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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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quote Originally posted by The Poopsmith: Ok so I took the liberty of tracing your initial design and since I like to help so much I decided to throw in somethings I thought would look neat. I hope I didn't over step any lines here but my main issue with the design was the head rests. My thought was originally to throw in something like a double hump much like what the solstice has but then I decided to throw in a distinctive Fiero cue and make the body a fastback with a real short rear window. Pretty much if you remove the roof on a fastback Fiero what would be left was my inspiration. I then decided to do a different windshield and added something like a center console. Just thought I'd throw it in the mix. Plus the 84' look got me thinking so I sketched up a bumper pad nose. Maybe?...

You're not overstepping at all. Just promise you won't get mad if I don't bite on 'em; or if I just use elements of your ideas. Also for anyone who posts ideas or information here, please remember that even if I don't do it someone else reading the thread may find the help they need.

That being said, I actually like your design, and like the bumper pad front too. For me personally, it's a little too "new" looking but I really wish someone else would be inspired to build their own Fiero street rod - with that body. I would like to see it built. It's hard for me to convey with sketches, and unfinished 3D models, but my goal is for my car to look really old. Even though people will be looking at a lot of modern technology I want it to just look like technology that was ahead of its time - kind of like the pyramids.

One thing you did better with than me is the height of the deck. I was doing some rearranging in the shop today and decided that I might as well put Timepiece's parts where they are going, instead of moving them fifty times. I blocked the powertrain up six-inches off the floor, sat the cradle and suspension halves with it and grabbed the tape measure. I would have a lot more motor sticking up out of the deck than my sketches suggest! I don't really want to raise the body height so I am toying with a bulge to help the motor look like it belongs. I mocked a piece of wood up about where the seat will be and I think the top of the stock motor (EFI plenum) would be almost even with the roll bars in my sketches.

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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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The Cutlass gauge cluster. Maybe just a copper panel to go over it that has round holes for the individual gauges, with bezels that extend in and fit flush against the panel.

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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 07-19-2007).]

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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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quote Originally posted by The Poopsmith: I know whatever you build will be pretty awesome so I'm just doing my part in keeping you and others interested in this project so we can all someday gaze upon a early 30s rat rod Fiero. Did you say you are going to use the Fiero V6 or what was the plan for engine and transmission? Daniel

Thanks, I really appreciate that. And please keep "doing your part" because it is definitely helping me. Hot rod projects are always more enjoyable when you have someone to share them with who understands - so thanks to all of you guys for your positive responses and help

I am using a 3100SFI and 4T60E from a 93 Cutlass. Mainly because I have it, and have the title to the car it came from. In Ohio, you have to have documentation to prove where every part came from or they can confiscate the vehicle right there!!!

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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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I am counting on using a lot of faux finishes to create the rat rod/steampunk image. I love this one, and have to learn how to do this:

Copper leaf foil that has been oxidized.

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toddshotrods.com - wanna ride?
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[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 07-19-2007).]

I finished my regular shop work for the day a little early, and rather than resume cleaning and organizing I decided to work on the mock-up. I have been thinking a lot about what I am doing, and trying to find the pitfalls. It's those little projects that seem so simple, until you get halfway into them, that kill goals and deadlines. Sometimes whole projects. Getting the mock-up officially underway is helping me make some important decisions.

First, when I got the rear cradle/suspension halves set up closer to their actual positions I stuck a couple bolts in to hold the Geo struts in place. The upper mounts will be the same height as the motor. I realized that I need to bring the deck up to the motor height. It is plenty low enough in real life and too much work to go any lower.

Next, I starting experimenting with seating positions and steering linkage. The hours and cost kept adding up and then I remembered this:

quote Originally posted by The Poopsmith: ...Would this be a single seater or two seater and if it's a two seater would you consider front and back seats instead of side by side?...

Out of curiousity, I moved the mock-up seat to the center and forward enough to squeeze the passenger seat behind it. Awesome!!! I have tried this countless times before in my head, on paper, and with mock-ups, but it never really "fit". My ultra narrow Fiero rack was made for this! It is a straight shot with only two U-joints needed. It could be done with one, but two lifts the steering linkage up and makes room for normal pedal spacing. I raised the passenger seat three-inches and it is perfect. The passenger's feet straddle the driver's seat. Can you say four-wheeled motorcycle!

So in one day of actual mock-up work my little project has become much simpler, and incredibly more radical! That is usually an oxymoron with hot rod projects. I really love this project

The last thing for the day was the wheels. Over five hundred bucks (with tires) just to have ultra skinny front runners is a waste. That look would actually fit my other street rod better anyway, and I already have 4-inch front wheels for it. When I was "sitting in" the mock-up car the feel was no longer Land Speed Racer; it now feels like a road racer - which is more fitting for a Fiero anyway, right? I decided that I am just going to get a pair of 195/50R-15's for the front and run 235/60R15's in back. This will create a more road race type appearance, and clears the way for me to eventually move up to 17's and 20's later. I think the ideal wheels for this car now would be black Dayton wires, preferrably knock-offs. Wonder if they'd sell a set with no finish, so I could let them rust?! Maybe I can convince them to sponsor me when it's all together...

To sum it all up, I "saved enough money" today that it is going to be very cheap for me to have a running drive-able chassis by next summer.

Artwork coming soon

If anyone wants to experiment with it the steering wheel will be approximately 36-inches from the front axle centerline. In vintage roadracing tradition, I want to pull the cowl right up to the steering wheel (with room for my hands of course) and make it rounded on top to follow the shape of the wheel. I don't want a big Greyhound bus steering wheel though, just complementary shapes.

The motor is 34-inches from the ground to the top of the plenum, and the body will be about 32-inches to let the plenum poke through the deck.

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[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 07-20-2007).]