Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.

bams50 · Aug 7, 2012

fortyfour said:
Thanks Kev - I had no expectations. Just a cool shop and wanted to throw down some support! Thanks for sharing your shop.

Holy cow, those logos are AWESOME! Much respect! I've been trying to come up with just the right logo for my shop. Best I've come up with so far is the logo in my avatar. Do you hire out your design skills?

Sorry for the hijack, not taking away from that awesome shop. But a great shop deserves a great logo! :beer:

tskills10 · Aug 8, 2012

Dan in Pasadena.....The gear ratio is 4.56 (57 Olds rearend). It has a super T10 4 speed. It has a heavy flywheel so when you wind the engine up and dump the clutch it reall jumps. It's not a horsepower thing, more about weight transfer and with the set back engine, long ladder bars and ballast bumper it has good weight transfer. . It is not a very fast car, maybe 12 second 1/4 mile on a good run.[/QUOTE]

So what kind of RPM are you turning when you dump the clutch, and shift? The launch really looks fun. I finished reading the R&K article and saw the link to to GJ. Nice to see the other pics that you posted.

Kiwi Kev · Aug 8, 2012

I have had tuning issues and can't get it to rev like it should. I have been launching at 5,000 rpms. Last time out at Barona (San Diego) we made some improvements and got one clean run. I would like to side step the clutch at 7,500 when everything is dialed in. I wonder what will break first. I figure just shift when your ears start ringing.
I bent the front axle at the Antique Nat's and changed it before Barona. Here is another pic from Barona.....

HOTFR8 · Aug 8, 2012

Just got a copy of the magazine today so it should be a good read later.

tskills10 · Aug 9, 2012

Kiwi Kev said:
I have had tuning issues and can't get it to rev like it should. I have been launching at 5,000 rpms. Last time out at Barona (San Diego) we made some improvements and got one clean run. I would like to side step the clutch at 7,500 when everything is dialed in. I wonder what will break first. I figure just shift when your ears start ringing.
I bent the front axle at the Antique Nat's and changed it before Barona. Here is another pic from Barona.....

And to think I was worried about dumping the clutch at 3500-4000. But I have to think that side stepping at 7500 is going to break something. But this would be interesting to watch jump off the line. What kind of trans are you running. I'm using a Muncie M21. A fairly good trans, but it does have it's limitations.

LoRollinLS · Aug 9, 2012

Bought the issue last night and read the article right away! Props to you Kev!

carbons4 · Aug 9, 2012

Got the new Rod an Kulture. Great write up. Your Garage is such a great back drop for the lay out. Even the wife was waaay impressed.

MacmanSW20 · Aug 9, 2012

Awesome shop and definitely one of my favorite threads on here. I wish we had that kind of climate up here in Canada!

eborcim · Aug 9, 2012

Kev,

Another request for the driveline specs...engine HP(&torque), flywheel (&weight), clutch style (size), transmission, final gear? Thanks!

Kiwi Kev · Aug 9, 2012

283 probably puts out about 350hp,it has a 550 lift cam that should be good for mid to high RPM hp. Trans is a super T10, clutch is an 11" Centerforce with counterweights on the pressure plate for lighter pedal, Flywheel is a steel one from Centerforce (don't know the weight, I think they only offer one). Rear end is a 57 Olds with Ansen locking spider gears, ratio is 4.56. Slicks are 9" wide. With more horsepower it would probably overpower the tires and also break things easier. Remember I don't want this car to be the baddest thing at the track. I have much more fun driving it around town so I want it to remain street friendly. I only race maybe 3 times a year and don't care about winning anything. I just want to go make some test and tune runs.

poolmann · Aug 26, 2012

Freakin' Awesome...

Call me the Breeze · Sep 11, 2012

Kiwi Kev said:
I have raced my coupe a couple of times lately. It is no real race car (283 powered street car) but has a fun launch. Here are a few wheelie pics.....

I haven't been on much, but when I am able to, your thread is one of the firsts.... dang these are cool pictures!

MFC · Sep 11, 2012

Awesome thread! That is a great workspace Kev!

Houston Rodder · Sep 11, 2012

Digging the launch pics!!!

Gasser Pete · Oct 26, 2012

Wow some real history here in this cool thread :thumbup:

MoparTrucks · Oct 26, 2012

Great thread and I would be happy just to take a long **** in your bathroom...wow!

Dan in Pasadena · Oct 28, 2012

Bump.

Just went back through all 27 pages and man, I'm impressed all over again!

I also noticed I yakked too much, sorry Kev.

Anything new on the garage or new project cars in it? Did you ever finish the Willys pickup and sell it like you planned?

