Projects 28 RPU "problem child" build thread "first try at a hotrod"

Thanks!!! I'm looking forward to having it finished

 

Well was able to get a little color sprayed on a few pieces of the top.. Hope to do the rest of the structure tomorrow..







Wanted to do a few small pieces since never painted a lot with this turbine hvlp setup from TP Tools.. Had some issues with it I hope I can get worked out before painting any of the body..

 

I have followed your build from the start and am MOST impressed...partly with your skills, but also your willingness to "back up and try again" if the object/feature you are working with does not suit you. You are definitely THE MAN.
Thanks for documenting a fantastic project.

Russ V.

 

Very impressed by a guy with your skills, especially a recent R't rod convert...
Also, distressed to hear of your friend's passing. My mentors were older guys, and as they passed I was saddened...but felt like I had to carry on the 'faith'!

This roadster pickup has made its mark, as you have demonstrated practical fixes all the way through.
I stand with Dean Lowe, sell a roadster; keep a roadster pickup!

 

Thanks you two! That means more then anyone will know!! Luckily for everyone they got me away from the idea of putting together a r*t rod.. Haha..

I feel lucky to have met them and got into this hobby in the way now running into problems I see stuff a lot differently then I used to.. And sometimes can come up with solutions on how to do things... Before this project I could not tig or gas weld.. Run a lathe or a mill.. Shape metal.. And I don't know how many other things I had no idea on...

I am amazed at the talent in this hobby and hope to better myself and skills, I'm also thankful i don't have a desk job and am able to do most things on my own.. Sometimes the public worries me haha..

Anyway paints flashed time to re coat

Thanks again!!

 

Well took the pieces out in the sun and they had a little bit of orange peel to them



Hit with some wet sanded with 2000 Grit then hit with two kinds of polish. Don't have 4 hands or a bench top buffer so zip ties and a short step ladder will do





Pretty happy with how they turned out..



Was also able to get the other top piece painted Sunday... Be nice to add some light to the inside of this plastic booth.





Little orange peel might try to buff it by hand or might not worry since 90% will be covered up



Put some hub caps on it and gonna kill the night by trying to make a tool to remove them easy and not scratch stuff up..

 

Just spent the past few days reading this. Nice thread, I learned a lot.

Kelvin

 

You are doing a fine job, ingenuity is what hot rodding was built on. Keep up the good work and you will be very happy with the results.

 

Thanks!! Glad this thread helped in some way.

Thanks man! I have a little suspension work in the back to straighten out and get some good help with he body work and should be ready for paint. I'm trying to not get carried away cause I want to drive this a good bit

 

So few ups and downs as always this week.. There was a local show that is about a 30 minute drive from home.. Decided to throw some stuff together and take the truck..

Had to make a seat cushion for it.. Riding on 3/4 plywood wasn't cutting it for road driving..

One of the guys in the local group owns a furniture store.. Said he had left over packing material.. Perfect..

Couple layers of this stuff, soft foam, and some Walmart fabric


Much better ride now.


Took off about 7am


Only issue on the trip was when I got in line for the show it stumbles and stalled.. And for some reason it just doesn't want to start when hot.. So I was able to coast down to where we had to turn in little bit at a time and luckily it decided it wanted to run again..

Thinking the carb or fuel lines are getting hot and vapor locking.. But not 100% sure

Painted a few of the other pieces for the top so I can get that moving..

Snyders antique auto advised me that in the roadster pickups the top bolts were originally painted.. So sprayed them black. Thought I wouldn't have to buff them but there is a small spec of dirt on them.





Figured I would let the stuff bake in the sun while I buffed a few spots on the top



And that's where I run into a mistake haha.. The booth is kinda dark and when I took it out in the sun I noticed some thin spots.. On the edges.. Barely hit it with 2000 grit and wham went right through..





So I get to try my hand at fixing the sides and not reprinting the whole thing.. I know I have enough on the front part since that will be seen the most I put it on thick..

In the booth before buffing.


Sometime I need to add some lights so I can see where I'm getting it thin at..

Let the taping begin..

 

So repainted the sides of the top late last night..

Much better and made sure and put about 4 decent coats on it.


Buffed it out where I stopped at.




Threw the top on carefully and unpacked the clamp bolts and put some tape on




Then I figured I would throw a sheet on I bought a long time ago for this purpose and never used.


The view sure shrank inside


I'm sure glad I narrowed the front and set it down a little more.

Now just debating on how to do the sides and if I should bring them around the side farther..




Thinking it needs to come around the sides.. Stole this from google images

 

Consider this style of top with sides. I've seen the originals come at an angle but prefer this.

 

Yeah that looks really nice! I'll have to save that pic to show who ever does the top..

I need to figure out for sure what I'm doing so I can make the back wood for it and know how long to make side pieces

 

Are you planning on building side curtains for the top also?

