Get you some strong poster board type cardboard and duct tape. You can basically make the fenders that way to be sure that's the look you want. It will be a hell of a lot cheaper to waste some paper and know for sure before you start buying building materials.
So finally back to Fargo and back in shop getting reacquainted with the Demon. She has been slumbering plotting my demise no doubt. I have been looking at widening the stance and just not sure what I will do there. I was also starting to look at getting the master cylinder in place. At this point I am using the factory version to save some cash as I fear this thing is a black hole for money. Not satisfied I will stay with factory as it is huge. I just laid out a template of the mounting face and moved it around on the firewall seeing where it will fit. Within reason of course as the foot pedals are on the other side! It felt good to get back out there. We had the Fargo air show this weekend so I got to watch the Blue Angels twice. They totally rock, there is a reason our Country rules the air! Gives you goose bumps no matter how many times you have watched them. Hope all y'all are having a great summer
I am going with the traditional old school tall Hurst from a B body. I have two and would sell you my spare very reasonable if you have an interest. I also changed the top plate to accommodate. I bought a kit for it that fit flawlessly. Feel free to PM me with any questions at all on your new adventure as I may save you some serious grief. I cannot begin to tell you what a resource this forum has been for me during mine. These guys are a super wealth of knowledge and experience. It has saved me a zillion dollars!
Tim,
My memory fails me but when I get out in the shop this weekend I will see if I can find the receipt. I toss all the receipts in a box that I label Demon and swear I will organize some day. I store it next to my box labeled Cuda which has been on the road for years, which is next to the box labeled Challenger! That I swear I will organize some day. Wife says I just don't want to know!
Well....... Summer is officially over as the Winter solstice is here! Summers are short up here in Fargo and I simply could not rationally hide in shop and work on Demon! She was laying dormant awaiting my return, planning an ambush of roadblocks no doubt. Well the painter stopped by the shop and has given me a time slot for paint. Sadly It is only two short months off, 2/25/19. Do or die there is no try. The pressure is on, as I want to paint both inside and out I am a long way from ready. First hurdle is the Ginormous tranny (T-60) and the associated new tunnel to hide it. I took a picture of it raw as well as in place. Pipe wrap is your friend when doing layout on contoured surfaces. I don't have a huge fancy schmancy shop equipped with lasers and rollers so have to do the tunnel the old way with geometry and a simple brake. When doing this type stuff I always make my piece a bit large then gradually shape and trim to fit. All done with simple hand tools and a bit of skull sweat! All I need to do now is fabricate the "gap" pieces. Each one will have to be hand fit. Takes time but in the end it gives a much sturdier floor pan.
Looks good and know it will turn out great. Got some free time here soon so let me know if you need some help I'll come down I work cheep a good class of Bourbon after the work is done and I'm happy.
Next up is Dash. I had originally planned on utilizing the dash from the wrecked SRT I salvaged the motor from (Clevland Power) but in the end the complexities of all the things that were not the same from an electrical input standpoint made the existing modern dash not feasible. I have a Dakota dash in my Cuda and it has survived for several years no problems at all so I decided to go with Dakota for the Demon as well. Great product! I used some painless windshield wiper and light switches again using mistakes learned in previous adventures Painless is exactly that! I will then take the dash insert and weld it in place fabricating gap pieces by hand yet again. Seems to be a reoccurring theme on this build as everything is one of and you have to hand fabricate the part, reckon that is why we call it hot rodding. There are likely ways to simply buy a bunch of this stuff and there is clearly a million different ways to do it. This is just how I do them as I don't have a bunch of cash laying around.
It will look great. Are you doing a center counsel?
Fred you and your boys are always welcome, provided you bring dog treats for Hemi. There is a bottle of bourbon on the shelf for you! Hah!
Sounds good and the same here your always welcome here as long as you bring Hemi.
So like a raccoon something shiny lured me away from patch panels on tunnel. Figured I better start figuring out how to hang the steering wheel and sort out linkage. My goal was not to have 14 U joints in the steering linkage. I ended up with just two. Not actually a credit to my ingenuity but in actual fact a credit to how well the HDK front end is layed out and built. I realize there are multiple views on HDK all I know is what I have experienced with his components and service. He is passionate about what we do and his parts fit great. His integrity and dedication to do the right thing is unquestionable. I ended up short a bit of DD shaft so I will need to order another chunk. I know I have another piece in the shop but I have put it somewhere special so that it would not get lost. Surest way I know to find it is to order another piece.
I thought the front suspension was done up real well on your car it looks great.
It is the generic one from Summit. Down side is that it is not custom to the car. Just a blank if you will. You have to sort out how to make it work. The ones specific to the car from Idit or flaming river are more than double the cost. I would have to pull up my receipt but I want to say right around 350 dollars. I just made a bracket to fit the dash steering support braces then drilled em and attached my bracket. I will also have to support it at the firewall. Right now it is being held up via zip ties.
That's a lot cheaper. Shouldn't be to hard to make a lower support I think.
Pretty good day thrashing on the Demon. I spent the night rescuing folks using our large front end loader out of all the drifted snow from a storm in Fargo. Thus took the day off. Well kind of! Finally got the CAI finish trimmed and in its final place. I couldn't do that until I had radiator hard mounted. Tight fit all around! I have it tacked well and a root pass down on it. I will make a pretty cover pass then see about having it hydro dipped. Not sure on the hydro yet. Anyway I couldn't sort out all the angles and make the support bracing to frame rail without having the CAI in place. So long story short I hard mounted the radiator which allowed me to finish mitre the CAI which allowed me to then figure out bracing. Then I sorted out the master cylinder firewall position. Whew! What a pain, virtually everything you touch on a install like this has to be hand made. Sure makes you appreciate the skill and innovation of the early hot Rodders. That was a long winded paragraph! Pictures attached!
Looks like you got a lot done today and a nice job. You are right about the early hot rodders and I think today is the same we make it work. I am learning and have a long way to go but gonna do it.
So spent today trying to patch inner fenders where someone along the way butched em out to make room for big block headers is my guess. Then layed out the steering column support. Did em all in cardboard then in sheet metal. I fully realize some folks are thinking to them selves that of course I did them in cardboard. Keep in mind there are a whole bunch of folks new to the hobby on these forums so often times I post "how to" as opposed to just showing finished version. This way I pay off my Karma to a older gentleman who once upon a time took the time to walk me thru step by step many a craftsmanship issue with metal. Next weekend I will weld them all in.
Looks good that's what I would do. I see you got the steering column to firewall issue solved. you will be doing a lot of welding soon and would be nice to be there an learn your welding skills.
So yesterday I tackled the CAI box, a lot of folks do not make a box around the CAI but I think while it is a pain it does several positive things. Seperate air from road debris a bit and provides a bit of a heat barrier. I had to also get the overflow tank in place prior to the box on the CAI as that is a busy little area. Today is my day to empty my box and wipe it all down as I have a lot of metal dust in the air in my shop. I hate doing it but if you don't you end up with layers and layers of metal debris in your box so I do it on New Years every year. You will note the one pix is a shameless plug for Joey and FABO. This site has been invaluable to me for knowledge and learning this last year. Heartfelt thanks to Joey and all his moderators for keeping us in line. The shot of his beer coolie is least I could do in appreciation for all they do.
And here I thought the coolie was just another template. LOL Thank YOU and Joey. I admire you craftsmanship and your ability to explain and share your build with an entertaining perspective.
