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"Black Dahlia"

The red hits the spot. NPI

Yea, I like it a lot. Came out like I imagined it. After a few days for the black to set, I suspended the axle between two stools, on it's side. Then, I used the brush and painted the holes from underneath. I was bent over and had to take a break between every four or five holes flip it and do the next coai. I did this yesterday and my back is STILL killing me. LOL

Here's a pic with better lighting.

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Yea, I like it a lot. Came out like I imagined it. After a few days for the black to set, I suspended the axle between two stools, on it's side. Then, I used the brush and painted the holes from underneath. I was bent over and had to take a break between every four or five holes flip it and do the next coai. I did this yesterday and my back is STILL killing me. LOL

Here's a pic with better lighting.

full
Looks good, no kidding about the back.... I've been doing fiberglass on the body, cowl, under dash, and floor. It's taking its toll on my back with all the bending over and installing and removing the body, rolling it over, etc. I have a fusion anyways, so it doesn't take too much stimulation, lol. I like the subtle effect of the red on black contrast. I look forward to seeing your project take shape.
 
That's really sharp. Looks like a delicious pieces of candy. If this is an indication of the rest of the build, it's gonna be sweet.
 
Whew! Thanks, guys. Well, I've been neglecting my build thread, so here we go.

My job had a shift in the corporate office and over time has all but been eliminated. So, while I'm still on track, 'll be hitting swap meets and Ebay for some of the things I need. Next on my agenda is working towards a rolling chassis. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting the pieces I'll need for the chassis, so I can weld them in. Members of the board and some of the sponsors have been great. My frame is covered with little notes indicating where the different brackets will attach.

I'm still set on a 9" and it's been REALLY hard. If I wasn't having such a powerful engine being built, I'd have a S10 already. But there's no way that rear end would last long. A good friend is helping me get the 3rd member, so I'm just being patient. Plus, one tire burn outs suck!

So, hang in there. Some great things are ahead. This weekend I'm meeting up with Paul and I'll have answers and measurements to guide me in the next steps. Updates coming soon!
 
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So, this morning, I made my way to Pauls, to get some measurements from his CCR chassis, so I can adapt some of CCR's parts to RPM's chassis. I also wanted to see how I would fit. I was VERY pleased. As you can see in the pics, my legs are straight with a very slight bend at the knee to simulate my feet operating the brake and gas peddle. My arms are bent, but not in the final position I'll have in my build. I'll end up with my arms a little straighter to bring the steering wheel closer to the dash.

CCR's door brace also forms the front frame of a seat riser. It measured about 4 1/2" high. Which from previous experience, works out perfectly. Today, Paul and I had a board placed on the riser rail and sloping towards the back of the body. I'll probably raise the rear of my seat about 2". This will still leave me room for a small fuse box. But if there's not enough room, I'll make a swing down fuse panel and mount it under the dash. CCR's dash is 3" longer than a standard body, so there's a lot of room for that option. Here are pics from today.

I forgot to make VRRRROOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!! noises. :D

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Here's Paul's Bucket. He's moving along at a nice, planned out pace. The slight modifications he made to CCR's plans are really neat, but I'll let him explain them. All in all, today was VERY educational and I got some answers to questions and figures that will help keep my build in the right direction. Thanks again, Paul, for a very pleasant morning. Check out the headlight stands he made!

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So, this morning, I made my way to Pauls, to get some measurements from his CCR chassis, so I can adapt some of CCR's parts to RPM's chassis. I also wanted to see how I would fit. I was VERY pleased. As you can see in the pics, my legs are straight with a very slight bend at the knee to simulate my feet operating the brake and gas peddle. My arms are bent, but not in the final position I'll have in my build. I'll end up with my arms a little straighter to bring the steering wheel closer to the dash.

CCR's door brace also forms the front frame of a seat riser. It measured about 4 1/2" high. Which from previous experience, works out perfectly. Today, Paul and I had a board placed on the riser rail and sloping towards the back of the body. I'll probably raise the rear of my seat about 2". This will still leave me room for a small fuse box. But if there's not enough room, I'll make a swing down fuse panel and mount it under the dash. CCR's dash is 3" longer than a standard body, so there's a lot of room for that option. Here are pics from today.

I forgot to make VRRRROOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!! noises. :D

full


full


Here's Paul's Bucket. He's moving along at a nice, planned out pace. The slight modifications he made to CCR's plans are really neat, but I'll let him explain them. All in all, today was VERY educational and I got some answers to questions and figures that will help keep my build in the right direction. Thanks again, Paul, for a very pleasant morning. Check out the headlight stands he made!

full
It's amazing how much difference a couple inches makes in these things as far as driver comfort goes. I really struggled with my standard with the controls and seat placement. I would have opted to stretch it, but there was too much to redesign based on the original design because everything was attached to the cross member, lift bars, etc... It wasn't worth it to me, but if I was starting a new project, I would not hesitate.
 
