@26 T Ford RPU @Tim @banjorear @Rand Man Thanks very much fellas! I know a lot of these build threads just kinda peter out over the years. It feels good to have completion on projects, including a years long build thread.
@luciomduran Hey Lucio! Thanks buddy, good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well! Get that Galaxie on the road and come have a cold one sometime.
Car looks amazing! The interior is perfect! Happy 50th bday, you worked hard for this and have earned every compliment!
@brEad Thanks very much for all the kind words! Hoping to get the tonneau done soon so I can bring it home!
Awesome roadster! Inspiring build, kept me up an hour later than usual because I had to read the whole thread, couldn't put it down! Have been admiring the '46 Chief in the background too.
@Lil'Alb Hey buddy, thanks so much! That is a very nice compliment. I know the feeling when you cant stop reading a thread and need to get some sleep. I like looking back at the date from the posts, thinking, man this has been going on a long time! Cant beleive I actually finished it. Hopefully the chief wont take too long, the engine n trans are rebuilt already! Cheers bud.
Mr. P, looks like you have been living the dream very well! the California trip like you did is on my bucket list Wow; amazing. Will we see you At the dirt drags this spring down in Monte vista? cheers Mike in Paonia
Just...Enchanting. All the at home machine work, the wood forms, steering engineering... Mainly, the '27 T roadster on Deuce rails. Superb workmanship! My favorite recipe... Sadly, MY steel '27 on Gennie Deuce rails was...'confiscated' by an ex partner in my shop. But I never let poop get me down. ASC Deuce rails, a Gennie '27 T touring, and I'm goin' up again. Flattie (.040 over, stock crank, Winfield SUr-1 cam, Johnson adj. tappets, Navarro manifold, 2 Stromberg 97s, crab ign.) Hard to keep a good man down... Kudos! You have inspired me.
@micshotrodgarage Thanks buddy! I intend to go down there, I look forward to meeting you. @Atwater Mike Thanks very much! I'm stoked that this inspired you! T touring cars on deuce rails are bitchin' , looking forward to that build. Did you start a thread on it? I would love to follow it. @marfen Yes , I sewed up my own fender welt from the interior material. The interior is oxblod relicate leather and ivory english pub naugahyde. I thought a little contrast would make it pop a bit. Installing the turtle deck with the welt proved to be a real bitch, just ask every friend I could get over to my house that day! I think originally these cars had welt around the turtle deck. @Mr48chev Thanks man! twas a long road of on n off motivation. @WiredSpider Oh boy, not sure if I'm ready for that big ol hunka love yet. Indian is keeping me busy enough.
I have been following along on your build and I definitely like the end result. You are very talented. I also have a 1927 roadster and I have a question about your build. I see you have completely removed the turtle deck on your car and have installed a molding around the entire turtle deck. Could I ask what kind of molding or material did you use. This is where the quarter panel meets that lower panel just below the wheel well and continues up and around where the turtle deck fastens to the rear of the main body. It is a different color than the rest of the car and never got painted. I have seen 1926 roadsters and some 1927 roadsters as well that looks like this molding was not installed. Thanks for posting your build on here. I really enjoyed watching your progress on the car and seeing that great end result.
@quickchangeV8 Thank you very much for the kind words, and thanks for following along, it's been in spurts over the years. The material is naugahyde brand vinyl, cut in 2.5-3" wide strips, folded over bulk welt cord and sewn flat to make my own color of what is commonly referred to as fender welt. Basically, you can go to upholstery supply house and buy different diameters of welt cord by the foot (round tubing, sometimes nylon, sometimes jute) , then you choose what material to cover it with, to make the final welt cord. Sometimes this is sewn together or glued depending on the final place for it. On the T roadsters, the turtle deck is removable as stock, it's bolted on to the rear body subframe at the bottom and the rear cab area with four bolts. The trouble that we get into these days is that in the long life of these cars, it's likely that they have become hot rodded and the builders will either weld and mold in the turtle deck to the subrails/cab or the subrails have been cut off completely and the turtle deck is just sort of floating there. I'm not sure what configuration yours is in as found. When it came to installing the welt cord surrounding the deck on mine, I used spring loaded clamps to hold the welt in place and drilled/pop riveted throught the welt into the turtle deck parts, just working my way around from the center at the top. I was careful to cut my material at lengths that would leave a seam at the center up top and a seam to be hidden behind the license plate at the bottom. After the install, I cut off the excess vinyl and installed the turtle deck with bolts, it was a bitch shoving all that together. Originally the turtle deck bolted on with through bolts, I would recommend welding cage nuts into the subframe at the hole locations, also sizing the holes up a bit over the bolt size is a good idea for aligning everything. I hope this helps. I am happy to try answering any questions you may still have.. Matt
@quickchangeV8 , That material is the same material as used in the interior as well as the tonneau cover. It was intentionally used as a contrasting color.. Fender welt is commonly painted body color or left black. I think our T roadsters originally had it there, but painted body color.
I've read thru your thread a lot as it's got so much great info...I was wondering if you could give me/us some pointers with respect to the 32 rails modification for the T roadster. It looks like you left a bit of body to overhang the frame which looks great. Did you basically adjust the width of the frame to follow the cab portion of the body and spread the rails in front of the firewall so they would remain 32 width at the front crossmember? Thx for taking all the time to post your build and share info. Merry Christmas
@marfen Thanks for the comment, it makes me happy to share any info i can to help out. I turned the body upside down and made a plywood pattern of the bottom, cutting the front of the pattern square with the front of the firewall. When I started to set the rails on my makeshift table, I layed the pattern on top of the rails, aligning the front with the little indents on the 32 rails that indicate the front body mount on the 32 (the indents are still exposed just in front of the rails) , i shifted them around until I had an inch overhang and the rails were squre using an x measurement from original body mount holes. I welded them down to the table at that positon, then lifted the body up onto the frame for confirmation. I think one of the early posts shows this. I wanted the overhang specifically, I dislike T's on deuce rails when the frame is flush with the body, they look too chunky or bloated for their body size. Thanks for noticing that feature, as it was very planned. I pie cut the frame rails in front of the firewall and then brought them out, but only to grille shell inner width. I also dislike 32 ford frame horns, I think they are kinda ugly, especially on a car as small as a 27. I considered putting model a front horns on, but in the end tucked the rails behind the shell, sorta rolling bones style. That made for many challenges, steering, exhaust, shocks etc. It also made it fun to figure it all out without looking like a kook. Maybe thats why it took forever? Merry Christmas buddy.
If you don't have a rivnut tool, I would suggest using one for the turtledeck bolts. Once you do have one, you'll find all sorts of places to put them.
I am finally done with the upholstery work. The tonneau cover is kinda goofy with the full cover zipped in, but that part will only be on overnight outside. I made a fancy little shifter boot out of leather, not sure how I feel about it though. I may just drop a rubber one on it later. Anyhow, I will take it home soon and build the rear end seal. I ordered a few different seals from mcmaster carr, did a little cad work just for fun. I need a stiffer rear spring, and maybe heavier oil in the shocks too. Here's a few shots of the tonneau and shifter boot.
The Jalopy Journal
