Hello all. <O</O It's been a while since I've posted but wanted to throw a few pictures out there and ask some questions. <O</O First off, after years of tripping over dearly departed dad's 32 Roadster parts, I decided to bolt the thing together to see if I have everything I thought I did. It's kind of an "inventory". A little history: Dad bought this clean little stocker back in 1950 at the age of 18, channeled (butchered) it, drove it for a summer and joined the Air Force, never to drive it again. This is the first time since the mid 1950's that the body has been on the frame. <O</O I'm not ready to start on it yet, but I should start gathering some parts, and I would like it to be a roller in the shop. As you can see, it's missing plenty, but for the bare basics of being a roller, I need to find some parts (bear with me if I get the nomenclature wrong - I'm a newbie at old Fords): · Wishbone clamp (at the trans crossmember) · Front spring stack and clamps · Drivers side kingpin, retainer and thrust bearing · Tie rod · Steering pitman arm and rod <O</O I imagine this stuff is all available new, but I'm looking to keep this thing as period correct as possible. This means no chrome, stainless, billet, etc. Grungy old used parts are best for now. And this brings me to a bit of a dilemma - I am going to dump the front as much as possible with a dropped I beam axle (hopefully modify this one), so I don't know what parts are going to need to be replaced. In other words, I'd hate to pop for a stock spring if I'm really going to want a shorter one (or reversed eye, or however you dump the front of one of these). <O</O I guess what I'm looking for is a crash course in 32 Ford modification so I can make good decisions about the final product. I know 60's and 70's Pontiacs like the back of my hand, but this early Ford stuff is a whole new ball game. I know where I want to go - just don't have much of a clue on how to get there. Is there a book that details the "old school" modifications? <O</O Thanks very much for your collective patience - enjoy the pictures! <O</O
That is awesome!! You should be able to find a stock '32 spring and then to lower the car, take out every other leaf and then you can just re arch the main leaf with a hydraulic press. That should lower it a lot but it depends on how low you want it. I can't see the front axle but if it's not dropped, you'll want to have that done as well.
It's a stock, unmodified "heavy" 32 axle. If I pull out half the leaves, won't the weight of the bigger V-8 cause problems? Follow up question: Why do people split the wishbone (or run radius rods, etc)? Is this to provide clearance, or simply to make the beam axle act as a anti-roll bar?
Bigger V8? You have a flathead in it although it's an 8ba, it weighs about the same as an earlier flathead. Wishbones were split for oil pan clearance for bigger engines. A flathead or a small block Chevy are fine with unsplit wishbones. I would have that axle dropped a couple inches at least and it will probably need to be straightened and the king pin bosses redone.
People split the wishbones, usually because they need to make clearance for a late model engine & Trans,... DON'T Split the wishbones ! Great car!,....
Cool car. Pulling the springs will lower the car and most likely give it a little softer ride. It's still safe. Splitting the bones is done for several reasons. Click on the search link and do some research. You should be able to lower your car with a spring and dropped axle without splitting your wishbones. My dad's 34 ran unsplit wishbones and a dropped axle and springs for years. When he switched transmissions and crossmembers he split them as there was no place to attach them anymore.
I agree! Don't split that wishbone! It's worth a lot of $$$ as is. Find some wishbones that are already split and use those if you are going to put a bigger engine in it.
Dont ever split a 32 buy a model a wishbone or 35 47 wishbone ,32 is that magical number thats only goes up in value
Also, it looks like you have an original '32 rear end & torque tube. You can rebuild it and use it but the later banjo rears are cheaper to rebuild and are much stronger. The only thing is that you would have to use a different rear spring and cut down a later torque tube and driveshaft. But, if you are just running a mild flathead, the stock '32 rear would be ok but the gear ratios in a lot of 32's were 4:11 and in some cases 4:33. You want to use 3.78 or 3.54 if you are going to do any highway driving.
Great project, looking forward to watching the rebuild. You claim you Dad channeled the body, I don't see that it is, what am I missing? Good luck with the project. Bob
Look real close at the bottom of the firewall and the inside edge of the body at the firewall. It looks like it was trimmed to slide down over the frame. Also the blue on the frame stops right where the body would have sat down over the frame.
Do you know if that's an original '32 steering column and box?? Most of the time those were swapped out for F1 or F100 boxes. Finding the right pitman arm is going to depend on what you have. The firewall is really butchered up, I bet it had a Buick nailhead in it and the firewall was clearanced for the distributor. Just a hunch.
Never had an OHV in it. The 4 banger was replaced by a smaller V-8 back in the day. This particular engine has never before today sat in the rails of this car, though Dad also owned it back in the 50's. This mill lived in his 48 Coupe that (as he told it) was the terror of the streets of Modesto in 52-53. He bought it (engine) from a Bonneville record holder who purchased it directly from Ford (never installed in a production car). Apparently, this engine was in the Azussa Anteater (sp), and was on the cover of Hot Rod or Car Craft.
Wow what a car!! Good for you hanging on to it all of these years. I wouldn't change a thing. Leave it as is, that's like a familly heirloom!! I don't see one thing on the car I'd call "butchered".
What a great car with some great history. If you're looking for some reading material besides the HAMB, I would start by reading How to Build a Traditional Hot Rod by Mike Bishop with Vern Tardel. Great information that will help you sort out what you need to keep your project period and will help with the vocabulary. $17.13 through Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0760309000
It seems odd that it was channeled when the steering column is sticking up in the stock position and it has not been shortened. Unless that column was just bolted on recently and was not in the car when it was channeled?
As far as I know, this is the stock steering box and column (different wheel, I think). I have a pair of frame tails which will go back on, and the stock tank will go back into its original location so I can put the rumble seat back in operation. I'll keep the 39 tail lights though (even though the gl*** lenses don't match). That is all stock running gear, including the trans. I'm considering making this one of the only modern concessions - running a T-5. I do have a 39 Lincoln Zephyr trans, but realistically, I'm going to need to drive this on the freeway someday, so I think the 5 speed makes sense. The rear is going to have to be upgraded as well. I'm not going to be drag racing this thing, but I'm sure this engine will shred the stock running gear. <o> </o> <o> </o> <o> </o>
Well, let's just say that his favorite tool was a cutting torch... He was 18 at the time so I can certainly relate. I have brutalized my share of GTO's as well. My goal is to build the car as it "should" have been done. That means traditional methods and certainly low buck. The trick is to keep it a little rough around the edges, yet safe and reliable.
I'm still amazed when these things show up! Such a time capsule...damn! I hope you keep it as is... as much as possible......WOW! Wanna watch this one!
Wow!! What a neat old roadster. It gives me a warm tingley feeling. I'm sure I do not have to tell you that you are super lucky to have it. Okay, that being said, I would look for a nice firewall and don't rush into anything (up-grades) until you study this first. there are several great threads you will not only learn a ton, but you will figure out exactly what game plan to use. One that comes to mind is http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422177&highlight=from+the+1940 start here and keep absorbing every detail from the era you are trying to capture. The car is way *****in' by the way !!
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