Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

Great info, thank you!

I plan to do just that! My cast iron drums will be heading back up north this week, and with them I will also be receiving new bearings and seals. I'm sure I'll have some questions when it's time to put everything back together.

Thank you! It's been very fun thus far and there are some exciting things happening down the line.

Excellent, thanks!

I'm doing my darnedest! Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Those are some of my favorite builds of all time. I can't wait to see them out on the road!

I'm going to save my CB radio install for another version of the build!

 

I've spent the past few days working on my motorcycle, getting it ready for today's Spring Kick Off Run. It was a blast running 30 choppers with some of my best friends along the California coast—the ocean on one side and the woods on the other. Don't worry, I was taking notes for a future roadster ride.
"Less honk, more tonk."

Amidst the motorcycle tune-up, I managed to make a big step on the car. On Thursday morning, I picked up the glass and securely installed it in the windshield frame.
I still have to install the Heli-coil for the lower stanchion, but overall I couldn't be happier. It looks so much more like an actual car now. It's funny. Every time I go down to the garage, I have to do a double-take. I plan to get some finger tabs for the frame to rest on, allowing it to sit back with some rake. More on that later.

Tomorrow, I plan to work on the Heli-coil and make some progress on the Gaz taillight. They're calling for rain, but we'll see how accurate that is. I may be able to slip out for a test drive!

Oh, and like I mentioned in my previous post, my cast iron drums from Randy Gross will be arriving this week. I can't wait to see them and get them on the car.

 

Hahah not at all. I run all my machines in all types of weather. My only concern with rain was getting a bunch of water down the bologna slicer stack and into the carb. I'm thinking I may get a Stellings-type air cleaner for those rainy days. I don't feel like running the hood just yet!

It is. The bike was originally chopped in 1971 and it has been in place since then.

Thank you! Rustoleum Gloss Almond is the color.

Hahah good thing I have holes in the floor!

Love this car and just about everything else Brian builds.

Looks like fun!

 

Yesterday ended up being a productive day. I spent the afternoon installing my Perma-coil, situating the windshield and making sure everything stays in position. As an added bonus, I installed the weatherstripping on the bottom and the sides, which helped eliminate the gap between the lower windshield and the dash rail. A tedious process for sure! It seems kindof like a silly task to take on right now, but I know when I have my top I'll be happy that I did it.

By the time I was finished, the sun was out. It didn't waste any time—I hit the road. Driving with a windshield is a game changer. It feels more like a car and less like a motorcycle, strangely enough. From what I can tell, having the frame and glass in place adds a bit of longitudinal strength. I love it.

Once I finished my errands, I made my way over to my friend Haley and Ilya's place in the Presidio. I've known Haley since high school, and they were both super excited to see the car sitting in front of their apartment!

Since it was such a nice night, we decided to take the car to dinner on Clement street. It was their first ride in a Model A, and they were big fans. It was funny parallel parking it in front of a nice restaurant (where some of the patrons were very confused and others were less-than-enthused).
After dinner, I made my way back home as the sun was setting. The perfect end to a Sunday drive.

 

Today was a busy work day, but I managed to slip out to the garage to take on a fun task: installing the old chrome side timing cover. I had a feeling that things have been going a little too smoothly as of late, and I figured I may uncover something I wouldn't like in there. Lo and behold, that's exactly what happened.

That's not any good. For a split-second I considered keeping it as is, considering it runs just fine. But then I realized that the goal here isn't to rush and get it on the road—it's to get it running safely and reliably. I consulted a couple of friends and the Les Andrews book and concluded that the gear needed to be replaced. Although this means no more driving for a little bit, it's better to be doing this in the garage than on the side of the road. So, the question is: should I get a fiber gear or upgrade to a metal one? I'm leaning towards fiber. Either way, do you all have a favorite source?

Looks like I'll have to get the new gear and the correct tool. Also, while it's all apart, I'd love to put an old chrome or aluminum timing cover on the front. I know they're rare, but it's worth asking. Does anyone have one I can buy?

As I get ready to order parts, I couldn't help but put the chrome side cover in place. The engine is really coming together!