I was going through some pictures today of the Doane Spencer 1932 roadster. There are many interesting innovative pieces on this car and in particular I was looking at the side frame through exhaust. It looks like Doane Spencer has cut a 1936 Ford inner driveshaft in half sideways, shaped the small end until it comes to a point and welded the unit to the 1932 frame rails. This is all extemely well done as you don't see any sign of any welds anywhere. My question is - Does it look to any of you that Spencer used a 1936 Ford inner driveshaft to form the frame through exhaust on his 1932 roadster or is it just a nicely formed piece that he made up?
This is work by one of the best as far as I am concerned. He had a very good eye for making something look like it was going a 100 miles an hour while setting still and taking all the sharp edges from things that would stop your eyes from flowing over this car. My guess it is a nicely formed piece he made up.
I think it is a formed piece. The 35/36 drive shaft is not heavy enough to be used to reinforce a frame penetration.
That's not just a penetration. The entire length thru the center of the frame rail was reworked. Its a tapered elips.
I did it with 40 Ford torque tubes sliced at an angle. Mine ain't as pretty as Doanes but it's fun. There is nothing truly new in hotrodding.
Here's a few of the faded snap shots ole Doane Spensor send us just before he p***ed on to hot rod heaven. He claimed that 36 drive shaft tubes were plenty strong enough to use in a fully boxed frame . Well i'm off to get my umbrella and hard hat before the **** storm. By the way stop in our both at the Detroit Autorama we will have it in our booth along with a few our our hot rods . the Bones
In photo one, does the ch***is have that bump or "Z" to raise the front crossmember. I know I beat this question to death every time the Spencer ch***is mentioned. Did he have two ch***is for the car, or only one that was modified constantly? Bob
I was wondering if anyone can post pics of other cars that have followed Spencer's cue on the exhaust beside me and now Ken from the *****s's shop. I would love to see them. I used the 40 torque tubes because they had a great taper to them and were cheap at the time.