The Wrenchette: A Girl Buils a Roadster

I'm back! I took few months of the build off to help my parents with some work on their property. Now that I'm back I need to update a few things from the break.

I left off with the steering system. In early January I drilled the front panel and painted it hammertone grey to match the F-panels, and riveted the panel on.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8712[/ATTACH]

Back in January, my engine and transmission arrived. The top questions I get related to the build are 1) What color are you going to paint it? and 2) What engine are you putting in it? So here's the answer to Question #2:

[LIST][*]Ford Racing 302[*]GT 40 Heads[*]Edelbrock Performer RPM Manifold[*]Holley Avenger Throttle Body Injection[*]Ford Racing Valve Covers and Air Cleaner (Christmas gift)[*]TCI Streetfighter AOD[/LIST]

My goal is a nice street car. Racing motorcycles I learned street vehicles are for the street, track vehicles are for the track. All of the crazy stuff will happen when I build an FFR Coupe for the track. ;) It's amazing how critical people become when they learn what you are putting in a car [U][B]you[/B][/U] are building. [I]A 302? That's it?!? AOD? Everyone knows manual transmission shifting is the extension of a penis![/I] Yes, well, my response is that if they don't like it, they can do whatever they want when they [U][B]build their own car[/B][/U]. Which many are not. Ah well.

The engine had to be picked up at the freight depot, so Zac picked it up in his truck. Many jokes ensued online about a Ford engine in the back of a Chevy truck.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8713[/ATTACH]

Getting the crate out of the truck was a bit tricky.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8714[/ATTACH]

Figured it would be best to get the manifold on to cover up some of the holes. First, I painted the gasket sealing surface with raspberry jam (not really, but the adhesive sure does resemble it).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8715[/ATTACH]

Then installed the gaskets and manifold and torqued. It was going to be awhile before I get the engine in, so I re-bagged it to keep garage debris out.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8716[/ATTACH]

So that's as far as I got before the break. This weekend I started the build back up again by installing the fuel tank. Here's the tank out of the box. Always nice to get a big cardboard box broken down.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8717[/ATTACH]

Then I installed the mounting straps. The straps required some custom bending, as the tank was a tight fit. Once the bends were in place, the straps could be secured. I put the fuel tank on a jack to wheel it into position and hold it up while I got the straps in place.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8718[/ATTACH]

And here's the tank installed on the frame. I installed the filler tube and sender unit. I left the fuel pickup out as my in-tank fuel pump is on order. An in-tank pump will be much easier to deal with during hot Tucson weather, and quieter.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8719[/ATTACH]

Now that the tank is in, I can determine where to install additional storage cubbies in the trunk space between the frame and the tank.