Baller dbski Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 Making good progress on the hot rod. Suspension, brakes, pedals and steering all in mostly. One bit of frustration is that some parts are back ordered like the knuckles for the steering shafts. Have to jump around a bit waiting for parts to get her. The tie rods ends came today which was cool! It's more fun that I could have ever imagined and if you're thinking of building one at all I highly recommend it. The assembly is pretty straight forward, you occasionally have to massage a few parts but no big deal. One mistake I made is not ordering my crate motor earlier as it's going a lot faster than I estimated and I think I'm going to be on hold waiting it's arrival. Between working on the car and getting skis out I'm becoming a full time resident in my shop! I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skimtb Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 Looks fun. Keep updates coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Orlando76 Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 Looks like a blast. Is there a need to align and square something up with a laser? Or is it bolt up and play on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 18, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 @Orlando76 It's just bolt together. Everything so far on the frame has been spot on. I've watched a few videos of the Factory Five factory and production process and so far I've been impressed with the quality. Had to bend a few mounting tabs for clearance and grind a couple of welds for bolt heads and that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ed_Johnson Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 I know from building Airplanes, there were times I ate, slept, and worked for days at a time in the hanger. It can be really consuming, but really rewarding. It always seems like the last 10 percent takes the longest. Factory 5 has a good reputation and I'm familiar with their Cobra Kits. Good luck with your project and keep us informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller h2onhk Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 there's a car frame in the pics? All I saw was a powermatic table saw, nice 8" Jet long bed jointer, benchtop dewalt planer, compound miter saw, lathe and a whole rack of what appears to be exotic wood blanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BraceMaker Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 @h2onhk thats what I see as well but I say to myself - god that's going to make a mess of your project car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller wawaskr Posted December 18, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 18, 2018 @dbski were you able to get the '32 grill instead of the '33? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddF Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 cobra pbr brakes and what booster? what rack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 19, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 I ordered the kit just weeks before the new updated kit was announced. I would have still gone with the 33 grill over the 32. There's a zillion 32's in the hot rod world, not that many 33's. In addition there's also all the A's with deuce grills. I just like the 33 grill over the 32. The brakes are the standard ones that come with the kit, they are non-assisted. Again the rack is from Factory Five, not sure the source. Being my shop is primarily a wood shop sawdust is always a problem. The picture shows my attempt at addressing the problem. So far its working okay. I occasionally open the garage door and blow everything off with the air hose. Seems like someone should start a new thread about home shops. There is nothing like having a great shop! I'm not the most organized guy in the world but I know where everything is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller h2onhk Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 @dbski is that a CNC shop-bot in the background? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 19, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 Yes that's what I use to make my skis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chrislandy Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 Looks like a fantastic project, reminds me of when I built my kit car many moons ago. The chassis looks pretty good, although is that not a torsional and bending weak spot just at the transition from the front to the centre section? Where the side frame "dips" near your pedals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 19, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 @chrislandy If you look close there is a good size gusset at that joint and there are also truss like structures that go side to side in the floor area. The design has been around 10 years without any problems I'm aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chrislandy Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 Ah, I can see that now on the third picture, the first picture is almost in line with the gusset so missed it on that one. still, with my engineers eye, it doesn't seem right to have a gusset in a compression zone as they are inherently weak in compression buckling and stiffness. Factory 5 have a good name for themselves over in the UK too, I was just surprised to see that configuration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jhughes Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 Careful or I'm going to have to start posting about cars, guitars, watches, tools, and every other hobby I've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BraceMaker Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 @chrislandy - seems like a production change as well. Most photos of these seem to have steel tube there - but it does look like it makes the wheel well more accessible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 So you guys are talking about this gusset? The one that is flush with the outsides of the box tube, making it effectively an extension of the tube sides? I'm not understanding the problem here. Looks fine. Car is looking great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BraceMaker Posted December 19, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 19, 2018 If you look at it side on directly you'll see that the X tube and the lower tube are very close together maybe 6" apart - both forwards and rearwards of that cross point the frame has similar side tube separated wider - maybe 10" - based on where it is, I think it is a change they made so you can get your feet out of the wheel well. If you put the frame into a press and squished it you'd expect it to buckle downwards at that exact point where the gusset is. However what's not known would be - does the body provide strength/reinforcement to prevent that, and to what extent is it even an issue, you don't for instance know the thickness of the tube, the type of steel (could be mild could be chromo etc.), and in terms of handling sometimes it is nice when a frame has a bit of dynamic bend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller AdamCord Posted December 20, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 20, 2018 Where was all this expertise on compression zones and buckling strength when this thing came out? @dbski kick ass project! My dad has a Factory Five Cobra and it cranks the pucker factor right up to 11 when you stomp on the skinny pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 20, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 20, 2018 Must be winter when we're debating a known design. The frame is really beefy and you have to remember the car only weighs 2100 pounds when its done. Started running the wire today. Initially the pile of wire was a bit intimidating but I just studied the instruction manual a bit and by the end of the day I had most of the wiring loom mocked up. Now I know I screwed up not ordering the engine earlier. Guess I have to call Blueprint and see if I can motivate them to get it built faster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chrislandy Posted December 20, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 20, 2018 @dbski here's mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jetsetr Posted December 20, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 20, 2018 As someone who has fabricated and drives things that go really fast for 20+ years that chassis looks fine...plenty of triangulation probably a lot of it overkill. Think it’s going to weigh over 2100 when completed though. My last project weighs 1550. Chassis was 200, engine 450, body less than 150 and then all the other stuff...it adds up quick...but doesn’t really matter in your case either... It looks great and will be a blast!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dbski Posted December 20, 2018 Author Baller Share Posted December 20, 2018 @chrislandy Cool car! I'm pretty big gearhead, have no idea what it is. Is it fabricated or Miata based? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Jetsetr Posted December 21, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 21, 2018 deleted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller D3dude Posted December 21, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 21, 2018 Hmm...that one post seemed a bit uneccessary....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chrislandy Posted December 23, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 23, 2018 It's a UK kit car, a Shelsley T2 Mid engined, 2 seater, I built the engine from scratched based on a rover T16 engine (2.0L 200hp / 170lbft std), it's now 2.2L, turbo, forged everything, lightened.... you name it, it's over 300hp and 250lbft now on full chat. 800kg (1800lb)+ driver, 150mph, 0-60 in 4.5s It;'s not based on anything in particular, scratch designed chassis & bodywork, it uses some rover/lotus running gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dvskier Posted December 24, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 24, 2018 Is it street legal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller chrislandy Posted December 26, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 26, 2018 yup :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller dvskier Posted December 26, 2018 Baller Share Posted December 26, 2018 That would be a great drive on the Tail of the Dragon road in western NC. Mostly used for cafe racer motorcycles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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