Re: Leadsled custom with '56 Clipper taillights

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2022/11/4 9:58:15
I've been "working" on a similar project(23 series) - but more resto mod, but they say design is an iterative process, but it seems to go round in circles sometimes.
The current era issue is finding the sheet metal of sufficient quality to do these type "grafting" projects. The pile is shrinking. It takes much longer to make and requires more tools. eg: I made a stock cowl cover for my other project that suffers the common water holding rust out, and it took about 20 hours all in. Multiply by the number of pieces here and one needs an army of bodymen /welders/painters to turn them out in reasonable time, where you don't lose interest along the way. That's one reason I scaled back my "radicalization". It's nice to dream and surmise, but find the parts and the work involved is much more than most are willing to take on. And then you might have a car that no one is willing to pay the price for. Best if you live on the wet coast - better survival of the "tins". And the skill necessary to carry it out to the "Ridler" quality of some of these is expensive to farm out. You're in >$250K regime. It's not your father's hot rod era, plenty of cheap parts, not even mine and I was in it.
The "bath tub" design does not lend itself to major mods compared to some other cars.
I'd suggest, you take a copy of your "dream car" in the rough and blow it up, print a bunch of copies and then stylize to your hearts content and then you might get something you can live with.

Some major issues with this stated design; the x frame is not able to support modern HP. It's a $20+K bill to get a modern frame and suspension. So if you're budget is not 6 figures and many years rethink. "Bumper car" bumpers need major rethinking, but I think I've a solution. That might be the motivation to graft in something else's front and rear ends. But to cut and customize, then rechrome will set you back a months salary for the chrome.
Anyone wanting to discuss or possibly obtain a work in progress, email me. I'd trade or sell or whatever, offer support/suggestions. My other "driver" project took over the budget when it didn't drive so good. I'd sell or trade it as w/ or w/o.
Or you can buy one for half what it cost to build, once they're tired of it.

This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=249927