Hot Rods 28 Roadster build

I have been using a gammatronix LED indicator. I purchased it off eBay and had used one on a norton motor cycle I restored


https://gammatronixltd.com/epages/b...6-4572-89a1-e89006e78fbe/Categories/Category1

 

The frame is back from the paint shop!

 

Well I have putting the chassis back together so I can roll it around. Picked up a set of wheel skates and they sure make icing the thing easy now can’t believe I used a floor jack to drag this thing around for the last 5 years



When the frame was out for paint I turned my attention back to the body trying to pull out some dents. With a lot attempting I realized my metal working skills are not quite that good trying to get the dents out of the doors and trunk. I’m sure someone with a bit more skill could get it but I ended up throwing in the towl and ordered some skins for the doors and trunk. Had to do a little rust repair on the trunk inner section then a good coat of POR15. This has been my first attempt to skin something and it definitely has it challenges getting the lip to fold over. Had to do some twisting but I’m getting close to this thing fitting again. Even with the old skin I had way to much crown where the trunk meets the panel behind the cockpit but after a few failed attempts and a slipped knee that resulted in a dent in my brand new skin I was able to flatten it out.
Next up is dealing with the lower edge. Again first try so I folded the skit to match the inner structure and I have created a low spot about 1/4 inch. I’m not sure of my end game plan yet but so far my plan is to weld in a folded filler pice to square it

 

I have jumping between working on the body and frame after installing two new door skins I figured I needed to get the body back on the frame for finial door fittings
I painted the engine all red as some components like the oil pan and water pumps were black, I cleaned and painted the transmission . I set the engine back into the frame and squared up all the suspension. I then then decided to add some flex joints in the exhaust as there was not a lot of free movement in the exhaust system for engine flex. I also installed stainless exhaust for the last 12” of the system for exhaust tips and polished them up. Next up was some VHT header paint. I was able to get the headers into my garage oven to heat cure so maybe the paint will hold up.

 

I have working away on the chassis the last few weeks installing the brake and clutch system. I made up a clutch safety switch as I’m sure it will be required for licensing inspection. I also tested out my brake system. I’m sure glad a went with DOT5 as I had major leaks and could not get my original residual pressure valves to seal up due to miss machines seats that would not seal. Had to replace both of them and then it was all good.



Next up was the fender brackets I installed the front brace and powder coated everything.
Next up us put the body back on get the doors and trunk working and latching correctly then it should be time to start it up!

 

Well the body is back on I had to do some more cutting to the doors to get everything to line up but I’m happy with it now. Welded the skins into place and got the door latches working


Next up was making some door handles and a shift knob. Used some acrylic pen blanks and turned them out on my lathe followed with wet sanding and a polish
The metal ring on the shifter is a silver napkin ring with my initials engraved on it. The Napkin ring came from my grandparents when they would set the dinner table everyone place was marked by these rings and after they passed we all got them. It has been sitting in the garage for the last few years figured this was a good home probably the first time it was polished in 20 years

 

Really cool knobs.

 

It’s running! Did the cam break in I’m going to have to look at my temperature gauges both were running very hot 195-220 but when I checked the temperature with a thermal imager it only shows 170F

 

The knobs and shifter are a very nice touch. I like the way that you incorporated a piece of family history into the build.

 

A few updates found one of my temp senders were reading 15F hot. I replaced the 180F thermostat with some 160F and drilled some a small hole in each to get the air out. I was worried about the fan once the car was running you really realize how big and fast a unguarded fan is so I created a fan shroud should help direct the air and keep fingers safe.

