Hot Rods Rusty has a new project- father son build , 26 T roadster!

I have both doors on and swinging and latching. It was quite a process. I found the special countersunk washers in stainless that hold the hinge to the body and hinge to door but damned if I could find stainless slotted hinge bolts. Im pretty sure Ford used a 12-32 bolt but all I could find was 1/4”-20 bolts. I ended up chucking all the bolts in my lathe and turning the head down to #12 size to fit inside the countersunk washers. I also made some brackets to hold the 29 Chevy fuel tank.

 

Adding a bit of height to the windshield. When I built my 26 modified I just used the stock lower frame and capped the posts to clean things up but I look right over the top of the glass. On this car I’m adding 2-3/8” to everything so I can be behind some glass.

 

Good looking shop dog

 

Hahaha thanks, that’s my buddy Riley the Golden doodle shop/hotrod dog.

 

Haven’t done much on the project lately but did make some gas tank mounts and mounted the old tank in the trunk. My tank is an old 28 thru I believe 30 Chevy and it had a few dents in it but it’s very clean and solid. I made a piece to cover it so I didn’t have to mess around pulling the dents and making the tank all pretty.

 

No fuel sender?

 

It’s all under the cover.

 

After searching for two years for a decklid I finally gave up and am having my buddy Jamie at Rapid hot rods build one. First thing to do though is straighten up the bumpy quarter panels and get the upper and lower panel fit. Quarters are damn close after two days of banging away.

 

That sheetmetal looks NOS compared to my roadster body.

 

Good western South Dakota sheetmetal that sat outside for 90 plus years! I got the last piece though so everyone else can look elsewhere! Hahaha!

 

Did a spray out of 1930’s Indian motorcycle Indian red. Have to run it by my pops to see what he thinks. I’m on the fence right now with the color. Of course photos really change the true color.

 

I joked to Jamie to make two since I need one! Lookin good.

 

You do like the Indian colors. How did you get started down that path?

 

Hahaha! Well when I built the 32 I was bound determined it was going to be Washington blue. After some research I found that there are several shades of Washington blue and then I started thinking there are a lot of Washington blue cars out there and I didn’t want to be a follower. Around that time my wife and I went to a motorcycle show and there was a 37 Indian painted Navajo blue and I knew immediately that that was the color. I’ve seen several 30’s-40’s Indians painted Indian red and thought that’s a really nice traditional color. So you are correct I like the colors mostly because they are traditional colors just not car related.

 

I like the indian red

 

Getting closer to having a deck lid. The upper panel proved to be a chore. It has the original framework underneath and and a new skin on top. Next week I’m hoping there’s a lid.

 

Please ! Not red, almost anything else but not red !

 

Well since it’s not yours I don’t think you have a choice. By the way the color is called Indian red but it’s actually a dark maroon.

 

Who would want to paint their T RED?

 

Yeah I know But I just think back to the pre 49 days of the NSRA Nats in Columbus Ohio.
Sure it was the days of the Easter egg colors however there were thousands of red cars literally.
It was too much.
I get that red is popular just not for me.

Yup I know, my engine builder Tim Mcmaster and you too. How original
Just kidding, they’re great cars even with that red paint on them

 

Opinions are just like assholes everyone has one. Hahaha! And as said before my paint choice is called Indian red but it’s maroon.

 

I really like what you are doing with the 1926 roadster project and have been following along. I have a 1927 roadster project on the go as well that is probably just a little bit behind yours in terms of completion.
I was looking at your seat riser assembly and it looks to have been cut down and has plywood on the top of the seat riser. I was wondering about your plans for the seat as to springs or no springs and the height of the seat riser itself. My roadster has the steel floors completed and is to the stage that I am looking now at a front seat arrangement. I don't have a roadster front seat riser assembly and I was wondering as well where you acquired the one you have? Thanks and again I really like your roadster project.

 

Skin has been powerhammered out and the inner structure is looking like a work of art thanks Jason at Rapid hotrods.

 

My riser is the original piece that I took a bunch of height out of. I’m a carpenter by trade so I made the plywood seat pan and it will just have foam put on top of it with no springs.

 

I will never understand in this day and age why folks think they need the original seat springs?! Modern foams are so much better, you can sit lower and overall make a better looking seat!

The decklid is looking great!

 

So where in my post is there any mention at all about original seat springs? I'm not one of those "folks" you are referring to. I am a very experienced car builder and have no intention whatsoever in putting original seat springs in my roadster. Who on earth wants to be constantly hit in the face with bugs because the seat is miles too high?

 

That was a generalization aimed at anyone reading. I see it asked here over and over thru the years.

 

Perhaps I should have been more specific. When I saw the plywood base on the seat I was thinking springs of a different kind. Around here there is an old upholstery shop that has literally dozens and dozens of old car seats that have been saved over the years. Some are very low profile, still have the springs integrated into them and would be the right size and thickness to fit almost perfectly on that plywood base.

 

I always like idea of cutting hole in plywood for butt them cover with webbing before foam. Foam great guess I just like a little more give under tender butt

 

There’s a decklid in the hole after 2 years of searching. Still needs some adjustments and the hinges figured out. I’m so stoked!!!