Projekt Hoopty -- rear hatch and 20 other new photos (01 May 06)

This is what I've been waiting for for the last 14 months!
We rolled the old girl out yesterday for the debut of the rear deck and tilted it without a hitch.
There are a whole slew of new photos in there, all of them dated 043006 and all with content descriptions meant to help answer the questions about how we were going to try doing this. Truth is, we had a sketch on a piece of paper, but didn't really know until the body and the engine compartment space requirements caused us to build around the carbs and shroud.
What a ride the last few days have been. Now I have to drill all those holes for the sheet metal attachment points and see what's what about the engine and tranny.
Please let me know here in the forum what you think of the progress -- I'm still trying to make the PA show in under three weeks.
Mel, thanks for the tail light lenses. They look great!

Nice Cory...you can make Carlisle.
I have ten hours to go of misc. on the Street Beasts...runs, drives and shines!

Cory
You should post your name under "makers".Wow what a great job!!

Thanks, fellas.
Alan, I haven't even started the sheet metal or plumbing yet, to say nothing of cracking the engine and tranny cases. I haven't ordered the short axles, MSD or electrical components yet, and I haven't run any wires. If I make the show under my own power, I'll be the most surprised person there.
Lambros, no chance. I'm NEVER doing this to myself again! I can't think of a higher compliment, though, especially considering the company I'm keeping on this site. Thank you!
Is that YOU in the RSK? Sweet ride!
On a tech note, the rear hatch thingie would not be possible the way I've done it if I had used a VW Type I engine. The mounting bolts on the Type IV are the holes I used for the beam-mount and stud arrangement that holds the whole works up. I'll be adding two locator pins for the front and back skins, and Dzus tabs to hold the fenders down and lock them in place. The hood and decklid will be held in place with hood pins supported from the larger front and back body pieces.
Then I'll start with bead-rolling the tinwork and a wiring diagram. Sooner or later, I'll put the floor plates in.

Cory, I'm a bit shocked. It looks as though you have spared no expense or effort.
But a "maglite" for a wheel chock? Thats a bit over the top
nice job=looks great

I wondered where that thing went!
Sartwell's been hiding it since I told him I wanted to mount it right next to the extinguisher on the tunnel.

Cory; Just trailer her into the fire house and get everyone to pitch in!

I'm sure the excitement of getting her done must be unbearable. It's also the time when you rush through things in hopes of meeting your deadline. Time when MURPHY the assistant starts making his presence felt. You get what i'm getting at...

You finish her when you finish her. It's looking really awesome that's for sure!

Thanks, Mel. I'm going back to continue work on her tomorrow, and I won't be coming up for air until Thursday. I put the lenses you sent on yesterday - they're fantastic - and now I have to do all the little grunt stuff. Ain't going to be a good time, I promise.

In the words of Tom Leykis -- "Un-bee-leevable!"

Looking good Cory. And Mel's right -- don't let the deadline become more important than the finished product. Finish it the way you want it.

Doing the past speedster builds, it's funny how when all seems to fall behind, some how....it ends up coming together just under the wire. You have to right attitude..even if not 100% done it will be at Carlisle.

This is a detail shot from yesterday's efforts.

Hey Cory; hows about hiding some glowing red/blue lights behind the scoops. Would look pretty cool at night.

Did you consider using that woven stainless mesh that someone was using for the headlight grill project. Inexpensive enough and should be pretty forgiving to work with too...

Cheers

Mel,
No can do on the colored lights. Even though I've got red ones on the fire truck, on my personal vehicle that's a huge no-no in Maryland. If the cop was already interested in you, that little vehicle code violation's worth fifty-five bucks to the People's Republic.
I do have some mesh stuff to use as a fallback. I went to the local junk market and bought a grill surface from an old Weber. I tossed the barbeque in the dumpster, but the steel bit was okay and serviceable.
If I can't cut the hibachi in half and fit it in a way that looks like it might have been "correct" (whatever that means to me anymore), I'll use this eighth-inch steel stuff instead.
I swear on a stack of TV dinners that I'll be getting those lenses off to you, too. You'll have a matched set of red-and-ambers, plus the oddball for the TC treatment. The red ones are growing on me.
Fair trade? Got a phone number?

Yo Cory, those red lenses are for you to keep! No need to send your euro versions if that was your thought. As far as TC's he can keep that one too if he can put it to some use. I just want you to know that it took alot for me to say that...Pack Rat here.

I was kinda hoping that the red lenses would make us even stevens for the wheel strap...

check your e-mail - M

We're square on the strap, my man. I owe you the bracket. I guess I'll send that to you and three lenses to TC? He's got dibs on the parts bin on this end.