Karen's 1927 'T' Bodied Roadster
February 2009. Work has finally started on the 1927 'T' bodied roadster for Karen, long time partner of 'Bounty Hunter' altered driver Graham Millett. The car will be four link equipped with ARC housing, ARC anti roll bar, Strange axles and rear shocks, Willwood front and rear brakes, and MW front torsion bar suspension. The engine is a Gibson Racing Engines built 390 cube small block Chev backed with a glide. Power levels hoped for indicate that the car should run easy mid to low eights.
03.03.2009. The chassis is progressing pretty quickly with Graham attending the workshop as much as possible, doing all the tedious notching and tube fitting jobs. At current pace, chassis should be complete in around 4 weeks. Welding is happening as soon as sections of the frame are ready, considerably speeding up the job, ensuring lengthy welding sessions aren't required at the end.
24.03.2009: The car is coming together very quickly due to the time Graham is able to devote to it at the moment. Most of the frame is complete except for the rollcage which will be installed once the engine and body are mounted. Photo 12 below shows the finish that can be achieved when accurate tube notching is carried out.
29.11.2009: Progress has slowed somewhat due to Graham having a busy time with his work, and ARC the same. The chassis is completely finished including the cage, and all the time consuming items are basically complete. The car has 2 drivers of vastly different sizes which has necessitated 2 of everything, including brake pedals, throttle, steering columns and shifter mounts. The false floor is complete, housing, 4 link etc done, front axle to go. Fibreglass guru Rob Napier should be finished on Tuesday, and with luck the car will be rolling by Christmas.
August 2012. The roadster is ready to roll. The past few months has seen Karen and Graham burning the midnight oil to present this beauty. Stunning paint showcases this beautifully finished car. If it goes as good as it looks it will be a winner.
Images
Click on an image for a larger view.
Photo 1. Initial mock up of the body to ascertain dimensions for set up on jig.
Photo 2. Body mounted on jig with nearly complete ARC 9"+ housing in place.
Photo 3. Another view of body mounted on the jig ready for chassis fabrication.
Photo 4. Graham making sure he fits in case of tightening of the sphincter mussle!
Photo 5. Car is being built with assymetrical shoulder hoop and chassis to make removal of the tapered body a breeze.
Photo 6. 4 link brackets installed and bulkhead area welded. Rear of chassis taking shape.
Photo 7. Body has been removed for the next few weeks to allow straight forward barwork installation.
Photo 8. Rear of frame fast taking shape. Unusual upper bar shape is required to clear the deck lid.
Photo 9. Rear of frame is complete apart from shock mounts, tailshaft loop and body mounts. Parachute tether will attach to rear end housing in this car due to rear body height.
Photo 10. Drivers compartment almost complete apart from roll cage and gearbox mount.
Photo 11. Upper front frame rails in place. Rails splay from the front engine plate to the firewall hoop to allow mounting of the funny car steering box alongside the the engine ahead of the oil filter pad.
Photo 12. Joint finishs like this are a product of the patience & accuracy necessary when notching. (Graham is a gunsmith!)
Photo 13. Chassis is finished, body mounted, seat etc all done. At present (29.11.2009) fibreglass guru Rod Napier is weaving his magic.
Photo 14. Body mounted, photo prior to cowl being glassed in.
Photo 15. Front view, radiator surround yet to be shortened.
Photo 16. On the ground and ready for final fitout and paint. The roadster should be ready for debut around mid July 2012.
Photo 17. August 2012 and the roadster is ready to race.
Photo 18. Not much room under the hood for the rocker boxes.
Photo 19. subtle flame graphics against the Ford Focus orange.
Photo 20. Super sanitary engine and as usual Grahams meticulous attention to detail. (transmission cover missing in this picture)
Photo 21. Just count yourself lucky she hasn't brought along her gun!
Photo 22. The 'A' team.
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