Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*

[joe231]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

I actually had never seen or heard of them before I found this one. It's a 66 Sunbeam Minx. They were more often badged as Hillmans under the Rootes group. It's about the size of a VW Notchback, but has a water cooled front/rear config. It'll be the new DD soon

cool, thanks for the info

[joe231]

Cool!
excuse my ignorance, but what kind of car is that?

[bagged69c10]

Cool car. I bet its hard to find parts for though.

[jkaylor68gmc]

come on Friz, how many do ya need?

Yeah, turns out getting your truck in a mag is easy when the photographer posts here!

if we only knew him.

[joe231]

i wouldn't call building a custom Tahoe "easy"

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by babyblueoval

You can also go this route and use whatever tire you want:
http://www.vwparts.net/VW-70.html
They're available from other sources and in different widths but they work well. I've had blue ones on my bug with Michelins for years.

Are those Porta-Walls or another brand? Better/Same?

Originally Posted by bagged69c10

Cool car. I bet its hard to find parts for though.

It's no Chevy that's for sure. But the engine is basically an iron head version of the Alpine engine, so Napa actually has some parts listed. For other stuff it's mail order, and there is a pretty good Yahoo group for them too. They are more numerous and popular in Australia and New Zealand. I read that there's actually a company in the UK repopping some sheet metal too.

Originally Posted by jkaylor68gmc

come on Friz, how many do ya need?

Yeah, turns out getting your truck in a mag is easy when the photographer posts here!

if we only knew him.

I can't thank you enough man.

Originally Posted by joe231

i wouldn't call building a custom Tahoe "easy"

The hardest part is making the first big slice. It's all butter from there

[babyblueoval]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Are those Porta-Walls or another brand? Better/Same?

Friz,
I don't know what brand they are. If I had to guess I would say they're Atlas. Those are the ones typically seen in the VW crowd. I've got a set of Color Gards from the 50's on my bug. They were made in Cleveland. Of course they're light blue and I think they were only made in colors but they're extremely nice.
As far as quality, they all work pretty well as long as you mount them correctly and the tire is tall enough. Low profile tires are kinda hard on 'em. One of my front ones is starting to show wear on the outside edge because the tires are kinda short.

[jb1016]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

It's no Chevy that's for sure. But the engine is basically an iron head version of the Alpine engine, so Napa actually has some parts listed. For other stuff it's mail order, and there is a pretty good Yahoo group for them too.

And if it breaks down, you can just stick it in the back of the tahoe

[ChiefRocka]

Congrats on the mag article man.....much deserved !!!

[kizer]

Wow, that was awesome to read. I've seen those HUGE suburbans and thought man it would be nice if they weren't so large. Now that I look at my 65 PU and having limited fabrication skills I have a renewed sense of anything is possible with planning and effort.

Congrats thanks for sharing.

[wagonhoe]

You do know that you can buy wide whitewalls, right?

[babyblueoval]

Originally Posted by wagonhoe

You do know that you can buy wide whitewalls, right?

Sure! Diamondback Classics, Coker and at least one other place I can't think of the name of. The problem is selection is limited, especially in small sizes and they are certainly not a budget option.
Porta-walls are nice because if you get tired of 'em you can take 'em off and you can use virtually any size and brand of tire you want.

[Frizzle Fry]

^^^What he said. Plus the current wheels are 13's and I plan to get some 15's or 16's of the same style. Then I'll step up to real WWW's

[Dinos63]

little late butt congrats also, and i like the micro car

[Frizzle Fry]

Thanks again for all the props. Now I need to post some more real progress! That should be happening this weekend

[original_balzer]

COOL on the mag. thing and the clown car. J/K its pretty cool.

Just be sure to use the car as a DD so the tahoe can be the project.
Witch should mean we will get progress updates now, right?

[Frizzle Fry]

Some pics with the front clip trial fit and more trim installed:

[babyblueoval]

It just keeps gettin' better and better!!

[19723DR]

Two thumbs waaaay up!

[original_balzer]

Definatly cool Mike! Did you have the rear glass cut? How much was that?

[Rokcrln]

Now were stylin! Nice nose job.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[bagged69c10]

I think you have built the coolest ride ever! Cant wait to see it done.

[tdave00]

Luvn it! That thing is gonna be gorgeous in some paint!

[danny ewing]

Mike, I love it, what is the color going to be?I cant wait to see it finished.Danny

[estig70]

Hey Frizzle, I thought you were grafting in the taillights from a fleetside pickup? Am I thinking of someone else's build or have you just not been able to get to that point yet? Regardless, one of a kind build, that thing looks SWEET, even without paint. Good Job.

Eric