Shadow Rods XL27 Roadster - From Buck To Finished Piece

To add some strength to the bottom portion of the nose, some flat sections were added in the corners for rigidity.

Duplicating that first piece and adding a 3-1/2-inch-thick centerpiece, the radiator pattern begins to take shape.

Slid in behind the nose, multiple clearance checks for fitment in relation to everything that will be near it will have to be made.

Building the pattern for the radiator starts with getting the overall shape of the opening and transferring it to a piece of thin wood.

Another facet of the radiator mock-up is determining where the electric fan will mount.

The location of the radiator fill tube and inlets and outlets can also be added to the pattern. Once completed, the dimensions are noted in a drawing and both the pattern and drawing are sent off to the radiator manufacturer: Ron Davis Racing Radiators.

With the hood and track nose fabricated, the rest of the car's fabrication and buildup can continue.

Following the template made earlier, the insert (made from aluminum bars) can now be made, too. Look for the feature on the finished car in the November issue of STREET RODDER.