Attempted my first drive and I discovered I had no first gear. The transmission came from a pick and pull and I never bothered to pull it apart so I guess I didn’t win that one.
Once apart I found a broken 1/2 shift fork. All the bearings and synchros were like brand new so a new fork and I was back in business

Transmission back in and I made the first under power trip in the car. The carbs need a lot of work they are leaking and stumbling but you got to star som where I guess

Unfortunately when driving I could hear a funny noise every time I put the clutch is so back out came the transmission
Found found the bearing return spring was rubbing inside the clutch assembly, flipped the spring and slightly enlarged the hole in the pressure plate

When I had the pressure out I noticed the springs were hitting the flywheel bolts and it looks as my flywheel has been machine a little thin the rivets are now touching the fly wheel. I’m going to have to source sone thinner head bolts and machine a .080” counter bore to clear the clutch disk rivets

 

This might be a “it’s not stupid if it works” thing
I’m unable to get the flywheel into my own lathe so I was thinking about how else I could do this and this is what I came up with. Turned my die grinder into a router and was able to make a .50” counter bore that should give me just enough clearance as the disk wear

 

Update time over the last few months. I was able to get the car out on the road. I have not had many miles yet just turned 60miles on the odometer after I got the Speedo working. So far so good stays at 170F lots and lots of oil pressure. Once the engine is hot it starts right up. Was able to run it across the scale today and it tipped in at 2500LBS with me and my son in it and 1/2 tank of fuel.
So far it’s a blast to drive mostly just around my little town but had it out on the highway up to 60pmh and it went straight but you sure can tell your going fast with the wind

 

Nicely done!

 

Well I have put 150 miles on the car so far no break downs. A few weird noises from the pilot bearing so I’m going to take a close look at that again this winter. I wanted to get an interior into the car before paint incase any modifications had to be done. I attempted to build the interior panels myself and after a few failed attempts I realized this may be something better left to the experts. I took the car into a local shop and they did a great job front to back. They had the car in and out in one week so I get a few more weekends for testing before the snow fly’s

 

Interior looks nice. Cool to see it out and about with your son.

 

Thanks I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. yes my boys love going out in the car I’m going to put a 3rd belt in it so they can both come with me for a least the next couple years until they get too big. My youngest one enjoyed his ride as well

 

Good call on the upholstery! Quick service and it looks great.
Noticed the Element fire extinguisher on the floor. My buddy, from Calgary, sent me one as a birthday present.

 

Congrats on this memorable milestone...its really coming together...You sure won't get three in there for long but wow will they get a kick outta' that...

 

Hello everyone

For the last couple of months I have been pulling the car back apart getting ready to send it in for paint. I had it all ready to take it in on Monday but I decided I couldn’t live with my 3rd brake light set up

So today I was busy building a oak trim pice to wrap the rear of the cockpit. I will stain it dark and I’m thinking of a way to insert a thin brake light into the wood.

 

One other little side project with the engine out I wanted to take the leaking dip stick in the side of the pan. After 70 years the gasket was leaking on the riveted in adapter plate. So I was able to remove the sump of the oil pan and drill out the rivets and build a new plate to go behind it and tapped it for 10/32 screws. This way I was able to then make a new gasket and bolt the dip stick adapter to the oil pan

 

Still making forward momentum on the car. With the car at the shop for paint I was able to rebuild the T5 transmission as it did not want to down shift into 2nd. I spent some time polishing up my Aluminum air cleaners


The body shop pulled the body off the frame so I picked up the frame and brought it back home so I’m starting on reassembling the drive train back into it

 

Cool roadster.

 

Really good build thread. You have a very cool hotrod and did an amazing job. Thank you for sharing this.

 

Getting to put on some of the shiny bits this weekend. The nut covers all required a little squeeze in the vice but the hold pretty tight now.

 

Looking good

 

I have working away on the trim rings for the shifter and park brake boots. Started out with some 1/4 aluminum plate and cut out some basic shapes. Did a little bit of work with the lathe and then a bunch of shaping with a sanding disk. I then polished them up nice and shiny. I had originally planned to powder coat them black but I figured it is always easier to powder coat a shiny part if it doses not fit the look of the car one it’s back together


The body shop has made progress on the car with all the metal work completed and a skim coat of filler to get it straight. Into primer this week

 

Cool build. Great times with the kids.

 

Well picked the body up from the body shop today and started putting the car back together hopefully for the last time. The Blue and Red combo is really turning out the way I had hoped

 

Fantastic!