Projects My GN Cycle Car tribute build

Yep. Got no space, but…

 

Just happened across Ottawa Driveshaft & Steering while doing some shopping down the street. Popped in and asked a few questions about getting a driveshaft made. Very helpful. Said it would be around $300 - $400 for a complete unit.
Going to order the Speedway straight front axle (still need to confirm width), and the Speedway open diff kit for the rear as well as stuff to rebuild my 94s for the dual intake. Was hoping the tariffs would have disappeared by now, but can’t wait any longer. Oh well, it’s only money…

 

Been spending waay too much time trying to understand early Ford spindles, brakes, and wheels. I’ve had to start writing it all down to keep track of it in terms of what was what each year, and what will interchange with what. Still not fully informed, but it seems “best” way forward might just to buy all new stuff from Speedway as it pertains to the complete axles. So, I would be looking at the following for the front axle:

1. Speedway straight axle; P/N 91035125 (not sure as to width yet)

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1928-1948-Ford-Straight-Axles,2128.html

2. Speedway 1928 - 1948 Milled Forged Spindles; P/N 91632111

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-1928-1948-Ford-Milled-Forged-Spindles,352716.html

3. Speedway 1937-48 Style Self-Energizing Juice Brake Drum Kit; P/N 91065423

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1937-1948-Ford-Self-Energized-Juice-Brakes,475619.html

This does not include any of the other bits like king pin, and steering linkage brackets. Still need to see if what I got as far as steering linkage will work. IIRC, the front and rear axles were from a 28 Model A according to the seller. If I understand things correctly, those spindles are of the “skinny” type with a narrower bolt pattern. I’m still not 100% sure if they’re interchangeable with the type I’ll need to run those backing plates. The other thing I need to consider is the fact that I want to use the wide five rim/hub combo front and rear. I bought a bunch of wide five rims and hubs, but I now learned that the 36 combo will not interchange with the later 37-39 styles. I did not know there was that distinction, and I believe I have the 36 style hubs/drums because IIRC, I have ones with the ribs on the cir***ference of the drums. I’ll need to dig them out to confirm that. Speedway makes it clear that those backing plates will not work on 36 style spindles. Damn! This is a rabbit hole of rabbit holes, and I haven’t even looked into the rear axle other than coming to the conclusion that the rear axle shafts are pooched based on feedback from this thread I just posted on the Barn.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2424119#post2424119

Based on that, can’t order the Speedway open drive conversion kit now, as new individual shaft are around US$800.00 ea! As I mentioned in the Barn thread, there is a pair of 31 front and rear axles for sale along with a banger eng/trans for $500.00, about 2 hrs away, but they want to sell it as a lot. Will contact them to see if they’re interested in splitting it up. Getting a headache…

 

Seller is willing to sell the rear axle separately, so will likely pick it up today/tomorrow. We’ll see. Looks almost new! Haha! Offered $175.

 

At least I’ll save some $$$ on Black Friday. Also posted wanted ads for non-36 wide five drums on the HAMB & Barn, but so far no luck. Still will need to talk with Speedway tech to confirm everything and what other bits might be needed. Heading to Montreal today to look at a car for my youngest.

 

Ordered the stuff this morning incl another pair of backing plates for the rear axle. Will arrive next week in Ogdensburg. NY.

 

Interesting. I looked up Ogdensburg on Google Maps just for fun. Customs buildings of both countries had zero cars in lineups or the lot. Image maybe dates from Plague Times?

 

Yeah, typically not very busy. Both Canada and the USA have small facilities at this crossing. There’s really not much in Ogdensburg, NY, and not much of anything thing major in terms of amenities for quite some distance which is typical of most of upper NY state. The major crossing is further west at the “1000 Islands” border crossing. The USA just finished up a m***ive new facility there, and Canada also built a new facility but much smaller than the American counterpart. Here you p*** onto Hwy 81 in the USA which takes you to Syracuse, NY which is about 2 hrs south.

Got to start researching carb parts this weekend to rebuild two more Holley 94s, and progressive & standard linkages so I can order that stuff on Monday from Vintage Speed.

Dropped off my daughter off a couple days ago at her friends uncle’s place. He just finished up a new shop. Still needs the inside finished. Was beautiful with two 53’ sea cans on each side, then a vaulted centre section with about 20’ high ceiling with pitched rafters. Had to be at least 30’ wide, so roughly 30’ x 50’. She said he built at a cost of about CAN$65K. Damn!

 

Think I finally figured out the tires. Will order everything from Summit on Mon. Damn! It’s adding up and still need qty 4 wide five hubs and a mate to my unicorn. 15” x 6”wide five rim for the rear axle.

 

Just started reading thread from the beginning on page 4 so far.
Most excellent, thank you,
Dan

 

I looked at the pictures and asked myself how you got pictures of my distributor machine. Then realized it is not mine. Get it!

 

Deed is done and order is placed with Summit. The front tires are not in stk, but should be shortly. Charged me $8.00 for oversized items for the rear tires. lol! I’m just starting to realize how many more bits I need to finish off the suspension, steering, and brakes. Going to get spendy fast as if it already hasn’t.

