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Ok, today I spent building a balsa model to familiarize myself with the design needs. Went smoothly. Will it up some pictures in the morning.

Hope it's full scale. BTW, aren't you afraid of getting splinters while sitting in it and going "Vroom VROOM VROOM!"

I think that's an excellent idea! Some of the best builders in here did that too! (Who, me? Why yes, why do you ask? )

Actually, I built the balsa version quite early on, and decided the "standard 7" type design wouldn't work for what I wanted to do. Sounds bad, but it was a lot better than building a steel one and figuring out it wouldn't do! It was quite good for visualization of the design, and the spatial relationships of things.

Do watch out for those splinters, though...


JDK

Building a mock-up out of wood, either a model or full-size, is highly underrated. Really familiarizes you with the whole process. Nice job.

Ok, took the picture with my cell phone, so do not mind the quality. You may notice the different stick yipes. That is to match up to the tubing I was given for free, mixed round and square. You may also spot my hot glue work, but do not get attached to that, only using it on the scale model.

Alright, after some wheeling and dealing, got a better transmission, out of a Nissan 300ZX. Needs new synchros, but nothing too dramatic. Already began the cutting of metal, so should have something to show shortly. I began with a McSorley 400 as a base to work from, so we shall see how this goes.

Good luck, you're on your way.

So, in being handed the Mustang suspension to work with, I realized a small issue that it used a modified MacPherson suspension system. While lower than normal such suspensions, it still comes out a bit too tall for my desired outcome. However, it is not a true MacPherson, as the spring is not over the strut. Now, I was also handed a set of struts off of a Dodge Ram as well. So, when handed lemons, make lemonaide. Years back I had to work on a Range Rover 3500, which used a very unusual MacPherson arrangement, the strut was mounted horizontally rather than vertically. So, my thinking was, there is a lot of dead space in front of my engine with the arrangement I am working on, so if I mount the Ram struts pointing into that dead space, and use a lever to transfer the vertical motion to the strut, like how the Rover did, can make the existing suspension parts I have work. Of course still trying to figure out how to adapt the Mustangs steering (as the Ram's is far too wide).

Well, as tomorrow is internet-less for this household, taking the day to get the base of my frame finished. I've been tinkering on the transmission some, discovered its gears are not in good shape, so now hunting for replacement bits. I've also been studying the suspension more, and think I'll just take the Ram's coilover shocks and use them in a traditional double wishbone for the front, but sticking to the mustangs for the rear due to the lower profile it offers back there.

Alright, at this point I have calculated that this car will have pieces from no less than 12 other vehicles. You have to understand, my old Mustang had the nickname of "Frankenstang" due to the fact it was built out of several other cars, not all Mustang (or even Fords). Now the wife is bugging me to name it, despite the fact that "it" is mostly odds and ends at this moment, and not even car shaped.

So, in honor of its largest donor (despite that its largest donor was itself not a single vehicle) I suppose I am building the Sevenstein.

I think naming a vehicle is important... Gives them a personality... My MGB was named "Lucretia MacEvil"... I got emails, Christmas cards, etc, addressed to us both. I had a one-ton dually 4X4 truck that was named "Scarlett" and another one named "Fat Girl" (term of endearment, long story, tell ya later).

Personally, I like "FrankenSeven" but it ain't my call...


JDK

Franken-Seven has already been used somewhere I think..... And Seven-stein sound too much like the name for a 1940's Catskill's Jewish Comic.(not that that is a bad thing, just not for a car.

How about Dirty Dozen?

I'm good about naming cars. I guess that is kinda evident, HUH?

Downix- This isn't necessarily "aimed at you" because only you can name your car...

But, doing a little "free associating" on names... In keeping with the Catskill's resort theme and related to Chuck's "Dirty Dozen" idea and thinking of "Dirty Dancing" (Set in the Catskills, right?), you could name the car "Dirty Dancer".

Following on, that makes me think of the song by Elton John, "Tiny Dancer", which I've thought wouldn't be a bad name for a Se7en type vehicle.

BTW- "Free Associating" is a fancy way of saying I let my mind wander. There are plenty of folks who would say that I shouldn't let the poor little thing out all by itself like that... They might be right...

The biggest problem is that it might not come back. OOOPS! Too late!