i have many questions . ill start slow . i am going to try to build my tudor into a "period correct" car for PRE-1946 . i am serious on this . first , when were kelsey hayes "bent spoke" wheels first built ? second , what "dual updraft" manifold was around then ? more to come , just need to start somewhere .. thank you .. steve *** any ideas will be greatly appreciated *****
I doubt anyone really hot rodded sedans pre '46. Before the war ('42) I really doubt it..... I'd say don't get too wrapped up with absolute period correct BS!
Jeem is right - build what ya like....and don't worry about the purists, they're too busy checking for correct orientation on their Corvette hose clamps to give you much grief about updraft/downdraft. Most pre46 hotrodders were stripping down roadsters, not sedans...just build a nice hot rod with a nice engine and leave off the billet and/or "dubs" and you should be just fine at the next root beer stand. dj
Im gonna say there were some parts ,but nothing like the 50's..but Im sure most was Homegrown,,stuff folks fabricated that would later lead to production stuff. So I would say use as many factory parts in as many different ways as you can ( to your benefit of course ) ya know Necessity is the Mother of invention ,,use what you can find that existed,,and do it the "traditional" way..make the rest
winfield up and down draft...singles and duals...not sure about dual updraft...can still get winfield 3/4 and full race regrind cams for A and B motors
You'll need to get rid of those 15" radials to start with. 16" steelies with bias ply. Ditch the tudor body for a roadster.
I have a portland news paper from 1939 that stuffed in the wall of a rental house for insulation. there was a 31 ford roadster with a chopped windshield a 18 inch KH in 48 my dad had a 29 A sedan with dual carbs (down drafts) a 40 ford column shift and a filled roof (a sheet of Aluminum screwed on. I'm pretty sure it was built pre-war as it was a beater. he sure was proud of that column shifter. looking back I have to wonder how it was hooked to that banger
For pre-war? Steelies were really a lakes thing prior to '42. Rember in '42, steelies were only out for 2 years. Many pre-war street driven roadsters keep their spoked wheels.
steelies were in. Kelsey Hayes were for cruisers then. KH wheels were built before christ was promoted from corporal to general. You'll need to get rid of those 15" radials to start with. Hang out on Fordbarn for your anwers thank you for all the help so far . 1) im glad to hear kelsey hayes are that old . i just got a great set of bent spokes & didnt want to lose them . 2) i knew him b 4 he was a general !! yes im old . 3) those are 16" radials & yes i knowi need rags . thx 4) no offense to ford barn , but i think some here no more . i guess i have to sell alot of parts . no way on a roadster . i drive mine yr round . i want the cab & fenders , but thank you .... more help please .................... steve
Here's an interesting history on Kelsey-Hayes hweels-they go pretty far back. Build what YOU like.Anything you build that is "period correct is going to be a copy. http://www.answers.com/topic/kelsey-hayes-group-of-companies
Purchase yourself a copy of Don Montgomerys "Hot Rods in the Forties", it is No. 1 in his series of about 8 books or so that chronicle what hot rodding (& customs) really were like, FULL of photos, details, accurate dated material, not what someone thinks it was like, but what it really was. Oh yeah, after you aquire said book, proceed to read it. You will not be disapointed, then you can lay it down for those cats on The Ford Barn. Go buy it now! Love, CheaterCarl
Confirming the date on Speed Equipment is a tough thing to do since the catalogs from the 1920's and 1930's were not dated in most cases. Many used the same illustrations so I think they listed the same parts and sold them as their own, unless they had a name of logo cast on them. Bent spoke KH wheels must date back to the mid 1930's since they were made in 16,17 and 18 inch sizes.
Here is a Crager OHV head with dual downdraft carbs, from the 1939 issue of Ray Kuhn's Automobile Racing, one of the earliest features on Dry Lakes racing.
..6 years... '36 '37 Studebaker, had 16 inch with 5 on 51/2 bolt pattern, steelies; then next to come, '38 '39 '40 '41 Buick, and ,, also if I recall 39 or 40 Chrysler had 15 inch. They were used more because from the start of WWII 600.16 tires were most plentiful, not because hot rodders preferred them! It was because of the big supply to support the cars from 36 Studes, later Buicks and Chryslers, so even with rationing, Sears, Wards, etc. had them on hand, in stock, before the war started. I think you are right on to choose the KH.
Doesnt get much cooler than that, Find an ohv conversion and you'll have a real swell pre-war hotrod. Also, I have to agree that steelies are a little more "correct" So, if ya wanna unload those bent spokes, drop me a line
as always , you guys come thru . i want to thank all for the ideas & help . at least i can keep my bent spokes !!! thank you again , i hope more help me ........... steve
Yes indeed build it "period correct" if that's what you want. There's many who are not up to the technical and financial challenge of that practice, as well as unable to comprehend the research needed to truely pull it off. I applaud your desire. I'd advise to not get cought up in the typical "gotta have its" that some assume everyone had because of a few old mag articles. Consider the basics and fab/adapt as much as you're able. That's being period correct.
"gotta have its" my budget wont allow it . gonna have to sell to buy ! most of my goodies wont work ! thanks ................ steve
That would have been a '38 model 40 or 60 that you got them off, 5 on 5 1/2 bolt patternn steel/disc Buick as follows; 1936 model 80, 16 inch; 1937 models 80 & 90, 16 inch; 1938 thru 1941 models model 80 & 90, 16 inch. Also 1936 model standard 60 and 60 Century, 15 inch;
The pictures from Muroc 1938 are full of bent spoke Kelsey's so yes they were available in 40s. To me period correct just means that the part was available at that time....no Buick fined drums or 5 spokes. Some guys could afford the latest and the greatest as soon as it hit the market but most likely it took a year or so for the parts to become readily available. Part of the fun in doing a project like yours is the research which you are doing. You may want to shy away from the term "period correct". It's a buzz word that brings out all the guys that don't understand our projects. You'll find yourself defending your ideas or reading through the "build it the way you want it crap" instead of reaping the information that you seek. Also remember that none of the people including me that answer this or any post were actually there. Some have done extensive research and others just use their imagination. The Montgomery books are great!
I agree with that. Build it how you want IS period correct, because you have decided that. Will it be a challenge? YES! Will the minute details be unnoticed by many? YES! Will most at the car shows pass by unaware and uninterested? Probably. Will it look totally cool and be a great conversation piece, allowing you to explain info most guys in hot rodding don't know? YES!
I love these kind of posts. Tommys answer is right on. In those days they used what was available. They didn't stick to a certain year, the cars constantly changed as time went on. Also, carefully look at all the answers above. Nobody has an exact answer to your question, so who is it you are trying to satisfy? Think about the average person going to a car show today. I can just about guarntee there won't be a single person of any authority at that show that will be able to tell you you did this or that wrong. If you are simply trying to satisfy yourself, then you are on the right track. As somebody stated, the fun is in the research. Just don't delay the project for years trying to be "period correct". Build it as close as possible and go drive the wheels off of it. You can always change it as you go if you find you did something wrong.
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