Skuzzy
05-13-2021, 04:20 PM
Well, where to start? I am about ready to pull the trigger on my Type 65 order and thought I would drop a line/bomb on the forums just to get things going. With that, here is me...Being raised around hot rods and having a Dad who owned an auto parts store, it only makes sense that I should have the "itch". Yeah, you know the one I am talking about.
Saw my first 65 Cobra at the ripe old age of 12 and I was hooked. Helped Dad maintain and build his 54 Ford flathead V-8. Built my first engine at 15. A 289, which would later land in my second car, a 67 Mustang. Yearning for more lead me to a 69 Road Runner and so on. Then college and life hit and I could not figure out how to make a living having all that fun, so practicality set in and before I knew it I was driving a 72 Chrysler New Yorker. Ahhhh, how the mighty had fallen.
So, armed with a PhD in Physics, a Masters in Electrical Engineering, minors in both Structural and Mechanical Engineering (sense a trend? yeah,..math is fun!) I went forth into the world and landed in the computer industry. Been doing that for over 40 years now. Had a hand in just about every aspect of computers from chip to software design and everything in between.
Now, being semi-retired, I have allowed the "itch" to surface again. This go round I know a bit more than I did when I was 16 so I have set my personal expectations pretty high as to how well I will deal with this project.
One thing I have learned in my life is,..no matter how much you think you know, you never know as much as you thought you did. That is just me covering my butt for when I ask really stupid questions. I am sure I will.
I have read pages of the forums and many build logs. Speaking of which, I have a severe case of OCD. This just means my build log will probably be wordy and slow as I tend to be very detail oriented (Wife says,.."painfully excruciating"). You have been warned.
I told my Wife this will be the last car I ever own. Yes it has to be a daily driver, but I do have a bucket list item I want to check off, and that is to make a lap, at a track, averaging over 200MPH. This is going to take every engineering skill I have to find that balance between daily driver and race car. I may fail, but I have to set goals or it will never get done. If you are giggling right now, I hope it is only due to flatulence and not about what I said.
I am not a rich man so I tend to do things for myself as opposed to having them done. If I can make it, then I will, as long as it is cheaper to do so. I have been blessed to have a friend who has an incredible shop which he allows me access to. My garage is really small, although I do have a lift and a 60 gallon upright compressor, a powder coat booth, and a Hobart welding machine. At my friends place, I have access to a Haas mill, 450W CNC laser table, 4'x8' CNC plasma table, 3D printer, multiple lathes of various sizes, metal brakes ranging from hand machines to a 250 ton unit and much more.
I wish I had access to Solidworks, but instead, I had to write my own 3D software with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) built into it.
I understand it takes about 5 months to get the kit delivered. This gives me time to acquire the things I cannot build but want to have in the car. I already have a 427W Dart SHP based engine I was building for another project I cancelled. I know I am gong to have troubles with hood clearance but I already have the thing and so it will have to work as I cannot afford to buy another motor.
Seems like a good place to close this. Thanks for allowing me to join the fun here on the forums.
Saw my first 65 Cobra at the ripe old age of 12 and I was hooked. Helped Dad maintain and build his 54 Ford flathead V-8. Built my first engine at 15. A 289, which would later land in my second car, a 67 Mustang. Yearning for more lead me to a 69 Road Runner and so on. Then college and life hit and I could not figure out how to make a living having all that fun, so practicality set in and before I knew it I was driving a 72 Chrysler New Yorker. Ahhhh, how the mighty had fallen.
So, armed with a PhD in Physics, a Masters in Electrical Engineering, minors in both Structural and Mechanical Engineering (sense a trend? yeah,..math is fun!) I went forth into the world and landed in the computer industry. Been doing that for over 40 years now. Had a hand in just about every aspect of computers from chip to software design and everything in between.
Now, being semi-retired, I have allowed the "itch" to surface again. This go round I know a bit more than I did when I was 16 so I have set my personal expectations pretty high as to how well I will deal with this project.
One thing I have learned in my life is,..no matter how much you think you know, you never know as much as you thought you did. That is just me covering my butt for when I ask really stupid questions. I am sure I will.
I have read pages of the forums and many build logs. Speaking of which, I have a severe case of OCD. This just means my build log will probably be wordy and slow as I tend to be very detail oriented (Wife says,.."painfully excruciating"). You have been warned.
I told my Wife this will be the last car I ever own. Yes it has to be a daily driver, but I do have a bucket list item I want to check off, and that is to make a lap, at a track, averaging over 200MPH. This is going to take every engineering skill I have to find that balance between daily driver and race car. I may fail, but I have to set goals or it will never get done. If you are giggling right now, I hope it is only due to flatulence and not about what I said.
I am not a rich man so I tend to do things for myself as opposed to having them done. If I can make it, then I will, as long as it is cheaper to do so. I have been blessed to have a friend who has an incredible shop which he allows me access to. My garage is really small, although I do have a lift and a 60 gallon upright compressor, a powder coat booth, and a Hobart welding machine. At my friends place, I have access to a Haas mill, 450W CNC laser table, 4'x8' CNC plasma table, 3D printer, multiple lathes of various sizes, metal brakes ranging from hand machines to a 250 ton unit and much more.
I wish I had access to Solidworks, but instead, I had to write my own 3D software with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) built into it.
I understand it takes about 5 months to get the kit delivered. This gives me time to acquire the things I cannot build but want to have in the car. I already have a 427W Dart SHP based engine I was building for another project I cancelled. I know I am gong to have troubles with hood clearance but I already have the thing and so it will have to work as I cannot afford to buy another motor.
Seems like a good place to close this. Thanks for allowing me to join the fun here on the forums.