Hot Rods barn find roadster, coupe, and Olds Rocket V8 tri power!

My friend and sometimes business partner Terry who is part bloodhound and part human called and told me to come by and see some of the cool stuff he had just found and bought. This is the same guy who found that nice 31 Pontiac coupe recently. This time he did not disappoint me. Not only does he have a knack for finding good tin, he actually gets it bought. That's what separates the men from the boys in my opinion. First up is a 1931 Ford Model A roadster made into a pickup truck and used to haul grain (wheat) on a farm. This was a popular conversion during WWII and was mostly done to enable farmers to get more gas and tire rations which were in great shortage at the time. Not rusty and the engine turns over. Check it out.<center>
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Next up is a 1928 Ford Model A Special Coupe all taken apart in a million pieces. This is a so called "leatherback" coupe. Has the steel top that is covered in vinyl. Has beautiful doors and all the parts except deck lid.<center>
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Lastly is this awesome 1958 Oldsmobile 371 engine with factory tri power and linkage with manual ****** bell housing. We don't know anything about these engines. Turns over and appears to have good compression. Missing distributor. Oddly it has 2 oil filters. I ***ume this is a desirable hot rod engine.<center>
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can't wait for that Olds Rocket!!!!!

sorry to screw you up, but couldn't resist since it was you, Paul

 

Dammit bob can't you wait? Hoping to sell that engine to a rich car dealer in Wisconsin someday. Know any??? Here is the casting number on top of the back of the block.<center>
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It doent have 2 oil filters
That extention on the pan is for extra capacity not an oil filter and its not removable
Just didnt want you to take a pipe wrench to it trying to get it off

Tony

 

Cool, thanks for explaining that.

 

This is a pic of my mom ( She's in the middle ) in Arkansas back in 1949
Nice find.

 

Wow! Thanks for posting that photo!

 

That is a way cool find and will make a great hotrod.

 

You got good info on that wooden pick up conversion. I grew up in southern Iowa after the war and those rigs were everywhere. Seems
they were driven by old guys in light colored straw hats.

 

Wow that is just awesome! Good for him on some awesome finds!

 

Well D@mn! Nice!

 

Really cool stuff! How do you guys keep finding these cool cars and parts??? Not fare

 

Damn you guys, old tin blood hounds indeed! What a find, mate the motor with the A roadster and you on a winning ticket!
Must say thats an odd way to increase oil capacity!
Doc.

PS, On second thoughts, its all ****. Sendit to me for disposal............

PSS, Like no one has said this **** before!

PSSS, damn I can be lame at times!

 

Yea! No fair! I keep breaking into old barns and all I find is manure.......

 

If I click my heals together 3 times can I find cars like that??

I am right in the middle of getting my truck finished at this time, would love to get up there again this year but maybe next year

I gotta get this thing running!!!!!

 

There was an article awhile back in CKD about the truck conversions to the coupes and roadsters... tax thing from what I remember...

 

Those are some very cool finds. The pictures of the roadster almost look like photoshop or something. It's just hard to imagine a real roadster with a pickup bed sticking out the rumble seat. Very cool part of history though.

Kevin
Ooltewah Speed Shop

 

I'm an old guy with a light colored straw hat...wish I had the a-bone to go with it.

 

I think Sears and Wards sold the pick up conversions.

 

HA HA! I was thinking the same thing!

 

I love the 2 pics of the conversions.... I believe my 32 5w was a conversion because the back was cut off

 

how in the hell do you guys keep finding all this stuff?? is every barn in kansas full of old cars,engines and parts??? maybe i need to come out for a visit some time

 

More payback for lots of work, well done boys. Love that rocket motor.

 

Yes, all of our old barns have antique cars in them. I will show you around someday. Of course, then I'd have to kill you. This is top secret stuff man!!!

Thanks Pete!

 

Yes, but you would look silly in ruby red slippers.

 

Hercules was one a company that offered steel slide in beds for cars. They also had beds for pickups and large trucks. Your friend is truly gifted keep feeding him old car parts and 30 wt maybe he will find more treasures.

 

Congratulations!You find the coolest things, very sweet roadster.

 

I believe the pick up conversion was done on my 29' quarters.

I have always wondered why they cut the rain gutters out of the rear quarters - why didn't they just make the pick-up crate that they shoved in there a little narrower?? - perhaps there was a specified width to qualify as a pick-up????

Mine was cut very roughly & will be tricky to make good....I have had thoughts of whacking a crate back into it and go for a nogstagic WW2 farm cart hot rod look.....but quickly shook that idea off.

Thanks for the pics - now i know exactly what the conversion really looked like.

Spencer.