HEMI JEEP ALTERED RACE CAR

IF a T bucket is OK why not a Jeep bucket?

And why not with a new 5.7 hemi?

Grill was narrowed to 3 slots. I was glad it still looks "Jeep"

Body shell will be hand fabbed to match the narrow race car frame. I make it in wood first. I did this with the senior dragster as well.

Bought the tubing for the front axle today.

Afterwards I went to a friends and after some horse trading came away with a narrowed 8 3/4 housing. A pair of Strange axles. A spool. A 8 3/4 pod . A trans core (V8 904) and a set of slicks and trims   31 X 12 X 15 

Bending the drop axle. 2 inch drop.

Machining the ends forthe dropped axle from solid steel.

Now up on four wheels and tires things are starting progress.  am now at the part when i know it is going to get finished. It is coming together as I wanted.

 

I worked on some ideas for the body today. I am liking how this is coming together

It is starting to look like something to me now.

The final rough wooden body parts are installed.

I decided it needs a bumber. just to see I made one up quick from Styrofoam and glued it on.

I think I like it.

Finally we were able to get some proper rod ends so i turned my atention back to the front suspension. I made the upper links and some of the hardare and gave it a trial fit.

This suspension is my own design. It has two 1/4eliphtic springs which also function as lower links and provide lateral stabilty.The upper links locate the axle and are adjustable for caster changes.

It is to me a very clean , strong , lightweight uncomplicated design. It has everything a good suspension needs with no unecessary complication. It also does not use nor need a panhard or track bar since the axle is positively located by the front springs.

 

Here is an overhead view.

My pal John B stopped by and measured my mocked up body. He drew me a sketch then took my wooden mockup to his shop to make it in aluminum. In the meantime I went back to working on the chassis. I fabed a steering arm assembly and installed two more uprights,  a set of diagonals as well as a set of K braces at the drivers area as per the rules. I bought the roll par hoop tubing and took the pattern to a pals shop he has a proper rollbar bender . I unfortunatey he was on holidays so i have to wait for a week at least.

I took a few days to layout and work on the fuel injection. I laid out the top plate and then using my big mill I bored the holes for the 8 throttle plates. After that I did a trial fit.

Today with the help of Mike Sietsma we mounted the body. I'm liking it!

An old friend Vern Christy sti opped by a few weeks ago and bought the car for his business. Iagreed to help get it to almost completion witha trial fit engine set up as well so we have ben working hard to get it done. This week we made huge progress. Just a bit of finessing and have our tin man make up a floor and we are done

Fianlly I see what it looks like.

And a front view