Wooden Buck | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Wooden Buck

Discussion in 'Recreations & Non-Period Rebodies' started by 360modena2003, Apr 1, 2014.

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  1. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
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    Matt F
    Even though they're in the US, give Ron Covell and Kent White (tinmantech.com) a call and ask them who's good in Europe or the Middle East.

    Another suggestion: look at some Hot Rod magazines. There are a lot of unique, handmade metal bodies, and the articles often mention who did the work. Riddler Award contenders, for example.

    What are you using for a chassis?

    Matt
     
  2. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    Matt, excellent idea.

    Chassis, since I want something very drive-able and hassle free, I may go with something like this:
     
  3. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    #28 360modena2003, Apr 6, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    "off the shelf" everything solved, drive train, suspension, braking, steering, and with valid title, and "almost" period correct...late 20' vs 30'.


    - the only problem I am seeing is with the front and rear track, the Alfa has a much narrower track front and rear - wheel base is very close and easy to modify.


    Comments, suggestions?
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  4. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    What's the wheelbase and front and rear track of the Alfa?
     
  5. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    Wheelbase is 2800 mm (110 inches) and track is 1350 mm (53.1 inches)

    Thank you for any suggestions
     
  6. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    I'll post some pictures of my 1932 Ford and my attempt to build a custom body for it.

    The '33 to '38 Fords all had a 112" wheelbase. Front and rear track can vary by what axles and suspension configurations you want to use.

    I'll post more when I can.

    Matt
     
  7. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    Great, thank you.
     
  8. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
    2,329
    What body did you build for it? Do you still have it?
     
  9. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    My pictures are at work. I can upload them on Monday.

    It was a fairly stock 1932 Ford. I sold it as a project, and the new owner put a Brookville body on instead.

    Matt
     
  10. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #35 Smiles, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    OK.

    The first picture is the 1932 Ford chassis by itself. (Behind it is the '68 Buick my wife's grandmother bought new.)

    The next two pictures are of the chassis with temporary floors and seats, with firewall and gas tank installed, one side view and one ariel view. These were very helpful for drawing the general lines of the body. I was going for a boat-tail roadster with low cutouts in the side rather than working doors for simplicity.
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  11. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #36 Smiles, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    For building the body buck, I started with MDF, and picked a curve that I liked. I shaped this curve with welding rod, and then cut out out of MDF. In a similar way, I cut out a longitudinal spine from MDF.

    Once I had a T of MDF, I filled in the overall shape with welding rod.

    I then used the welding rod to cut further pieces of MDF, essentially creating a series of cross-sections which would serve as the body buck.
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  12. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #37 Smiles, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Welding rod is great for sketching things out in three dimensions. It's easy to shape, but holds that shape. Here it's being used to define the body cutouts for the doors. The seats are older Jaguar red leather pieces that I found very cheaply on eBay.

    The next step is to lay down a piece of posterboard, cut out what reasonably fits to the buck, and transfer this to metal. In my case, aluminum.
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  13. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #38 Smiles, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    #39 Smiles, Apr 21, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    At this stage I became aware that the Ariel Atom was available in the USA, then being built by Brammo.

    I bought this one, which meant I sold the Ford for garage space and extra money. Like many car projects I had gotten stalled and was looking for something new. For a while I had both a 330 2+2 and the Atom. Both are now gone.
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  15. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    So that's what I know about building a body on a chassis.

    I highly recommend using a Ford chassis. If you want an antique and authentic feel, get an original one. They're out there because people pull nice steel bodies off for hot rod use. If you'd rather have modern performance, there are a number of chassis manufacturers out there. Pick up a copy of Hot Rod magazine.

    Here's a video of my very first startup of this car:

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV73gEtQL2s]1932 Ford chassis with 21 stud LB Flathead -- First Start - YouTube[/ame]

    With Smithy mufflers, a flathead Ford sounds really, really good. Unique.

    Good luck. Let me know if I can help in any way.

    Matt
     
  16. TTR

    TTR F1 Veteran
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    Just curious, why is this thread (still) in the vintage Ferrari section ? Wouldn't it be better fit at some "other makes/models" or "special projects" section ?
     
  17. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Good point.

    Now moved to the rebodies section. Special projects are outside my specialty and moderator capacity.

    Matt
     
  18. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
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    Fantastic - thank you so much. This is more or less what I have in mind.
     
  19. Vincent Vangool

    Vincent Vangool Formula 3

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  20. George Vosburgh

    George Vosburgh F1 Rookie
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    Very interesting Demo videos.
     
  21. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
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    Ron Covell, who I really like. I took an in-person class with him, which included gas welding aluminum sheet, which isn't easy, particularly since aluminum doesn't change color the way steel does.

    Building a body:

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMk-uJ35T0c]Roadster Body Part 1 - YouTube[/ame]

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtHj34WQCCk]Roadster Body Part 2 - YouTube[/ame]

    Matt
     
  22. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
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    Amazing - he makes it look so easy.

    This a true art and may be one of the last "hand made" crafts left in car building - the main reason being that it is simply far too expensive to have machines do this in low volumes.
     
  23. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
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    And this is how its done with the use of machines:

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydoEJnwMlnk]Stamping Plant Tour - YouTube[/ame]
     
  24. Vincent Vangool

    Vincent Vangool Formula 3

    Oct 6, 2007
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    Zanskar, Kargil district, Ladakh, India
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    Their is a decent sized community of craftsmen that still shape bodies one way or another.
     
  25. 360modena2003

    360modena2003 Formula 3

    Jul 11, 2009
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    Yes, just need to find the right one and the right price - many are top dollar that are commissioned to built one-off bodies for "limitless budget" HNV individuals.
     

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