Gray Goats Rod and Custom

 Well let's continue, Having modified both the body and cowl it was now time to rejoin them but first the final measurement needed to be determined and the final amount was the result of a combination of side and rear views.  The side view was to be sure their was sufficient leg room, and the rear view was to examine the flow of the body line from front to rear.  When satisfied that all was in order the sections were screwed down to the build table being careful once again to align everything along the center line. Hardboard was then used to bridge the gap after it was covered in foil.   Glass was then applied and after a day or so to harden the mold materials were removed exposing a now rejoined body with a lot of finishing work to do. I also took this chance to remove the side body lines associated with Ford design as well as the door lines commonly associated with fiberglass T buckets.  Following entries will deal with body work and the addition of Chevr...

 So now that the body is both wider and deeper the cowl is next on the modifications list.  I took the step when ordering to specify a 3" wider 1927 style cowl so the only modification necessary is additional material along the bottom edge.  T determine how much needed to be added the firewall was placed on the table in front of the body.   The requisite amount was 4 3/4" so after making hardboard extensions they were covered in packing tape to keep the glass from adhering and were then supported by additional framing before more fiberglass was added. The last step before rejoining the cowl to the main body was to remove a curvature in the cowls rearmost section (the area that will rejoin the body"  This was done by attaching wooden strips with screws to straighten the surfaces while additional glass was added to resist the curve.  When the glass was removed the desired effect had been achieved, straightened side panels  :) With the sides now stra...

 In the last entry we looked at steps one and two, removing the 1923 style cowl and widening the rear of the body by 6".  In this entry we will cover the steps needed to cut the body along its length and rejoin it adding 4" to the depth of the body.  After marking the appropriate location for the cut a massive "haircut" ensued. Small sections of scrap plywood were screwed in place and the removed section carefully mounted 4" above their previous location and backward so that the rear curvature of the body was maintained. As before foil backed tape was used to fill the gaps.  Perhaps not an elegant solution but it does work. Of course when the first glass is laid inside, the wood strips are removed and the holes they left are likewise filled. Well that covers the increase in depth, stand by next entry as we modify the already 3" wider cowl adding just over 4" in height allowing it to align with the now deeper body.  

 In this entry I'll cover the second modification to the original body.  The first was cutting off the 1923 style fire wall but that operation's simplicity render it's inclusion unnecessary.   I started by marking the rear section where I intended to cut.  It could have been a straight cut from top to bottom, but by using a "keyed" cut helps keep the body in line when rejoined, and also makes the joint longer and hence stronger when rejoined. The cuts were made outside whenever possible to avoid contaminating the garage The two halves were then screwed down keeping them square using the center line painted on the table earlier Aluminum covered foil was then taped in place over the gaps to support the new glass being placed to fill the openings. While making this modification I also chose to increase the area along the bodies bottom creating and additional floor  Well that covers making it 6" wider, the next entry will cover making it taller :)

  Ok so this post is a bit out of order but like I said on the opening page it is different from your average blog in that things posted have already happened so the order of posting is a bit flexible. I have been asked to detail more clearly where I deviated from the original Chevrolet design and why.       I made some changes for aesthetics and some for more practical reasons.   My basic theory comes from examining the cars I really like and trying to figure out why I found them so appealing.   Watching an interview with Chip Foose one day he condensed his design theory into a simple form even I could understand.   Basically it consists of looking at the overall design and taking away any ugly or distracting parts while improving the overall flow of the vehicle.   Anything that stands out as out of place or disturbs the flow of the lines should be fixed.   Details should appear only on close examination but should disappear when you ...

  Ok so this post is a bit out of order but like I said on the opening page it is different from your average blog in that things posted have already happened so the order of posting is a bit flexible. I have been asked to detail more clearly where I deviated from the original Chevrolet design and why.       I made some changes for aesthetics and some for more practical reasons.   My basic theory comes from examining the cars I really like and trying to figure out why I found them so appealing.   Watching an interview with Chip Foose one day he condensed his design theory into a simple form even I could understand.   Basically it consists of looking at the overall design and taking away any ugly or distracting parts while improving the overall flow of the vehicle.   Anything that stands out as out of place or disturbs the flow of the lines should be fixed.   Details should appear only on close examination but should disappear when you ...

  As I will be doing a lot of fiberglass work on these pages I should take a few minutes to talk fiberglass, resin choices and safety.   First a few words on safety and comfort.   Most folks find fiberglass itchy and irritating on their skin.   I wear long sleeves, a head cover and gloves in addition to safety goggles and a filtering mask when sanding, grinding or cutting fiberglass.   If that powdery residue flying off your grinding wheel is that irritating to your skin imagine what it can do to your eyes and lungs!!   Be safe folks.   My desire here is not to fill you in on every detail of fiberglass safety, just to tell you to do your reading before you do yourself permanent harm!    Oh and by the way when I work with the resin the mask is switched from a particulate to a vapor filtering mask, I can’t afford to lose any of my few remaining brain cells. Fiberglass, most of the work done here will be with various weights of mat, which is...

  I had planned for this entry to be the first modifications but after realizing the amount of preparation required and some of the pre modification difficulties encountered I thought I would include them since this is about the reality of, not the fantasy of both building something completely new First I am doing my development work in a small and very crowded single car garage and a brief visit with my tape measure revealed that I had some major re-organizing to do to make the room this project would require.   Second I am making do with basic tools I already have on hand unless there is absolutely no way to accomplish a given task without buying a tool.   I have started and run successful small businesses in the past all with the common start up factor of being debt free.   As for using what’s available, s couple years’ back when we had purchased a new kitchen table I had taken the legs of the old heavy wood one and stored it against the garage wall for just...

  The long awaited day has arrived! Ok so it was only four weeks, which was better than the five to seven I was told it could be before my original parts arrived.   I got a call from the local trucking terminal yesterday and my body parts are in.   I had to wait until today as my 12 hour shift starts before the terminal is open for pick up and ends after they have gone home.   So bright and early this morning I put some blankets, tie down straps and extra rope just in case in the little white extra cab S-10 that does hauling duty for our family and headed across town. I ordered a 1923 body and 1927 cowl from a company up north and they arrived beautifully packed on a pallet wrapped in heavy cardboard.   The folks were friendly and the delivery was timely but I won’t mention them by name because they may or may not like what I ended up doing with their parts.   When I got these home I was glad I had purchased them to build a custom body with, and not to ...

  Howdy folks and welcome to the opening salvo from the Grey Goats Rod & Custom Home of the one, the only, the original C Bucket Roadster First some house keeping: This site is not associated or affiliated with, sponsored by, or connected with in any way any manufacturer mentioned within.  It in no way represents their opinions or ideals, nor does it have their endorsement.  This site records the process I used and methods I employed to build my car.  You are responsible for anything you build, and for the methods you use to build it.  I am not responsible for any injury you incur should you seek to duplicate things seen on these pages.  Some of the things I do and or ways I do them are dangerous and may result in serious injury or death.  You agree to assume all liability for trying anything you may see here.  If you do not agree to this go no further.  If you do continue viewing this site you will be considered to have ass...