Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

My wife likes to say "nothing says I love you like chrome". I got her glove box door chromed for her for Christmas one year.

 

What's that old Navy saying, "If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't, paint it, if it's brass (or chrome), polish it."

 

Offy still has the patterns for the flathead to Lasalle transmission adapter.

I've reached out to them on multiple occasions inquiring about them making a run, if we did a pre-sale or something. I gave up eventually, as they are one of the worst communicating companies I've ever dealt with.

 

Offy was at the RPM Nationals at Rancho Santa Margarita,Ca a few years ago and I asked them about the flathead to La Salle and Hemi to La Salle Adapters and they said there wasn't a big enough market for them to do a run.I also asked them about a pre order run and they didn't seem interested.

 

I think they're out of touch with that. I don't know how many they need for a run.(one of the things I was asking and never got an answer too)

but I get asked about flathead to lasalle Adapters at least once a month, if not more. I could have sold 30-40 of them in the time between my inquires and now. I get that's probably low production for them. But I'm not the only one looking either.

they've also reached out to me, about becoming a dealer, than never return my phone calls.

Not impressed with that company at all.

 

I think you're right about them being out of touch. Sounds like you would of had enough customers to fill a run. I have a 37 La Salle Trans and a 50 olds trans. I would of bought at least one adapter maybe two .

 

All you need is one for a pattern.
Steel Lakewood scatter shields would be a good place to start to build one. Cutting and welding is simple.

 

Oh I have a lasalle adapter. That's not the problem for me. I actually need a packard adapter. I just have a lot of customers contacting about lasalle adapters, as I've had a lot of lasalle transmissions and 3 or 4 adapters for sale over the years. It was just a $$$ making venture for me.

The problem with making my own, for me, whether lasalle or packard, lies in how the ford clutch is actuated. It's not as simple of a build as it sounds. Not saying it cant be done. But that level of precision is probably beyond my tool capabilities at this time. (Note to self: buy more and better tools)

Also let's not clog up Joey's thread to much on this stuff, just because he mentioned needing one.

 

I think the Studebaker clutch release setup is worse but most will never have to del with it.

 

Check out the open hours for Taliesin West in Scottsdale AZ. This was Frank Lloyd Wright's winter campus. Been there three times and never fail to be amazed at his work. There are pictures of a car he designed and had built.

 

Cool man!

out of curiosity any reason you went with the pickle hole instead of clocking the arm to be flat with the firewall and then when pressing the gas it heads onwards the dash? You already need to drill a new pin hole from the sounds of it you could clock that new hole?


Maybe I’m looking at the photos wrong?

 

Congratulations to Andrew!
Man, space is at premium around the throttle! So much easier if there was room on the other side of the firewall. Looks good.

 

Joey, I'm sure this has crossed your mind, but you want the top arm to be vertical at half throttle if possible. Less arc in the travel. Make sure it doesn't overtravel and stick at WOT.

 

Looks like a good solid base in the midst of a bunch if jiggly pieces. Maybe a tiny supporting bearing in/on the tube near the pedal end?

 

I think the photo may be deceiving there are two very tight fitting mounts on the pedal cross shaft already, sorta tighter together by the sleeve over the shaft between them. I would guess from the edge of the drivers side support to the pedal is maybe 1.25 1.5 inches.

I don’t think any of that when mounted tight is going to wiggle a bit. It’s narrowed from stock and the stock ones I have are pretty firm.

the set up also doesn’t really let the assembly shift side to side inside those two mounts. I think he should be ok unless I’m missing something

 

Very nice

 

That subtle chassis rake really puts it right on mark. Wild how a little rubber here, a leaf there can really change a cars personality

 

Wheels & stance, wheels & stance, Wheels & stance............
Looks like it is ready for a SF brake & steering coaster test.

 

That is sitting perfect. Right out of the little books

 

Bringing back the adapter part of the thread.
I made an adapter.
A friend had a SBC married to a cad gearbox. The adapter was a stock SBC bell housing and a stack of 1/4 al plates. It was horrendous. It did work! It has been a while but I think some of the bolt holes matched up. The adapter I made was just 1” thick and it had the recess for the floating front retainer
You could get a flathead to Chevy adapter and make a simple flat adapter plate. The one I made worked just fine.