Hot Rods Olds Powered '29 Roadster Build. Marty Strode

OK Tom, you are on to me, nothing gets by you !

 

Alan, I sold Tom and his Son a McCulloch Blower over 20 years ago, he likes to rib me !

 

It all depends on who is holding the dumb end of the tape measure.

 

I turned my kid into a car junkie. When he was 15 Marty, John Erb, & that Mc Culloch turned him into hot rodder.

 

Reminds me of a guy that worked in the assembly/checking dept, where I was a machinist.
He would regularly question some of the "on spec" parts I machined, he definitely needed to learn the fine art of micrometer "feel" when using a mic.
Sorry for the sidetrack Marty, by the way, that is some fab looking welding right there!

 

Probably the best $75.00 he ever spent !

 

You know me Doug, I rolled it over, until I found the best looking stretch and took the picture.

 

The story goes like this : I had my #7 Track Roadster setup at the 50th GNRS in 99, and a group of people stopped to talk, it was Tom, alias @Six Ball, with some family members. During our discussion, his Son asked if I knew of any McCulloch blowers that might be for sale. He was such a nice young man, and was rebuilding a 55 Studebaker wagon, and I was convinced he was serious about his project. I told him a buddy of mine had one, and when I got home I would see if it could be bought and how much. So we swapped phone numbers, and when I got home, I convinced my pal Bobby to sell it, and for $75.00. So I shipped it, and received back a check, and pictures of the Stude. Many years passed by, and I landed here on the HAMB, and noticed posts by @Six Ball, and one day got a PM from Tom. He gave me a wonderful update on his Son and the car, and was impressed the the car, finished and with the Blower, along with how well his Son turned out !

 

Great story ‼️‼️

 

Aside from telling stories, I managed to get the rear arms cut, bent and remounted at the front today. When installing a QC, it lowers the the torque tube 3", requiring changing the angles of the bars and the front mounting lug, and shortening.

 

I did the same thing with my Son, and it has worked out very well!

 

It was a fun story be be part of. The kid has kids of his own. Thanks for remembering all that Marty. And yes it was a good deal and looking for the stuff he needed to put it in the Stude led him to a job with John Erb. Among other things like designing Keith Black pistons John rebuilt McCullochs and built fast Studebakers. Thank you!

By the way this chassis is really looking good. Looking forward to the rest of the pickup build.

 

Does that torquetube have a center bearing in it? Do I see a zerk there? If yes, can you explain why you use them on the short driveshaft?

 

Why not, they do control whip, under load.

 

What did you use for the bearing? I thought the bearings were hard to find.

 

Well, I don't know the condition of the bearing, I will check it when I have it apart, perhaps it might be a problem. This one will be 19" shorter than a 42-48 pass. What do you use, in regards to the torque tube and inner shaft ?

 

I've only used a 32-34 small tube driveshaft. My machinist buddy did the cutting on his lathe and it was easy to weld the rear six spline coupler into it.

On a future project I was thinking I'd be using a solid shaft because my other machinist buddy has agreed to cut new splines in the end for me. No welding required. But it would be about 32 Ford length, so I hoped maybe it wouldn't need a center bearing. Then here you go using a bearing in a torquetube even shorter than that.

 

It sure looks like support in there would be a good thing. In lower gears it is loaded with torque in higher gears it is turning as fast or faster than the crankshaft. We wouldn't dream of just using the end main bearings on a crank. It's not a big shaft but I've never broken one inside the tube. Everywhere else!

 

Also, the Olds engine will put extra torque on everything from the flywheel to the tires !

 

When the olds was in my '38 coupe is when I learned the most about Ford rear ends & trannys. I have never broken an Olds V8.

 

Jeff, I pulled the Torque Tube, and found it was full of grease, and looked good, we will see !

 

While getting ready to install rear axle and torque tube, it was necessary to box the rear frame section at the crossmember. I made some paper templates and sawed the plates out. They will get welded tomorrow. BTW that is black ink on the plates and not a gap.

 

That looks really nice Marty. Of course, we wouldn't expect anything else.

 

It's starting to resemble a Hot Rod. The engine mounts go in this week.

 

Looks great Marty. Like the wall hanger wheels!

 

Gordon, Those are going on a race car !

 

I tackled the greasy job of pulling the brakes and spindles off a '40 axle. Got the front end assembled, and need to bend the steering arms and make or buy a tie rod. This axle will never be thought to be an aftermarket axle.

 

So Marty, you're into cad for design. Cardboard assisted design...

I know, bad, but you get what you pay for, and that one was free.

 

Sometimes free is still too high of a price to pay!

 

"...cad for design..." " Cadboard" Actually someone from Boston may have been able to pull that one off, but NY?