Projects 32 Hiboy- "My 32 Spitfire"

32 Spitfire, the gauges look GREAT, not overstated!gThey go real well with colour,too!

Nick.

 

Thanks Geeto Tiger & 60'shotrod!

Part #20

My chief mechanic, Doug Frautschy, had to go out of town and told me to get the fan on (Is he serious!) and measure for the belts. When I finally got the old six blade truck fan blade installed, I just stood there and admired it. The old classic truck fan looks so cool I thought I would show it to everyone. They don't make them like that anymore!

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

32 Spitfire, watch your bloody fingers with that fan!
Each step brings you closer to your goal,it must be getting close to that BIG day!

Nick.

 

Part #21

Work on the 32 Spitfire this week has been slow, but steady. I gave up on trying to fit the wood for the top of the deck lid. (I felt the original wood that came with the Brookville body left a lot to be desired but has been a good pattern to help build the new one.) I asked my good friend and Amish neighbor, Ervin Beachy, to make a brand new one. I also asked him to fit the flat wood right behind the top of the seat. Our first stop was at Keim Lumber in Charm, Ohio, to select a high- grade blank of wood for this special 32! Keim Lumber has an nice exotic wood department, and we found a special piece of curly cherry heavily figured throughout its entire length.

While Ervin was working on that I also asked him to custom build the two floorboards under the seat in figured red oak. (Frank Wallic told me the original 32's had plywood...oh, well, I think Henry wood like this). And then I asked Ervin (No sense letting a professional woodworker collect dust..ha!) to fit the oak seat supports to the seat risers.

While Ervin is chiseling away, I'm fitting the steel gas lines. So we're both busy but having a good time!

Happy Weekend!

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

32 Spitfire, I've missed your up-dates! I love the fact that your Amish friend/neigbour is helping you, FANTASTIC!
That woodwork looks real NICE too!

Nick.

 

b-e-a-you-tee-ful

 

Killer!

 

FWIW, 3M makes a kit specifically for this. My brother-in-law in Tampa is a body man, and I saw one in his shop. I'll see if I can get the exact nomenclature for it.

 

Part #22

Last evening I finally got the seat sliders and Ervin's oak supports installed. I was really nervous drilling one of Frank Wallic's bomber seats. It all came together very nicely and the wire in the middle operates the sliders simultaneously. You can see my three bolts in the front of the seat and the rear bolts are hidden in the large angled holes in the back of the seat. These attach the seat to the oak supports underneath.

For custom bomber style seats and battery boxes Frank Wallic can be reached via email at F1932hog@aol.com

slepe67,

I asked Ervin Beachy (my Amiish neighbor and friend) who is doing all the woodwork on my car if he would be interesed in making custom floorboards and the top deck wood for these 32 Fords and he said sure. He can get almost any kind of wood you can think of. Anyone can send me an email if interested.

Thanks everyone!!

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

Havn't seen this thread before but i have now, Looks nice.

 

fantastic job!!

 

32 Spitfire, that Bench/Bomber seat looks OUTSTANDING!

Nick.

 

Mr.Beachy and Keim lumber; what a combo....quality, quality,quality!! About mid-seventies we had a local AMC deallership that wouldn't let a single car pass through the doors without a 'rust proofing' af the frame very similar to what you performed. I think anyone in the North should follow your lead !!! Great stuff!!

 

spitfires are cool. I had a tr 6 once

 

gassman57,

You are so right about many of the Amish craftsmen and Keim Lumber! If any of you are ever in Ohio Amish country stop in the quaint little town of Charm and visit Keim Lumber. Just stand by the service center and look up to the thousands of board feet of cherry!!!

Thanks to langy, moter, 60'shotrod and gassman57!

32 Spitfire

 

Part #23

Well with Doug Frautchy my chief mechanic out of the country, I decided to install the gas tank sending unit, and run the entire fuel line and filter. You see Doug hesitates to even allow me to pick up a wrench, and it’s my car!! I asked him right before he left on this trip (He is always going somewhere…anywhere, but the “Eagle Squadron Hangar” ) what he wanted me to do, and it’s always something like … well, maybe sweep up or get your tools organized. It isn’t anything a real mechanic would be doing. Ervin Beachy, my Amish neighbor and professional woodworker, is the same way when it comes to doing some minor woodworking on my car. I will ask him if he wants me to sand or chisel that piece of figured wood, and I get a very serious quiet stare that only the Amish are so good at to let you know you’re out of line. I know, Ervin, I’ll just sweep up! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Well, it has been well over twenty years since I worked at the research center where we ran untold miles of stainless steel tubing in the nuclear and clean coal burning test facilities, but I thought - what the heck, now’s my chance to really work on my car since Doug is out of town! I started Friday evening and got very lucky on the first two sections making numerous bends around the gas tank and over the rear axle. I was really feeling proud of myself until the last section coming up along the firewall. I don’t know if the new section of tubing was softer or what, but it just didn’t want to bend cleanly. Don’t ever tell Doug (I want to earn my “mechanic’s” badge someday) but the guys at the local parts store got to know me real well this weekend! I just told them I grossly underestimated what I needed on this fuel line. (I have a hunch they knew I was a rookie…I just hope they don’t know Doug…it’s a small town you know!)<o></o>
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This Poly Armour coated steel tubing actually matches the color of my car perfectly. It’s supposedly designed for high corrosion environments. I think it turned out o.k. and check out the antique U.S. Army aircraft filter that Frank Wallic found for me. I want to thank Frank for taking time out of his busy schedule to “coach” me along the way! I have had a great support team from the very beginning even if they won’t let me work on my car!

