Gee, couldn't have expressed it better myself.
I've found that the convenience of catalogs has lead to the loss of Hot Rodding to some degree. I have myself indulged in catalogs for certain things as well, but if I had any slight hint that I could make it in a safe and responsible way or twist some ones arm to do it, I'd do it in a heart beat. Like said above, this is not to start a heated rant, but to simply tinker with the ideas that can make all of this fun again like it used to be.
Believe you me, some that choose anonymity here have told me of some ideas and choose to not be the token looney target like I have in some circles. LOL.
When I started my lightweight plans back in 1989 and one or two local GM boys got a fluke of what they thought was going on, they laughed and laughed with caution. Now they wait on line to get a call back from me to lighten their cars in a stealthy way. I just do not have the time and they don't love it enough to justify the effort.

I hear what you say about being a "token looney", I am probably New Zealand's "token looney" by building such things as annular boosters for Carter AVS carbs & a dual Dizzy for my Pro Stock Hemi (and other similar projects) rather than buying these parts.

Back on subject, are you using alloy/light weight wheel nuts?

You mean these? Well...................
Yeah, keep up the madness. Carter's? man....Makes for good Hot Rodding.

Man, If I had the time and duckets to build one, there would be a revolution. Though I might say, I have traded a few ideas with those cats and they have surprised me on occasion and I as well returned the favor to them. They are a savvy bunch of Alley cats.

One Pontiac Gent has Carbon fiber Formula 1 disc rotors behind the rally wheel. With that kind of commitment and budget, I would not be surprised if the rally wheels were Magnesium. I would!

RMCHRGR, I agree with you notion of hot rodding and do it yourselfisum but for me Im in an industry that allows me no machine shop access I work in civil concruction in outback Queensland, away from home for 21 days at a time, I fly out to work and fly home for 6 days then Im gone again. in that time my wife and children get my full attention. for me I just buy pre-made enginuity for my hobby, no time to create it. however I do admire your dedication to this but you & I will never be able to create superior front end components to this level or quality by doing it yourself, some things in this hobby just have to be brought out of a catalog.

I know full well that some people are not in the position to build some or any of the parts shown on this thread but they are the people that should be the most greatful to the people that can. History has shown many times that the large companies often replicate parts racers have built at home using very limited equipment, if it wasn't for the little guy where would the parts builders get their ideas from?

I'm quite sure this thread has set quite a few wheels in motion & has inspired people all over the world, long may it continue.

Anyone who thinks they don't have the equipment to do much of this should watch the movie "Worlds Fastest Indian" Burt Munroe built his Indian with second hand files, hacksaws, a home made furnace & an old lathe that most machinists would run a mile from, no CNC machines in those days. I may be slightly biased as I'm writing this from Burts mome town of Invercargill but this thread gives me inspiration, just like Burt's movie did.

Keep up the good work.

a A couple of years ago I crafted up a thick wall chrome moly tube steering column, some where in my photo libary I have a photo of it finihsd but for now heres how I went about it, the factory dash has long gone too with too, I didnt weigh the factory column or this one but its a saving all the same.


Im not disagreeing with anyone but me or anyone in Australia can't make brakes like areospace components, out of a catalog or not inovation is the name of the game.

Well, if I may add. The one thing that will come from this is that where ever it may be on the globe, there comes a determination when the stakes get high and there is no limitations within reason that can't be achieved or at least explored.
I think that everyone here and beyond in taking a peek into the skeletal doings of these cars will only create a swarm of inspiration in the right direction, and that direction will be the love of Hot Rodding as we knew it on or off the books.
Some will choose the flick of a catalog (and again, I have also) and some will just go at it unilaterally different. Now that Thumperdart has released this thread to the world, I felt to release my skunkworks of the craft to a great crowd like you all.

Case in point was my Hood scoop. After reading how special and rare those 2% and Altered wheel base cars were and wanting to mirror them in this generation with a street version, I went to a catalog trying to find such a scoop. When I could not find a regular A990 scoop that could be made and delivered in my life time, I went at it with a piece of discarded aluminum sheet, plywood, hammers and a friend willing to weld. In doing so, I opted for the higher 65'AFX type scoop on the car now for more air intake and that FX Nostalgic look. I was so proud of the thing, I took it to my bed side after being finished because I could not believe that it was real. LOL.

I know Doctor Diff fairly well since we talk every now and then on ideas at the Nationals and he made my Slightly lightweight Dana 60 (more on it later) so I think he had just as much fun in doing these hubs.
But, will he built others? I'm not sure.
Will people think it's worth it? I don't know, but for sure the hubs were affordably lightweight on the wallet being the first prototypes and they both saved 6+ Lbs on an already lightweight system. Ironically, the idea was spawned in my head from looking at catalogs that catered only to Disc brake assemblies in this current climate where Drums are faded to memory. I was this close to ordering but that bulb lit up in contrast to logic.
When it comes to money, I hold on to my $$ just as anyone here since it's rather tight at times and believe you me, there have been times where the rent money was spent on materials to make something or another. Just ask all my X-Girl friends. LOL
In the case of car crafting here in New York, both now and back in the day, but mostly back in the day, your game had to be on kill in order to survive the ruthless nature of competition. While most went to fat durations and rev limitless motors and or nitrous I went the other way in keeping it simple and fun. I may have not won every race on the clock, but I've won my fair share off the clock and with nothing more than a weightless whisper.
Like the saying goes "Necessity is the Mother of invention"

Figuring that most early B-body inner door panels are made of a steel upper sill panel stapled to a cheap lower cardboard stock wrapped in interior vinyl material, I found that these along with the inner quarter panels, armrests, hardware were sought of heavy and warped as usual. 14-1/2 Lbs all together.
I created what you see below out of very thin aluminum sheet for the time being. the main panels are a little rough, but as I said, it's for the time being as I will be getting a lighter cardboard stock to wrap with the original style A990 pattern.
The upper sill panel with the glass felt strip or fuzzies in place are also aluminum. Right now these including the inner quarter panel covers and no armrests weigh 5-1/2 Lbs.
Saved 9 Lbs total.
I left the rear inner quarter sill panels steel since they are both a little more difficult to make and are in the area past the center of gravity. This can be applied to a number of body styles, just study your pedigree.

As before, when I tried in vain to acquire a beautifully handcrafted aluminum bumper from a source in the game and could not get a fair pulse to justify me laying down my hard earned money, I went at it with my own hammer, anvil and welder in hand to built what you see below.
The original steel factory bumper weighed in at about 27-1/2 Lbs. This one is of thin gauge stainless steel center section couple to the wrap around ends of the factory steel bumper which received a fair share of grinding on the back to make it thin gauge. It now weighs in at 12-1/2 Lbs. not counting the hardware and lightweight brackets.

Here are the lightweight attaching brackets with lightweight bolts.
The brackets were hand formed from flat stock 3003 aluminum which can be formed rather easy.

LOL.

Trust me, any little taken off those bolts would amount to a pigeons feather. They are light indeed.

My next front end diet will be to replace the tie rod ends and tube with an aluminum tube and heim ends from speedway motors for less than 100.00 and with the heim ens instead of tie rods i can shim the heim ends to help reduce bump steer from front end rising on launch.

There is a Black Primer Nova waiting for you if you want sum?
Track only! Street Racing is Illegal.
Motor on motor?