Projects 31 Kustom Roadster (DIY duvall, tudor to roadster conversion)

Great work! I like that Chevy roadster. Needs a 265!

 

Hot rod season have started again !

This build was on pause for a good while (1,5 year), but atleast i did build shovelhead chopper !


I have started ford build with doors:

-starting point.
-rust off
-made new door bottoms

-Next up : correct bead

- Cheers, Markus

 

Moving on to doors inner structures.

-Door supports/lock frame

-Inner Door tops -both sides supports and tops welded

-Room for dovetails


-welding flares

Lower inner panels. Made them high to match channeling

-Markus

 

Fantastic metal work!

 

Those doors are works of art!

 

32 dovetails and diy striker plate.
-Base for dovetail and welded to quarter panel
Dovetail in place
-Door latch striker plate, stainless steel


-Markus

 

What an Imagination, and Craftsmanship.

Thanks,

jim

 

Nice work!

 

Are you an engineer by any chance? I am impressed by your craftsmanship. I am also a shovel guy.

 

Thank you all !

Thank you !
Just an hobbyist try and learn engineer.
Sweet sound and power of an shovelhead, Try once and your hooked !

 

This was big step for the build. After 5 months got working solid doors.


-Markus

 

Found this david brown door handles from local tractor parts store. They are kind of matching to my diy trunk handle

Inside handle is from 1928 chevy.
Smallparts are diy.


-Markus

 

Awesome work…my only complaint is the thread is too short! I could really read and look at quality work like this for hours at a time. Thanks for sharing.

 

Damn, Markus, you've got some top notch fab skills. Beautiful work! If I had just seen that body I wouldn't have guessed it was a converted sedan. Love the Shovel too. I've got a '29 roadster and a '76 Shovel (plus my '29 sedan) in the works when I get time to spend in the garage again. Very inspiring work, man, thanks for sharing!

 

Cool stuff ,your building skill's are impessive . I like the little details...
Have you thought of creating a hardtop for your roadster out of the remaining panels . Shouldn't be to hard for you.... and intetesting for me. I'm planing to build a hardtop out of a 34 , 3 window roof panels onto my 32 roadster..... anyhow will follow.

 

Thank you, and yes sir removable hardtop is on the bucket list !
But i also thought of building more smoother 34 style roof, rather than using model-a panels .
Just need to build windshield first to figure out right proportions for the roof !

-Markus

 

Thank you ! Not much left from tudor body, thats why i changed this build tittle to kustom roadster, rather than just conversion.
I almost have enough "spare parts" to build that tudor body back to rocking and rolling

-Markus

 

Thank you ! Kind comments gives me motivation and positive energy to keep on building !
-Markus

 

My plan for the windshield is to use the original panels chop them at lest 2 -3 inch, but lean a-pillar backwards, build a lower frame which follow the original torpedo but covers the lower seal and use the Original montingpoints to screw down the front, the rear should also follow the stock contours with s seal, use the original fixing points. As for the doors, i will keep the stock 32 short doors but use the top portion and windows of the 34 as sort of removable window, (much like manny british roadsters ) If viewed from the side, so when the door is closed it looks 34 window with layedback a-pillar, but when open the 34 window sticks out from the short door. I start first with the sidewindows, as they will show how much lean back is needed in the windscreen to get the right look once this is right, the roof will follow. Most people start to chop the roof first and the sidwindows follow. i believ my approach is easyer , jusr my two cents . I 'm quite large and discovered that with my softtop visability is very restricted... but with the 34 window all is good . Windows will have sliding tracks to open..... loads of ideas and gathering parts, but building has not yet started. Cool that your hardtop is on your list....

 

Looking forward to see what you come up with !
I'm planning on building V-style/ hallock style winshield, so going to be a challenge to get right proportions for roof !

-Markus

 

spiff... very spiff !

 

Hey Marcus, Hallock windshield is cool, what do you know about your Hallock ?
Is it bronze or alluminium cast ? Is it a '39 cast , 70's cast or 90's cast ?
How about using the hallock windscreen without the hardtop but build a '34, 3 or 5 window hardtop, so you get both styles. i'm somewhat concerned that if you use the hallock 'screen, it might not be ridgid enough and seen might spoil the unic style ? Although i have seen a V-screen with homemade hardtop....

 

Thank you for sharing all the pictures of your roadster project. You have some very impressive metalworking and design skills. Looking forward to details on your Hallock style windshield and top. HFH.

 

I dont have windshield yet. Mine is still just an cardboard mockup. I'm going build one from stainless steel.
Your idea of roof with A-pilars is great idea ! but i think im up for the challenge to get right looking V-Window and roof. If it looks goofy, i can go back and build the A-pilar style roof.

Here's old photo of the cardboard mockup

-Markus

 

I've been working on cowl. Passenger sides panels are done and welded up.
Because the body is channeled and sits very close to frame (0,1 inch / 3mm gap at front)

I made an "unit" with inside and outside panels. Pretty complex panel with all the curves and beads and bends.

-starting point: rusty and no curve

-After figuring out right upwards curve i made an wood buck

-Bead rolled and hammering flanges against the woodbuck

-After englishwheel and shrinking

-inside panel mock up

-Two pieces ready to weld up

- At first try it was kind of sticking out at that point where the upwards sweep starts. After cutting and welding again i got the shape all good and smooth


- Primer paint

-Welded up. TIG welding is the King ! So smooth and fun, just have to be extra carefull to clean everything up before welding!

-little tech tip. I use flashlight to spot any holes in welds. You can easily spot smallest pinholes what wouldnt be seen with bare eyes


-Markus

 

Finished passanger side. Next up is drivers side.

And some off-topic for shovelhead guys ! I had an honor to be on the cover of Finnish chopper magazine Kopteri

-Cheers, Markus !

 

Wow, extremely nice detail work on the cowl. And your shovel is just badass, congrats on the magazine cover shot! That's just cool.

 

Thank you !I appreciate !

 

Cool cover, buy extra copies.
Roadster is coming along very nice.
Carry on!

 

Getting on with the build.
I didn't spent much time in garage during summer holidays, but now been enjoying building, full of motivation !

Drivers side cowl :


Welded and finished :


-Markus