Mods
1948 Austin A40 body , on fabricated chassis . 4 link , coil overs , LSD 9 inch , narrowed Holden Torana (Australian car) front crossmember and narrowed steering rack . Blown 354 Hemi with 8/71 Blower Shop blower , Ross pistions , Comp blower cam , 2 x Holley 750 boost referenced carbs , Hot Heads Chev waterpump conversion and also their Turbo gearbox adapter to hook up to a Turbo 350 . MSD ignition . 10 inch rear wheels and 6 inch fronts .
Build story
I originally had the engine for another car and was looking to build a tough , legal street car but halfway through the build there was a regulation change so ended up pulling the engine and selling the car . I wanted to build a 1930 Ford but could't afford one and saw a bone stock '48 Austin for sale locally . \r
It was in very good shape as far as rust goes and was cheap . Dragged it home and began the destruction , I mean construction . \r
Everything apart from the engine and gearbox was built in my shed by myself , and usually welded up by my brother who , unlike me is a qualified welder .\r
I started with wheels, diff ,front crossmember and some 100mm x 50mm x 4mm rhs and just startied laying out the wheelbase , track and rail design . \r
I can't possibly go into every issue I had making everything fit into the length of the car ! There isn't a spare inch front to back . Most days I just sat next to it looking and scratching my head . It literally took a month working out where and how to mount the alternator . I ended up mounting it under the engine , behind the crossmember with an offset drive tranfersing the motion of the front accessory drive belt back a few inches to a gilmer belt down to the alternator . I drew all the brackets in CAD and sent to the local waterjet . This is just one of the problems that needed sorting out . I t was something new everyday !\r
I'm really happy with how it worked out though .
It was in very good shape as far as rust goes and was cheap . Dragged it home and began the destruction , I mean construction . \r
Everything apart from the engine and gearbox was built in my shed by myself , and usually welded up by my brother who , unlike me is a qualified welder .\r
I started with wheels, diff ,front crossmember and some 100mm x 50mm x 4mm rhs and just startied laying out the wheelbase , track and rail design . \r
I can't possibly go into every issue I had making everything fit into the length of the car ! There isn't a spare inch front to back . Most days I just sat next to it looking and scratching my head . It literally took a month working out where and how to mount the alternator . I ended up mounting it under the engine , behind the crossmember with an offset drive tranfersing the motion of the front accessory drive belt back a few inches to a gilmer belt down to the alternator . I drew all the brackets in CAD and sent to the local waterjet . This is just one of the problems that needed sorting out . I t was something new everyday !\r
I'm really happy with how it worked out though .