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Horton, driveshaft opinions wanted

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So did a little more cutting.




IMG_20130110_235827.jpg


I think this is about as narrow as I can go and still be comfortable with the steering wheel in its stock location.

Although it wouldn't be too hard to move in a bit because I am going full hydro.

Also did a bit more budgeting, I am still carrying on with the plan but Horton might be out till just about this time next year. Unless I can pick up several more jobs throughout the year. Which I might be able to.

I thought it might be interesting to see how much narrower I am going to end up.

So taking some measurements off the Jimmy ( its snowing and blowing outside so these might not be the most accurate) It appears at the a pillar I am about 76.5" wide

Hortons current widest point is at 71.25" and the new widest point will be at 68.25. So around 8" or so narrower at my widest point.

Kind of cool, but its gonna take some time on the hood to get it looking right
 
Been doing some measuring and calculating and thinking about safety.

I think I am gonna try to swing some PRPs for this go round.

I went out and was measuring the other day and I am only going to have about 24" of stock frame left when I am done with what I want to do.

So going to go to a full on tube buggy. No factory frame left at all.

The caveat to this is I am going to link the rear now and I need to find a way to minimize my body panels.

I still intend this to look like Horton does with bedsides and fenders and a chevy looking hood. But I can't go as narrow as I want leaving what I have now

So everything is gonna get smaller dimensionally speaking. Gonna keep the wheel base around the same. I need to seat 4 people in this, might even try to make the back seat comfortable for a normal size person.

This will allow me to flat belly, and do several other things that I really want to do.

It actually might seem like more work but other than the body panels I think this will be easier to do than joining into the stock frame.

Alot of this depends on the cost figure I come up with after I make a build plan for going full tube buggy but making it still "Horton"

I refuse to build something that looks like anything but a full size Chevy even though it will be substantially smaller than a full size chevy
 
Good plan!

I Like This Statement.:D

"I refuse to build something that looks like anything but a full size Chevy even though it will be substantially smaller than a full size chevy":waytogo:

Sounds like a big design change commitment!!
 
kellyjohn said:
I Like This Statement.:D

"I refuse to build something that looks like anything but a full size Chevy even though it will be substantially smaller than a full size chevy":waytogo:

Sounds like a big design change commitment!!
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agreed with this Eric, and kudos' for you for "keeping it real brother":thumb:

just one thing...2014!
 
Keep it coming. I've spent all of my spare time the last couple of days reading this thread and its been very informative. I have a 78 blazer that I just finishing the cage, 56" front, 63" rear, doubler, frame boxing ect. The more I read the more I want to do. I just need to get it out and wheel.
 
As things change plans change.

Had it worked out with a buddy to come work for him 4 days a month or so. Its out of town and has been harder than I thought to make work.

So. Gonna recage Horton and go wheeling.

Linking the front and going full hydro hopefully this winter.

Its killing me not being able to wheel and BB 2014 was looking questionable.

I am still gonna start on a chassis for a buggy and eventually swap everything over but its more of a 4 yr plan now.

Meanwhile I gotta get some wheeling in
 
I hear you Eric! Money tight nothing free!
Im 44 and not were I would like to be money wise, I think you are a it younger than me but we are in the same boat! Kids... life... Whatever... if you can have some fun with what you got... awesome!

I know
you know what Im saying!!??
 
max 02 said:
I hear you Eric! Money tight nothing free!
Im 44 and not were I would like to be money wise, I think you are a it younger than me but we are in the same boat! Kids... life... Whatever... if you can have some fun with what you got... awesome!

I know
you know what Im saying!!??
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I am 39 yah man life gets in the way. But hey Bailey has a blast in Horton, I am thinking Sawyer will have a good time too. I miss just me and Bailey time. Last year just me and her went wheeling several times.

I am actually pretty lucky to have Horton overall. I have worked for quite a few years to get where I am.
 
Eric how did you make the hood work with the narrowed front? I have a couple ideas but just wonder what you did?
 
jekquistk5 said:
Eric how did you make the hood work with the narrowed front? I have a couple ideas but just wonder what you did?
Click to expand...

Well the hood was one of those good from far but far from good things.

I didn't narrow it as much as some do so I didn't have to pie cut the hood or anything to retain the 2 lines on the hood I cut just outside of them.

I actually used the factory hinges ( you gotta have an 81 or newer which I think yours is right?) I just kind of bent them in and welded them on.

Hood pins used on the front to hold everything down.

When I cut it I had the width of the front pretty much set and one of the reasons I narrowed it to where it is, is because I didn't want to mess with pie cutting the hood. My hood wasn't skinned. It still had all the factory supports on underneath it all. I didn't want to go through all the work it would be to brace the underneath of the hood, they are really floppy when just skinned.

This is a pretty good pic of the hood. Its cut all the way from the end to end. so when I bent the hinges in to work welding them on also closed up the gap left by cutting the hood up by the cowl



Now what I am going to do next is narrow the hood even more and try to retain a more factory look to it, so I will pie cut the hood and just make my own hinges and hang the hinges off the new engine cage.

This time I am narrowing it to just a couple inches wider than the radiator
 
blazinzuk said:
Well the hood was one of those good from far but far from good things.

I didn't narrow it as much as some do so I didn't have to pie cut the hood or anything to retain the 2 lines on the hood I cut just outside of them.

I actually used the factory hinges ( you gotta have an 81 or newer which I think yours is right?) I just kind of bent them in and welded them on.

Hood pins used on the front to hold everything down.

When I cut it I had the width of the front pretty much set and one of the reasons I narrowed it to where it is, is because I didn't want to mess with pie cutting the hood. My hood wasn't skinned. It still had all the factory supports on underneath it all. I didn't want to go through all the work it would be to brace the underneath of the hood, they are really floppy when just skinned.

This is a pretty good pic of the hood. Its cut all the way from the end to end. so when I bent the hinges in to work welding them on also closed up the gap left by cutting the hood up by the cowl



Now what I am going to do next is narrow the hood even more and try to retain a more factory look to it, so I will pie cut the hood and just make my own hinges and hang the hinges off the new engine cage.

This time I am narrowing it to just a couple inches wider than the radiator
Click to expand...

Alright looks like a pie cut is on my future. I narrowed 10" on each side the hood is gonna stick out since I just bent in instead of stretching the fenders or moving the core support back. Ohh well
 
jekquistk5 said:
Alright looks like a pie cut is on my future. I narrowed 10" on each side the hood is gonna stick out since I just bent in instead of stretching the fenders or moving the core support back. Ohh well
Click to expand...


One of my advantages is my radiator is moved back so I just put the fenders where they matched the hood. Skinning the fenders is super easy and they way to do it.

This next go around is gonna be alot more work but I think it will look pretty cool when I am done with it
 
Eric I know you want to climb the ladder of progression but Horron works so dam well.
I say rebuild/repair/refine what you got and go with it!
 
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