Did I mention I'm 6'3"? Yea..... 6'3" and most of that is my legs.
 
I'd not be doing a T with an unstretched body. I'm only 5'7" and most of that is in my trunk...little stubby arms and legs :oops: Where I need the stretch is in width...yup, I'm surprised no one has posted a "Wide Load" sign on this big ole butt. The body I have was sold to me as being stretched 8" both in length and width, but as it turns out it is only stretched 3-4" in width. Even with the short legs, the length stretch the way it was done is still a big help. The stretch is split between the cowl and the doors. This moves the leading edges of the doors forward relative to the seat, requiring less contortion getting in and out. The stretch in the cowl makes more working space forward of the dash.
 
Fred fess up you sat in that car, making Vroom Vroom noises didn't you?

No! I really forgot to. I was so busy enjoying the fit..... it never crossed my mind. BUT you can bet I'll be doing it when I get my body.:D
 
Hey Fred , are ya' keeping dry ??
dave

Dry as a bone. Thanks for the concern, but while the flooding we're having is bad, the media has a way of over blowing things. Yes, parts of the city are flooded, but a lot of those places flood every time it rains and a few of the spots flood, if more than 3 people wash their cars at the same time. Yes, it's sad that 4 or 5 people died, but there's a reason we get told countless times, to NOT drive into water without knowing how deep it is. Some people underestimate the shear force that moving water has.

So, when the heavy rains come, the knowledgeable people either plan another route or stay home. Which brings up another thing. If you've seen the news footage, you've seen the grid lock on the freeways. Those are usually people, who have never figured out an alternate route to get where their going. For whatever reason, they never took the time to figure out an escape route or plan of action in case of a disaster. Think about that for a minute. How many people, maybe even you, only know one way to get where they need to go?

So, me personally, it's my day off. So I'm looking up stuff on the internet and watching old TV Cowboy shows. Yesterday, I went to work and got paid double time because a lot of people called in. I make lemonade, when I get tossed lemons.:cool:
 
Thank goodness for the tv westerns. Been raining here in the Tulsa area for a couple of days. Grass is growing, cause I can hear it. I have a unwanted pond between my house and the shop. Nothing like what you are getting in the Houston area. Stay dry and safe.
 
You all were complaining of a drought, hope that helps.

The drought was about 4years ago. See, the thing about Houston's weather is that it's basically tropical. Plus, our location to the Gulf of Mexico. Houston is the last major stop for rain water, when it falls in the counties and areas above or inland of us. Yes, a large amount of rain fell over night, but the flooding we're getting now, is from the water inland draining into our already maxed out drainage system. When the drains and bayous fill up, they over flow.

In a few days, the areas on the news will for the most part be dry. Well, soggy, but free of what you see now.

My problem with this, are the same areas and the same freeway intersections go through this at least 4 or 5 times a year. Not at this level, but flooded intersections are almost a way of life here. But nothing ever gets fixed. No one has a solution as to why the 4th largest city in the United States, floods EVERY year, in the SAME spots.

I'm done with it and would like to keep this thread on "Black Dahlia" and topics related to her. Houston will be fine.
 
Well, Rome and it seems T Buckets, aren't built in a day. That's what I say to myself, when I look at my project and can't see any progress. I constantly have to remember that it took 2 years to build the first one. So, I'm actually right about where I should be, considering a start date of 1/21/2016.

My latest moves have been gathering the info to attach the needed brackets to my frame. Since I'm going to use a CCR stretched body, I had to convert conventional bracket placement to work with Ron's frame. Thanks to CCR and Paul, I've done that. My frame is covered in markings, notes and measurements. Recently, a good friend, who used to do chassis work for bracket racers, told me I should try following his steps, when it comes to building a racer.

1. Build the frame with all the brackets.
2. Front suspension, brakes & steering
3. Rear end, rear suspension & brakes

So, I'm trying to stick with that "new" plan. I've strayed slightly with a few out of order purchases, but they've been deals or parts that were hard to find. I've been lucky. Mountainman helped me find my shifter. That was a MAJOR accomplishment for me. Paul let me snoop around his car and get the measurements I needed. Awesome! Another friend is sending me a pumpkin for the 9" rear I'll be using. He's giving it to me for the cost of shipping, so I'm not rushing him. Patience, Fred. Patience. Ron is working on a solution to my Ackerman situation and I'm confident it'll work out.

So, as I stare at my empty frame, I remind myself that 10 years ago, I was doing what I'm doing now. Planning, researching and keeping an eye and ear on what the other guys are doing to solve their build problems. When this build is done and I finish that first drive, I'll probably sit, stare at my car and ask, "So now what do I do?". Just like I did 8 years ago.

To me, it's all about the journey. The pleasure of the drive gets old after a while, but the "build" lives forever. Updates coming, when they get here.;)
 
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