Pulled the rear end out from under the car and put it on my work table. Mounted the first ladder I made on the rearend bracket and it slid on perfectly. So I set up the template with the second ladder bar and tack welded it together. Placed the second bar on the rearend brackets and it too slid on like I actually knew what I was doing??? HA.





Now I have to put them back on the template and build the crossbar supports. Mark L

Sure is looking purty!

Pretty and me don't go together heh. But thanks for trying. Case in point. FAILED!!!


Mark L

Final configuration. Got the bars all tacked up except for the front catch attachment. Will talk to the welder on how he makes the catch.

I'll probably take them over tomorrow. Mark L

I've been mulling over the placement of the radiator in the trunk and I think I've finally committed to it. I found a dual fan shroud for a mid 2000 chevy/gmc truck and figured I'd find a radiator sooner or later. Got that now. So I'm starting to do the mock up and playing with where and how I'm going to pull this all off.


I also found an aluminum boat gas tank a while ago. Seller claims 26 gallons.

To mount the radiator in the trunk I feel that I need to mount it in a shroud/duct by cutting the floor out and bringing the air in from the rearend area, thru the radiator, and then through more shrouding/ducting and back out the floor again. But this does not leave any room for that big gas tank. So I thought I'd cut the tank in half and mount the halves on either side of the trunk, in the pockets behind the wheelwells. Linking the tanks with a crossover. This way especially if I run E85. If I run pump gas, I might divide the tank two thirds and one third, pump gas in the two thirds and use the last third tank for race gas at the strip. I have to take into account the roll bar rear runners that will come down from the roll bar to the rear frame, so I have to build around that. I also made a deal on a Wenzler Tunnel Ram, so I am going ahead and working toward running the twin 750 blow thrus. Now the whole induction system will be a twin system. Mark L

OK. I've been playing with every conceivable location/installation of the radiator and fan shroud for the trunk of the '63. Because of that I haven't gotten anything really done on it. Just set there putting it in, taking it out. Measuring, thinking about it etc. It'* done. I just went ahead and cut the floor open.

Placed the fan/shroud up under the floor.

This is the shroud underneath.


And the radiator in its place (just laying in the trunk) with the fuel tank in its place.

Still have to reinforce the opening and use foam to line the shroud and radiator edges for sealing. Now I have to find an inlet for air to the trunk. Then run all the water tubing. Mark L

Made the duct to seal the radiator to the trunk floor.It was mentioned to add a tilt tot he radiator so it fills and is more efficient, thank you Bruce, I hadn't given it any thought and probably would not have thought of it. This is he rough opening sealed with pipe foam, slit and slid over/against the edge. I still have to do more cutting back on the front edge (top of pic) to fit the shroud, then I'll glue the foam seal in.



This is the angled duct.



Duct in place.



Duct in and sealed.



And the radiator on the sealed duct ready to be bolted/clipped down.



I was thinking of using springs to hold the radiator in place. That way the radiator could float a little above the seal and not have any strain in it.

Mark L

Looking good!!

Thanks. Got more rediculas stuff, LOL.
Still playing with options for building and or making a dash board. I still have the original dash in place cut up to fit around the steering support. I want to build or use something to bring the speedometer and gauges closer to the driver. So I found this at the last swap. It'* actually a fiberglass motorcycle headlight nacelle. I mocked it up kind of in place, but it would end up be more towards the driver. The other pics show what I would do with the gauges with the other opening holding a 5 inch speedometer.







Once the bezel is on place I will use sheet metal to fair the bezel back into the dash to cover the steering support and run the wires etc.

I like this better than the pevious idea of using the '63 head light bezel.

Mark L

i like!!! lookin good