Projects 1931 Ford 3W Build "Marilyn"

Cool build ya have there. 29 Steelback cowl with a slant windshield modified to fit. I like it

 

That’s a fair point. Okay I’ll do the trick! Thanks man.

 

In case you didn't notice Billy is one helluva shiny Guy...even if the gasket was there I couldn't see it but I'll take his word for it...

 

Thanks! I'm using the '29 rear section as well, shorter than a '31 Steelback. The fact that a '29 wood kit is around $3,500, and four years of my life to install made the '31 Slantwindow center section a no brainer.

 

Small update on the coupe been staying busy on it switching from weekends to at least every other day before work. Getting all the gaps fitting better. A few spots on it like the rear corner just absolutely gave me a fit. Cutting and splicing to get the lines at least half good for mud work (eventually) back window as well as the rest of the car could definitely benefit from a planishing Hammer however it will do for now. Gutters are welded and trunk supports are welded. Decklid hinges as it should and fixed my gap issues from those wonderful repop panels! Lots more to do motor will be back Wednesday or Thursday and will find its way in the car soon. Planning on wiring it Memorial Day and hoping for first start soon after then it’s a mad dash to finish for Pinetree Jamboree. Thanks everyone for following along. Learning alot every day hoping to do that much better on the next car. I’m sure I will redo this car in the future lol

 

cleaned up the interior and painted so wiring could begin.

I opted for a Tanks Inc 16gallon universal tank in the trunk and electric fuel pump. I had plans to run the stock tank but was getting too complicated trying to figure out fuel pumps on a 49-53 engine with a 59a style intake. Between pushrod sizes and bushings to the pump arm and ventilation/oil fill with running a stock tank so I put the kibosh on all that and ran a tried and true setup. Cut the gas tank to make clearance for my gauges and found a lot of sand inside so I’m glad I went that route.

The car is now wired from the key to the engine to be able to fire it from inside with big thanks from my friends Brian and Dylan.

The engine is in final assembly and am just waiting on an oil slinger to finish assembly. Trans is done swapped the detents and it shifts extremely smoothly now! Not sloppy feeling any more. Thanks Brian for the rebuild!

Need to finish metal work on pass side and then pull the body off for the last time to paint underneath and work on the brakes, fuel lines, and finish the drivetrain up clean and paint etc. still shooting for Pinetree jamboree in August 19-21 in Winterport, Maine.

 

Awesome!

 

Thanks bud, happy to see the finish line in the distance

 

Looks great. What is your "tried and true" electric fuel pump?
Andy

 

Thank you and the tried and true phrase was referring to the rear mounted tank with electric fuel pump not the brand of pump itself…as far as the fuel pump is concerned I don’t have experience with it yet but it’s the Edelbrock electric micro pump on every auto parts store shelf. I wanted the most basic pump from a known company that way if/when it shits the bed I know the local store should have one in stock. the fuel setup I’ll be running, I will have a secondary filter on the pump to carb side that is cleanable and between both I shouldn’t run into much of any issues with fuel.

 

Still one of my fav builds here, great to see you getting closer Dylan although in a LONG weekend you could chop it, only buying glass etc once

 

^^^Thanks. BTW and FYI ... I've had very bad luck with those dial type fuel pressure regulators., including the Mr. Gasket one shown. They don't seem to like fuel with ethanol. They have failed on me multiple times. Also, the pressure regulator that most are using is the Holley one rated for low pressure (there's two types). NAPA sells their own brand of electric micro-type pump made by Facet that puts out 1-3 PSI which is much more compatible with the carbs you will be using on the flathead and is used by many. Pretty much every Napa store has them on the shelf. The one you show puts out too much pressure for either the Stromberg 97's or the Holley 94's. I'm running the stock mechanical pump on my flatty mostly because I've read that deleting it is a hassle. Apparently, from what I've read here on the HAMB, the fuel pump push rod needs to be in place because there's an oil gallery hole in there that supplies it with oil and without the rod in place that hole just pushes out oil and the resulting drop in oil pressure will starve other areas of the engine causing failure. Just leaving the rod in place is also a hassle because it will just bounce around in there without a pump arm to be pushing causing it's own issues. I've read some pretty interesting ways around this problem, like re-building the mechanical pump so it becomes just a pass-through for the fuel when running an electric fuel pump, or inserting some type of plug into the fuel pump rod bore to close off the gallery port. I kind of forget exactly how that was done but you had better do some research on that.

