Hot Rods Nature Abhors a Vacuum, Or, The Hemi A Roadster fills a void.

The empty spot in the barn where the Riviera sat didn’t even have time for the oil to dry before this happened... see, there’s a REASON that my ‘52 DeSoto wagon got a new, unmentionable Hemi between the frame-rails!




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Brian, I’m beginning to think you’re a glutton for punishment.


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OH OH! New build thread coming!!!! Where's the popcorn?

 

Like where this is going!

 

...Hotrods...I'm in...Go Brian Go!!!

Now Popcorn is not to be confused with Rabbits and Pancakes...

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We are a devious breed when it comes to finding new ways to get to where we want to be!

 

Well, it IS smaller...so in theory you DID downsize

 

Nature can be so cruel.

 

Haha! Should be drama free! Unless a DeSoto Hemi is suddenly off limits, this shouldn't require knuckle rapping by admins. No PCM's, fuel injection, or disk brakes will be harmed, used, or shown during the production of this Hot Rod. Carburetors, dual point dizzies, and mechanical fuel pumps only! My 5 year old grandson called me last night and said, "Grampa, did you get another Hot Rod?" He's already talking about riding in it, remembering the '34, so, the project has grandson approval!

 

So, here's the plan (for now): The '52 DeSoto Hemi, pulled out of the wagon I bought in January and have almost finished. The engine was rebuilt, the PO could never get it started (he claimed) after having it back together and back in the car. The points were set wrong, I got it running as soon as I got it home. Anyway, it's fresh, there were a few receipts for parts and machine work in the car, the engine obviously has all new gaskets, the carb appears to be rebuilt, as do the starter, distributor (dual points, that's what he messed up) generator, all fresh and detailed. It'll need an adaptor for (probably) a 700R4 trans, the Fluid Drive and goofy semi-auto are going away.

The body has a steel firewall and fender wells, floor bonded in, needs doors hung and deck lid mounted. Never finished, never used. Has a wood buck made for a Hallock style windshield, a friend manages a foundry here, so I may have a couple cast to sell and help recoup the cost. I'll build a '32 frame, dropped drilled axle and bones, and use Wilson Welding brakes and Buick drums, in a nod to the '34. I see it black for now with red interior and some red accents here and there, hood top, no sides.

So, that's the plan. My wife is on board, it'll keep me busy this winter and out of her hair. For now, I'm just shopping for bits to build the chassis, and have promised not to start on it before the wagon and '59 T'bird are painted.

 

These were great machines. I think it should be "Nature abhors vacuuming".
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I dunno about nature...but my wife sure the hell abhors vacuuming

 

The cats aren't wild about it, either.

 

LMAO. The gray one would be gone like a rocket...but you could literally drag the vacuum cleaner over the black & white one, and he wouldn't give a shit.

 

.........That could be CAT.....astrophic, if the vacuum were strong enough.....

 

I'm ready to watch you build another one!

 

LMAO Don...but that's gotta be the absolute worst pun of the day

 

Now wait a minute, didn’t the other roadster go down the road partly due to feeling uneasy in it after the unfortunate incident with the wagon? Are you ready to get back on the horse? Or am I confused about threads.
No matter, you seem to find cool stuff and I like following along.


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Yup. I’m getting back on that horse. . Giddy up.

 

Atta boy! Ain’t nothin like an old Ford roadster.


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With a Hemi...

 

We're going to pick it up this afternoon.

 

If nature DIDN'T abhor a vacuum, then carburetors wouldn't work.

 

Brian, remind me again why you sold your last roadster. HRP

 

We’ve gotten over that, and felt the need again for a small, uncomfortable, unprotected, probably underpowered and unreliable car.


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It’s home, already has a name, “The Rambl’n Roadster” (because it’s been passed around so many times).


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I don't know what happened with the text, and the photos loaded wonky from my phone (at least in my view of the above post), but the story is that this car was going to built to replicate a well known '50's roadster, with the Hallock style windshield and extended doors, the rear cut line matching the cowl character line. It was on a '32 frame with '40 Ford drivetrain, ended up getting passed around and parted out. The windshield buck was built, I'm told by one of the previous owners, by some guys from Johnson Controls in Holland MI, the original car was purple. The windshield buck is amazing, fit's beautifully, and was a feature on the original car. Anyway, that's what history I know. How about that, I end up with a second 'glass roadster with some history.

 

Went to see my buddy Jay at "Cooper Foundry" to have him assess the windshield buck and advise if I could have castings made. Turns out "NO" is the answer. It can't be cast in one piece (economically), and I don't want to cut it up. Wall hanger is the recommended option at this time, so I guess I'll be putting a stock w/s post and stations on it. He wondered if the original plan was to simply use it, which I had wondered, as opposed to a buck for a mold. Since I'm a few owners away from whoever made it, it's a mystery.