Projects The Brooks Special - louisb’s 29 lakes roadster build

So I am finally back at this project. Spent some time this weekend redoing the dash for the new gauge panel. I ended up getting a new '32 roadster dash and cutting it up then welding it to the '29 dash rail.


Now I need to figure out placement for the knobs, etc.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Looks really good. I'm glad you're back at it.

 

Looks great. What made you change from the SW panel you originally had? Just curious thought they both looked great and fit the car well.

-Adam

Sent from my rotary phone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

The S&W Ensign gauge panel is a nice piece but I wanted something a little different. Well, what I really wanted was an Auburn dash and panel but I figure this was a good budget compromise.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Nice touch.. Looking good making it your own.. Nice..

 

I have decided to just get this thing together and run it in primer for a while. Give me a chance to enjoy the roadster some in 2021 and work out the kinks before paint. Life is to short. So I have set a goal of having it done by the Bayou Roundup. Spent some time finishing up some minor stuff on the chassis and painting the suspension to try to get the chassis rolling. Then I plan to hit it hard in 2021 and git er dun.



Thanks to my buddies Alex and Ryan for lighting a fire under my arse to get this pile of parts on the road.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Where is the update Louis?

 

Hold up has been the cold weather and some bad primer. Sprayed the whole chassis and waited three days but the primer never completely dried so had to sand that all off. Ordered some black primer from Eastwood and I have to say I like how it sprayed. Today it was finally warm and dry enough to respray the primer and top coat it with Kriker Satin Hot Rod Black. Just came in from finishing that up. Next is to start assembling the suspension and drive train.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Nice progress Louis. I bet it was a pain in the butt to sand the bad primer off, but that's behind you now. I have been watching your engine coming together, looks like it's going to be very nice.

 

Thanks Aaron. Been having some trouble motivating myself. Seems to happen about this time with every project. Trying to push through and get it done.

thanks,

—louis

 

Looks good, getting closer!


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Wasn't happy with the finish on the frame rails so I decided to do a cut and buff with 1000 wet or dry and some 3M compound. First time I have done this so I managed to sand through the paint a few times. I touched it up and redid it. Pretty happy with the results even if it is no longer satin black.



Not a pro paint job but I am fine with that. Now it is time to assemble the chassis.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Looks pretty pro to me!

 

I second that

 

Making some progress. Setting up the suspension and drive line. I used oilite bushing front and rear. During mockup I noticed that the rear 40 spring was extremely hard to install on the '36 rear end. After doing a little research I found out that Ford made two widths of 36 rear spring perches. The one I have measures 45.5" appart which makes it harder to install a stock 40 spring. So I ordered up some 1" longer shackles from Tardel. I also reversed the main spring.







One area I was really worried about was the driveshaft length. I used a '34 drive shaft and a spline converter as recommended in the Tardel book. Fortunately it came out fine. Unfortunately I managed to unseat the pinion trying to remove it after checking. I tapped it back in but I have no idea if the lash is right now. Hopefull it is not to far off.








Assembling the ICE K-Member in the chassis. I have heard he stopped making these. To bad as it is a nice product. And yes my garage is a mess.






Waiting on a few small parts but with any luck I will be able to mount the suspension this weekend.

Thanks,

--louis

 

I have been trying to work on it each evening after work and finally got the suspension all bolted up. She has fought me the entire way. Setting up the Lincoln brakes, with original ford drums, is next.



Thanks,

--louis

 

Cool man, getting closer!

 

Beautiful work Louis, a lot of handy tips as well !

 

Thanks Marty, I wouldn't have been able to do it without people here on the
HAMB that share their knowledge.

Thanks,

--louis

 

I have been watching your build for about a year. I like you are taking your time and doing it right. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

Working on any car project is always two steps forward and one step back. Usually with a few random steps thrown in. Just about have all the brakes done and getting ready to run brake lines and cables.



Yes I should have done this before paint and assembly. But I like the pain.





I was also this many years old before I discovered there is a tool for mounting those springs which make it easy. I have always used a pair of vice grips and the armstrong machine.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Your project is looking good. I finally woke up and bought a brake spring tool after 40 years of using a Visegrip.

 

"I like the pain" made me laugh.

 

It was a pretty busy weekend but I did manage to get out into the garage and get some work done on the brake system. This is a the first time I have done a full brake system so I have been figuring it out as I go. At this point I have managed to assemble everything backwards at least once and sometimes twice.

This hose with the T fitting is off a early '70s Chevy truck. Tardel sugests it in his book on brakes. Unfortunately, he tends to leave out a lot of stuff he expects you to know already.


I think I have this return spring for the clutch pedal in the right place. I had to bend the repo '32 clutch arm on the trans to line everything up which was surprising since it is all factory '32 parts.

Front hoses run.


Master cylinder on the Tardel mount. When I built the pedal assembly I followed the instructions in the Tardel book but it doesn't line up. It looks like I will have to redo the brake pedal since the linkage arm is not long enough to line up with the '40 master cylinder.

Right now I am trying to piece the linkages together from original Ford bits and bobs. Next will be the hard lines.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Louis, it may just be the angle of the picture, but that front brake hose looks to be short. Have you done a full turn left and right to see what happens to it?

 

Yeah there is more slack than it looks in the picture. I noticed that when I posted the pics.

--louis

 

This is going to be a beauty of a Hotrod...loving the progress as it comes @louisb aka the Whistling Cat...wonder what tune he's belting out maybe the Andy Mayberry ditty......oops...Griffith...


​

 

More likely its Nina Simone

 

Or Buddy Guy

 

I got it you HAVE to watch on YOUTUBE it's a link on that link on here.