HM2034 build ...another Texas Hurricane

[Bruce N]

Bruce,   as I mentioned last weekend at your shop, my uprights were welded wrong to the frame, on the side of the frame instead of on top, so they were too short to reach the required striker height.   I had to modify the holes on the adapter plate on each side to purchase a grasp of the upright.     And you can see on the passenger side I also made an aluminum spacer plate about 1/4 or 3/8" i think, to pull the passenger door in far enough.   It really depends on where you body sits in it final position.
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Thanks Bob]

[Bruce N]

OK....so I got all the door latches closing and latching perfectly. All aligned really nice. Missing the striker for the trunk so cant do that. Missing the tabs that go on the square rod on the hood latches so cant do that. bolted the seats in so I could check the steering wheel distance for final fab and noticed the mount is off center about 1-1/4" from seat center. Checked with Bobby and he confirmed his was same. Think I will do something to correct that. Pretty easy fix with me doing the tilt wheel and adding steering knuckle. About ready to start grinding and glassing panel edges. Thankfully the weather has cooled down and humidity down and I can take out of the shop to work on. Tired of cleaning all that glass dust out of the shop!

[Bruce N]

Work got postponed for a bit but was able to tinker a bit today. I wanted do some flush hood latches to keep in line with what I did on the filler. Found these at Summit and they work really nice. Was easy to adapt the plates and are very adjustable with the mounts I made. Thinking about a cable operated trunk latch after looking at how the supplied operates. Will eliminate the handle on outside and kind of match the rest of what I'm doing. Have the gaps on the hood roughed in but will leave final until the last time I put the body on. Finishing door gaps today and this weekend. Trans is supposed to be here Monday so will be pulling everything apart again

[Bruce N]

Got my trunk latch put together and aligned. I ended up using a cable latch and put a release inside the gas cap. Picked up an $80.00 scope from Harbor Freight to see inside to align the latch. Ran the cable through the gas filler. Worked out really well and saved some time. After that I took body off and back to bare chassis to get the trans installed and finish up all the chassis work. Need to trim all the edges on the body.

Anyone have some good pictures of what weatherstrip goes where? Will need to figure that out to trim the body correctly.

[Bruce N]

This should make a few eyes roll Wanted to do something different with the roll bar. Cut the hoop in half and welded section to make it a full roll bar. Going to make supports from the top 2X2 to the bar under the body to hide the supports. Got all the fuel lines and battery cables finished so I can start putting everything back together. Will start the radiator and inner fenders tomorrow. Still needing to get the body out of the shop to trim all the openings but keep putting it off Grinding glass in not my favorite thing!

Can anyone enlighten me as to how we are supposed to mount the fan to the radiator? As always the manual is useless

[Greg K]

Can anyone enlighten me as to how we are supposed to mount the fan to the radiator? As always the manual is useless

With brackets you probably do not have, check with Alec.

[Bruce N]

Can anyone enlighten me as to how we are supposed to mount the fan to the radiator? As always the manual is useless

With brackets you probably do not have, check with Alec.

Can anyone post a picture of them installed? Or point me to a post that shows them? I've looked all over the site and cant seem to find one. Maybe I'll just make them.

[FFR428]

I like the rollbar. Are you hiding the supports below the body?

[Bruce N]

I like the rollbar. Are you hiding the supports below the body?

I am going to put them below body to that upper 2x2 frame.

[Bruce N]

Not much visible progress but made some headway. Got the radiator and inner fenders installed. Started running wiring not my favorite thing! But did get the unnecessary crap cut out and got things laid out. A considerably different application when running EFI and having some of the sensors eliminated. Need to make some calls to clarify a few things. Really sucks this wiring harness does not come with a diagram! Would sure make things a lot easier. I'll give Haywire a call tomorrow and see if I can get one. As you can see by picture...long ways to go!

[Greg K]

I see you'll be using a Dakota Digital system for gages & instruments.

[Bruce N]

I see you'll be using a Dakota Digital system for gages & instruments.

Yes! I was a little disappointed in these gauges using a flat ribbon connector (old style). The last ones I used had a simple CAT5/RJ45 connection. But still a one connector interface so makes removing dash for maintenance/troubleshooting simple. Not to mention eliminates all the dash wiring

I have two gauges 4.75" diameter that has all six necessary displays. Will probably mount in center of dash and build round extensions angling toward the driver. Also thinking about building illuminated plate with rocker style switches for required switches. But I will have hi/low, wiper, flasher all in the column.

[Bruce N]

Little more progress on the wiring. Got the inside all wired up, routed, and organized. Still a bit of clean up to do. Powered everything up to check and all seems to be working. I have a lot of additions requiring direct battery connections so that made a challenge getting everything back to trunk.

Completed my steering upgrade. Had to add a second joint under dash to keep the shafts in position over the headers. That in turn makes it necessary to add a carrier bearing or bushing to hold shaft in position. I used the pipe and bushings meant for the steering wheel shaft and made bracket on outside of foot-box. Works perfect.

Fired up the electric steering to check and man what a improvement! I don't have my column yet so just tried turning with a joint and could turn but with a lot of effort and both hands. Turned on the steering and you can turn with one hand and literally no effort! Smooth as silk! Think that was a worthwhile addition. Cant wait to see how it works with tires on the ground.

Will try to get the front and back all wired up during the week and hopefully get this beast fired up this weekend!

[Bruce N]

Little progress this week. Got all the tub wiring complete. The guy from Haywire was supper helpful in  getting my flaming river column wired up. I will definitely use them on future builds. Had to cut the dash frame and do some customizing for the Flaming River column, fits nice. Bought cheap steering wheel just to use during build. Wheels came in a month early! Was nice surprise. Sure will be nice to get this thing off the dolly and on wheels so I can roll outside and do some serious cleanup! With any luck I'll be firing this thing up Sunday!

[Bob Worley]

Looking great, Bruce!   I may have to come out Sunday for the initial start up!