Hot Rods Spalding Bros Repro, for "Too Tall" Ganahl.

I was hoping. Didn't know how close to the original Pat wanted it to look so I didn't say anything. Glad you are putting an early cowl on it. They are a much nicer curve and smaller firewall so you can run a smaller nose.
Gary

 

Gary, I was waiting for someone to notice, my money was on you ! Here is the contrast, for folks to see the difference.

 

I took this picture a couple of months ago, thinking I would send it to Pat, and let him know it's not too late to put a Flathead in it. My thinking was it would be the Harold White version of the car. But I chickened out.

 

I'm hooked! Whats the plan for the center steer? What box do you plan on using?

 

Well, you really started something now. Care to speculate how big this thread will become before the project is complete? You may want to tell Pat things will be delayed about a month or so to accommodate for the picture posting and detailing of the build. We all look forward to it. I'll be around if you need anything pushed, shoved or pulled. Larry

 

Schroeder, just like the original .

 

I've been waiting for someone to do this. Pat Swanson built a great tribute to this car as well. I started chipping away at a tribute to the other famous stovebolt powered track T, Johnny Hartman's car. However, by trying to make it streetable and not adhering to the correct parts it will end up being it's own thing. I now regret I didn't just make a full on clone.

 

Marty I'm with Pat on this one. Their are a bunch of these things around with flatheads. The inline will set this one apart. Every time Ganahl walks by my roadster now he teases me about the Mustang engine I used to have in my roadster. The last time he passed by I yelled to him that I still had access the the Mustang engine if he wanted to update his 32 roadster. He just gave me a dirty look.
It will be interesting to see Pat fold himself himself up in that T.

 

I heard that the Spalding's sold the car and it ended up with a flathead, maybe before these pics were taken. Can anyone verify that?

 

Thanks for the great pictures, especially the color one. You are spot on, about trying to capture the elements of a "center steered" race car for the street, setting on the left changes everything.

 

I'd bet Pat would understand considering his involvement in the hot rod rag business.

 

In my case, it's on the right. I had to cut the firewall to set the GMC back enough to keep the wheelbase within 115", and keep the car proportioned. Then there's the problem of squeezing in 3 pedals while allowing room for my knees and a 17" Bell wheel. Centre steer and a deep belly pan will let Pat dangle his long legs each side of the trans.


Should've would've could've built it like this:

 

Man...Marty Strode, Pat Ganahl, the Spalding Bros. Stovebolt Tracker: Hard combo here.
I couldn't have predicted this one with a Ouija board, it looks like the 'project that almost couldn't have been'!
Please share the first confab you and Pat had about this, Marty?


The parts pile's nothing short of 'stupefying'.
Steel '23 bucket/poopdeck, with early cowl; Pat Warren Quickie; adaptor for '39 box usage; Wayne head; plus the 'little things' friends are sending, just amazing.
Front axle is ingenious, leaving one end 'untied' until brackets are slipped on and 'centerlined' with caster angle...
Schroeder center steering.

Thrilled to read along, Thanks!

 

Another. Definitely with a flathead! But please keep it inline.

 

Well you hooked me on this one. Subscribed.

 

The Flathead idea was just a cruel joke I wanted to pull on Pat. I have built enough of these with Flatheads, here is shot of my "Factory" about 15 years ago. The one with the cardboard on the radiator was for Lonnie Gilbertson .

 

Glad to have you aboard Mike, I just wish I had your storytelling skills, always enjoy your posts. The story will be told, I have to look up the letter he sent me to get it right.

 

Now I'm really scraping the bottom of my picture barrel. If you look hard and squint a bit, I'm sure that's it in the background. At least it's in colour. You're definitely the man for the job, Marty.

 

This will be GREAT......Marty with a great ability to do dirt-slinging roadsters......[plus Pat Ganahl who is my Chevrolet/GMC six cylinder hero. I still will forever remember my chance encounter with Pat at the LA Roadster Show in 2003 ? when he was hawking the new magazine called Rodders Journal.......and called Alex Xydias over to sell me something and autographed it. Pretty heady California stuff for a 69yr. old midwest boy like myself.

I think I will go out to the garage and ponder all the Chev inliner stuff on the shelf and dream....what if ?? Why did I send my old T roadster body shell off to Germany ?

 

Very exiting build ! I have been a fan of that car since I bought the track roadster issue of R&C back in 1973. Go Marty Go!
Here are a couple of pics of Pat with his dragster I took at the Antique Nats.

 

Um, Marty..(ahem, shuffle of feet, wringing of hands...) Would it be O.K. if I follow along as well? I did stand in the Spalding Bros Driveway (yes the house is still there ) but Aussie Steve confused me when he took me there the back way. Have you figured out the Ingles nose yet? I`m sure you have someone out your way who could make that....

 

POLE, I mean Paul, You know that's how I pronounce your name, I just sent Pat a message stating those Kiwi's know more about the Spalding than I do ! Pat will explain about the Ingels grille shell, he has that handled. I am waiting to see if Scott is going to be able to help us out with the grille insert. See you soon !

 

Hi Marty

Thanks for starting this cool thread, as i'am in too

Don

 

Kev, you are correct about that issue of R&C, it's very informative, I wish Grey was still alive to follow us along. I think it would bring him joy, he was a track roadster fanatic. Thanks again for the Auto Butchers plaque.

 

Great picture, it must have been taken the same day as the bottom shot in my lead off photos, notice the Fleetline Aero Sedan in both pics? Do you suppose that was their push car ?

 

I'm really looking forward to the torsion bar stuff. I am still keeping an open mind as to how I want to spring the back of my coupester, have spent a lot of time looking at period photos of the Spaulding car, the Hartman car, and the Leever & Esser Model A, as well as a lot of Kurtis/Art Ingles stuff. Have been leaning towards 1/4 elliptics, but torsion bars would be in keeping with the more sophisticated Mid fifties racer influenced type car I am envisioning.

 

Good spotting. I guess Pat could use his old 4 door sedan?

 

Did Ingles build a few of those shells? It looks very similar to Yam Oka's.

 

Funny how certain threads always seem to bring out the same crowd...

 

This is the start of the frame rails, after reading Grey's article in the '73 R&C, Tom Spalding admitted having the frame rails formed up, instead of using OEM rails as the CRA rules required. He copied Willys frame channels. I picked up a sheet of 10 guage (.134 thickness) hot rolled, pickled and oiled steel sheet. My Brother Jerry sheared it down to size for the channel and boxing plate strips. My next stop, was was to my old racing buddy Gerry Grossen's shop, to have him form up the channels on his monster press brake, it sure makes it handy to have relatives and friends with big machinery ! I then, made a layout on a sheet of paneling, to dictate the width of the rails front and back. More tomorrow !