http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUnPgmSQ9Pg&feature=related
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A Little Inspiration
Well, I've been so tied to my work lately, that there's been little to write regarding SusieQ. So maybe a little inspiration is in order. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUnPgmSQ9Pg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUnPgmSQ9Pg&feature=related
Friday, March 2, 2012
GT/CS Deck Lid
Saw this F/G deck lid for a Shelby / GT/CS on E-Bay a few weeks back. Thought about going after it as they are pretty rare but decided I had more important things to spend the car budget on. No one bit on it at $495 but I noticed it was posted again this week.
And since I'm on deck lids, I can describe what I have in mind in that area. I don't particularly like the 67/68 Shelby deck lids. The spoiler is just too high for me and seems out of proportion when viewed from behind. So what I'm thinking is getting an aftermarket one from Tony Branda and trimming about an inch out of the top of it then re-profiling the 1/4 end-caps to match. This will result in a look much closer to the 70/71 Torino deck lid - which for me is one of the best looking integral rear spoilers out there. Subtle yet distinctive.
And in the spirit of full disclosure - a 71 Torino GT was my first car. Bright red with laser-fade stripe down the side. Beautiful car when she was brand new. Unfortunately I rescued mine from a barn yard and put 2 gallons of bondo in the quarters to get it inspected. When my Dad slid out from under it one day after running a screw driver through a rear frame rail, we decided she had outlived her usefulness. I actually was working my way through college at time down at the local junk yard. So I was there the day they fed her to the Shredder. Very sad. I did managed to grab the driver's racing mirror off her just before she took the plunge. Still have it hung from the peg board in the basement. Our first cars always stick with us don't they?
rj
 |
| 67/68 Shelby / GT/CS deck lid |
And since I'm on deck lids, I can describe what I have in mind in that area. I don't particularly like the 67/68 Shelby deck lids. The spoiler is just too high for me and seems out of proportion when viewed from behind. So what I'm thinking is getting an aftermarket one from Tony Branda and trimming about an inch out of the top of it then re-profiling the 1/4 end-caps to match. This will result in a look much closer to the 70/71 Torino deck lid - which for me is one of the best looking integral rear spoilers out there. Subtle yet distinctive.
 |
| Torino Cobra w/ integral spoiler |
And in the spirit of full disclosure - a 71 Torino GT was my first car. Bright red with laser-fade stripe down the side. Beautiful car when she was brand new. Unfortunately I rescued mine from a barn yard and put 2 gallons of bondo in the quarters to get it inspected. When my Dad slid out from under it one day after running a screw driver through a rear frame rail, we decided she had outlived her usefulness. I actually was working my way through college at time down at the local junk yard. So I was there the day they fed her to the Shredder. Very sad. I did managed to grab the driver's racing mirror off her just before she took the plunge. Still have it hung from the peg board in the basement. Our first cars always stick with us don't they?
rj
Thursday, February 9, 2012
More Steering Wheels
Found a good resource for steering wheels tonight. Here's the link:
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0710sr_steering_wheel_guide/index.html
I found 2 wheels from Billet Specialties that really caught my eye.
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0710sr_steering_wheel_guide/index.html
I found 2 wheels from Billet Specialties that really caught my eye.
Steering Wheel Advice
Since we are still swamped at the robot shop - about all I can do is some evening parts searching for SusieQ. I'm about ready for a steering wheel as the interior is nearly done except for putting the seats in. Which I'll probably hold off on doing until the convertible top frame is rehab'ed. I see no reason to work around them if I don't have to.
I've definitely decided I want a 15" wheel - mostly because I have a non-power steering car. And as it is intended for my wife, I don't want her having to muscle it around while parking. It will be tough enough with a 15" wheel w/o handicapping her further with a smaller one. Unfortunately that really narrows the available choices.
Obviously the LeCarra / Moto Lita's come immediately to mind but the wood-look just doesn't fit our car. I changed the woodgrain dash to the black camera finish so there's really nothing that would tie a wood steering wheel to the car. But they are beautiful wheels.
LeCarra makes two styles I really like, but of course, they only come in 14"
I think the slots would complement our wheel choice nicely:
If it wasn't for the slight dish, I would just waterjet what I want out of some 7075 aluminum sheet, attach a wood rim to it and then have someone wrapped it in leather. Or alternately buy a wooden MotoLita and do the same thing though that seems almost sacrilege to cover up one of those beautiful wheels in leather.
Over thinking it? Just buy the wooden Moto Lita and move on? Alternatives that I don't know about? All comments welcomed - except using the exceptionally ugly original one with the flower vase that poses as the center cap. Whew someone took the ugly stick to those things!!
