More info on this T Roadster 'Gow Job'

One of my favorite roadsters. Didn't know it was still around. I'd love to see it in person.

 

I thought that to! But was not clearly sure thats what it was.

 

-sharing-

 

Really... do tell??? Do you have a specific thread on this?

 

Fiveohnick2932 That's *****in'! What body is that? I have to second, do tell!

 

I gotta say, this is one area that I also find very interesting. Brent...,yeah very nice build! Since no-one mentioned it, I'll throw in my 2¢ on the Multi car, quoting out of my well worn copy of Batchelor's "The American Hot Rod" "frame is from 1913, the engine of unknown year, has a Rajo ohv set-up with twin stromberg carbs, and Nash derived twin ignition driven from the 1925 Chevy generator via Durant gears. The hood, body, and rear deck all came from different cars. Roy drove it from his home in Mentone, CA. to Wendover, UT. a round trip of 1300 miles- for the speed trials and ran it through the traps once, at 86.06 mph." A great restoration of this car should surely get an invite to show at Pebble. I too love the Gabby Garrison car. It's one of my favorites. There is just something about it's stance and that chopped and laid back windshield that just does it for me. There has been much said about another similar car by Bob Estes. They all must have drank at the same well..."that was the way it was done!"

 

Really guys, this is the authoritative thread on the Aldrich roadster: Roy “Multi” Aldrich roadster found?

And I’m not just saying this because I started it. It’s the distilled knowledge of the HAMB regarding this car. I would hate to see future information split between this thread and that one (which is currently the top Google hit when you search “Multy Aldrich&#8221.

Maybe we could get these threads merged? I’ve seen it done on other boards...

-Dave

 

Can someone please direct me to the thead on the gow job that was built several years back and featured on this site? . 1920-23 T with a chopped soft top, wire wheels etc. Car looked like a rod that would have been built in the late 20's or early 30's. Car was black with an early T 4 banger
I believe Ryan started the thread.

 

I think you mean this thread. Mr. Model T started it, and it's almost his car you're describing (his is a '26-'27 "Improved Car", not a '20-'23).

-Dave

 

In my best Homer Simpson voice: Doh!

Thanks. I see it's at the top of this page in Mr T's avatar.
Yes that is the car.

 

No, Im working on putting together a thread on its build. I should get on that! Anyhow its a special "racing" body that was found in a creek back in the early 70's. My dads friend had 4 or 5 made from that creekbed body. We have one and another guy about an hour away from us has one and I dont know where the other s went. BUT the funny thing is we have a picture of my grandpa back in the 20's with his "gow job" T and he has the same body on it.

Ill get on that thread-

 

That's insanely cool! Any profile side pictures of that body?

 

Here are a few pictures I have had for a while that will fit this post:

Since this is a post on "Gowjobs", I would like to find some info on the car in the third picture. I believe it was built and owned by the founder for Bell Racing Equipment. I would like to find some more images and info of this as it is "spot on" to my T.

 

God, that slammed full fendered T in the first picture gets me every time! there is some serious work to get that beast down, then chop the windshield and lean it back, but did anybody notice the steering column is dropped? AAARRGGG!

 

Gets me every time also!! Soooo *****in!

It must have no suspension travel though

 

you would be surprised, they have more travel than you think. I dropped my T 8-9 inches front and rear without Z-ing the frame and it has plenty of travel....mind you I did notch the frame rails in back just in case. Still a hard ride though.

I believe the car your talking about is Bob Estes's car early on before he refined it.

 

..So does anybody in H.A.M.B. land have anything on this car? would love some better pictures and maybe some specs.

 

Here is an original Gow Job. "1930 photo of the 14 year old twins Doug and Woody Eastwood posing proudly with their first Model T.

 

Mr Model T,
Of course I like the looks of your car(s), but I really think a lowered, but still full-fendered T roadster, pickup or even perhaps a mildly chopped coupe would be the cat's pj's.

Would you and / or any of your banger compatriots consider starting a thread that discusses the basic formula / parts for this style car? Having never worked on a T, I'd have a zillion questions... How to beef up the frame and what kind of running gear to use for, say, up to 200 hp? How to upgrade the brakes? Would it be better to use Model A / B or even later parts rather than using vintage "hot rod T or modified OEM T stuff?

