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Projects Shade Tree Model A Speedster Kind of Thing

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by rwrj, Nov 21, 2017.

  1. rwrj
    Joined: Jan 30, 2009
    Posts: 903

    rwrj
    Member
    from SW Ga

    Here's a video, just for kicks.

     
  2. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,657

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    It's as if it's growing out of the woods!
    Hood looks great. Good craftsmanship.
     
    rwrj likes this.
  3. Deutscher
    Joined: Nov 12, 2024
    Posts: 281

    Deutscher
    Member
    from Germany

    More great solutions!
    Thanks for the video.
    The racer is absolutely beautiful overall; I'm really looking forward to your first ride.
    Cheers, Harald
     
    Ziggster and rwrj like this.
  4. rwrj
    Joined: Jan 30, 2009
    Posts: 903

    rwrj
    Member
    from SW Ga

    Well, here you go, Mike. Against my better judgement, but... Actually, it's not that bad to get into and out of. I think I'll eventually add a step on each side so I don't have to grab my knee like that. Getting old ain't for sissies.

     
    Ziggster, mohr hp, chicken and 7 others like this.
  5. rwrj
    Joined: Jan 30, 2009
    Posts: 903

    rwrj
    Member
    from SW Ga

    I want to paint all that aluminum, but we are having a little rainy spell here. I did get the underside of the hood scuffed up, acetoned, and primed.

    tempImageCBbDrU.png

    That dried enough before the rain came that I could put it back on . Since the weather isn't cooperating with my painting plans, I shifted to working on mounting the headlights. Here is what they look like just as they were on the old car:

    tempImageWRS60c.png

    That's not bad, and the feet of the stands line up with the frame just right, but I built that car imagining that I was back in about 1930 or so, converting a 1928 Model A. I like pretending that way, using the right parts and tools and methods as much as I can. Since I'm using a bunch of 1937 parts here, I had to shift my imaginary time-frame up to about 1939 or so, and something about those lights just doesn't fit for me on this version of the car. I wanted them to be closer to the centerline, so I chopped a few inches out of that crossbar and clamped them back on.

    352F82B6-0F3B-4C03-9023-D9DD00F43050.JPG

    That spoke to me. The only problem is that there isn't room on my diagonal crossmember braces for the long oval feet of the headlight stands. I briefly thought of heating and twisting them to line everything up, but I remembered from modifying them way back when that the uprights are solid, so I decided to drill and tap for 3/8" studs and bolt them through the crossmember.

    6DD614F2-6FD4-45F4-A446-EFB1BB0DEF4F.JPG

    8F06D7CE-23B3-4B0F-8BAA-2D6DCD977B63.JPG

    I drilled the ch***is, bolted them on, and did a little torch bending to line everything up.

    0B00602B-7CE4-4350-90FD-EE5A96D73C26.JPG

    That's an in-progress picture. I got them closer. Then I marked and cut the crosspieces and turned a little plug to join them.

    A0C83831-C9C3-4220-BACD-9365230D7EB7.JPG

    That little ridge centers it. I also marked the pads on the bottoms of the stands, hacksawed them to rough shape, and sanded them down.

    74B8E17E-9C5D-4277-B67E-29104E1D27A8.JPG

    092B38D2-26A3-4859-BC18-9AB316AC5739.JPG

    Then I bolted it all up.

    7DB02180-0043-4E8D-8945-F26CF96D4F63.JPG

    5EA05D5B-AA56-4180-B261-020113ED152B.JPG

    036453E6-066A-4D9E-B8AC-5A62ABAE1EA6.JPG

    You might have noticed I put the whole suppot ***embly on backwards, which moves the lights in tighter with the radiator, and puts them right in line with the axle. Looks better to me that way. I think my imaginary builder might wish he had some more "modern" looking lights than those old Model T units, but I really like them, so there you go. Also, I'll adjust that grill mesh so that it's plumb with the crossbar. It's just wired in, so easy money there.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM
    1low52, flat Ike, Deutscher and 3 others like this.
  6. oliver westlund
    Joined: Dec 19, 2018
    Posts: 2,918

    oliver westlund
    Member

    Really digging the new version! Glad its coming back together!
     
    rwrj likes this.

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