Projects 1930 Oliver Roadster Build

Not a sprung torsion bar like a chevy truck or a mopar but a rotational torsion bar that restricts rotation forward and back. Much like a 3 link would have. Technically a torque arm I think... My fathers day is a bit packed but I may tackle it tomorrow

 

Okay, so I got part of it done. I think enough so you will get the idea. Step one was finding the bar I wanted to use. I have a pile of em. I found a steering bar off of some 20s or teens car... I already had this little stainless bracket (off of a sail boat I think) so next I had to make some bushings to center it.
I recently scored 150 poumds of hardware from a lawn mower repairman for 10 cents a pound so my bushing bucket is FULL! I found this one that matches the diameter of the grade 8 bolt I will be using.
Then just had to cut it down into the pieces I needed

I flap wheeled em smooth and only needed one washer for an ideal fit.

I started this bracket a while back that bolts to the top of the banjo center section that the bar will hinge off of. The joint allows up and down and side to side. The other end will have to allow some rotation to prevent binding. The idea is that the distance forward to back always stays the same blocking rotational torsion from breaking my bones

 

Okay next segment on the same subject.. this ford drag link fits perfectly inside the other rod....lucky me!

I'll drill a bunch of holes and rosette weld it in once I figure the length. It should allow rotation enough to eliminate any binding. In the mean time I made some progress on the center section mount.

All seems to be working out as planned and even better, I can drive that ford drag link down all the way essentially making it a solid shaft and beefing it up!

 

Ended up switching it to the other side. Got it all mocked up
I didnt like the spacing to the driveline so out came the torch...


Now Im diggin it!

Pinion angle isnt perfect but its doable..

 

Well.... after all of that I now see the bind I created. In the scrap bin it goes haha going to run the bar from the center section down to the bones. Solves everything!

 

Heres the solution. Bar from the center section down to the bones. No binding and no rotational torque

 

Is the bar going to clear the floor of the body?

 

Ok, thanks. Not a torsion bar, at least not how I understand them. I think you're correct on the torque-arm wording.
Marcus...

 

To do that do you need yokes & swivels.

 

Yeah the floor curves with the sweep of the frame evenly across so anything under the rails is under the floor

 

The way it mounts now it doesnt need to allow any movement because its a part of the fixed triangle of the axle and the bones. I just got too ambitious to be different before.

 

And on that note....
Something followed me home...again...
And not being a patient man, I stuck it on alone

Went fairly smoothly, only had to make a small notch to fit over the trans tail

 

It prevents torsion. Made sense in my head haha

 

Big progress day! Today the roadster got steering and a brake pedal/master cylinder! Been a long time coming and there is ZERO extra space next to that 337!
Steering is courtesy of a 39 olds, saginaw cross steer box

Brakes were harvested from the same 49 lincoln and only slightly modified

Its really starting to look and feel like something

 

Been crankin away, picking steering wheel options

Collecting up the little bits, radiator hoses and brake lines. Would be sooool cool if it was running and driving before the twins are born because I wont have nearly as much time

 

Yeah, Like for 20 years.

 

Hahaha idk, I have 3 already, once theyre through the infant stage whats 2 more!?

 

We only have 2 and they are grown but as a retired school teacher I can tell you that adding more kids to a group is not an addition problem it is a multiplication thing.

 

Haha see? Your kids are grown! Finish that chevy!!

 

Another observation on parenting, my oldest son caught the hot rod/motorcycle bug from me and also some of the "gathering" of projects, parts, tools, & junk. When they leave the nest they don't clean it. A lot of what is clogging my shop & sheds is not mine. But I did get a little cleaning time in today!

 

Wheel choice was made! 52 nash it is... will have a video coming out soon on how to adapt a steering column

 

That's the wheel I would have picked, too.

 

That looks good. I found a really nice '40 Olds but I don't know if it will fit in the roadster. I'm going to try to run the stock '26 Chevy box, column, and wheel.

 

Can always put a smaller ring on it. The nash wheel is a touch big but its cool!

 

I robbed the trim piece from the 62 ford column to make it all look a bit more intentional

 

Chins on the shell...

Also got the headlights on. Also decided on a new name. Scott had the brilliant idea to stick some oliver tractor badges on it and call it an oliver. I dig it...so it shall be!

 

The little-known Oliver "L337" model... .
Marcus...

 

Threw me off for a bit there Oliver! Thought this was a thread I had missed!

Dave

 

I have a nice Oliver nose that I considered for my roadster. Fitted with a mid 30s Plymouth center section it has an old race car look and not tractor. I may use it if I get to the Chevy speedster.


When I was in high school someone gave a '40 Ford woody to a group of girls. They named it Oliver Woody saying it was all-of-ours.

 

Exactly!