I quite fancy doing something like this:



As a future project, keep the lines clean and none of the daft skull gearknobs or anything, just a classis pick up body on a ladder frame chassis with a 5 linked live axle or alternatively some nicely powdercoated jag IRS. Id want to remove the bonnet sides and run straight, open pipes, and some massively wide tyres.

Issues are:

Id want whitewall tyres with a period zigzag pattern, but I really dont want to fit crossplies!
Id want to run straight open pipes but maintain lambda controlled efi
Id want disk brakes and independant front suspension.

Biggest issue would be getting a 1940s body with open pipes through an IVA test!

Anyone else share my love for old rods?

I have whitewalls for the Falcon, but their flexible trim rings that I fit after deflating the tyre and then are locked in place once their pumped up. Look totally convincing and iirc where £50 a set

Tbh that looks a very simple car to get through the SVA compared to a 7

For the exhaust.... fit a diverter flap...

run through the hidden pipe for quiet+emmissions reasons..

and then flick a switch and have NO pipes



You mut be able to get tyres from the states with whitewalls and proper radial build...


Good luck, they do look fantastic!

Flexible whitwalls sound good, alternatively tyre paint *might* work.

These have the right tread:

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/street.php?item=Sportsman

but are crossplies

These are radial and ok, but arent available properly wide.

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/street.php?item=SportsmanST

Diverter valve is a shout, but I wanted 4 open pipes off each bank...




which would mean 8 valves against the head. TBH I reckon the only way is a swap post IVA and for every mot.

The rest of the IVA should be ok, there are always ways and means. The difficulty is in thing like the original column and switchgear, having no side bodywork but Im sure judicious use of pipe insulation and cable ties would work.

There was a V8 powered strip racer at the last Scotch Corner meet...

Looked and sounded real cool...

quote:

---

Originally posted by alistairolsen
Diverter valve is a shout, but I wanted 4 open pipes off each bank...

which would mean 8 valves against the head. TBH I reckon the only way is a swap post IVA and for every mot.

---

you haven't a hope in hell getting away with pipes like that in this country, I've heard them and their ear splitting

[Edited on 26/8/09 by Mr Whippy]

How about this:


33 Model A Pick Up
I believe its 40" high to the roof and is mid engined.

Can't beat an old rod, I'm sure there is someone selling fibreglass bodies and chassis to build your own.

Rodline were but I believe they've gone bust now and their site has gone. I looked but never found a fibreglass pick up body for model A's, generally just roofless coupes.

What you are looking for is either headers or what were referred to as Lake Pipes.

The open engined cars such as the 32 Ford Pickup you show ran headers back toward the start of the cowl with a bolt on plate to send the exhaust down a second pipe under the car to the mufflers, then back out the side just ahead of the rear wheels as in a Locost.

The second type for full bodied cars late 40's early 50's ran along the side of the rocker panel to just ahead of the rear wheel opening were the removable cap was placed.

The reason for this was high speed runs on the dry lakes of California and Nevada, drive the car there muffled, pop the plates and go for it.

There are now available electric solenoid operated ones so you can be a bad boy any time you think the police are not around.

As for white wall tires there is a company in the US of A called Coker tires make all kinds of vintage tires, even Michelin and Pirelli.

I think it would be a very expensive project to build a HOT ROD in the UK as everything would come from over here, same as most of the stuff I need for the LOcost comes from over there.

If lots of money you go the 1 800 route, pick up the phone and order all the bits, or a kit just like Caterham or Westfield.

Sorry forgot about the fuel injection and disc brakes, both are available. Hilborn injectors like used on drag cars of the 60's are being converted to electronic by replacing the manual injectors with electronic ones.

Whole front suspension setups are available for most older American cars, double A Arm, coil overs and disc brakes.

Most Hot Rodders use the Ford 9" diff which is also used by Nascar, so the sky is the limit.

i still really really want to do something like this
http://www.zcars.com.au/images/bentley-s3-e-design-concept1.jpg

the photo's a bit big, so you'll have to click the link

at my speed with this pick up, i think the S3 will be 100 years old by the time i'm done...

I'm sorry Blake - but that's just horrible!

What you want is one of these...


Rat Rod

This was seen at RAF Lakenheath - note the burn marks on the door! Apparently the first time he drove it the insulation on the inside of the door caught fire...

It was very well constructed - just not pretty.

Being an American serviceman he wasn't particularly bothered about SVA/IVA - it never went off-base.

have you had a look here ?

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=120334

lol, could be a start

oh I love that

http://www.wisbech-engineering.co.uk/Wisbech_Engineering_-_Photo_Gallery_-_Gibbs_Bentley_Special.html

its shiny and precious.....

Yeah, being in britain is really limiting, but like you say, I guess not much worse than trying to build a locost where there were never any cortinas! Everything is available at a cost, be it a ford 9 inch or jag IRS.

I HATE that bently thing, looks awful imho.

The rod looks cool, but im not into the rat look, would look better painted imo.

Ive looked thru wisbechs site before, and if the build happens, I suspect a lot of money will go that way!

Their projects make interesting viewing and the only one with any detail looks amazing!

[Edited on 27/8/09 by alistairolsen]