[MARTINSR]

I have aways loved those cars!

Brian

[Flipper_1938]

This was one of those one step forward, two steps back kinda weekends, but I think the car will be better because of it.

I had planned on trying to work a quick disconnect into the jag set-up (I had ruled out the speedway parts because they looked like "new parts"). When I tore into the jag column, I discovered it was a cheezy design that used felt bushings top and bottom and the shaft was 1" bar stock.



I decided I needed something with bearings.

I dug through my stash and pulled out what I think is a Dodge column and wheel (cheap swap meet raw material). The wheel is kinda generic with a smooth horn button that can be customized.



While mocking up the new coulmn (and exhaust routing), I figured out that the path I had previously picked for the steering sector was too prominent. It needed to blend into the background.









The sector needed to go under the exhaust.

[Flipper_1938]

To pull this off as simply as possible, I decided I needed a really long steering column (column to sector junction as far away from the firewall as possible).



I did not cut the outer tube.

For the lower bearing, I used an off the shelf part from Tractor Supply Company (TSC).





I needed a splined end to connect to the toyota u-joints, so I hacked into a 1991 Celica column.





It was stuck together with plastic that acted like shear pins

plastic removed


Trying to figure out how much dodge shaft to trim. The double-D coupler needed to be completely inside the coulmn, above the lower bearing.


a little snip here


a little grinding turned the round shaft into a double-d. It is a snug fit in the coupler (it goes from round to D on the dodge end)




welded with plug welds


assembled.

The new column is 46.5" long

[Flipper_1938]

KEEP THE JAG MANIFOLDS OR BUILD HEADERS?

I really like the "factory" headers that are on the motor already, but they dump too close to the center of the car to look like 30's racecar stuff. .....and, If I built headers that came out farther before going down, I could hide the steering no matter where I ran it.

Here are some examples I found.

All into one up high

All into one down low

Two sets of three into one

[OneMoreTime]

Mine is not a jag but having the same sort of issue I am building headers..

Sam

[cleanspeed1]

I'd go with the Talbot Lago low exit, split header style..

[MARTINSR]

I like the Bugatti best. All I know is if those photos can't be called "Auto Porn" I don't know what could. When I have seen these cars in person I feel dirty standing there next to my wife.

Brian

[cleanspeed1]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I like the Bugatti best. All I know is if those photos can't be called "Auto Porn" I don't know what could. When I have seen these cars in person I feel dirty standing there next to my wife.

Brian

Look at the sweep and long curves of the split setup. How can you not look at and not say "sexxay"!

[Flipper_1938]

I am a little unhappy with the dash support hoop. It is screwing with potential dash layouts. It is too flat in the middle. I should have peaked it in the center like the hoop in the middle of the car (behind the seats).

Next trip to dad's, I'm going to cut the hoop off of the car, cut the hioop in half, and add a small section that has a bend in it in the middle.

Hopefully the hottest weather is behind me and I can start spending some quality time in the shop.

[Flipper_1938]

I didn't have time to do anything more than mock up a torque tube exhaust pipe in two different positions.

Above the frame rail/ angle down





And down low/ through the frame. I think I like this best.

[MARTINSR]

I think you're right down low looks the best, at least at this point. I have to say though, having the car on the floor and standing back and looking at it from a distance could mean all the difference in the world. It will never be seen up in the air like that, it should be on the ground before you make such decisions.

Brian

[Flipper_1938]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I think you're right down low looks the best, at least at this point. I have to say though, having the car on the floor and standing back and looking at it from a distance could mean all the difference in the world. It will never be seen up in the air like that, it should be on the ground before you make such decisions.

Brian

The exhaust routing is one of those things I need to work into the design of the front half of the chassis. Not only does down low look the best, but I think it will be better performing/work better with the stock jag manifolds.

[Flipper_1938]

I went and played with it this past weekend. I think I forked up more than I fixed...but I enjoyed the time with my folks and I figured out/rembered what I wanted to do a year ago......

I needed to figure out the transmission tunnel before I could figure out the transmission mount



I tried the jag tunnel again




I didn't fit as snug as I wanted it to, so I sliced and diced it...





I cut it a little more

[Flipper_1938]

There was too much air space between the sheetmetal and the bell housing...that space is needed for a gas pedal.

so I broke out the cop car kick panel sheet metal to build a beefy, close fitting tunnel









I realized I didn't want to run it all the way behind the seats as one piece, so I added a center bulkhead to give it something solid to tie into in the middle of the cockpit.



I really didn't like that, so I cut it out



It needed to be straight across, so that it could be the start of the front of the seat. I had to add verticals to weld to.



I ran out of time, but I figured out/remembered that I needed to have a bulkhead that doubled as a seat front and that the spring boxes need to extend to that bulkhead.

I don't like the new tunnel either.... I think I like the trans out in the open better.

[Flipper_1938]

Logging in on Dad's dial-up internet connection ....so no pics for now, but I am making really good progress.

I made a trans mount...and figured out how to finish the front half of the spring boxes (driverside mostly done, cutting pieces for the passenger side) and also figured out the frame for the seat bottoms (driverside is already welded in, passenger side is formed). I must say, that I am REALLY proud of what I came up with. The drivers side seat feels great...even without seat foam. ....And looks like it belongs in a vintage racer.

Oh yeah, I think I figured out how to seal the exposed trans too....rubber hose. I am going to form a half round chanel (split tubing) that goes around the flange of the bellhousing. the hose will fill th gap. I just need to make some motor mounts that hold everything in place really well.