Hot Rods Just Another Roadster For Show And Go

Ill take it!

 

Little secret about me. I greatly prefer old, historic and original parts from the era over repop. I will have some repop parts on this car but there's just something special about collecting up little bits from so many race cars, show beauties and even high school street terrors of yesteryear. That said, this is STARTING as a show car (at least thats the plan) it will be hard driven but I want to try and achieve as slick and trick of a rod as I am currently capable of. The reason for this long winded explaination is my offset gen mount. Theyre about 50 bucks a piece. Tons of folks make em and loads of em are out there in better shape than mine. Mine however has been run on several cars since back in the day, it has blemishes and history and that makes me ha ha ha happay! It did come to me with a broken off ear and a crack (most likely from torquing down and not using a washer if I had to guess)

So I went ahead and had a buddy tig me up a cpl repairs. I dont have a tig setup yet

So next up I will get the bastard file out and start truing it back up. Then a cpl rounds of soda blasting followed by sanding and polishing

 

I've fixed worse. Time to channel your inner Michelangelo

 

Not worried about it, I enjoy the saving of old parts. I only struggle with the line of "good enough" I want some blemishes to stay and show history but on a show car that has to be done tastefully I think. Cant look like its out of the junk bin! Also don't want to polish away all of the character though.

 

You may like the Packard headlamps turned on their side

 

They have such a cool chrome mowhawk on em though...plus they already mount on the bottom?

Im not sold on em yet, they are very large. But I have em! I also have blc 682's, guide 682c's, as well as a few other options. Will be like trying on glasses frames at the optometrist!

 

Fab some horizontal extensions from the grille shell outward?

 

Might rethink that early trans.

 

Don’t listen to Don, he doesn’t like old cars.

 

Its a 39 box with later gears, should be just fine for a mildly hopped up flathead

 

Not sure how anyone could find that body "too rusty"! Most of us would love to start with something that solid!

 

That was my thought as well when he sent me pics! He didnt have more than a flux core welder at the time though so it does make sense that it was beyond his abilities. I'm keeping my eyes out of the gift horses mouth either way!

 

This should be entertaining....!

 

This reminds me of mine. Old 32 rails no crossmenber backs cut off. Swap meet body 29 body with trailer fenders and ugly taillights. A cheap 32 truck grill ,34 truck dash. A 57 265 chevy with and old Edelbrock 3 carb . Mostly swap meet parts or traded and with help with welding from a good friend. He was older than me and had built a roadster when he was 15 with the help from Pa,Ma and Grandma in 1958. If you have the will there is a way!

 

Yours turned out awesome!! The swap meet hunting will resume when I finish and sell roadster number 1. I am trying to stay focused on whats in front of me. Hopefully titled and tagged this spring!

 

Not many threads I read every single post. But I was pretty much glued to yours. Best of luck with your awesome hot rod roadster!

 

If you want a rumble seat, you're probably better off with a 32 tank. Otherwise any other gas tank either eats up rumble seat room or prevents the riders from having somewhere to put their feet. On the one I built, I shortened the back of the body a few inches so it looked like the 32 tank belonged and didn't hang so low. Removing the lower bar from the bottom of the rear of your body with help remove a couple inches but I also re-bent the panel above it to remove another couple of inches. This all fits on a stock parameter 32 frame and there's room for the rumble seat above the 32 tank.

 

Thanks Ricky!

 

I have read through your build on the black roadster several times! Very cool rod! Great tip, I really appreciate it and will keep it in mind as I approach that decision. Currently I feel the need to get the chassis together and set the body on. Rear sub frame cut out as well as the seat in position so I can truly get a feel for it all. The 32 tank is still a very likely solution to the problem!

 

Had a shop day today to work on the custom roadster that needs to get done first. Low and behold, one of my buddies I invited showed up with almost a complete 2nd 30/31 roadster as a gift... (he bought brookville parts)

These plus the extra complete subframe and a closed car cowl I have and I guess I have 2 cars... not sure what to do about that yet, still in shock. May stick it together and sell it off...

 

I need better friends

 

This guy prefers a clean garage and a happy wife over getting money back out of stuff... hes also a solid friend for sure!

 

This sounds like THE one you've always dreamed of Oliver...good on you, I look forward to the twists and turns.

I find the wheel/rim observation interesting...I never noticed nor will it change my using 16 all around...but I suspect this observation may have occurred many moons ago.

 

Agreed! I doubt I am the 5000th person to notice haha This is going to be a really fun build!

 

This is turning into an awesome hot rod. You have a great ability to find the parts on your wish list and do some horse-trading/bartering to get them under your roof. Looking forward to how your vision for the car continues.

 

It is very exciting and nerve racking having things coming together like this. I only hope I can do it justice

 

Excited to follow this thread...and your dream. Love the bartering, reminds me of me back in the day...

and good friends and cold beer...When you have solid network of good homies, things happen. My old car club was the same way, we didnt talk money, if I had it and you needed it, it's yours...It all comes back around. And we were just some poor Navy punks daily driving old shit...

 

Have a question for those in the know. I just purchased 2" chopped 32 upper stanchions. I dig the look. Can anyone tell me what size ws frame I should order? Going to bite the bullet and order one already chromed

 

When I built my 31 HotrodA roadster I chopped mine, then had it chromed.
I had never done one, but it was easy. Chopped a little over 2”.
The top bar comes off, but the small screws going into the “L” bracket may require some heat.
Mock up the frame to fit at the top of the stanchions the same as the OE, as well as the pivot stud.
Duplicate the angle and cut it a little tall. Then file to fit the precise angle and a tight joint.
Like me, you are a DIY and if you screw up the OE piece there are repros.
You may run into a height variation with the Model A lower stanchions vs 32, I don’t know.
That could affect your bottom clearance and fit at the cowl.
But I can get a measurement off my 2” 32 frame and stanchions for comparison if you want.
Bill

Topless. (now in NH)

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