New 427 from the ashes!

[krausewich]

I've been an auto designer at heart for as long as I can remember,
so this year I finally took the plunge and made designing my own car
a reality. I'll post pictures as I continue to make headway to keep
you up to date, so don't go to far... there will be more to come!

Thank you to all the other scratch builders and craftsmen out there
who see things differently. You're inspiration has been motivational !

If you've ever been on the fence about it, take the leap. It's worth
every minute!

Mike.

[STEPHEN BROHOLM]

G'day Mike.

Thanks for creating a build log for your project.

Things look like they're coming along really well thus far!

Keep up the great work, with my looking forward to you posting updates on your progress.

Cheers.

Steve.

[krausewich]

Hi Steve,
You're welcome, and than you for the encouragement.
Love the great shirts by the way, wish I could offer them here!

Here are a couple more shots for this week of the front
end bracework (what a nightmare!) and the very early
stage of rearend and backbone assembly. Til next weekend!

Mike.

[1985 CCX]

Mike

Great start!
Who's body?
Keep us posted.........

[alfy65]

It is fun but time consuming to make the tools to make the parts and on and on....but worth it in the end..even my wife likes this project better than Harleys...go figure...

[mickmate]

Windscreen on already, sweet!

[krausewich]

Hi Guys,
Time for this weeks installment of updates...

I was able to get the moch 351 block/AFR heads, bellhousing and
trans in to get a good feel for space. Had to redesign the whole
engine bay framework on-the-fly, as my initial CAD layout went
all to hell when I saw how the engine fit where I wanted it. Sacrifices
were made, and new concepts developed. I hope they prove worthy.
I expect natural selection to take it's course! My decisions are made
to favor, balance, strength, and occupant safety. Full on custom
build I guess it's going to be! All I can say, is that when it was all
tacked together, I was blown away with how much room there is...
in the cockpit, trans tunnel, engine bay... Even with the engine
moved several inches rearward over stock! I'll take this pleasant
surprise now. I'm sure I'll get nipped by the snake somewhere in
the rearend section (the irony).

Jeff, the body is currently a notorious one, but will be swapped out
for a new one next month that is nicer and more suited to what I will
be doing next!

Nick, yes the windshield is on and at a sexy little rake I might add.
it's leaned back the way it should have been built from the get go!!
40 degrees at center... Just need to finish the mounts for it.

Till next week.
Mike.

[krausewich]

Hi everyone,
Well now. Time to address the rearend on this beast. I've
added in the diff crossmember, and the IRS box with a rollbar
support base that was a little more suitable to me over the
OE 3/4" getup. The box is designed for the Ford 8.8 IRS unit
and has just the right amount of room to fit it in through the
bottom or top without any trickery. There is also enough room
for a fullsize spare behind it ! Now on to some substructure
support work... Til next week.

Mike.

[krausewich]

Hey all.
Time for another round !
Did quite a bit of work on the rear portion this week, including
adding the support structure for the rear deck (finally removed
all of the temp body supports), and added the framework and
supports for the fuel tank and rear QJ's. Boy did that feel good!!
She's almost 100 fully supported, minus the rollpan, which will
be hot on the agenda for next week. Oh, I also was able to get
the front rollbar and upper shock mounts tacked on as well.
Til next week, keep pushing the envelope, and see ya at the
open house!

Mike.

[alfy65]

Lookin' good on the birdcage...I have just about got the body work on mine done and ready for gel coat..fun never stops...

[krausewich]

Hi All,
Here are some new goodies that I was able to together this week.
I have added in the cowl bracing utilizing the dash side tubing as the
dashboard support. The rear siderib has been added, which double
as a new home for a legite door striker, a tie in for the rollpan tube
and considerable bit mor protection than the stock 3/4 tubing ! The
rollpan tube has now been added which the lower body form fits to,
and now ties in all of the side ribs. I also added the ebrake as tight
as I could comfortably get it to the shifter, which really provides a
quick and natural feel vs. the side mount. Looking forward to the
trans and engine mounts for next week along with any other misc
items I can throw in there! Till then...

Take care.
Mike.

[Ozgur_Tan]

good work and eagerly waiting your updates

[Paul F]

I'm always in awe of scratch builders. Looks very nice.

Will that non-removable cross-member give you issues when you want to service the clutch or pull the transmission? It seems like it is a bit forward and may be in the way if you wanted to pull the transmission.

[krausewich]

Hi Guys. Thanks for the compliments.

Paul. As for the crossmember, I do have a removable
segment designed for this which I will likely retrofit into
the frame. I wasn't too concerned about it, as the originals
didn't have them, but hey, why scrap a great idea when it
can only make the car that much better. Thanks for the advice!

Mike.

[krausewich]

Hi All,
Been away from the dream for a little while due to Jr. getting
out of school for summer vaca, but I hope to be back in the
swing of things again. That and the ol' lady lost the charger
to the camera!! So here are a few updates from the past couple
weeks...

I was able to get the transmission and motor mounts in and
followed that up the following week with the shock tower mounts.
I stepped away from the chassis work for a week to develop a
new seat for this beast that was way more driver friendly! This
new bucket that I designed is about 2" wider in the rear and about
4" taller in the back than the FFR seats that I had originally picked
up for the build. The shape will be more authentic looking too. I will
be moulding and casting the first pieces next week and sending
them out for upholstering the following week. Following that, let
the rigging for the IRS begin!!

Til then... Keep striving!
Mike.

[Three Peaks]

Beautiful work. Don't know if I would have the ambition to start over and completely scratch build a chassis, but you make it look easy.

Is you engine Centered? All of the cars I have checked, including Cobras, the engine is usually centered 3/4" or so toward the passenger side of the chassis. I'm not sure why, but I have heard several explanations running from counteracting engine torque rotation to making more room for the driver's foot box.

Keep up the good work.

Bob

[mickmate]

Don't forget pinion alignment Bob. Looking good Mike.

[krausewich]

Hi Bob and Nick,
Thanks for the compliment and encouragement!
I can say that I wouldn't be anywhere on this if not from
the learning and sharings of those who've come before me.
Challenging myself with what I've learned and where I would
like this car to be has made it all worth it!!

Bob, for the engine offset, I second Nick on the pinion angle...
In an original setup at least...

Mike.

[Three Peaks]

Yeah, I did forget that one little thing.......

Great progress, keep posting pics when you can.

Bob

[mickmate]

That's looking at it from the top of course, pinion by crown wheel et al.