses. That car was one of theirs.
When I was a kid I had to come in from the garage at 10 o’clock to be considerate
of the neighbors. I would have trouble getting to sleep planning what I was going
to do the next day. That still happens every once in a while.
I don’t remember exactly how I got in on this project or why Greg decided he wanted
a hot rod. One guy built the frame. Another did body and paint. I did the wiring.
The motor is a front wheel drive Ford Taurus that’s in the trunk. The center of the
frame was cut out and a steel plate is welded to the bottom outer frame rails so the
floor is totally flat. No room for a drive shaft. The outer frame rail where the ramp is
located is notched so he has enough head room to get in and out. The door and
ramp are operated with a remote, buttons in the rear bumper, and controls on dash
board. There is a latch on his chair that holds it in the car and he drives using all
hand controls.
When he brought it to a show or cruse he puts the ramp up and the door is closed.
Its fun to watch people come up to the car and when the look inside you here
something like “ Where are the seats?”
He tried to get a new ramp but the people who deal in these things would only sell
to companies that do conversions. He got on the phone and told this to some of his
wheel chair buddies. A brand new ramp was delivered to his house. Never received
a bill and no clue as to who, how, or why.
Tubs