 

Stuff is arriving in Ogdensburg, NY. Been working on what’s needed for the dual carb setup. Thought I had already posted this link to a thread I started on the dual carb intake. I think I have figured out what I need to order, and will do so on Monday from Vintage Speed.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/flathead-dual-carb-questions.1343799/

 

While rummaging around in my stash of parts, I found yet another carb. It’s the one belonging to my second flathead. lol!

 

Not much to report. Kiddo is home from university, so spending time with her. Called the shipping forwarder yesterday in Ogdensburg, NY and no answer. Guessing they’re closed until after New Years. Will call again today. Started organizing the shop. Can’t believe I have so much room left over on my peg boards after re-arranging stuff. Still lots to do, but feel I have to get this done before starting again on the speedster. Need to figure out where to put all my Makita cordless tools. Some cheap organizers on Amazon for that stuff.

 

Picked up my stuff in Ogdensburg, NY. Got there and they were “closed” due to a “travel ban”. Posted it on the front doors. We had a weather bomb go through last night with freezing rain. It was ok this morning with slush/snow in the left lanes of the Hwys. Luckily, I got the attention of a worker inside, and after some sweet talking they let me in. Of course, the ABS sensor had been acting up on my truck lately, but could always get it into 4x4 until I tried to get up my driveway. Took 4 attempts, but it finally engaged! I’ll take some pics tomorrow of the haul as I got turkey dinner tonight with the kiddos.
Was surprised I only paid CAN$220 in duties on about the full amount I declared of around US$3K.

 

Forgot to post these pics. Not impressed with the packaging from Speedway. Inside are supposed to be the spindles and backing plates. I just realized typing this that I didn’t get the axle! D’oh! Damn! Will have to check to see where that is now. Holy hell!

 

So, going through all the **** paper, I’m missing my axle, two backing plates, and the spindles. I’m a supreme idiot for not checking and completely forgetting about the axle. I signed for 5 packages when I left (3 boxes and the two pairs of tires), but I’m missing again the axle (one FEDEX shipping no), and the other 2 backing plates with the two spindles shipped together under another FEDEX shipping number. Seems they forgot those two items/boxes. They open in a few minutes and will call. Looks like another trip to Ogdensburg if they’re open. Damn…

 

They have the stuff. Seems Speedway didn’t put my customer ID no. on those shipments, so the forwarder put them in their “unknown” account/pile of stuff. Damn Speedway. Will be leaving soon to pick it up.

 

Stupid question. I thought shipped to NY to take home without duty $. Why not ship direct to you?

 

Brokerage fees plus only free shipping within USA.

 

The comedy of errors continues. Turns out Speedway did in fact not put my customer ID number on the boxes in question. Will speak to them about that to see if I can get some coupons. While loading the stuff into my car, the wad of papers blew away. Chased after them on foot. Got some some, but had to get back to my car as doors were still open. Got back to the car, closed the doors and head back to look for the papers. No sign of them anywhere. Still super windy out. Got in the car and drove down the road a bit and saw one stapled bunch blowing across the road like a tumbleweed. Chased it in the car into the back lot of some industrial building. It blew through the open gates, through their lot, and out through an opening in the fence on the others side of their lot. Chased it across the lot in my car, and managed to grab it. None of papers were important for customs purposes. So frustrating. Had some BK, then decided to head back to border crossing wondering how I was going to explain this mess. Huge single line with about 15-20 cars in front. Finally get there, explain the situation, but she still tells me to go inside and explain it to them. Do that. Guy inside was super nice. Showed him my debit receipt for the duties I paid yesterday. Checked the computer then told me to have a nice day. lol!

 

That is a crazy story had me laughing. Glad you got stuff & all well

 

Hard to believe there is USD$540 worth of stuff in this tiny box. Shipping was $21.95 on USPS box, but they invoiced my $24.95. Will have to ask about that.

 

Banjo rear axle open drive kit.

 

Loaded juice brake backing plate - qty 4.

 

Speedway front spindle. Second box from Speedway was much better in terms of packaging. Will now have to start looking at all the fiddly bits to bolt all this stuff together. That should be a lot of fun…

 

Front axle from Speedway. That thing is stout! No screwing around with that.

 

Decided to start on the second carb. The carb I was going to use because the main body had the same vacuum port as the carb currently on the engine, had a hole in the top section. I have the same hole in another carb top section. I thought at first someone had drilled that hole, but thinking now it has to be done sort of “factory” feature. So going to use the top section from a carb I bought locally without that home. Then use the main body with the vacuum port (from the $20 carb I purchased in Hershey). The base of the $20 carb doesn’t seem to have any screws sr using the throttle plates. They look like br*** rivets. So, going to use the base of a carb I blasted a few years ago. Going to be a bit of Frankenstein carb to match the other one on the engine. Cleaned up the gl*** on the blasting cabinet and installed a new film, so almost ready to start media blasting those parts. Then paint, then re-***embly tomorrow.

Carb base with br*** rivets?





Main body with vacuum port.



Top section with hole (under my finger).

 

Managed to drill out the flared ends of the br*** screws that secured the choke plate without damaging anything. lol!