Handbrake - over engineering at its best. 12/02/11

What I wanted to do was to use a vintage hand brake lever for my hand brake set up. The idea I had was to fit the lever the other way around so the pull lever is at the front of the handle.

I spent hours on this. I rigged up the unit so that the lever swings in the opposite direction to pull the handbrake cable forward.

The design worked and the cables moved in the right direction but the problem I had is that the lever didnt lock in place because the saw teeth were facing the wrong way. 

In the end I sorted out the problem by turning the handle the right way around.

Lake Pipes...12/02/11

I started with a pair of trumpets and four 2 inch mandrel bends. Countless hours spent cutting & grinding to get the right angles.

Passenger side tacked prior to welding.

Passenger side dummied up.

Completed drivers side. I made the steering to suit these lake pipes. If it doesnt pass inspection im toast.

I tried to cut these circles out with my oxy but it was playing up. Cuts were made with a grinder to get a rough round shape. Bench grinder was then used to get a perfect circle.

The iron cross pattern was drawn on paper than centre punched on to the plate. The punches were then drilled to about 2.5mm in the 4mm plate.

This is how the exhaust should look. Pipe going through the valance panel. 

Rack n Roll..Steering linkage. 12/02/11

First dummy up of steering shaft length.

Scrap RHS used to set clearance between engine mount and body.

Trial fit. Bearing spacer dummied up. XP falcon shafted turned down to suit Torana uni. Commodore spline turned down to suit Torana uni.

Checking clearance between rack and body.

Bearing support dummy up. Clearance checked, Torana uni between block and body.

Set up all done.

Boosted..11/02/11

Most rods have the brake booster under the car. I wanted to run mine under the dash. There are aftermarket under dash brake kits that sell for gigger dollars. The alternative is a right angle brake booster set up from a jap van.

Booster assembly being dummied up in position. At this stage had to work out were the steering coloumn and dash guages were going to be located.

The XB falcon booster was mated to the Jap van brake peddal assembly box.

I made this support brace to hold the steering column and brake booster in place.

The blue panel is what is left of the orginal fuel tank. The centre section of the tank is where the dash facia mounts. A aluminumn checker plate will be used for the dash fascia.

XP Falcon steering coloumn dunnied in position. Steering drop is from a blown hemi.

After the brace was dummied up I removed it from the car so I could fully weld it up.

Steel out..07/02/11

The inside of the car was held together with wood, nails and wood screws.

Centre pillar. 25mm x 50mm RHS. Control cuts to help bend without creasing. Alot of work for something you dont see.

Right angle bends. 4 were required to replicate the orginal wood bends. 20 control cuts in each to get a smooth bend. Alot of work agian for something that you dont see.

Right angle bends smoothed and dummied in place.

Rear window steel out frame. Orginally timber now 25mm x 25mm RHS

Rear window steel out frame completed.

Right angle bends used as basis for upper seat belt mounting plate.

Booted..07/02/11

Gemini tank mounted on a frame. Half way in the cab and half way in the boot. Off cuts used to work out how the floor would sit.

Boot floor is made in 3 pieces. It will be riveted in place.

Boot / Cabin devider. Petrol tank sits in the cavity.