Thread: Kustom Car Metal!

No, but I like to watch.

Besides, forming the metal and stuff gives rise to more questions.

So start the online tutorial!

P

Wow an online tutorial would have be truley massive to cover just the basics... its much like woodwork to me the more I do the better I get... err sometimes!
Ps. Nike, just do it!

Harry,
I used to do a bit, mostly just rust and dent repairs on the body work side but lots of running gear swaps. The rules got really tough in Qld a while back which pretty much coincided with me working really long hours so I gave it all away. The rules have relaxed a bit now (apparently they're making them uniform across all the states, just like the building code ) but I'm completely over tinkering. I rarely even service the cars myself. Plus all the stuffs getting very high tech now in the engine management side so besides all the engineering problems involved in a repower there's all the dramas of making the computer work.
Lived on a farm for a while where I had a huge workshop with a pit and an overhead girder trolley mounted block and tackle. It got to the point where I would have one or two projects happening, a whole swag of cars for parts and my daily runaround all parked there. Then friends and family started bringing cars, mowers and machinery in for repairs. I had suppliers couriering parts to my door and kids coming around asking for work :eek: . There's nothing like a hobby turning into a job to sour the enjoyment. I woke up one morning and looked at all the work lined up and realised I didn't want to do it anymore! Finished it all up and went back to building, just in time to catch the last bit of the boom before we had the recession we had to have.

Mick

Originally Posted by Harry72

How many here do work on car metal, like hand forming, rust repairs, dent removal.
I've done quite a few cars over the years, all the above and more, I'd really like to get into engineering side of cars abit more so I can fabricate chassis/structual parts for my up and coming project car... a 1967 HB Torana coupe(1st model torry... ala vauxall viva).
I intend to remove the roof and make a removable hard top, unsure what motor to run yet might go for a commondore V6. But I've been told the CC of the 3.8 V6 might not pass the rules, so a nissan SR20DET might pass maybe(2ltr/4cyl/16v/turbo).
Retro GTR/XU1 theme is what Im aiming for, you know the shark side flutes, GTR style rims, paint blackout's, front underside air dam, droptank...
Should turn a few heads at car shows I reckon!

Any of you guys doing cars at all?

Don't want to put a dampener on you but I hope you have an engineering degree because it will cost a fortune to employ one. I am not saying anything about your choice of vehicle.

Hot rodding - definately very cooool - if I had a garage and disposable income Id rat rod a 32 Ford Highboy or a 51 Mercury or even an old Jaguar - bolt on a supercharger, paint it black with a spraycan and maybe put a skull and crossbones on the side for that old style hot rod look.
Just dreaming at this point though. Definately going to make some decorative blacksmithed wrought iron/steel window security bars though. So much to do - so little time.

Originally Posted by

Don't want to put a dampener on you but I hope you have an engineering degree because it will cost a fortune to employ one. I am not saying anything about your choice of vehicle.

From what I've seen and heard(Im in a car modifying club)its not that hard to get chassis mods passed so long as you run it past a consulting engineer first!(yeah they charge a bit...)
For instance 1 of the club members just happens to be doing a HB torrie... get this its got a LC front end on it(as in the whole front of a Lc on it panels/chassis/Xmember)and it will be receiving a 253(god knows why), to facilitate this he's got a Castlemaine Rodshop LC/J V8 chassis full clip on it, its allready has been passed for the V8!
I intend to use 1 of these CRS kits but it must be modded to fit the HB chassis lenght(its 6" shorter and front rails are different heights)thats why my mate has a full LC front welded on. CRS will modd it at a price for me if I want... nearly double but its bolt it on!

Originally Posted by Harry72

From what I've seen and heard(Im in a car modifying club)its not that hard to get chassis mods passed so long as you run it past a consulting engineer first!(yeah they charge a bit...)
For instance 1 of the club members just happens to be doing a HB torrie... get this its got a LC front end on it(as in the whole front of a Lc on it panels/chassis/Xmember)and it will be receiving a 253(god knows why), to facilitate this he's got a Castlemaine Rodshop LC/J V8 chassis full clip on it, its allready has been passed for the V8!
I intend to use 1 of these CRS kits but it must be modded to fit the HB chassis lenght(its 6" shorter and front rails are different heights)thats why my mate has a full LC front welded on. CRS will modd it at a price for me if I want... nearly double but its bolt it on!

The lead in Pirie's getting to you isn't it?

Yeah its pretty hard to avoid it when you make it for a living...

Harry,

Sorry for the P!ss take, I have a friend of a friend who works for a company that does Kit cars. I can possibly get some info for you though I must admit I'm not all that sure I know what your after in this thread.

Himzo.

"After", just to see if many others here have a interest in modifying/restoring cars!
I allready know what I need too do for my project car!
I've got a job coming up in 2 weeks, bit of a jam job on a hilux... back on the tools again.(gotta pay for a new table saw somehow)

Hi,

If anyone is interested I have plans to manufacture an "Old English Wheel".
I'll post it if you like.

Glen.

I have a question. Sence I am a Yank I never have gotten into car rebuilding when I am in Coffs. Do you have regulations on what size engine you can use? Are there any other restrictions? We do not need inspections on anything we do over 25 years.

My brother inlaw lives in Penrith. He rebuilds cars from the ground up. He has never mentioned any restrictions.

I spend so much time playing architect and contractor that my spare time is spent more in my metal shop then the wood shop. My son and I just rebilt a 1966 Frod fairlane 500. 389 moter. We have no restrictions on cars older than 25 years. No smog or anything. Here in California that can be a big problem.

I am in need of a good small car to buy near Coff's this summer. I sold my old one. I want a clean good running car. If anyone has one forsale drop me a line at [email protected] or [email protected]
Thanks. Richard My inlaws live there and the do not use their garage.

Glen if you could post the put up or email theenglish wheel plans that would be great!

Do you know anywere that supplys the dies for them?


Ash

I have posted a few pictures of two kit cars that I built at http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=14089

I have some pictures of a few more kits as well as modifications on vehicles that I can post if there is any interest.

These were all done in South Africa and I have no idea on restrictions in Western Australia.