1967 Autodynamics Race Car - rehab

[conductorx]

Since you guys seem to enjoy this, I am going to pass along the history of my Autodynamics Race Car that is currently in my shop.

Hammond, LA - 29 September 2006

I Purchased Autodynamics Car #1 with the intention of preparing and driving it in Feb 2007 Drivers School in Texas. Because of an accident in May 2006 I am four months behind schedule.

I could either spend the money restoring car #1 and go to school September 2007. I could spend the money on a running drivable car to stay on schedule.

I bought a running / driving / stopping race car. It only needs body work and safety equipment to get ready. It has a fuel cell already, I have new seat belts and only need a fire suit, shoes, sock and arm restraints. The car is a 1967 Autodynamics with a 1385cc (too big for FV but it was allowed) Race Motor and it has been set up for vintage racing.

I picked up the car 29 September 2006 in Cullman, AL. Today I drove it around the neighborhood and in the yard. It is wicked fast. This car was designated as Autodynamics Car #2. It was raced in the Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing club and the log book shows a few visits to a track in Las Vegas.

This is car when it last raced in 1994:


This is how it looks now:


Rear view:


Engine cover off:

[mannequinman]

Looks like the engine/trans are mounted 'backwards"...reason? Looks like a FUN car to race !

[FRK]

Thanks for sharing that with us Gary!!

[conductorx]

All Vee cars are "mid" engine. It puts the most weight, driver and engine in the middle of the car and improves the effiency and traction by place equal amounts of weight on the front and rear.

"G"

[mannequinman]

See there...i'm ALREADY smarter than my friends... Great thread Gary...

[conductorx]

The next stage of repairs to the #2 Car

Hammond, LA 30 September 2006 1967 Autodynamics Car #2

Today I installed the rain light, a new battery, battery hold downs and a screen over the generator blower intake. I also took the car on several test runs around the yard and once around the neighborhood.

This light is required whenever it is raining at the track.


The battery mounts on the beam and the car uses a lawn tractor battery:


A better view of the box mount:


I also installed a switch for the rain light and a cigarette lighter:


Why a cigarette lighter? So I can use a VW solar panel to charge the battery.
i82.photobucket.com/albums/j273/ConductorX/autodynamics_2/IMG_2934.jpg[/b]

I also installed a screen over the blower intake:[/img]

[conductorx]

Hammond, LA 7 October 2006 1968 Autodynamics Car #2

While unloading the car I damaged the fiberglass body by ripping a huge chunk out of the bottom. I patched it back in and now I have to reenforce the repair and smooth the bottom.

This section of the bottom peeled off when the edge hung up on the trailer.


There is also a hole for an oil cooler that was removed for vintage racing. The hole has to be filled.


Bottom patch going into place:


Some one spilled acetone or MEK on the rear deck and lifted the paint.


This aircleaner hole has to be filled:


This hole is for the steering box and it has to be left in place but covered. A cardboard plug is used to support the fiberglass until it cures.

[mannequinman]

MAD SKILLZ .....

[FRK]

Damn Gary...


All that work is awsome.

[conductorx]

Thanks for all the good words guys.

Hammond, LA 9 October 2006 1968 Autodynamics Car #2

Work continued all weekend. Sanding and filling holes and sanding. Did I mention sanding?

The rear cover has all of the holes filled but needs more sanding before painting:


The hole in the nose is filled:


The front upper part of the body is looking good. Just some more sanding and a crack to repair:


The bottom piece is in place but now needs sanding and filling with bondo.

[IS]

badd ass work

[FRK]

Jul 21, 2009 16:04:40 GMT -8 IS said:

badd ass work

You got that right IS!!
That Gary was gifted with all this talent. I envy you Gary (in a nice way)! ;D

[conductorx]

I really do appreciate the good words guys. Just remember you only get the highlights and the best photos.

I posted this under the wrong topic. Sorry. Now it is in the right place.

Hammond, LA 11 October 2006 1968 Autodynamics Car #2

I fitted the body halves together and discovered my worst fears. Sometime in the life of this car the nose was cut off. The previous owner put the nose back on as it should be but his joint is about 4 inches wide and 3/4" thick. With such a thick joint the upper body can''''t flex to mate prperly with the lower body.

Putting the halves together revealed a pucker on each side near the front that won't go away:


The P.O. did a good job on the joint. He just did it with out considering the bottom of the car to make a good fit:


His extra chin on the bottom can go away too after I cut and refit his joint:


Today I cut the nose off of the car and started sanding off the previous repair. It actually didn't take very long. After sanding for 30 minutes all of the glass was down to the original thickness. To take a break from sanding I replaced the idiot lights with LEDs. Took a while the first LED I bought was broken. Returned for a replacement and then discovered the pressure switch was bad too.

Nose cut off:


Inside of the nose before sanding:


Inside of the upper cowl before sanding:


The nose fitted back on. Notice the gap now that the cowl can bend to fit the lower half:


This gap has to be filled:


To take a break from sanding... I replaced my idiot lights with LEDs amber for the genny and red for the oil. A good friend of mine, a machinist prepped the steering wheel and machined in the CX for ConductorX or CX Industries.

[FRK]

Nice work man!

if I had your skills AND the time / room to do all that I'll be doing it too. Are you keeping it the same color or you going to give it a different look?

[mannequinman]

Yeah, guys like Frank and ME are better at bein PRETTY...LMAO !