Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

Vibrating interior……cool.
Getting off….. getting off !

 

After a very full 36-hour trip to NYC, I’m back in San Francisco ready to make some progress on the build. Tonight, I safely packaged up the flywheel and clutch to be shipped to the machine shop later this week.
Since I already had the scale out, I figured I’d collect some data. The 9-inch pressure plate is eight pounds lighter than the 11-inch. I’m excited to see how it does on my engine.

After the packing was completed, I directed my attention to the dropped tie-rod ends. Using the latest technology, I calculated how I’d like to bend them next time I’m at Yama’s.

That’s pretty much it for tonight. More updates to come soon!

 

Hi everyone, it's me again. I haven't forgotten about this project, and I most certainly haven't forgotten about all of you. The past few weeks have been tough ones with work. The only time I went out to the garage was to ship the 11-inch clutch and pressure plate to @Moriarity (thanks again, Mark!)

That being said, things are happening over here. I just got my oil pan gaskets, and the early oil pan should be here in the next couple of days. The big news is that I spoke with the folks at the machine shop today and they are drilling and balancing the flywheel this week. I can't wait to put all the pieces back together after the holidays.

Here are a few pictures from the past week or so:

My new favorite writing space: The Mill Valley Public Library.

My friends at the Western Neighborhoods Project put together a great window display. I need a clock like that for my garage!
I don't know these guys, but they knew how to do it right.
My friend Justin in 35mm.

 

Sidebar 0024: A New Year

Sometime last night, the calendar shifted into 2024—and I was ready for it. As some of you may know, I started a new job in the fall. The learning curve has been a steep one, and let’s just say I’ve done a lot of learning lately. The whole thing has taken its toll on me, and I hardly touched my car in the month of December.

But that’s in the rear view. I’ve spent the past two weeks of 2023 reflecting, rebuilding, and savoring every moment with the people I love. While I was back at my parents’ house in Michigan, I pulled some Rodder’s Journals off the shelf and read a few of my old articles. I looked at my old models in the basement, and I flipped through my favorite Peter Vincent book. As I turned the pages, I remembered what it felt like to look through it for the first time.

I have a long list of things I would like to accomplish in 2024, but having 2.0 move under its owner power lands right near the top. This is our year. With your help, we're going to make this happen.

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Odds'n Ends
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A neat gift from my friend Patrick in Kentucky! There's a great story behind this piece that I'll share later.

Our San Francisco hot rod gang at last month's SFOB show. That's @SAVAGE on the left and @Stoner on the right.
Dan and I rolling in with the Cliff House in the background. Photo by Tony, the show organizer.

The Cliff House in earlier days. It closed recently, but rumor has it that it will be re-opening soon.

 

Despite the rainy weather, Aaron, Dan and I stuck around to catch up. I was surprised to see our machines on the latest show flyer. What an honor!

 

In other news, I taught my childhood best friend Kevin how to drive the roadster.
After a quick how-to, he was blasting around the Presidio and double-clutching like a pro.
I've been talking about building an early Ford hot rod for about as long as I've known him, so this was an extra special afternoon.

 

I do have some additional items to share from the end of the year, but I'd like to jump back into build progress. We'll get to other sidebars soon.

Earlier today, I came home from Mexico City. It didn't take long before I was out in the garage working on 2.0. Tonight's goal? Figure out the driveshaft length. I used Vern Tardel's Hot Rod Your Model A as a reference.

For my first order of business, I cleaned up the coupler. I let it soak in the Chem-Dip bucket, then I hit it with the wire wheel, files, sandpaper and carb cleaner.

I then pulled the torque tube from the rearend.

I gave the front bell the same cleaning treatment as the connector, including filing down any rough spots.
I then cleaned the driveshaft itself to make sure everything went together smoothly.

Right around this time, I noticed something odd: there's no hole in the lower shaft. Per the book, the coupler needs to be riveted to the pinion and the driveshaft. I texted some friends, but nobody knew exactly what was going on.

Here's the exact piece I'm running, directly from @HotRodWorks. I will give them a call tomorrow for details.

 

To keep the ball rolling for tonight, I added some anti-seize and slid the coupler as far back as possible on the lower shaft. I made a temporary pin and attached the driveshaft.

In position.

Just making sure it al fits together. I'll finalize the location of everything once I have the driveshaft cut and balanced and the transmission back in place.

It feels great to be back in the garage!

 

Thanks Stogy! No better way to start 2024 than with some good ol' fashioned hot rodding.

Thanks, Tim! One piece at a time.

Good point. Also, are you still in SF or did you move? If you're still around, you should cruise by in the pickup!

Thanks Jeff! I've been inspired by your progress. Keep up the great work!

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

Happy New Year! With any luck, there will be one more by the time 2025 comes around.

 

On my way into work this morning, I called up Hot Rod Works. I bought my Rodsville QC from them back in 2022, so I knew they would be the right ones to ask. After speaking with the owner, I discovered that they're not set up to run two rivets. He said the lower shaft is retained with a clip, and that I will be perfectly fine with one rivet on the driveshaft end of the coupler. When I got off the phone, I breathed a sigh of relief; it looks like the quickchange gets to stay together for the time being.

After work, I went down to the garage to get back on the driveshaft project. After removing the shaft, I tried rattling the coupler to check for wear. The driveshaft side of the coupler has none, but lower shaft side had the slightest bit of play. Thinking back to my conversation from earlier, I bought a new coupler from Bob Drake. I will mock up both and do a comparison once it arrives.

I then measured from my mark inside the cup to the end of the shaft.

Subtract 1/8th of an inch, per Vern's book.

And there we have our driveshaft length. I'll confirm the length with the new coupler when it arrives.

All that being said, I was confused about step number two on this page. If the driveshaft is not balanced with the coupler on, why would I start my measurement from there? Instead, I measured from the end of the driveshaft to the cup. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ah, got it! It’s a beautiful part of the world.

 

As I ride the #5 city bus back from work, I realized that I didn’t post pictures of my new oil pan. I went back and forth on this one, but eventually I decided to splurge and buy the nicest one I can find. My old pan was a ‘46-‘48 that wouldn’t clear the wishbone. This is an early pan that I plan to persuade to gain as much clearance as possible.
After scrubbing out two of them, it’s nice to have one clean enough to photograph in the living room.
Oh, and I’ll make sure the crank clears everything this time, too.

 

My new coupler will be here Friday. Once it arrives, I’ll double-check my driveshaft measurement and send it off to Santa Rosa to get shortened and balanced.

Speaking of balancing, my drilled and balanced flywheel got the full treatment at the machine shop. It’s now finished—I can’t wait to get it back and bolt it to the engine.

Tonight, I plan to paint some e-brake parts and work on my transmission u-joint. Hopefully updates to come!

 

I'm not sure either, but the Vern Tardel book recommends a shop that they've been going to for 30+ years. I'm going to have them shorten and balance the driveshaft next week. It's going to look like I'm shipping them a very heavy fishing pole!

Hahahaha that's hilarious. No mater where I go, I always find my way back to the Terrace. Maybe I need a new hat?

 

Inspired by yesterday's progress, I strolled down to the garage and jumped back in. I cued up Slim Whitman and got to work.

The main event? Installing the u-joint and gasketing the double-detent top. I was in no rush, and everything went together smoothly. While the lid was off, I liberally oiled the gears with my new oiler.

I still have to clean up the transmission and touch up the paint, but I'm hoping to have some finished photos of it by this weekend. It feels good to be closing the door on this sub-assembly. I'm already planing my next move. More updates soon!