Hot Rods Building my first roadster in Kansas City

Still on the A. Just trying to keep that ball rolling til I run out of something I need to keep it going.

I did get the T spring pulled off the A banjo and started eyeballing the 41 rear. I don’t have a work day to spare at the moment to tear the old spring off and swap but I did put the 750-16’s on 35 wires on the rear as the A is getting steelies and some mockup excelsiors for a minute. I think this is really only a good week of picking at it from being a rolling ch***is sans drivetrain mounts.

but I did play with this idea a little today while taking a lunch break. Ive been picturing this bottom gauge pod hanging off a dash rail upside down for some time. Twist the gauges back up right and stick my switches in the red surround. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it in this thread already.

But when I go this second set of gauges and insert from Atch I thought hey wait a minute what if….. if I put the two together I get a bevy of instruments, a star on each side and I’m betting that’s getting dang close to model T dash width.

Don’t know if I’m sold on it but it’s something to chew on.

 

I've owned a number of 57-60 F100's over the years, so I have a soft spot for this dash. Part of me wants to hate the idea of a stretched dash like you're proposing, but at the same time, I really like the idea. Could end up very cool in a T where it stretches across the full dash width.
Would you sink/partial recess so that the bottom of the dash and the front top lip of the dash are both flush with the T dash surface? (Not sure if that makes sense), but it would angle the gauges upwards a little more and could give a unique look rather than flush with a top lip overhang.

 

Yeah I’m pretty back and forth about it. And yeah id have it more or less “flush” and full side to side.

When looking at it as a stock cab over unit I like it upside down with the over hang /hooded section at the bottom. But looking at the stretched version I think it matches the shape on the cowl top to well to flip over.

 

I like the stretched Idea.

 

Long dash is cool but its a long look over to the tach which might be distracting. Is that vac*** gauge and tach the same size and interchangeable in the dash Tim?

 

That’s a fair point!

 

Just popping my head in. Been busy with the A and a little farting around with the 46. But this is still on my radar. Going to go measure and take some templates from a friends car this week and over the kids Christmas break my son and I plan to do a “full” ch***is mock up. At least in theory enough to make it roll and steer. But the garage is cold so we’ll see.

 

Alright made it over yesterday to take some templates. With his touring turned roadster pickup living sans ch***is after his new survivor roadster body showed up I figured it was a perfect time to do this. With it up on its nose I hung some butcher paper and made a crease with my finger and then tried to mark it with a pencil. Didn’t work that great so it’s mostly a dirty finger and a crease profile of the floor with a few notations.

I think with this and width measurements at the firewall bottom, A pillar/ hinge post, and rear which I hopefully have already … or will get next time… I should be able to make up what I need. I’m trying to keep in mind that I’m trying to make a 26-7 t roadster but it doesn’t have to be exact. I figure I’ve previously liked some gl*** T roadsters and those things are often not even sorta close to “correct” so don’t stress too much over it. Just do what I can.
Any how with @chlsnk lap dog keeping watch in their supervisory position I made cardboard templates of the drivers side of the cowl at the firewall and the top of the dash rail/ door opening. I’ll get some bigger cardboard or Masonite and double it and make it a whole shape later.

All in all a good morning of progress. Next shape I want to get is the ****pit opening at the top. Basically where a tonneau cover would go

 

Glad I could help!

 

Any good excuse to come ******** about hot rods I’ll take!

 

This one’s bubbling in the back of my mind lately. Today’s little itch is these hood straps. pretty sure the hood sides are just screwed on, you can see it at the corners. Probably a little tab behind the hood sides. But the hood top is held down with what looks almost like watch bands.

anyone have some photos of such a thing on this or another period car? Just something to chew on while I’m at work today.

 

I'm not good at this type of thing Tim, but I trised to enlarge the image and sharpen the detail. the latches look to me like small belt buckles.HRP

 

I’m talking to Hudson Joe right now, he said they used Kurtis hood straps. Looks like parts of the set up are military surplus. He’s Gonna go through his photos and get me/us some reference

 

Hey Tim,
Let me know what you need for this build, I might have it in the barn.
r

 

Alright so “Kurtis style hood latches”

These photos are from Joe of one of his survivors. He said the hood side has this latch of sorts that uses a T bolt and a spring.

On the hood top the leather strap goes through a slot in the metal with an echelon and the leather is riveted to the hood top. You can see the little dot just above where the strap goes through the hood top.

I feel pretty confident saying these were sourced from some military surplus. But now that I know I can keep an eye out for something similar

 

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Race...MI-dLHrIGTkgMVVl1_AB1lUhGhEAQYAiABEgKQRPD_BwE
looks like speedway carries a less cool looking version of the hood side latch.

 

I'd guess they are the hot rodder's version of the British hood straps, made with what was available.
https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=vintage british hood straps
Those varied from slap it on to works of art.
So long as you don't use the modern kits, and keep in mind cheap, light and intended purpose, you can do it. Any vintage tractor or equipment stuff like these? Maybe look at farrier (horse) stuff?

 

I’m leaning more towards dzus and lunch box latches. It’s the same jist, same era etc. just not super in love with the leather but we’ll see.

 

Late to the party but I dig the combined gauge panels.

 

I did the same thing on one of my cars. I used new straps I found online. I can't remember if they were advertised as equestrian equipment or military surplus.