Upcoming Tech Articles you'd like to see

Wow, a Star! Knew a guy when I lived in Baltimore who restored them, but I never saw one street rodded. The Star was one of the better engineered cars of its day. The body is a little more roomy than a Model T Ford--I'm 6'5" 260#, so that's a major consideration for me. I've got a good picture made back in the '20's of my grandmother's brother, a Methodist minister, and his wife standing beside their mid-'20's Star touring car. My experience is more with late '30's Fords, so can't be much technical help, but it ought to make a neat ride.  

Hi.... I am planning a roof chop on a '72 Opel Manta and have picked up lots of useful tips on the metalwork required here on the net.  The glasswork required, however, is very difficult to get information on other than if it's tempered/toughened glass forget it.  

The vast numbers of chopped 60's and 70's cars in existence suggests that there must be a way of doing this even though the methods used appear to be very esoteric.
I notice you plan to cover this in the next part of your shoebox ford project....  when will this be?

Tim.  

Ok Kevin,

I have to agree with Tom's response above, basic frame and suspension builds, but explain why you are doing something a certain way and the ways not to put a frame together and the reasons why.
Stuff like ¼ elliptic suspension, scrub lines, simple explinations of why Ackerman is so important to keep the frontend planted, and why suspension bind.
I was at a cruise a couple yrs ago and saw a t-bucket with the steering shaft put together with a ½" wobble joint welded in between the shaft and the steering box.
I personally don't mind the phrase "rat rod" because I know most people are calling it that because of the style , traditional to some, and what that term conjers up, but what I do mind it ratty construction, like the steering joint I mentioned.
Maybe you could put out a "what not to do" article and attach pictures and explinations of how fast this or that might kill you or other innocent people around you. and how this kind of construction reflects on the rest of the hotrod crowd.
R&C is great, keep up the good work.

Hotrod55bird  
Hotrods have 3 pedals

How about an article on setting up  a traditional front end. For instance why do all the aftermarket axles come with 1 degree positive camber? Shouldn't radials have a slightly negative setting?

How about setting up an axle with several caster settings and commenting on how each effects handling.

What about some scientific testing. Maybe run a car through a slalom and then test them it at highway speeds.

There is not much info out there on this subject.  I realize solid axles are an antiquated design, but I'm sure there are Rodders who would like to mazimize their potential.  

I would like to dive into this a little also.   I would also like to see what kind of performance we could get out of old engines, like the flathead.  We could also run the flathead through the slalom and on the street to compare.  

Hey Kevin, How about anything about transplanting a smaller diameter steering wheel on 50's style steering wheel hub. Then about wrapping it in leather, not the cheap Autozone style wrap but a real leather cover with baseball stitching. Things to do and not do, where to get leather, supplies etc.
Richard  
Hotrods have 3 pedals

how about flat head tech, how to make a flathead live through the abuse of modern traffic and trying to avouid the orange cones.  that is really tough on the ol girl.  

how about some real basic tech articles for the beginner, simple stuff you would think most guys would know but they don't necesarily know  

(Sorry if this is a repeat!)
How about showing how to install a parking brake on a street rod?  Not one just installing a Lokar cable like SRB, but one showing junkyard parts like hooking up the rear end cables, the lever that increases movement under the car, and maybe a old '40 Ford lever (like the '36 Americruzer panel).  Some of still like to engineer something up from from scratch then spend big bucks.  

Your magazine and tech articles rock. I have an immaculate 65' Lincoln Continental and have been searching for some tech articles on engine and tranny swaps. The continentals have a lot of potential to be mean cruizers, but have not found many articles on line relationg to this. My thoughts have been to place a Ford High performance motor (injection or carb) mated to a C6 or equivelant, backed by a Ford 9" with an Air Ride rear suspension mounted to a 4 link. Any tech info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Robb Rudluff
HB, Ca  

How about some inline stuff?? I have a 63 Nova Wagon with a 194 6 cylinder that I plan on using to drive to swap meets up and down the west coast.  These engines also seem to be used in a lot of the rat rods running around now as they are cheap! So far I have obtained a 250 engine, a Comp Cams 262H cam kit, a set of Langdons cast iron headers and an HEI distributor.  Future aquisitions are going to be a single 4 bbl intake with a 390 Holley, and a suspension rebuild kit.  When mechanilly finished I should have a vehicle that will get 25-30 mpg for under $2500.  

Traditional 50's tech,like rebuiding a 56 f100 steering box,rebuilding a columbia,rebuiding trans  with zephers,mabe some early desoto hemi or dodge red ram rebuilds,making a good flowing log intake,different takes on z'ing frames setting up quickchanges v8 and champ style for the street.etc Your doing a fine job so far!!!!!!!Know its hard to please everyone but dont really care for boydsters  keep it traditional.  

I have to agree with Tim above.  I have seen many articles over the years on chopping tops, however, I have never seen anything written about cutting glass.  Is this due to possible liability issues?  Anyway, I know glass shops around here look at you like your a freak when you even mention windshield and cutting in the same sentence.  Thanks for listening, and keep up the excellent work.

Doug  

There's a reason you see so many half finished chopped projects with no glass. It's hard to find a shop to cut it and then they go through several windshields before ones right. We've looked into it and will look into it again to see what we can bring you.  

How about doing a article on swapping late model 5 or 6-speed trannys behind vintage engines. maybe show some of the places to find adaprors,and show any trans swaps that can be done by us average guys. I have heard taht a s-10 5-speed can be bolted in behind a chevy 235 with a little machine work, but nobody seams to know what needs to be machined.   Always happy with R & C.   Stovebolts forever.        Randy