I've definitely decided I want a 15" wheel - mostly because I have a non-power steering car. And as it is intended for my wife, I don't want her having to muscle it around while parking. It will be tough enough with a 15" wheel w/o handicapping her further with a smaller one. Unfortunately that really narrows the available choices.
Obviously the LeCarra / Moto Lita's come immediately to mind but the wood-look just doesn't fit our car. I changed the woodgrain dash to the black camera finish so there's really nothing that would tie a wood steering wheel to the car. But they are beautiful wheels.
LeCarra makes two styles I really like, but of course, they only come in 14"
I think the slots would complement our wheel choice nicely:
If it wasn't for the slight dish, I would just waterjet what I want out of some 7075 aluminum sheet, attach a wood rim to it and then have someone wrapped it in leather. Or alternately buy a wooden MotoLita and do the same thing though that seems almost sacrilege to cover up one of those beautiful wheels in leather.
Over thinking it? Just buy the wooden Moto Lita and move on? Alternatives that I don't know about? All comments welcomed - except using the exceptionally ugly original one with the flower vase that poses as the center cap. Whew someone took the ugly stick to those things!!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Useful Photo Link
Found a 68 Shelby Convertible for sale on Ebay - a mere $139,995.00 and she's yours!!!
A very nice collection of photos though that might useful to some of you. Especially a shot of the lower reinforcement plate that we have been batting back and forth. This is installed in the same orientation as mine.
Here's the link. A spectacular car!!!
68 Shelby Convertible pics
A very nice collection of photos though that might useful to some of you. Especially a shot of the lower reinforcement plate that we have been batting back and forth. This is installed in the same orientation as mine.
Here's the link. A spectacular car!!!
68 Shelby Convertible pics
Monday, January 2, 2012
What's happening at the robot shop
Hi everyone,
Hope you've all had a great holiday season and found some time to fit in a little garage work. Unfortunately my work has continued to interfere with getting back to SusieQ. Though this has little to do with our common ground, Mustang restoration - I thought you all might find it a bit interesting.
My company designs and builds mobile robots. Big ones, little ones - in between ones. We also 'robotize' vehicles. Bulldozers, cars, trucks, utility vehicles, lawn mowers, 50 ton land mine destroyers - if it has a gas pedal and steering wheel, we can turn it into a robot.
But in late October, we landed a job a bit outside our normal scope of work. We hooked up with an ad agency that asked us to design and fabricate a robotic couch for Conan O-Brien's show in New York City. It was an intense 3 week build that had more 21 hr days in it than I cared for but when you are having fun, sleep is typically irrelevant. TBS required the ad agency to produce a 'making of the couch' video as part of the contract. So we were followed around the shop like those guys on Orange County Chopper - which though intense, didn't result in any chairs being thrown through windows or doors being kicked in. Here's a link to the video. I'm the old guy with the grey beard.
Couch Video
Immediately after this 3 week firestorm, our waterjet arrived and we rolled straight into infrastructure upgrades to support it. Accomplished quite a bit over the Holidays and got the building-in-a-building completed and water/heat/electric plumbed in. Just down to getting the step-up transformer wired in. Here's a shot of the building-in-a-building. The car is actually just behind my back in this photo. Once we get up and cutting, I'm hoping to give her a little time. Until then we have to keep the bills paid.
Hope you've all had a great holiday season and found some time to fit in a little garage work. Unfortunately my work has continued to interfere with getting back to SusieQ. Though this has little to do with our common ground, Mustang restoration - I thought you all might find it a bit interesting.
My company designs and builds mobile robots. Big ones, little ones - in between ones. We also 'robotize' vehicles. Bulldozers, cars, trucks, utility vehicles, lawn mowers, 50 ton land mine destroyers - if it has a gas pedal and steering wheel, we can turn it into a robot.
But in late October, we landed a job a bit outside our normal scope of work. We hooked up with an ad agency that asked us to design and fabricate a robotic couch for Conan O-Brien's show in New York City. It was an intense 3 week build that had more 21 hr days in it than I cared for but when you are having fun, sleep is typically irrelevant. TBS required the ad agency to produce a 'making of the couch' video as part of the contract. So we were followed around the shop like those guys on Orange County Chopper - which though intense, didn't result in any chairs being thrown through windows or doors being kicked in. Here's a link to the video. I'm the old guy with the grey beard.
Couch Video
Immediately after this 3 week firestorm, our waterjet arrived and we rolled straight into infrastructure upgrades to support it. Accomplished quite a bit over the Holidays and got the building-in-a-building completed and water/heat/electric plumbed in. Just down to getting the step-up transformer wired in. Here's a shot of the building-in-a-building. The car is actually just behind my back in this photo. Once we get up and cutting, I'm hoping to give her a little time. Until then we have to keep the bills paid.
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