Reason I asked is I have been having some fuel delivery issues on my flatty (I think maybe clogged filter or failing pump due to ethanol) that I have been trying to nail down and have been considering going to an electric pump. It's been driving me crazy actually. My pressure gauge also failed, staying stuck at about 2 lbs, (which is supposed to be perfect for the strombergs or holley 94's). But I tapped it with my fingernail and the needle dropped. Keep your eye on everything. Thinking of switching to non-ethanol fuel because I can buy it here but then what if I'm going for a long cruise then and need to fill up? I have been using the Lucas upper cylinder lubricant additive (which is also a lead replacement). It has stopped my needles in the carbs from sticking (also an ethanol issue) and Star-Brite Startron ethanol additive. Don't forget to use high zinc oil in the flathead. All the above may be stuff you already know but I'm just talking from my experiences to try to help you out.
Andy

 

Thank you very much and hahaha I know I could I’m personally a big fan of the gentleman’s chops but one day I’ll likely do it.

 

From my knowledge 1-2 psi is recommended, my carbs are basically strombergs but are speedway 9 super 7s rebuilt with stromberg parts. The Edelbrock pump limits to about 4 psi the mr gasket regulator is what my friend is using on his flatty and so far he’s had no issue but I know it’s a crap shoot. I’ll look into the napa micro pump.

As for the oil galley/pump rod that’s already been done with a plug in the rod bore.

Just bought my oil for the engine today I run Valvoline VR1 oil in my 55 after a hard lesson learned on a fresh rebuild without zinc additive I also buy the Lucas zinc additive and dump that in on every oil change.

As for your carb issues my friend with a mildly built engine and dual carbs running this mr gasket regulator had to turn it down to 1 to get the car to run properly he had it at 2 with a single carb before the rebuild so possibly try that and let me know. Your mechanical pump diaphragm may also be giving out on you not uncommon on mechanical pumps throw a rebuild kit in it if it tests bad! Should be all that’s wrong with it

 

Looking good man! Cant wait to see it! Im shooting to be up at the Pinetree but if not i hope you can make it to TROG.

Constantly check that fuel pressure regulator, seen a bunch of them crap out, but last year was the worst. On the way to Bonneville my club brother Del was cooking down the road in front of me when all of a sudden he started spraying fuel all over me. Car was still running no issues, but it was spray fuel right out of the side of regulator. not at a fitting or the knob, right out of the side of the body!!! Insult to injury it was 2 weeks old, He put it on just to make sure it didn't crap out on the way! When we stopped to see what the hell was going on, i touched the regulator and the whole thing just fell apart. We got him hooked up on the side of I 80 in Nebraska, but made for a scary moment for sure.
I use the Holley 1-4 PSI regulator on the 39, works great. Quick Fuel makes one too that i just picked up for my stude motor since the Holley one was not in stock. I've had good success with quick fuel stuff so i figure its good. cheap insurance after seeing that one come apart last year.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qft-30-804qft?rrec=true

 

