Looking to Get Started...

Anyway. As of right now my list is getting shorter to get the roadster on the road. I’m sure a couple more things will pop up but here’s the current list.

1. Fix or mitigate serious transmission leak (rear).
2. Stiffen up quarter panels and adjust doors
3. Install horn.
4. Adjust headlights. I may have to heat and bend my headlight bar. Beams too low.
5. Relocate headlight dimmer switch.
6. Adjust clutch linkage.
7. Tag, Title, Registration.

 

Remembered a post from last year that addressed eliminating decelerating popping with some choke....took some time to find it. In post #3, gimpyshotrods pretty much nails down a lean mixture causing backfiring.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...st-pop-goes-away-with-a-little-choke.1192718/

 

I’m still going to recheck my point gap and timing. Maybe I livened up the spark enough with better connections and new plugs to change the situation.

 

Thanks that helps me understand a bit better.

 

This evening I pulled the clamshell apart (Some of the worst nuts and bolts placement on a Model A in my opinion. No socket or wrench can really get a good turn on those! Ugh!). I found that there was no felt/rope gasket on the rear bottom half. That was actually good news. I cleaned everything up and installed new gaskets. I’ll test it out tomorrow. I’m pretty confident it will be at least less leaky.

 

Knocked a few items off the list today.

1. Installed new gaskets in transmission clamshell.
4. I heated and bent the headlight mounts. They look like they should be just about right now.
5. I relocated the dimmer switch so I don’t dim the headlights each time I push in the clutch now.
6. I adjusted the clutch linkage. I discovered that it was almost adjusted all the way already. I used a die to add a few more threads. That should buy me some time before I either install a new clutch or do the v8/tranny swap.

Next I’ll work on stiffening up the quarter panels and adding my original ahooga horn. Hopefully that gets me ready to tag and start doing some test drives.

 

Update - I drove ‘Ratty’ around the yard this evening and so far no transmission leaks. Also no backfiring since I opened up the GAV a bit more. So far so good.

I think I’m going to dial back my clutch linkage. I was a bit too ambitious.

I started working on the quarter panels and door alignment. I have zero experience as a body man other than YouTube. I’ll post some before and after pics when I get to ‘after’. TM

 

Before and after pics of the quarter panels.

 

I bent and welded in a steel rod on each side. That along with welding up the cracks made a huge difference. Very solid now.

 

Good job , Roadster is really coming along

 

Thanks Skip! I’m excited to get it on the road.

 

We took ‘Pappy’ (the coupe) to the Middletown, MD car show sponsored by the Middletown Fire Department last Saturday. Really fun to hangout with friends and answer questions about the car.

 

Tried to get my original Spartan ahooga horn to work last night. Horn spins too fast at 12v and doesn’t work at all with the horn resistor. Any ideas?

 

Can you tell the differences between this pic and the one I posted this morning?

 

You put the grab bars on for the rumble seat.

 

......and cowl light/lights.

 

......OOPS! Missed those. Good catch @Joe Blow

 

Couple more minor changes. One you might notice. One is too subtle.

 

Looks like you have the center section of your tack rail in.

 

Yes! You guys are good. I also added the stainless cowl trim piece. I was not going to install the cowl lights and trim until I patched the rusty bottoms of the cowl sides but I don’t plan to do that patching for a while.

 

The eyes are always the second thing to go Don.

 

.........So true.

 

I’m now thinking I got to lose the cowl lights.

 

I feel the only thing the cowl lights are good for is turn signals
Skip

 

Created a spring type clamp for an early Ford mirror to mount on the center of the roadster windshield.

 

^^^^^^^^^Innovative^^^^

 

Out enjoying the great weather after Ida passed through.

 

Maiden Voyage

 

Looking good. video gives the sensation that you are going very fast. How are those mechanical brakes...