Just wondering out loud... Gary

 

One of my FAVORITE pics!!!

 

Those wheels are not T wires, they are Buffalo split rim accessory wheels. I have spent the last few hours researching them for a project of my own.

Doc.

 

Gary,

I think that can be done. Of course there are several Threads, posts and groups here on the H.A.M.B. that cover many of these topics, such as the "Monthly 'Banger Meeting" threads which are devoted to all things 4-banger (which mostly becomes populated with T's A's and B's).

The great thing about these "Gowjobs" is that the only real "formula"...is that there is no "formula": just as in the old days, anything goes. There are "rules of thumb" or "guide lines" of course in regards to lowering techniques, engine performance modifications and so forth, but still...anything goes.

The beautiful thing about T's in particular is that they are RIDICULOUSLY simple and are EXTREMELY forgiving as far as modifications go. I have quite a bit of T hop-up and racing info that I will put on a new post to start off. Anybody else who would like to contribute, I welcome and encourage it.

Lets keep this one going, but here is a link to the "Gowjob Tech" thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5535809#post5535809


MrModelT

 

If you have ever looked inside a T motor and rearend you know that 200 hp is not possible without extensive/extream modifications and at that point all the cylinder block (the only part you could use) would be doing is donating its cylinders.

Beefing up the frame is not really needed because it just makes it weigh more than it needs to be. Remember a stock T has 20 HP and we have smooth roads to drive on these days (the rough dirt roads back then were what destroyed the frames). If you stick to 26-27 running gear you are doing good for performance T stuff. Leave the early T running gear for restorations.

 

Much agreed. A 200+ hp T does require extensive mods as the bottom end just can't take that kind of abuse, but 200+ hp T's are very few and far between...not to mention ridiculously expensive to build if you can find the ultra rare speed parts to do it.

As T "hop-up" goes, anything over the original 22 hp output is more than welcome! It is fairly simple to get 40 to 60+ hp out of a T engine without a whole slew of modifications, but the more HP you want, the more mods are needed. A set of aluminum pistons (with bored cylinders), a high-compression "Z" head, a good race grind T cam, removing the magneto coil and magnets from the flywheel, a decent 12 volt or mag ignition and a good induction setup will make even a fairly stock T quite "peppy". Going "hotter" would require beefing up the bottom end with either a '28 Chev crank/ rods or Model A crank/ rods or the new **** counterbalanced cranks and H-beam rods, etc...the list goes on and on.

 

I presume you mean planetary transmissions and rear axles, and not the '26-'27 engine. I've always understood the final T engines were down on power compared to their early counterparts, due to the ****py quality of post-war fuel.

-Dave

 

The compression ratio was lowered to 3.98 to 1 in 1916 to help with the poor fuel quality, which remained through 1927. The reason the '26-27 blocks and bottom ends are preferred over the earlier version is because the late engines were much stouter. The lack of power can be remedied real easily

 

I am in the process of putting together a T speedster for a client that will be Model A Or B powered by the time all is said and done. As I get further into it, I will post some of the things I am doing with it. I also alluded to the fact that I have a complete '24 or '25 T hanging on my fence as we speak. that will fairly soon become a very loose external clone of that car in the Chappel speed shop picture that has posted a couple of times on this thread, and I will do a complete build journal on that as well, but it will be a bit off on that, though.

 

Lets keep this one going, but here is a link to the "Gowjob Tech" thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5535809#post5535809


MrModelT[/QUOTE]

MMT, many thanx for starting that new thread. You are the man. Gary

 

The thing about 26-27 is that there were alot of changes and most of them made the drivetrain/motor stronger. Here are some of the "stronger improvements"

-Larger brakes in rear
-Larger brake in the transmission (requires 26-27 pan and hogs head)
-Two bolts on the top of the hogs head to attach it to the block to reduce flex between the engine and trans (reducing crankshaft breakage)
-Wire wheels (were an option)

 

Forgot to add... and perhaps to the disappointment of some HAMBsters, the 200 hp I was suggesting earlier as a practical hp limit would not be done with a T motor in the car I would like to build. Even 120 hp would be great in a car like this, me thinks, but any interesting marque I-4, vintage or newer would be fine with me. While most would prefer a Ford engine, my personal favorite would be a 1600-2000cc Alfa DOHC. Cl***y, great looks and sound, and peppy enough. Gary