Darryl Ks new closed cab pickup!

Called in to see Darryl Kuhneman yesterday, and the following photos show how close this multi year project is away from the street!...only a month or two should see it done!

Finally...more work on the roadster in December!

I had Darren from Oz Rods make up the bushes needed for my steering column. It uses an early F100 outer, with HQ Holden inner, as this gives me the correct top spline to suit the repro Vintique 40 Ford wheel. I kept the column high to allow for pedal room, always a problem in RHD cars.

I realised that the standard length radius rods I bought from Speedway Motors should have been shortened a little, to suit the frame. Once again, Darren came to the rescue, and they will now sit much better with 70mm removed!

The column is now just about mounted, and with two bits of DD, and some box tubing, I have mocked the alignment of the steering, and everything seems to be fitting just nice. Think I might pull the motor forward about 10mm, it will then clear the firewall in the bellhousing bolt area, and save me doing more "glass work. I still can't decide if I should cut the firewall on an angle about 7" up, to create an angled kickboard. This also makes it easier for the pedals....And speaking of pedals,,,,think it's going to have three of 'em!

I had fitted an angle iron piece to the bottom dash brace, in readiness for the column drop. Now this is finished as well, just a simple bent 1/8th plate with a bottom "cup" that also has a threaded location bolt that secures the column from ever wanting to move up or down. Once I decide on the pedal location, (and how many of them), I can finish all the firewall internal cross bracing.

Yamba 2011

One of the nicest cars of the run...a flattie powered stock height 5 window coupe...now who wouldn't love this in their garage?

Yamba rod run is one of our "must do" events, think we have only missed 2 out of the 20 they have had. Carpop has driven many different cars to this run, but my all time favourite is his roadster!

Here's a shot of our "Deuces Limited" club taking over the BBQ area as usual. Shane was either behind the camera, or behind the wheel of his T bird......but he will shock 'em next year with his re birthed "3W"

Jarrod never ceases to amaze me, this kid has the hot rod bug bad, and knows EXACTLY how to make 'em look HOT!

 This shot shows how far back I recessed the small block, so that the 2 inch longer big block engine will also fit in at a later date. The distributor cavity was once a baking dish, that I glassed in from behind, then cut the front out and sort of smoothed off a bit! Also have to do a little trim in the corner of the bellhousing area, but an easy fix later.

 When I raised the engine, the floor had to be cut out, and I am about to make a flat steel plate to bolt to the box tubing, then glass the tunnel to it....don't really need a removeable tunnel, but it's out now...may as well. Got bored the other day, found a bit of 3mm MDF, so made up the door trim panels, and mounted the door handles....bet you can't guess what the door openers  came from..  (Lada Niva..who said they were useless!)..they were perfect for my flat black theme...

 Started on the seat at the same time. It's from an 80s Hilux, narrowed about 4 inches, laid back the back section about an inch, and mounted low enough so it can slide in under the body...I will just make a cover strip to cover my ugly box tubing ....with a hefty roll on the front, it should be real comfy, and sit you down low....I have an 80s Corolla handbrake that just fits in between the box tubing, and clears the seat just enough.

 I didn't want to cut up these pipes, so the Chev sits a bit higher than normal....I like using stock type fuel pumps, so had to ensure all this cleared. The line of the steering column to box looks pretty good, and I will replace the wooden shaft once Darren Silich finishes my modified early F100 column.

Had some old tin kicking around at home, as well as some MDF and ply......so now I have my boot area just about worked out...just need to make all the bracketry to hold these pieces in place. I love working on the lines of trying to use as many bits and pieces I find at home, or at a swap or ebay, to go into this project....but I enjoy it...even if it takes me all day to make something I could have paid big bucks for....there are some items you just have to pay out on, so anything saved is worthwhile.......anyway....got to go look on e bay for some bargains

Oz Rods

 I spent a couple of weeks helping out over at Oz Rods while Darren took his vacation, this is a must see shop if you haven't been there....a month ago, I met Pete Chapouris and Jimmy Shine who were there for the So Cal roadster deal, and two weeks later, Duane Mayer from the Coddington "American Hot Rod" show called by!

 The guys who get all the work done at Oz-Rods....their is usually about 20 to 25 cars in the shop at any given time, most having full builds...check their web site for more details, and check the links to you-tube videos on both the shop, the SoCal car, and the new Shannons add featuring the roadster!

 Don't know where this was...but a cool pic all the same!

Les Winter just got this Deuce coupe in from the US. It will be kept basically as is , just get it running while he finishes of his Model A sedan delivery.

August 2011 update

 I used an old baking dish to form the recess in the firewall so that a big block will fit with distributor clearance...however, I now also have to fit a toeboard to the firewall, which will also give the extra clearance needed for the top outer bellhousing bolts! The lower 2/12" of the recess has to be filled, as I have decided to push gauges thru from inside....

 No more baked potato now...the tray is in...I am going to cover this and mount my fuse panel in the upper area, and cut two holes in the lower parts for my volts and oil pressure gauges...I pre drilled and welded an angle to the rhs cross brace, just in case I need some mounting holes.

 All the rear bracing is just about done, I made some hinges that work just fine, the cross brace was mounted to the rear so that my seat can slide back under the back of the body for more room. Also, I might need to get a roll cage in here somewhere, so now I have some room to work it in. (can't stop an old drag racer from havin' fun, can you!)

 Side bracing is almost finished, but I think I will do a full wrap around 3/4 rhs from one side to other, welding to the sides and centre cross brace...that should keep it rigid!..I am playing with a basic small door opening mechanism..this is version 1........probably 10 more before I figure out what and where I want it!

 I shed a teardrop when I saw this finished...haha.I get to use my old number plates again.....looks traditional, with the model A boot lock!...since these photos, I have also got the cowl vent in and working, and the bracing under the headlight posts, and couldn't help but cut the holes and put the gauges in.....must thank Oz Rods for all the help with the parts this thing is consuming...

I folded up a metal tray that will eventually be glassed in, and will catch any water in the boot area, just have to figure some sort of drain of this to the underneath.....the chalk mark shows where the glass floor has to be cut out and lifted to give the 9" some clearance. I haven't c nothed it yet, and it only just clears now...I also have to cut a relief in the glass above the frame, as the TAC now require a 500mm x 10mm thick flat strap to be welded on top of the frame over the c'd section........

"Back to Brunswick" rod run

 "RUFUS" loves going in the hot rod...bit of a squeeze getting his 50kg in, and typically, all he wants to do is drool out the window.........dad does the same..haha.

 Legends in their own lunch boxes!....but how cool to get a Top Six pick from Pete Chapouris and Jimmy Shine!...Rod Brewer and Peter Paynter did an awesome job putting on this run..the water didn't worry it that much, sun came out on the Sunday display..look forward to next year when they bring out "John Milner"...hope they find him a yellow deuce coupe to drive in!

 Ken and Julie..what can I say...the re-birth again of this Deuce many door, and the look and finish is spot on! Love it..wonder how many people walk past this, and don't realise how significant this car has been with the start of hot rodding in Australia, and that it has been a hot rod in different forms since the 60s

 Love the back grounds when all you were trying to do was take a photo of Norm and Ellies way cool 3 window, when the man out back is explaining about the first time he met Dolly Parton!

Same with this shot, as Prince Harry gets caught not stopping to look at our Tudor!!....and what's with the midget-ish girl standing on my rear bumper!