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TQ Midget & Hydroplane Boat Projects
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:03 pm    Post subject: TQ Midget & Hydroplane Boat Projects Reply with quote

This is the future "Stuchamp Special".
It's a 50's style TQ midget that I've had since 2003. It's not an original racer but a replica that was built by Ray Leisure & Russ Hankins in Indiana who are noted midget specialists. I bought the car unfinished and have been collecting and building parts for it.
The TQ is Crosley powered and came with original clutch, trans, starter, etc. It has a locked rear axle with 5:17 gears. The chassis is new chrome moly tubing with fiberglass tail, cowl, and nose sections. The belly pan and hood are aluminum.





Shocked Naked!!!



Crosley Power



Last edited by Stuchamp on Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:36 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the first things I did was to install the steering. The car came with a modified Ross steering box but hadn't been installed. I mocked up some supports in wood to get everything oriented and then transfered the wood patterns to steel and welded them in place. I found a pitman arm and steering wheel on ebay to finish it off.




I was originally going to use the Crosley clutch and starter but later decided to make a direct drive setup which is more correct for its era.
I had already built a new firewall but all that has been or is in the process of being changed.
With the clutch and flywheel eliminated, I built a new lower firewall & rear engine plate combination.



The upper firewall will be redesigned and installed later. To replace the clutch housing I'm building an adapter that will attach to the rear engine plate and the trans. The Crosley trans will still be used and I'm in the process of rebuilding it to work like an in/out box but with 2 gears.
Still plenty to do yet such as the brakes, steering arm, engine work, carb setup, etc. A few of these things I've already done but am in the process of redoing to get it more correct for the 50's era.
I'll add more as the work slowly progresses. Smile
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admin



Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 925

PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi stuchamp, love the pics, do you still have all those photos showing the various carb setups you found?? have you had it running yet?

cheers
Rick

PS is this design based on an actual car that raced, or in the spirit of many cars that were built years ago?

Very Happy
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Rick
Leisure & Hankins built and raced TQ and full sized midgets duing the 50's and 60's and this is a copy of the TQ's that they built years ago.
They are both now retired but Ray Leisure and his son are again building TQ's for the vintage racers. I think it was supposed to be as a hobby but was told recently they are in the process of building 6 more cars and making and selling parts. Not sure if they ever really closed their shop after retirement. Smile

Haven't attempted to fire the engine yet but have spun it over quite a few times while checking things.
I'll post some of the carbs later on today, hopefully!

On a side note, Ray Leisure and his son puts on a vintage open wheel car show every year. It is usually attended by their friend and neighbor, American Racing Champ Tony Stewart! Very Happy

Thanks Rick!
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Looks a good build and bet it will be fun when it is running!

Cheers

Dave
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree, it does look very nice and will be a lot of fun.

Stuchamp, are you planning to use it on a track later?
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys!

Joe, the TQ is being built mainly for static display at car shows and will be towed by my '57 Chevy. I'm either going to buy a vintage trailer or build my own to haul it on.
It will probably be taken to a couple vintage races each year but again as a static display. I doubt it will ever see any track action but you never know. Smile
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

admin wrote:
Hi stuchamp, love the pics, do you still have all those photos showing the various carb setups you found?? cheers
Rick


aaaah, the quest for a correct carb setup.
The best setup would be a Braje dual intake with a pair of Tillotson carbs but Braje speed parts are difficult too find and way too pricey if you can find them such as this one shown below.



My first thought was to use the a pair of Tillotson's and build my own intake. My Dad mentioned that he had a lot of old marine carbs at his shop so he started out by sending me 4 Mercury AJ58A side-draft carbs but they ended up being too small.
Next he sent 4 Carter YH side-draft carbs but they are way too large. You could probably get by using a single but they were never used on TQ's that I know of.

Next up were a pair of Carter RBS carbs with chrome flame arrestors.
Still just a little too large but they did look rather cool when mocked up.




Finally I came across a Fageol intake with dual Zenith side-draft carbs on ebay. This is the marine version setup for the Crosley engine and a hot setup for TQ's of the 50's era when you couldn't afford the Braje equipment.
It'll need some cleaning and rebuilding but this is the setup I plan to use.



I also have a Godfrey supercharger that is very close to being the same at the Pepco SC that were used on some Crosley marine engines. These were never used on TQ's that I know of so for now it will stay resting on its shelf. Gotta keep a few conversation parts around for friends to gawk at! Laughing
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Uncle Joe
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its looking better every time I look at it! when its finished, I hope for two things. One that you name it after you grandkid, two, you let me have a blast round say, Sacramento! That used to be a Midget track, didnt it?

I have a 1:43 at Donington in England, and a 9:15 on the 'ring... would this qualify me?
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:39 pm    Post subject: 50's 3-point hydoplane Reply with quote

I bought this a few weeks ago to restore and then we'll take it to car & vintage boat shows towed by the '57 Chevy Wagon.
It was built in the mid 50's and raced into the early 60's. The deck was painted later to match the paint on a 1950 Chevy pickup that towed it.
The blue deck paint will be removed and it'll be restored to its original finish. Its racing # 9P is still visible thru the paint.
The boat is 9'-4" long with a 5' beam. The framing is built from spruce and covered with mahogany marine plywood. It has a 50's Mercury Hurricane racing outboard. Speeds would have been in the 50-60 mph range.
The trailer will be painted Viper Red to match the '57 and it can also be converted to haul the TQ midget. Later on I might rebuild the trailer to haul both the midget and the hydro, double decker style! Very Happy





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DELETED
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow

Just seen this post, looks a great little boat and fast too! Will you use it?

I like your idea of the double deker trailer!! Take the midget racing then have some fun in the boat when racing is over at an evening, sounds a good mix on those hot evenings!

Cheers

Dave
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Stuchamp
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="buzzy bee"]
Just seen this post, looks a great little boat and fast too! Will you use it?
[/quote]


Thanks!
Once the boat is refinished and rerigged, it will be on display at the car & boat shows.
It'll be a trailer queen as it will never touch water again as long as I own it though it could be tempting! Very Happy
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