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire <o></o>

 

32 Spitfire, You'll get your legs smacked for workin' on your own Hot Rod, when your mechanic comes back!!!!!
I do wish you STOP teasing us with the pictures and show us the WHOLE bloody car!!!!!
Great work as ever!

Nick.

 

Nick,

I'm really trying to get there but I have to get all these things done before we can put the body on. If ole Doug would hang around town a little more we would be further down the road! I'm just kidding he is a great guy trying to help me out as a friend! (he still may slap my legs and fingers IF I have screwed anything up while he is gone!)

32 Spitfire

 

Part #24

With Doug still out of the country I decided to move forward and install the clutch and brake pads. I had Steve Fender of Ageless Iron Restoration weld the proper 1/2" fine studs to the pads. It was a little tricky as the rubber was on the back side. So weld a little and cool was in order. After the welding was done I then painted the back sides. They turned out really nice and threaded right in place.

Then last evening with help from Frank Wallic via the internet I installed an original 32 Ford gas pedal that we had previously painted satin flat black. I was really nervous on this one as the firewall was already painted and I didn't want any scratches. Frank's photos and measurements were perfect. Thanks again Frank!

Well Doug should be back in town soon I better start sweeping the "Hangar" and put some tools away like he said.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

Thats the KATZ AZZ !!!! Just KOOL MAN!!! Can't wait to see the end product. As I am sure you feel the same.

 

32 Spitfire, Stick the body on the chassis, you know you want to!!!!!!!

Nice work Dude, I can't say anything about progress,you're making it and I ain't!I guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer to see the WHOLE Roadster!

Nick.

 

As much as I love the Sir Reginald Mitchell's masterpiece it was the trusty old Hurricane that won the battle of Britain!

 

GREAT build! Man, I'm sorry if I missed it, but is the seat slider hardware a kit of some kind?

 

Doc,I know what you're saying is TRUE, But I'm afraid the poor old Hurricane just ain't as pretty as a Spitfire!Don't get me wrong I wouldn't say no to a Hurricane! I believe in the Battle of Britain that the Hurricanes usually tried to take care of the bombers and the Spitfires would engage the fighter escort, but I don't suppose it always worked that way!

Nick.

 

I really like your whole thought process with the design and theme of your car. The only thing I would ask IS before you set the body on would you consider rolling the car outside in the light and take several photographs it showing the brakes, transmission, engine, (all the mechanicals). Though I am building a 40 ford coupe now, my next project will be a 32 ford roadster and I would like to refer back to this thread later. Keep up the great work and please continue to keep us updated on the progress.
Grandet23

 

Spot on man, I do love a Hurricrate but the Spitfire will forever be my favorite non Australian built aircraft...... well that and the P-61 Blackwidow series!
I'm a sucker for the stubby little Aussy fighter failure, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Boomerang. Almost bought a Matt Dennings second restoration project in the mid 90s. I will for ever kick myself for not doing it, had the money there too at the time!


Well, aircraft aside the roadster is a beautiful build man, please show us more pics of it please. Just think when its finished, a photo shoot with a restored Spit!!!
OOOOOOH, my mouth is watering.
Doc.

 

wild willey,
Thank you. You're right. I can't wait to get it done, but I do enjoy my time working on it.

60' shotrod,
Thank you for all your support and encouragement!

Jeem,
The seat sliders came from Brookville and my friend, Ervin Beachy, custom built the oak for the seat, new oak floor boards and beautiful curly cherry on the deck lid.

grandet23,
I will definitely post outside photos for engine/chasis of the frame for you. I will keep everyone updated as I progress, and if I can help you in anyway on your project, please let me know. So many here on H.A.M.B. have been so kind and helpful to me.

Doc Watson,
Thank you so much. I will show more photos as I progress. Please arrange the photo shoot with a Spitfire for me anytime after the end of May.

My dream is to contact someone in Hollywood to do a movie on "The Few" American pilots who fought with the Royal Air Force before the US entered the war. It would be a great movie. Thanks

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

32 Spitfire, Try this web-site it has all the flying Spitfires listed on it, maybe one quite near you.Doc watsons' idea of a photo shoot with a Spitfire is Spot-on!
http://www.military-airshows.co.uk/spitaw.htm
Nick.

 

Part #25

The Battery Box:

This part took quite a bit of work. I had to design and have Steve Fender make the custom bracket to hold the battery box. I then located an old ammo box and went to work on it. I had to locate and cut out the holes for the two battery cables. Then I used scotch brite on the old finish and repainted it with original aircraft primer.

It took some time to install it in the correct position so the lid could clear the fire extinguisher when opening it. The Optima battery fit in perfectly and everything came out just right and I topped it off with a Bonneville tag!

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

Winston Churchill


32 Spitfire

 

32 Spitfire, This is sure going to be one fine machine when finished ! I will be keeping an eye on your build.

41 Dave