 

Not 100% sure.. I've seen some I like and some I don't.. I might just to have them incase I do like it.

 

Amazing build with insane skills! Loved going through this thread.. lots of ideas taken from it! Only with a lot less talent.... What a RPU!

 

Thank you!! I have learned a lot doing this thing that's for sure. Still a lot left to learn to! I don't know what your talking about... Lot less skill.. That rpu your putting together looks great!!!

Seen the post hope your doing good after meeting up with that RAV4!!

 

I, too, used a sheet when I built this top. Consider wrapping the top around to the side bow. I believe it looks more finished, and is how Ford should have done it. Also keep the top material above the body. Many tops come down onto the body and are snapped onto the body. This makes the top appear too tall.

 

x2.

Paint on the top parts looks great!

 

Agree 100% I'm going to keep it up on the tack rail and off the cab.. No since in chopping it 3" then making the top longer haha..

That truck is NICE!

Anyone have and idea on the ruff cost off getting a top covered?? Got one estimate so far

 

Thanks! I have no idea how some guys spray paint and it looks like glass right off the bat.. I do ok on small parts but never did a whole vehicle before... But I suppose that's what they make buffers for..

Well did paint a few junker daily drivers but used a spray system and paint for oil well tanks..

 

Started on a few other things to get read for the top and needed to make a license plate mount..

Cut out two pieces of aluminum.


Set on a piece of rectangle tubing to keep square and welded them up




Probably going to paint it but for now I blasted it with coarse media to give it a cast-ish look




Needed to make a tack strip for the back so made up a template out of cardboard then cut it out of a 1" thick piece of white oak.


Had to mill out some of the sides where the quarters stick up a bit




Then went back to my brothers place who does more woodworking then I do so went out there and we ran a router around it to give it some profile..


Attached it from the bottom with hex head metal screws... Didn't really want a bunch of screws showing from the top.

On a side note.. Went to the Henry ford museum on Saturday and if anyone following a long has the time to do it I highly recommend to go for a visit..

 

Little update on the progress.. Went to drop off the truck at the upholstery shop so I figured I would shorten the top clam bolts..




Off she goes to get a top put on




So I needed to start on the rear wheels.. The bead edge was a little goofed up so did some sanding and grinding on them first




Sent them to the blaster and really happy how they turned out..


No one single pitt..

So made up a thing to hold them so I could roll them around..




Shot some primer on them and tried to learn the best way to paint spokes..


Waited a couple days and scuffed them and shot some color on them..


And then clear.


Messing with the spray gun on the turbine has been quite confusing.. Not like a normal spray gun. I ended up with some runs on the back side luckily so I can sand them out and won't be as noticeable back there


Set them outside this morning.. To try and get a little sun heat in them to help cure better


So hopefully get some wet sanding done this weekend and get the back straightened out.

 

Laced wheels are one of the more frustrating things to paint.
I do them in colder temps and use a slow reducer/thinner,
lots of angles, lots of light dust coats.
Your results may vary
I'm sure they were never painted as well as we try and do them.

Can't wait to see it with the top stitched up!

 

Looks great Jared. You're a natural at this. Fun ain't it?
I too am patiently waiting on the top and interior work.
Who in the area did you get to do the upholstery?

 

Sounds strange after this I'm looking forward to painting the steelies I have on it right now.. Lol yeah I have to keep reminding myself that's it's a model A and its gonna be driven.. It doesn't need to be perfect...

Hoping to have the truck back tomorrow with the top.. Im looking forward to it also [emoji106]

It can be aggravating like when I first seen the runs lol but yes it is fun

I talked to dj upholstery in Dover, they did a buddies car who is extremely picky and did a great job on his.. They couldn't get mine in till end of July/August so I went to a guy in newcomerstown... Wizard upholstery.. He did a buddies rpu interior and did a great job at a reasonable price...

Would have had it last week but they shipped him the wrong material so he got the right stuff this week. I will post pictures of it as soon as I get it home [emoji106]

 

oh and the hits keep coming haha

I guess some of the basecoat wasn't fully cured out.. I left it sit for about 2.5-3hrs before spraying clear..

After sitting out today I come home to find a present..

 

Where are the pics of the top done?? Looking really nice!

 

Wish I could post them.. Called the guy Friday and he said that he was behind and going to work on it all Friday and Sunday.. So I guess it's pushed back to Monday now..

Kinda sucks I am wanting to take it to bonneville for speed week this year and need to get some things finished up before then and it sucks not having it here to work on.

 

Called the guy today to tell him I was gonna come get it Monday done or not and I didn't get that far into the call and he said it would be ready for pickup today..

So I ran up after work and drove it home.. I spotted one change that needs to be done as soon as I started to drive back the driveway.. But it will be an easy fix.













So....