Got parts need advice!

[RPM]

Originally Posted by Chirp

I 've seen the big pic. of that car. NICE!!
Your car is what made me think of building a 2 door. That is why I was originally leaning towards steel body reinforcement.
Is that body stretched in the cowl and behind door?

You have a mach. shop? If I may ask how hard is it finding qualified machinist? There seems to be a rising demand for good people up here.
Just Curious.

Thanks Bruce

The body came out of a mold that has the strtch in it. Then it was widened 6" after that.

I have a small machine shop. I am a certified master engine machinist, and I make some hot rod parts in my spare time.

I used wood around the top of the body and 1" square steel around the doors and behind the dash to support it all.

[Chirp]

I'm just going to stretch the cowl area 4 possibly 5 inches or so. If that goes well I'll through 4 inches in behind the door. Decided on one door, probably no add. width.
If I get stuck I'll yell for help. Thanks for help & suggestions.

[blownt]

got a friend that widened his body 6". It's nice and roomy. I built a 15 body many years ago because I thought it looked alot better than the 23. But it is very small and tight. Several years ago I was gonna get another body that was stretched and widened. But then I got a 29 sedan body and my son built a frame for it in his Ag Welding class project last year. Will start on that this month, finally. So I will keep the bucket the way it is.

[Tbucit]

I stand corrected I guess the Total perf's front crosmember is just about what you have. The is one on EBay and it is bout the same deminsions as the piece you had. I still have and do use 1/4 inch wall myself.eBay Motors: 1923 T-Bucket Crossmember & Spring Perch Street Rat Rod (item 120288457508 end time Aug-04-08 18:00:00 PDT)

[Chirp]

There are alot of opinions on the front ends most. I just wanted to see if anyone had used this size tube before and what the outcome was. I happen to have a piece of 5/32 wall tube that's why I asked in the first place. I was also giving some thought to drilling straight through the frame rails and welding totaly around the tube on both sides of the frame. Just to be a little different I guess.
Luckily the local steel co. has a ends and oddball room .50/lb. I'll take a spin tomorrow.
And thanks for the eyeball!!

[Mikey]

All the info contained here in this thread is good. All of it will work too. I dont use any metal or wood in my bodies at all, just prefer to thicken them up with glass mat and resin. I use 3/4 inch plywood in the floor and for the seat. The sides are pure glass. I upholster the sides with door skins( kind of a cardboard) for my medium.They slide in from the top and are connected to the seat riser on the sides and back.The whole interior is a drop in. The floor and inside firewall is carpet.All electrics are located under the seat. The front cross tube can be made out of any scrap pipe or tubing from any scrap yard and can be from 2" to 21/2" measured from outside. Doesnt matter, not critical at all. Should be at least 1/4" thick tho for strength. Keep seems pointing toward bottom or inside for looks on paint job.You can make T buckets as long or short as you want to, 2 doors,1 door or no doors. If you make a 2 door, you will have trouble squeezing your fat butt in there with the steering wheel in the way. Maybe you could use one of those racing steering wheels that come off... Mikey