Track Roadster - Hot Rod Girl: Part I - Tech

The pre-drilled mounting holes for the steering box bracket are a few inches forward of the pedal assembly. Just like everything else, the bracket fit the frame perfectly at this point, as did the Corvair steering box.

With the bracket in place, the next step was mounting the box itself. I have to admit, getting the steering box mounting bolts started correctly was the hardest part of the assembly thus far. Hopefully there aren't too many more bolts that go in upside down and in tight confines. Let's see, righty tighty, lefty loosey, correct?

The engine-mount brackets were a foot or so forward of the steering box, and the Total Performance small-block Chevy mounts are pretty neat. Total designed them to be fully adjustable, so engine mounting and leveling will be pain-free-another bonus of a pre-engineered kit.

Total shipped the front axle assemble pre-assembled (thanks, guys!), so all I had to do was lift it into place on the suicide (not sure I like that terminology) mount, insert the U-bolts around the spring and into the bracket, and hang the hairpins from the batwings to their mounting points on the framerails. Hairpins and batwings-who thought up these names, anyway?

And, there you have it: my first day as a hot rod builder! Believe it or not, aside from which four-bar bar went where and which was the Panhard bar or steering tie rod, I figured everything out on my own. At this point, I'm absolutely convinced that a Total Performance kit is the best way for the beginning rodder to get involved in the hobby. The complete initial assembly of the chassis took less than five hours, and I really did do it all myself, meaning that anyone with a bit of mechanical ability can do the same. In the next installment, I'll pull the chassis back apart and get it prepped and painted-Jim has this awesome frame coating from KBS Coatings he uses on all his projects. Then, I'll put the chassis back together for good, assemble my Currie rearend, and mount my new Coker tires and Wheel Vintiques wire wheels-I can't wait! Also, check out Total Performance's Web site. They have the coolest selection of hot rod kits you could imagine. Log on, and, if you're quick enough, you can get your own kit and build yours along with me.