Finally found a moment to post some updates...

The journey continues with our signature style 'exterior/interior' wire-frame buck for the Speedster.  Much of the bending is done... as usual...  by hand.

Comparing the curves for rear 1/4's hoops.

Hoops tacked in place to indicate the body's extremities over the rear wheels.

Rockers taking shape.

Establishing the front area where the nose will meet the sides.

Checking the elevations of the cutline risers for the doors and engine sides with a temporary shoulder line.

Bending flat bar vertically without twisting or puckering can get a little tricky. It’s started by hand and then tightened up with a hammer.

Stepping back across the shop to check the body's flow.

With the shoulder lines looking 'right', the rear lines are created.

Thanks for checking in on the build.

Hey Gearhead, thanks very much for the awesome compliment, but I'm no Foose...

The gentleman we're building the roadster for just wants a clean cut custom driver that ... how did he put it, "won't eat too much out of his CPP to complete".   

Always love a challenge. 

invision wrote:

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Hey Gearhead, thanks very much for the awesome compliment, but I'm no Foose...

The gentleman we're building the roadster for just wants a clean cut custom driver that ... how did he put it, "won't eat too much out of his CPP to complete".   

Always love a challenge. 

 

 

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 No problem....I have to say, you are living the dream....

looks good Nick See you are finding some time for R2. What is it again that they say... All work and.... Forget it ....What do THEY know anyway .

Here we go with the body panels...

Created a full 8' length rocker template and transferring it onto sheet metal.




My Dad starting to shape(bend) the full length driver’s side rocker.

After a few more passes in the wheel the rocker is starting to take some shape. However, you can see from the buckles that we have a little ways to go.


Some more stretching and shrinking in the wheel takes care of the buckles. Yeap! For those not too familiar with the english wheel, it can be used to shrink metal too. Fun stuff! Now it’s time to mark and tip the flanges.




Passenger’s side rocker panel shaped and ready for the flange tipping process.


Have a great day and try to stay warm!  This weather is nuts!!

Thanks!

Here's another little update.



Metal blank for the grill shell is loosely bent over the buck.


The shrinking process is started.  We need to essentially mash the metal into itself reducing the perimeter length.  The panel looks pretty rough and mangled at this stage.  No worries though!


Tucks are all planished out.  Looking a little more like a shell.


Things are really starting to take shape. Excess material is trimmed way and the inner edge marked and rolled.

Moving to the rear, the driver's side 1/4 gets roughed in.

so when you make the peices for each side of the car, do you use the rods that are mocking up the body lines as a pattern?  how do you know each side of the cars sheetmetal is symetrical?  do you use patterns like race cars use to ensure they are the same?  this is rather incredible you can make a body from nothing but i suppose this is how they do them in the real world, ive never seen this type a fabrication before

fatstax wrote:

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so when you make the peices for each side of the car, do you use the rods that are mocking up the body lines as a pattern?  how do you know each side of the cars sheetmetal is symetrical?  do you use patterns like race cars use to ensure they are the same?  this is rather incredible you can make a body from nothing but i suppose this is how they do them in the real world, ive never seen this type a fabrication before

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Yeap, you got it Rob.  The buck is similar to a mannequin, perfectly symmetric from side to side. 

A pattern is made using key features from one side (or the other since they're identical), translated to metal and cut out.  Shaping the flat blank for one side then begins.  During the initial shaping process I use my eye to tell me where and how much the metal needs to be stretched or shrunk.  However, as the part gets closer, it's laid over the buck to determine the final tweaks.  Once final shaping is complete, the panel should sit on/fit the buck basically on it's own with no tension anywhere.  At this point the buck is used to indicate where the flanges need to be bent. 

A little update.

Manually rolling an edge on the rear cab panel.

After cutting out the flat blank, some initial shape is put into the panel ... which makes it bend the wrong way!!! No worries though.

Initial stump shrinking followed by some time in the wheel starts bringing it around where it needs to be. The fender flare isn't wide enough yet, so we'll need to address that.

Thank for the updates Nick . Amazing  work as always.

If one has a wee accident that results in a 'reshaped' panel, depending on the degree of deformation, the part can usually be massaged back into shape....right on the vehicle. Or, if it's too severe, cut away the damaged area ... have a new one hammered out and installed.

Thanks guys!

No doubt if you can build all panels for the whole car, fixing a messed up one, although heart breaking would defiantly be doable for you guys.

Moving forward with the grill.


Piece ready to be tacked.




Dad adjusting the lower features.


Cleaning up the tacks.


Ready for final welding.

Hi everyone,

Overall front 3/4 view...


...and here’s the front view with a pair of wheels I pulled off the shelf that are close in diameter to what the car will be running with. Aside from them sitting a little high(due to the box tubing cross members) it gives a pretty good idea.


Still have a little metal shaping left to fill the holes.

Cat in the Hat wrote:

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That would be incredible with Indy car suspension with inboard ( hidden) shocks

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 Like a prowler