J.W. Burleson photo / Boquillas del Carmen, Coah.

PHB

My photo
Brooklin, Maine, United States
We own a 1975 GMC Sierra Grande 15 in Maine and a 1986 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe 10 in West Texas. Also a pair of 1997 Volvo 850 wagons. Average age in the fleet is 28 years--we're recycling. I've published 3 novels: THE LAW OF DREAMS (2006), THE O'BRIENS (2012), and CARRY ME (2016). Also 2 short story collections: NIGHT DRIVING(1987) and TRAVELLING LIGHT (2013). More of my literary life is at www.peterbehrens.org I was a Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study for 2012-13. I'm an adjunct professor at Colorado College and in the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. In 2015-16 I was a Fellow at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The Autoliterate office is in Car Talk Plaza in Harvard Square, 2 floors above Dewey Cheatem & Howe. SUBSCRIBE TO THE AUTOLITERATE DAILY EMAIL by hitting the button to the right.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Love, Inertia and the Perfect Stance: an update


We've received an update from Shawn HibmaCronan on his Love Inertia and the Perfect Stance project, which you can also find out about in an earlier post on Autoliterate.  SHC has been meticulously transforming a 1963 Ford Falcon Deluxe Club Wagon into a fully street-legal sculpture. The work seeks to connect this surviving artifact with the elements and gestures of a contemporary "customize everything" subculture...
"Since I last wrote, we've sourced and acquired a truly unique (and international) drivetrain combination for this eager old soul. Purists, brace yourselves.
The border-disregarding assembly begins with a modern Volkswagen Turbo Diesel motor--


"--mated to a good-ole Toyota truck transmission via a CNC-machined (and beautifully simple) adaptor. This highly fuel-efficient, yet wonderfully torquey powerhouse of a motor will eventually connect to the ground via a custom driveshaft then to a Nissan 300ZX rear suspension subframe. All of this, carefully wedged into the charmingly stubby 60's Ford Econoline body, floating low on airbags.
In amongst a ton of research and part-hunting, some exciting progress has happened with the body.
Somewhat reluctantly, I've begun to cover up these carefully-selected components with sheet steel panels. Starting with the rear wheel tubs and moving to the fronts, I've curved and fit crisp new 16 gauge "cold rolled" steel into place.




"There is something so gratifying in generating and finessing steel forms that bring together the custom-built tube frame and the original Ford body proudly wearing all 50 years of its life and use evident in its curves.
Heavily influenced by consideration for the final interior experience, the extra bay doors added to the left side of the body not only add light and air, and lovely symmetry to the interior, but also increased ease of fabrication.
Smiling as I jump in and out of the vehicle fitting panels and components, it's almost as if this old soul wants to be worked on, rejuvenated and reborn.
"As I've said before, but will s ay again, every step left to do is additive and it feels great. More soon as the project continues to gain momentum.
For more frequent updates, follow me on Instagram @shawnhibmacronan and Like my Facebook Artist's page. Thank you for your encouragement, enthusiasm and support!
ONWARD!"
---Shawn

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