Big update on the coupe.
Modified the oil pan and added a crankcase breather
Was able to put it on the lift for about a week and get the frame painted and brake lines run and finished up. Did some metal work but still a long ways to go I modified this old 32 4 cylinder gas pedal into a v8 style and mounted to the firewall Firewall and frame painted starting final assembly and the big push to Pinetree Jamboree that was in August Rolled on this paint, came out pretty good! Engine is in and final weld on the motor mounts. finalized the clutch and brake linkage Thrash mode so excuse the mess but made up a small torque tube tunnel sorry no pics after I welded it in Quick battery tray made up and my kill switch. chromed rear bones moved in on the axle to clear the frame and final assembly of rear end (ended up having to add a stock spring pack to get the clearance I needed even with my C notches Back outside in the tent, buttoning up all the loose ends Got it to fire up but very quickly noticed a big issue the aluminum flywheel was rubbing on the splash shield/starter mount as it was a 59a flywheel. So I sourced a clutch and flywheel from my spare Flathead in storage and got it fired up!

 

Awesome build, enjoying reading through...i am building a traditional hot rod AND building it to my vision without anyone telling me how it should be done haha best of both worlds. Wont be anything vermin related to it when its done, she will be painted and purrrdy. Love the builds though!

 

Wow this thing weny from a pile of parts to built really quick!

 

can see where the aluminum melted…it would start run for about a min and with literally seize up…the friction got so intense it stopped the motor only reason I used this flywheel was because it came off my 49-53 Merc block what I didn’t realize was they clearanced the shield to prevent it from rubbing. all back together and noticed that now the engine wouldn’t turn over at all…hmmm so I removed the spark plugs and sure enough water shot out of cylinder 8. My nice Fenton heads were cracked so I threw on these Merc heads to make the event…if you haven’t learned this it pays to have backups lol (Fenton heads are now fixed but still running the Merc heads for now) Gas tank mounted and plumbed we got a runner! My 3 window next to my buddy Isaac’s Homeschool Hotrod 28 ford pickup built it way 14 years old he just got his license this month! we made it! One test drive to the gas station the night before and loaded it up to go racing the next day…what a helluva push! my buddy Brian and I in the pits. Tented out for 3 days. Such a killer event successful trip and surprisingly enough didn’t break anything!

 

A few cool shots from Pinetree Jamboree 2022!

 

Mounted my BLC headlights on an old 32 headlight bar that was broken in half. they are a bit high however I don’t mind, kinda gives it an early 50s vibe. second car show a lot further down in Massachusetts at the Tyrods Old Timer reunion…great show and really top notch cars raised the rear up and decided to try driving into work! Car is doing great so far! you know you got a good woman when your car is left outside and you are at work and it starts raining and she drives to lowes and tarps up the car in the rain…imma lucky man! out front of the cove in Wildwood,NJ We towed the coupe down to TROG and tooled around Saturday before the bottom fell out of the sky on Sunday. Still had a great time!

 

first breakdown of course 3 and a half hours from home in Connecticut driving down for the Hotrod Fallout. Brake pushrod broke in half. My fault it happened luckily I was able to get it stopped and no one or nothing got hurt other than my pride hahaha my vision chop wise just photoshopped in this picture got the breaks fixed and better than they were! Made it to the Jalopy Hillclimb in Campton, NH and now we’re all caught up! If you guys want I’ll continue to post my events and randomness on this thread…but the majority of the build is complete. Just chop and patch work to finish and a overall tidying up which I’ll continue to post all of those as they happen

 

Keep postin, i bet your old man is grinnin ear to ear! Looks great, chop looks great too!

 

Absolutely keep posting!

 

The coupe turned out great Dylan – the proportions are perfect and the placement of the ancillary components is on point.

 

Man that thing is great Dylan!!! I was hoping to catch up at TROG, but they canceled the event just as we were leaving town so just went back home....... Hopefully see ya next time!

 

Very mice ride! Congrats!

 

Not sure if you need to chop it. My Fordor will have 10 inch tall windows after I chop it. Check with D-Russ to see what Miss Vicky has. Bob

 

Will do then! Ahaha yeah he’s in shock for sure. He hasn’t seen it since May when it was just parts so he’s excited to see it in person

 

Thanks buddy, really appreciate it. The roof is coming down hopefully this winter…2.5” just like someone’s Vicky cough cough.