Projects The bucket of ugly! A de-uglifying thread...

Louvers did! Unfortunately, not much of it was aimed at the 'Bucket. I spent all day on "Endlessearth's" truck cleaning and making way for engine compartment paint for this beautiful small block I'm sticking in.

I did take a bit of time today and spun up a plug for the radiator cap hole on my grill shell. I made it out of aluminum, 1/4" stock and cut it out with two sized hole saws so it would have a small register on it's bottom that fits the cap hole snuggly. I didn't shoot any pictures 'cause I thought it such a small deal. But I will shoot a picture of the finished product tomorrow.

The point of this is to be a base for one of the many radiator mascots that Judy and I have collected in the last couple of months. We have a small cast iron elephant, two different brass ducks, and big brass housefly that might be pressed into service at any time. Not nearly as classic as the typical motometer, but cool non the less.

My group of mentors have all been known at times for having different and somewhat exotic radiator mascots on their cars, and I'm just sorta nodding to that tradition. My buddy Don Marks has an entire showcase in his living room full of real deal mascots, some very rare. But what I always loved on one of his cars was a antique nickel plated, porcelain handled, faucet that he ran on one of his T-Buckets forty years ago. Goofy, but cool. Ron Olmstead had a knock out '34 Phaeton back in the late seventies and early eighties that had a Ford Greyhound ornament... but if you got too close, it would pee on ya! Like I said, Goofy, but fun. My next look for is a devil thumbing his nose...

 

Haha all true, grandma had a hand roller type thing I remember seeing in their basement


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Glad to see another post from you Chip. About time we get off the subject of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" or the almost as unimportant things we are posting about.
Like the fact that you are not taking this hot rod build thing to seriously. I'm probably one of the serious worst. Another old time T build with a kool mascot is the Iskerderian roadster. Norm with his shift knobs and Ivo with his outhouse rear window also had a sense of humor about their rods.

Gary

 

Absolutely! A sense of humor in this stuff is beyond important. I am kind of retentive about the "big picture" kinda stuff, but there is always room for fun. This little elephant that I'm about to drill is fun personified. He's sitting down, looking up trumpeting with his trunk forming an arch... I figure he was a childs figurine from the late 1800s or so.

 

yup, we had one of those till I was about 8. Chip. I dont know why, but your T just says "duck" to me...

 

Here he is! Probably the least important thing on the H.A.M.B. today, but he makes me feel good. I'll do a write up on making his base later without a lathe so there is some actual hot rod value to his existence...

 

I like it!!
Many years ago when Jim Ewing brought out his Orange 34 coupe. He had a small emblem just above the opening for the radiator. Looked kinda like a big M but a bit more spread out. Upon Jims urging I took a real close look and it was a naked woman with her legs spread, Pubic hair and all.

 

looks cool, almost looks like it was a bottle opener in previous life, the lip that is its bottom jaw looks almost perfect for hooking a crown top

 

Okay to satisfy Gary,I'm gonna ask a hot rod question. Chip are those valve covers you are using a aftermarket item or what ? I have the same on my engine and wondered what the history if any is of them ? I intend to make a brass Chevrolet emblem to fit into the blank rectangle in the centre of them so to fill the plainness of it. I would appreciate your thoughts on them please.

 

Thanks Whip, it's been a long time since somebody has tried to satisfy me.

Yes those are aftermarket valve covers. Can't remember the manufacture but as soon as I hear it I will remember.

Chip that is a kool looking little mascot. It will give your rod a little personality.

Gary

 

I used to sell those valve covers, but I can't remember who made them. I'll look at some old catalogs when I get home. Going to the Santa Claus parade with my daughter tonight,

 

Funny you should mention that Fuzzy! I have one of those pins named in a will to me!

My buddies Ronnie Olmstead and Don Marks were very tight with Ewing and Pete and Jake back in the day, and when Ewing had those cast as hat pins gave one to each. Ronnie has left me his, along with his "stroker cap" that has pins from everything on the West Coast in the sixties and seventies. Don Marks refers to his as "His family crest...".

 

It's a small world after all

 

Those valve covers are what I call "no names" and they came out after 1968, as evidenced by the bosses for the oil fill/breather/pcv valve, and as such are a bit too new for a early or mid 60's build. A lot of places offered them, usually with their own nameplate glued into the recess. Very popular on muscle cars in the 70's, you can find them with everything from Motion Performance to Mr Gasket labels. A lot of engine shops would provide them on their engines as advertisement also. They are available on eBay from a company called Ansen, but I don't believe that they have anything to do with "vintage" Ansen stuff as we know it.

 

Looks like its my turn, supposed to start snowing around 1am tonight, and continue till wed. If you dont hear from me tomorrow, send Sgt. Preston and Yukon King...

 

How 'bout Dudley DoRight?

 

need louvers? : neat mascot. It is a bottle opener , with a political origin. I have the donkey version of it ; found at my grandmothers house in the 60's. Mines popped alot of tops over the years.

 

It is?! I thought it was older than that, but I do believe you at this point. When I was drilling him yesterday, I noticed a VERY faint casting mark that could easily be G.O.P. down low on his side. Anybody have any idea what era it's from? Cool about the bottle opener part... Might have to switch from gin to beer... In the shop of course... Nah!

 

It's alot older than that! I think its from the teens or 20's. I just found it in the 60's. Nothin' wrong with doing a chaser! Boilermaker style ; bottoms up!

 

This is a repop, but goes to your supposition: http://www.designtoscano.com/product/code/SP2330.do?code=PDINCLUDE&code=DTPLAS12

And a probable original cast iron at auction: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10247730

There is some evidence that these are from the FDR era as there is a similar purpose/size donkey with FDR logo out there.

 

Thats a really cool bit of history there. Snow is a bit if a bust, less than 1/2 an inch...

 

George, I can send you some of ours...
well more than 1/2 an inch, closer to 1/2 a yard

 

Yea, I saw you guys on the weather network while we were in a restaurant last night. YIKES! The girl driving a nail with the frozen banana cracked me up! Looks like its pretty freakin' cold! I gotta send Pensive Scribe a pm today, and ask him how he's liking the weather!

 

PHA! Dudley was a pussy...

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And yes, I REALLY DID watch this lame-ass show when I was a kid.

 

Heck ! I thought we all watched Sgt. Preston when we were kids.
I know I did !!!

 

haa haa haa, now I know where all you Americans got the idea it snows ten months a year here!! On you huskies!!

 

Ya Sargent Preston and the Tv show "The Alaskan" with the Eskimo guy that only said "Uka toya Toh" all the time .

 

Isn't that the show that had Dick Sargent and Dick York?

 

Sargent York? Man, I'm confused....

 

you boys been out in the sun too long you need to come in the shop, take a load off and open a cold one.............oh no sorry that's us,......... you boys need to light the heater and put the kettle on for a hot chocolate. Now pass those old hot rod mags.....