............................................Return to Sumner's Home Page
.......Return To Mine & Other Bonneville Car Construction Pages
.............................................Return to Hooley's Index Page
..................................The Stude's Construction Story
......................................................( Changes for 2005 )
......................................................( Changes for 2006 )
................
................
This is how the Stude sat for a few years. It had a lot of rust outs in it. All we really needed was the outer body. I bought a new 53 front clip from "The Glass Shop" in Belair, MD. (410-893-7947).
................
We built the frame from 2"X 3" steel tubing. We took a Mustang II type front out of a project that we haven't gotten too. The 9" Ford rear end was narrowed with disc brakes, 2.48:1 ratio on a spool. I built the ladder bars and all the brackets. If it looks like a drag racer its because it was built for both Bonneville and drag racing. The body has room for 15" slicks. As of yet it hasn't been tried on the strip.
................
The body has been fitted over the frame. Due to the rust out I had to replace all the body structure between
the front of the doors to the rear wheel openings The body will be welded to the frame.
................
A front view after the body was installed. The tape on the windshield post was the thinking stage of chopping the top.
................
You can see how the body and the frame are coming together. If I were doing it again I would move the middle crossmember back about 12". It would give more cockpit room after the roll cage is installed.
................
More body to frame attachment. The white line on the floor was my straight line painted there to align everything.
................
The top has been chopped and tack welded in place. Kenny Lane and I cut it one Sat. We took enough post out till there was 6" of windshield.
................
Front view EVIL, WICKED, MEAN AND NASTY
................
The top is finished, the roll cage installed, and some of the body was stripped.
................
Fire wall is in . Good use of road signs. They were the right thickness and I had them on hand. NOT STOLEN.
................
This was about the second week of March 2004. After my brother Bill explained the low melting point of aluminum, he suggested we cover the outside of the firewall with a ceramic blanket called Fiberfrax. It is flame resistant material. Since it has no strength we covered it with a thin layer of aluminum. That made everyone feel a little safer.
................
It is really starting to take shape now. It was about this time we ordered the front end.
................
That is me on the left and John on the right. This was the second week of June. John had taken the parts that came off to his house in Missouri to do the body work while I was doing construction. John continued working on the body and paint for about 3 weeks while I took an Alaskan Vacation. Thank you John.
................
This was the first part of July. John had done a lot of work in a very short time. He kept the front clip to finish doing the paint and body work on it. Ted Timpleton and helper Steve Made the headers. It was a lot harder than it looks to build those things. The fuel injection was fitted on to cut a hole in the hood before John took it
................
This was about the last of July, its Like " Monster Garage" It was in this period that a few friends were coming by every night and on the weekends to help get this done on time. These friends were all builders, and now my job was to keep them busy. All I had to do was tell them what I needed done and they would do it. Keeping them busy was a full time job. My wife Wanda keep everyone fed and watered [that brought them back]. Most of the interior was done during this time, some of it wasn't finished till the night before we left. Sumner built a tow bar system to pull the car and carry the hood (this was done in Utah and sent to Okla). He also loaned us a Muncie 4 speed transmission, not to mention all the research and phone calls he did. A special thank you to Sum , John , Spanky, Patrick, Donnie, Jimmy, Mike, Darrell and every one that helped and gave or loaned parts. A special thanks to Darrell Ward and Adpro in Claremore, OK for their sponsorship
................
# 974 after the 207.485 MPH pass (about a 217 MPH terminal speed) and 9 months of time. We met the goal that I had set out for. The goal was to build a car for Bonneville and get a 200 MPH drivers license. Goal for 2005, GO FASTER.
I hope you enjoyed this story. From the "Just Glad To Be Here" Gang. Hooley
The in-car video came out good or at least we feel it is good. The camera is at wide angle so you can see the mile markers go by and hear the motor. You can see part of Hooley's hands, the gauges and him operating the chute release. Because of the white salt conditions, the outside is a little over-exposed and the inside is a little under-exposed. It shows all four runs and a little time at the starting line and us recovering the car. We also have included video from a second camera with the car going between the 2 and 3 mile markers on 3 of the runs.
If you would like a copy of the in-car video we will send you one for $6.95, which includes shipping. The proceeds from the video will be used for upgrades to the car for next year.
Thanks for your support. Send a check for $6.95 or whatever you would like to donate to the car to:
Sumner Patterson --790 S. Main (78-11) -- Blanding, Utah 84511
Also please e-mail me ( sumner1@purplesagetradingpost.com ) so I know a check is coming.
c ya, Sum
......................................................( Changes for 2005 )
......................................................( Changes for 2006 )
..................................Back to Hooley's 2004 Bonneville Experience Story