Projects My '26 Roadster / Vintage photo search

Awesome job hon! The frame is looking really nice...you made a lot of good progress.
I have to say the Chicago turned out really nice color wise. Glad I talked you out of the yellow haha...

 

I've had a great time puttin' my "25 together. Again I would urge anyone thing about a project like this to take the leap. You won't regret it.

Ron

 

Thanks babe! Yeah....you were sure right on that color choice, would have looked crappy Yellow

I couldn't agree more Ron....and your '25 is a heck of a nice looking T!

There is just something...basic and simple about them, the "rules" are a little more lax, and they are a kick to run around in!

 

Clayton,

Great to see the progress- please make sure to take LOTS of pics as your gow goes back together and thanks again for the article... as soon as I can get through:

2 concerts
umteen Cub Scout meetings
Christmas Eve service planning, rehearsals, etc

... I'll sit right down to it

 

No worries Bill, I will be taking a TON more pictures during this build (as I did in the past) , but this time you will be able to follow along as the build progresses instead of after the fact as it was when I originally created this thread.

Your quite welcome as well...it's a cool read, full of great info!

 

Here is a rare rear view of the roadster before the frame horns were removed. They were one of the very few things in this build that just didn't work.....they really ruined the profile and the lines instead of accenting them. (this photo was taken on the day of it's first true "road trip" away from the shop. I surprised the shop crew and Bill when I drove it to meet them for our weekly breakfast on Saturday mornings)

I'm glad I removed them.



as compared to:

 

*UPDATE*
The front end finally underway!

I did make a little more progress on the roadster. I got a start on the split wishbones, getting them ground to fit the T axle and Chris turned some pieces on the lathe to finish up the wishbones on Wednesday night.

Here is the latest:








More to come
​

 

Bump for the morning crew..

 

Lunch crew. Sitting here eating a PBJ sandwich and wishing a lot more folks understood aesthetics like you do. Careful of scope creep. It's a gow job.

 

Lol! Well thank you Jim I'm just glad that you all approve of my aesthetic choices and believe in my aesthetic skills

...I won't creepin' on this one, just fixin' somethings I didn't like before. It will certainly stay a "gowjob" for sure...it won't loose that quality

 

*UPDATE*
More fun with Wishbones

Got a little more work done on the wishbones last night. In my search to find a period alternative to modern split wishbone ball-joint ends, I came across the method of using Model A tie-rod ends and replacement ball joints. I really liked the way it all worked out and I could buy all those components new....so I did. After buying up all the extra parts I would need, I made up a few drawings to get my ideas straight and make sure I do it right the first time.


First thing I did last night was re-hang the front spring and center up the axle on the front cross member.





Last week I got the radius rods re-ground to fit the T axle. Last night I got the wishbone ends cut and welded in. For the adjustable threaded ends on the 'bones, I bought a second sacrificial tie-rod and took 6" off each end (with the L and RH threads) and welded them into custom adapters that Chris was kind enough to make up for me on the Lathe (to size them up the the ID of the 'bones....then I welded those assemblies into the 'bones...



With all that welded in place, this is what I got ..Was quite pleased with how it turned out...still have some more clean up to do.









...that concludes this weeks efforts, more to come!


​

 

Turned out real nice there Clayton!!

 

Why thank you Chris ....that machinist that works with me sure does a nice job.....

 

lookin' good.

 

Thanks Gary!

Still got plenty of work ahead of me, but I happy with the direction I'm going with it.

 

beautifull car

 

*UPDATE*
Fun with wishbones Part Deux!

This weeks update is rather large, as I made a considerable amount of progress this weekend. My main focus this weekend was completing the wishbones. I had already fab'ed and welded up the the adjustable ball jointed frame mount ends of the wishbones the week prior



....so my first line of business was to get them finished up, by getting the front axle ends modified for the right fit and the correct Castor angle. First I mocked up the frame and the front end to actual ride height...front wheels and all and a little more space between the front cross member and axle this time around.







Next, I mocked up the the frame mounting places using a Model A Pittman arm.



Next I pulled the 'bones off and carefully cut the tubes so that I could remove the castings.



Then I reinstalled the cut 'bones and adjusted the front axle to the appropriate 5 1/2 degrees of castor....actually 6 1/2 which is specified in "The Secrets of Speed" for Ford race cars





...Then they were all welded up



My other endeavors for the day were to cut the new shackle plates for the front wisbones....







And I used the ol' press trick to reverse the main leaf..



I have a few parts on order, and a few more things to make, but I should be able to finish this and get the front end complete and hung next weekend.

More to come!
​

 

Thank you kindly! ...I'm quite pleased with how it turned out myself

 

Nice work Clayton. I like that shackle pearch better than what was in your drawing.

Ron

 

Good stuff!


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Clayton!!!
What car is this????

 

Fred ,
You know that Black roadster he had...Well it is no more!!! No Clayton 's re-doing it better then before. The mad scientist at work you know!!!

 

I must agree...the other idea had potential, but created a few issues that I didn't feel comfortable with. This is a far more solid connection then the other method. I'm going to ask Chris to machine up a few heavy steel sleeves that I can press stock T bronze shackle bushings into to weld in between these plates for a stronger connection.

Only the best from me

This is my own well traveled, well used '26 roadster....ya know, the one you rode in this summer?

I told ya this build up for Bonneville would be serious business! It just had some issues that I wanted to fix before Bonneville....suspension was a big one!

 

Clayton,

The question is fairly moot at this point, but why not split the T bones, or use something of a similar thickness? Those later bones take away from the "spindley T" look.

Just my $.02

 

That is something I had thought about, but to be honest....the T 'bones are a bit too spindly and frankly, I'd be a bit scared of them folding up on me. Yes, if they were welded right they shouldn't, but still...they're not that big and I'm the one behind the wheel

I could have also just built my own set of early hairpin style 'bones out of a couple of T wishbones, but I had tried that before...twice and really didn't care for how it turned out......and I didn't really like the look as much.

The larger 'bones do give it a little "stouter" look, but I really don't think it takes away from that "spindly Model T" look much. I have seen a few early original racing chassis...both built really nicely and both had that same "stout" look to them. I have also seen the Model A 'bones idea used before from that period.

 

Have ya ever noticed how the A bones were attached to the rails? Now that's scary!

Ron

 

I appaude Clayton for using the A bones over the T's. Just this summer there was a guy driving his restored T touring down a secondary black top road when the wishbone broke just aft of the axel. The car rolled and he was killed. With the miles Clayton wants to put on next summer plus the fact he will be carrying those two boys with him, this is a wise upgrade.

Ron

 

Good point Ron!

 

I have heard a similar stories like this in the past which is why I'm going this route.....especially if I have to cut an weld them.

...I wouldn't want her to fold up on me on the way to Bonneville!

I have seen some really scary things done on T's that, while they did hold up, scare the heck out of me. That is why I'm build it up stouter and safer, while keeping it period

 

Careful! Henry Ford went so far down that route he ended up with the Model A!

-Dave