Kiwi Kev · Oct 29, 2012

I haven't finished the Willys pickup yet but I've mad a lot of progress.

gricegear · Oct 29, 2012

I've seen many projects of yours on the hamb. I am always impressed!! Your garage would make anyone jealous. Your builds are awesome also! Great job on your attention to detail and craftsmanship. I would drool over your collection of speed parts if I could see them in person. Ha. Thanks for updating the truck build.

Justanoldguy · Oct 29, 2012

Where did you source the chassis rails Kev?
Are they home made? 2 x 3?

Kiwi Kev · Oct 29, 2012

I have had the front 2/3 of a Willys frame (boxed) sitting around here for years. I used that and built the back 1/3 using the rails from an old Alston kit.

charlief1 · Oct 29, 2012

Thanks for the frame pics Kev. I've got a willys wagon that I've got to get in the shop to restomod and the frame pics have given me some ideas. I'll need to talk to the owner about them but I think I've come up with a solution that he'll like. :thumbup:

He want's ifs on the car rather than the leaf set up and your pics just clinched what needs to be done to make it more like he wants. :beer:

Justanoldguy · Oct 29, 2012

Thanks Kev.
Just gave me a few ideas for a new project as well.

Kiwi Kev · Dec 14, 2012

Hung some tools on the wall. Had some there before but re did them with more tools and better organized. I dream of having more room. I would have a whole wall like this with a work bench in front. There is an awesome picture I have seen from the 50's with a guy in his garage working on his hot rod 34 coupe and there is a wall of tools behind him, so cool.

v

I built a bench a to sit some intake manifolds on and roll a couple of engines under. I also extended the peg board a few more feet to hang some traction bars and a few more parts.

charlief1 · Dec 15, 2012

Is that a V6 in the second pic not quite 1/2 on the left Kev?

Kiwi Kev · Dec 15, 2012

I am not sure what you are looking at but there are no V6's in there.

HOTFR8 · Dec 15, 2012

charlief1 said:
Is that a V6 in the second pic not quite 1/2 on the left Kev?

Kiwi Kev said:
I am not sure what you are looking at but there are no V6's in there.

Perhaps he is looking at the blown flathead with 3 exhaust pipes.

magnusk750 · Dec 16, 2012

Kiwi Kev said:
There is an awesome picture I have seen from the 50's with a guy in his garage working on his hot rod 34 coupe and there is a wall of tools behind him, so cool.

Is it on the internet, somewhere?

Kiwi Kev · Dec 17, 2012

Yes, I've seen it a few times, can't remember where. Next time I see it I will copy it and post it here.

Here are a few pics showing some progress on the Willys PU.

Vernmotor · Dec 17, 2012

Cool Bed !

LoRollinLS · Dec 19, 2012

Like the new tool wall. Also love the collection. I hope someday you get to use all of those parts, lol. :3gears:

Dan in Pasadena · Dec 19, 2012

The bed came out great Kev. Will you put a floor in it? Metal or wood if you do? You're still planning to flip this truck for some cash, right? Have any takers inquired yet?

Kiwi Kev · Jan 16, 2013

Dan. the bed floor will probably be plywood with a raised steel section in the middle.

Here is the tool wall picture I mentioned earlier.....

Grizz1963 · Jan 20, 2013

What more can I do but bow down in reverence???

You are a magician Kev.

Dan in Pasadena · Jan 20, 2013

Kiwi Kev said:
Dan. the bed floor will probably be plywood with a raised steel section in the middle.

Here is the tool wall picture I mentioned earlier.....

Thanks Kev. If you were keeping it long term I'd suggest you go with a nice hardwood. But with the raised center section maybe diamond plate would be nice - though costly

I HAVE a long wall with all peg board and have really thought of doing something similar. But now I'm kinda thinking of the shallow metal cabinets HF sells with metal pegboard backs so I could close them up. But I'd probably repaint then from black to red for my situation.

Oh, hey PS: How's the grandbaby doing? I assume you are wrapped around her little finger already! Lol.

Dan in Pasadena · Jan 20, 2013

Hey a quick thought. With all the neat stuff you have displayed are cobwebs a big problem? I use a Toro electric blower to blow out my shop periodically. I SHOULD do it more often, but its the only way I can keep the cobwebs under some kind of control.

Bears Fan · Jan 20, 2013

This isn't a garage its a museum! Sweet...

Dan in Pasadena · Jan 20, 2013

I agree with the sentiment, but Kev uses the hell outta his garage. So it's a "working museum". What could be better than that?!

Bears Fan said:
This isn't a garage its a museum! Sweet...

BelairJay · Jan 31, 2013

Kevin's shop is the best! I've been lucky enough to hang there a few times... Looking forward to my next trip out west!

tskills10 · Feb 9, 2013

Thought it was funny a few days ago when a buddy of mine posted a pic of Kevin's bathrroom on his Facebook page. He was commenting about what a cool bathroom. So I had to post a link to this thread so he could see the rest of this awesome place.

Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.

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