roadracer55
07-29-2007, 04:35 PM
Hey Guys! This is my first day here, so haven't done much more than read some of the pro-touring threads which all seem to focus on what diameter of people's wheels is acceptable. :fingersx:
But I thought I'd run my car past you to see what you all thought - it doesnt quite fit in any category as you'll see.
It started out when I built a GT40 replica (GTD40) in England back in the early/mid-90's. I had as lot of fun driving the ass off it - 60k miles in two years and alot of miles on race circuits.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/100794788_64e2182c35_o-1.jpg
To be honest I thought the car was quite crude, so I decided to build a hot rod that would be faster around the track than the '40. That meant stiffer chassis made from round-tube, AP racing brakes (F1 front, F3000 rear), 10pt cage, multi-link IRS, IFS and lots more power from a 8000rpm, dry-sumped 383 sbc. I even sprung for some air-jacks (I was young and between wives at the time :yeah:)
Anyway, the short story; I had a minor crash at the track, it went into storage, I got married, emigrated to the US, changed jobs and had 3 kids. That took 10 years!
Last November I get it out of storage and start work on it again. This time I wanted a 55 chevy body (same wheelbase as the chassis and have you SEEN two lane blacktop? :)) so I bought a 'glass body without floor and started modifiying to suit. New rollcage, steering (was RHD in England, now obviously I want LHD in Atlanta) and new oil tank, radator, catch tanks etc (ruined in the crash).
Now my wheels will be a problem with some on here I'm sure. I needed to choose new wheels cos the 55 was wider than my old body. And I just couldnt get the 18's that I was using to look right under the (very) low 55. They look plain *wrong*.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/351872477_058d745737-1.jpg
My thoughts:
1. my chassis is very stiffly sprung and low - great for track, not so much for 20k+ miles a year street miles
2. new wheels (e.g bbs) was going to cost me a small fortune - and that well's dried up folks
3. I'm a big fan of traditional hot rods - in looks at least.
So I made a radical choice that I love (and ain't I the only one that counts?!!) - widened mopar cop steel wheels and 70's series tires.
*stunned silence*
hehe. Yeah, well. So I have a race car that basically looks like a '55 running on pro-street hoosiers and 70's series eagles. I love the look, the sidewalls will sure cut down on track cornering but the car is built to kick-ass on the street now. Trust me it'll still outrun most posers around the bends. Who knows, if I find a pot of gold I'll buy a set of track wheels for Road Atlanta.
Plus, it's kinda fun when everyone thinks I have a '55 and then I open the hood...or when I put my foot down.
btw, it's not finished yet. Probably next spring before it'll hit the road...hard! In the meantime, is this the place to hang out and talk about building fast DRIVERS?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/351873915_6367c5d7fe-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899138868_5bff1c423a_o-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899138184_0761e10945-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899139216_74c89f4fcf-1.jpg
But I thought I'd run my car past you to see what you all thought - it doesnt quite fit in any category as you'll see.
It started out when I built a GT40 replica (GTD40) in England back in the early/mid-90's. I had as lot of fun driving the ass off it - 60k miles in two years and alot of miles on race circuits.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/100794788_64e2182c35_o-1.jpg
To be honest I thought the car was quite crude, so I decided to build a hot rod that would be faster around the track than the '40. That meant stiffer chassis made from round-tube, AP racing brakes (F1 front, F3000 rear), 10pt cage, multi-link IRS, IFS and lots more power from a 8000rpm, dry-sumped 383 sbc. I even sprung for some air-jacks (I was young and between wives at the time :yeah:)
Anyway, the short story; I had a minor crash at the track, it went into storage, I got married, emigrated to the US, changed jobs and had 3 kids. That took 10 years!
Last November I get it out of storage and start work on it again. This time I wanted a 55 chevy body (same wheelbase as the chassis and have you SEEN two lane blacktop? :)) so I bought a 'glass body without floor and started modifiying to suit. New rollcage, steering (was RHD in England, now obviously I want LHD in Atlanta) and new oil tank, radator, catch tanks etc (ruined in the crash).
Now my wheels will be a problem with some on here I'm sure. I needed to choose new wheels cos the 55 was wider than my old body. And I just couldnt get the 18's that I was using to look right under the (very) low 55. They look plain *wrong*.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/351872477_058d745737-1.jpg
My thoughts:
1. my chassis is very stiffly sprung and low - great for track, not so much for 20k+ miles a year street miles
2. new wheels (e.g bbs) was going to cost me a small fortune - and that well's dried up folks
3. I'm a big fan of traditional hot rods - in looks at least.
So I made a radical choice that I love (and ain't I the only one that counts?!!) - widened mopar cop steel wheels and 70's series tires.
*stunned silence*
hehe. Yeah, well. So I have a race car that basically looks like a '55 running on pro-street hoosiers and 70's series eagles. I love the look, the sidewalls will sure cut down on track cornering but the car is built to kick-ass on the street now. Trust me it'll still outrun most posers around the bends. Who knows, if I find a pot of gold I'll buy a set of track wheels for Road Atlanta.
Plus, it's kinda fun when everyone thinks I have a '55 and then I open the hood...or when I put my foot down.
btw, it's not finished yet. Probably next spring before it'll hit the road...hard! In the meantime, is this the place to hang out and talk about building fast DRIVERS?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/351873915_6367c5d7fe-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899138868_5bff1c423a_o-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899138184_0761e10945-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/899139216_74c89f4fcf-1.jpg