Well I decided to go a bit dark for the last 10 days or so as I've been working on some stuff I've been excited about for a while. Now I'm close enough for you to get the idea (but of course nowhere close to done done.
That said, what do you see here?
I'd you answered "busted-ass garbage that used to be a canoe," you'd be wrong.
That's a pile of free racecar aero parts!
More details and pictures to come. 514 hours.
Did you just walk around measuring trash yardsale canoes until you found one that fit the frame like that, or did you really get that lucky?
That's fantastic.
Ive thought about making a boattail speedster from a boat.
You berkeleying DID it.
You win the internet for the day.
This looks way better then it should.
The boattail Datsun has arrived.
Unrelated but where did you get your baby fuel tank or did it come with the car? I need one and am thinking about risking the cheapy Amazon ones.
Best canoe trip in the history of GRM. Full stop.
gumby said:Best canoe trip in the history of GRM. Full stop.
Only if it ends with banjos.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:Did you just walk around measuring trash yardsale canoes until you found one that fit the frame like that, or did you really get that lucky?
Mostly I got really lucky. I collected this 'canoe' when there was still snow on the ground in the spring and it has been sitting in my backyard since. About 2 weeks ago I really started getting into it with the measuring tape and the more I measured the more excited I got about how nice a fit it was going to be. I do think most canoes are this same basic shape though. Since the canoe is like 15 feet long, you get to pick the pieces that fit where you need them to.
My exhaust is going to be a problem now though.
nocones said:This looks way better then it should.
The boattail Datsun has arrived.
Unrelated but where did you get your baby fuel tank or did it come with the car? I need one and am thinking about risking the cheapy Amazon ones.
The fuel tank came with the f440, it was what that car used. However it's the same thing sold by jegs/summit for 80 to 90 bucks as a 1 gallon aluminum fuel cell.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
I will buy that Akrapovic from you if you're doing something else with the exhaust.
And the new bo(at)dywork looks outstanding.
The canoe tail is pretty amazing. I love it!
Here's some 'in process' pics of the canoe hacking. It was mostly a process of measure, rough cut, test fit, trim, test fit, trim, test fit, trim, test fit...
I did make a template as shown here:
And I also decided to relocate the voltage regulator. Less weight, better fit, better airflow, win win win.
Today I stated on some brackets. I need to weld some braces to the frame, so I started looking through my "in budget" scrap box for suitable pieces. Good candidates:
Next I ran a quick tap through these to make the nuts useable again.
And then I marked the frame where paint needs to be removed.
515 hours.
Brackets! I also decided to do the firewall holds while I was at it.
Reuse!!
Then
Then
And
Don't mind my awful welds. For some reason I was having tons of trouble seeing through my helmet. Maybe set too dark?
517 hours
Golly!
Apparently I havent been posting even though I've been working.
I mounted the front canoe bit now too. This one actually doubles as an additional body mount, giving a lot of extra structure support to the cowl and windshield area. Double bonus!
Begin by marking up a strap piece of 2x2:
Next cut along the lines.
Drill and tap some holes and then make 2 more simple tabs with scrap that are also drilled and tapped.
Did you know you can rivnut into fiberglass?
(I didn't, but it seems to work ok at least in this really thick section).
Finally place the part and mark the holes from the back.
The tabs and brackets are only tacked for now. Will need to finish them up still.
520 hours.
How relevant are the earlier sketches to the canoe bits? Did any of that change once you found it?
Trying to picture where you are going with the rest of it.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
You mean like to this one I drew up around thanksgiving last year? I feel like we're trending pretty well in this direction. But really the "where am I going with the rest of it" is really starting to turn into "what can I possibly cobble together in time to finish before loading up for the challenge".
Thats some of it, but I was more talking about the aero designs that resulted after that zoom call. I know you were planning the aero pass throughs from the head lights to the tail, with the exterior of the car being one wall and there being an interior wall as well. Stuff like that.
Mr_Asa said:Thats some of it, but I was more talking about the aero designs that resulted after that zoom call. I know you were planning the aero pass throughs from the head lights to the tail, with the exterior of the car being one wall and there being an interior wall as well. Stuff like that.
looks like some side/bottom panels; a front splitter of sorts;... and some rear elements (recycled from the Spirit?) to activate it all
that would cover the/a 'basic' outline... from what I recall
Well, turns out nocones was in the area last night and he stopped by to bust out the grinders for a while. It was great to mostly chat with him but also get some work done.
He was immedialty enamored by the large chunks of canoe I had laying around the shop (as anyone would be), and I was telling him about my current problems with designing front wheel inner fenders.
Let's just say, nocones is magic.
Is that half of one of the center sections of canoe that I was going to pitch because it is too wide for the drivers compartment area of the car?
Yes, yes it is. But does it fit?
Yes, yes it does.
Mr asa, this last photo's for you.
I'd say we actually worked about 2.5 hours each so call it 5 added to the total. I also spent an hour finishing up my welds on the tabs for the cowl canoe piece.
526 hours.
Sheesh, I never accomplish car things when people randomly stop by my shop. I am doing this wrong.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Seriously, I think with you, nocones & Gumby on the same team you'd be unbeatable.
I had a great time and thanks for the hospitality. I'm just glad I contributed.
This canoe as car parts thing works way to good. It's amazing how nice the canoe parts work with the not canoe parts.
It kinda makes me want to make an inverted canoe LSR car. I'm not gonna lie I already checked my local Clist/FB marketplace for old canoes.
It's fun seeing other people's projects and bringing fresh perspective and ideas. I thought for a little while that we weren't going to get anything done (which would of been fine because hanging out is great also) but then the grinding happened. Looking forward to helping out again in the future after the challenge this year.
Good luck getting the other side done and pushing towards the challenge. I suspect Gumby, Robbie and I would make a pretty formidable team. Or we would make the most insane unfinished overly ambitious car in history.
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
You mean the Bad Decisions Triangle? I'm just waiting for all 3 of their cars to merge together transformers-style at the hotel parking lot.
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