History My Grandfather's 32 Roadster, A True 50's Hot Rod

FYI here is the answer for 12 to 6 volt from the pages of the HAMB

 

Such a Wonderful car, Grandpa knew a cool rod when he saw one. Please keep us abreast of all your updates and findings, this time machine deserves some loving care!!

 

Found this scratched near the driver's side door. Kind of looks like a lucky horseshoe?

 

According to my recollection of lucky icons and such, an upward facing horseshoe is meant to capture all the luck it can (like water in a glass). Then, once your life has been filled with luck and joy, you close the end of the horseshoe off to retain that luck for you and your family.

In this application, maybe your grandfather was feeling grateful for the blessings in his life and wanted to capture and retain those blessings in his car as well. Awfully sentimental if you think about it.

~Peter

 

Any chance that's an old cattle ranch brand?

 

This is amazing, a 'text book' hot rod. Definitely following this one.

 

Kudo's for getting this deal done. What - A - Gem! I appreciate the family connection - makes it even better.

 

The raised intake flange and the water jackets shapes show that you have a truck or Mercury motor there. Same as mine-239ci non relieved block.
This hot rod and it's story are fascinating, keep us in the loop and enjoy the journey.

 

Amazing old car !
Good on ya
I just learned something too......I always thought flat heads were notorious for running hot and puking...even WITH a fan!!
I remember the one we had was down right bulimic! Even in the dead of winter.....oops puke!
6sally6

 

Josh,
Don't change a thing! preserve the wonderful gift you have received...things can be designed or preserved to work meticulous for many years, then someone comes along and screws them up in 10 mins. Enjoy the gift.

 

Amazing story and even better your dad can relive his youth. keep the updates coming.

 

What a great looking car as is. And a time capsule to boot.
People won't know what an honor it is to see an original hot rod!
D

 

You & followers may well be aware that the Iron Trap Garage (DeLorean 32 roadster thread) has most recently posted an update video installing the dual exhaust system, interestingly enough also included was a detailed installation video installing the Stewart Warner tach drive system akin to the very unit on your grandfathers 32. So very different yet so very much alike (save for the lack of fenders of course) ...

 

Here the page from Stewart Warner installation manual
( posted some time ago on Hamb)

 

Nice to know stuff like that install sheet are in the HAMB Library.

Bob

 

One of the coolest things EVER !

Wonder when someone filled the grille shell and relocated the radiator cap?

 

What a great car. I'm amazed at the condition it is in after sitting so long.
For your fan clearance question, you can adapt the stock fan mount to mount directly to the front intake mount. I cut the stock fan mount apart and welded the shaft clamping portion of the fan mount to a flat steel plate. I drilled a hole in the plate for the mounting bolt that goes into the front of the intake.
After the fan is mounted, you may be able to raise the gen tach drive up far enough on the mount to clear the fan, you may also be able to put spacers between the head and gen mount bracket to raise the tach drive high enough to clear the fan. You could also move the tach drive to be a crank mount tach drive. You have most of the parts, you just need to find or make the Stewart Warner crank mount.
As others have said, go on YouTube and watch the Iron Trap Garage video they just put out. They mount a tach drive similar to what you have, it may give you some good ideas.

 

What a cool hot rod roadster! & a privilege to work on & own/caretake.

My 2c is that I would be hesitant to fix problems that aren't problem's yet. Get it safe/reliable & get it going/drivable. Then enjoy. It's easy to go down a rabbit hole that you don't need too.

 

This car is beyond amazing! It's not just a family heir loom, its a true survivor and an amazing example of how they where back then! I am glad you are on here asking questions and getting group input on how to best care for this car. With alot of old things, if they get messed with incorrectly or "correct appearing" repairs are not done correctly, it can actually devalue the car. I know you have probably had alot of folks tell you how amazing the car is but it's not just because it's a '32 roadster. This is literally a time warp that all of us dream of finding one day and that truly 99% of us never will just because the odds of finding something like this is incredibly rare.

 

^^^^^^^^
What he said.

 

more pictures please! can anyone ID that steering box?

 

What are your thoughts on the water pumps? Should we replace them? I think the chrome looks really cool.

 

Love this stuff....the holey grail to boot...

Good luck with this precious piece...

MikeC

 

Just buy rebuild kits for those pumps. Kits for a 40 Ford should work. If you have a press you could have them done in a half hour.

 

Rebuild maybe. Replace? NO WAY! love this story.

 

Very cool. Thank you for sharing.

 

What's the best way to clean the gas tank? With smaller engines I have used muriatic with some marbles, and then kreemed it. Or the other thought was to get it dipped, but that would ruin the paint.

 

Hello, I would strongly suggest that you do not use muriatic acid to clean rust off of metal. The muriatic acid leaves the metal in a state that it has a propensity to rust again. If you can wait a few days I will post a thread showing the method that I use to chemically remove rust without affecting the parent metal. Please look at the images of a flathead block that I de-rusted recently.
Tom

 

Thanks Tom. In the past I have used carb cleaner right after draining the muriatic to prevent flash rust. Out of curiosity what chemical/ acid were you using?

 

Here in France there is nothing better than this kit which has been specially designed for vintage gas tanks. There are 3 steps, cleaning, rust removal, resin coating.
I do this way for every tank on my vintage vehicules.

https://www.restom.net/fr/82-traitement-reservoir