Project Violent Valiant is soldiering along at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle these days despite the crushing forces of winter trying to freeze half of the country to death. Kevin Tully is keeping warm by the heat of his TIG torch and plasma cutter and that’s plenty hot enough for us. This week, we’re going to update you on new roll cage construction progress, the removal of the car’s front clip, and a little mock up of things to come. You know that there’s a moment in your project when you just have to cheat a little to see things as they are going to be in the future. It provides a little motivation and frankly it is good for the soul to see what your end product is going to look like using a little imagination…and a floor jack or two.
We’ve recently been spending a lot of time talking about the back of the car with the last few updates having concentrated on the fuel system, the rear end, and installing the rear portion of the roll cage. We’re not saying that end of things is “done” but it is done enough to move onto other areas, mainly the driver’s area and the front suspension. Since Kevin will me making his own frame rails for the front oft he car and using a different suspension configuration from the stock Valiant, the first thing he did was harness the heat of the sun in his hand thanks to Miller and remove the remains of the Valiant’s face. We’ll pick up the photos and captions from there –
With 10 minutes off the clock and a stead hand, Kevin removed front of the car. He’s going to be custom building a new front subframe and suspension system and that’s going to have nothing to do with the factory stuff so, bombs away! The Miller plasma cutter made short work of that job.
We’re not sure what’s to become of the steel that Kevin removed but he did in in a pretty surgical manner and that piece could be reused by someone restoring a Valiant. Do people restore Valiants?
Some work with the grinder and she’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
Soon enough there will be a new set of Kevin fabbed frame rails hanging off the front of this thing to serve as the anchor points for the new front suspension.
Moving to the inside of the car, Kevin concentrated on the front part of the roll cage. He had completed the rear and now it was time for bars around the driver and passenger. This is where the men and the boys are separated out in roll cage building. Notice how nicely tucked the bars are? That’s the good stuff.
Again, note how the bar on the driver’s side looks invisible. It is there, just expertly tucked up and in.
The cross bar is also very tight with the front of the roofline. How many cages have you seen where the upper bar is so low it nearly impedes vision?
Cross bracing up top will help maintain the rigidity of the cage and it will also help to keep the car stiff to reduce chassis flex. There will be none of that with this car, as you have seen in previous updates.
Here’s the completed cross bracing up there on the roof. If Kevin lets us drive this thing, he’l be happy he put that there. Hey, maybe add another couple bars Kevin? My head is pretty big.
These knee braces on the cage are again added for strength and to help keep the cage maintain its shape in the event that big stresses are placed upon it. We hope that big stresses are never placed upon it. This thing is too nice to bend up.
A tube jungle for sure but very, very necessary. The roll cage is one of those pieces that if you are really having to pay attention to it when the car is done, the cage wasn’t built right. It should be a seamless part of the car and in the Valiant, it is.
The view from up front. This portion of the cage is all but done. Now…about that seak peek….
Oh is this going to be bad ass or WHAT?! Stay tuned….we’ll be back shortly with another update!
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF THE VIOLENT VALIANT UPDATES FROM THE BEGINNING UNTIL NOW
It keeps getting better and better each time I see it.
I have never been a fan of the early Valiants, but this one is awesome! I only hope that my next project is half as nice!
Excellent!
At least this one is getting updated huh? Where’s the rest of the project cars on here fellas? This is one kool car though. I really dig the wheel choice.
wicked awesome car.