Projects 1920 T Roadster Build Thread

Thanks, man. I'd like to have this completed as fast as your 31. I picked up the body October 31, 2009. I wonder where I'll be when the 1 year anniversary comes around? It's coming fast, that's for sure.

 

The frame is 99% complete. The only thing left to do before primer and paint is clean up the welds and drill a hole for the grill shell and radiator.

Really, the only thing that was necessary was to notch the front for the steering but I wanted to add some aesthetic pieces to the frame too. As well, there were some holes I wanted to fill with weld and they've got to be cleaned up.





Above is where the frame was notched. I used Model T frame steel. I took a 1 3/8" out of the front of the frame rails, just before the mount. Then I trimmed them to fit into the notch.



Here is the final product. This photo and the ones that follow don't represent the frame too well. The sun was setting and I'm not so great taking photos in low light.

Anyhow...





I drilled some holes and put rivets in and had Wendell weld them in. It's got a little bit more of an authentic look. I'm not trying to pull the wool over anyones eyes, the welds can be plainly seen. To me, it needed them.





There's a another, smaller plate at the second kick-up transition. I just couldn't get a satisfactory picture. I'm not happy with these photos of the rivet plates but I wanted you to get an update.

I made some templates out of card-stock and brought them to a guy I have do plasma cutting for me. I drilled some holes and popped rivets through. Then I trimmed the shafts off of the rivets and they were tigged in from the back. The welds are going to be softened up (knocked down).

So, this weekend, the plan is to clean up the frame and shoot it (and the wheels) with epoxy primer and some paint.

 

I picked up four 1928/29 Model A 21" wheels at swap meet earlier this summer for $50. Problem was, three of them had cracks, a common problem with these wheels.

However, In my search for 21s I had talked to several old timers that had cautioned me to keep an eye for cracks but not to worry because they could be welded/repaired. Needless to say, I was hesitant upon hearing that but when I found these wheels for $50, I figured I'd give it a shot.

The end of each crack got drilled out and the cracks themselves got V'd. Then they were welded from both sides. So, we'll see how they hold up. I'll keep an eye on them but I'm not going to worry... the roads aren't like they were in the 30's.









So, that's about it for today. This weekend more I'll post more progress.

 

Brent, this is such a Kickarse build I have really enjoyed watching it progress. Keep it going!

 

X2
Can't wait to see this one finished

 

Thanks fellas! I appreciate it.

 

Brent, Your build is getting closer to some time out there on the highway ! Bet you are getting excited also. Looking forward to your progress as you start detailing your rod out.

 

I just got back from painting for the majority of the day. The frame is now in primer, as are the wheels and miscellaneous parts that I had blasted.

The paint I used on the frame is a true 2k Epoxy primer (from SprayMax), which comes in an aerosol can. It's a little pricey ($17 a can) but seemed to spray well even though there's only 14.1 oz per can. My only options were light colors so if I end up going with a color to match the body, I'll give it the once-over with red oxide before I paint.

Here are photos of the frame, I pulled it outside for photos.

 

Those rivet fishplates look really cool.

 

Black frame,black body, black wheels, you can't go wrong....

 

your not gonna' paint those side plates to look like dice are you?

Seriously, your work looks great.

 

Thanks, Skip!

You know, you're right... I've got three projects lined up and I'd be fine if they were all black on black on black. But, I'm going to paint this one a dark navy, midnight-almost-black-blue.

Ha! I hadn't thought of it... but now that you mention it...

 

Got mine out for it's first big drive. All 80 miles looked about like this
Them T's got the gow!!!

 

frame looks great, nice and stout
I really like the riveted plates too

they do look like dice, or -bent- dominos

 

freakin killer... LOVE the frame.

 

Looking great! I love the style you are working towards, it is classy.

 

Fish plates are way Rad!!! Can't wait to see more Brent!

 

Thanks so much, fellas. Here's a little sneak peak of the frame-in-progress. It looks a lot better in black. It's not done yet but it's getting there.





I got a few more things in epoxy primer. As well, I cleaned the exhaust of all the grease and rust. Its former duty was as a drive shaft so it had a good deal of sludge and grime. About an hours labor and it looked a great deal better.



And finally in high-temp paint.

 

Brent, The frame is looking great. Really likt those riveted on plates-kind of a throw back to when they were building T's ! Looking forward to updates as your Roadster comes together. It's one bad machine.

 

Thanks, Dave.

All you guys are helping me to stay focused. It's appreciated. I'd like to have the frame finished this week so I can move onto getting it back into rolling form.

The body will be back soon, that's going to be a fun update... a few neat things going on with that.

 

Brent. Can you go into detail on your exhaust ? I knoe it is a stock head pipe and then connects to a torque tube/drive shaft. What shaft did you use - or what size is it ? I love the look. It is simple - but straight forward.

 

If it was up to Dave he would help you build it!!!!

 

I had a muffler shop make a new down-pipe based on the original I had. The tube is a 1936 Ford driveshaft cut where the transition was close to the down-pipe size. It transitions back down at the other end of the shaft, but it was trimmed before the transition to what you see now.

 

I could use the help!

 

Great build! Fantastic! What did we all do before MIG?
Jerry
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Got the frame in the first coat of black. Tomorrow it'll get some sanding and another coat of black.

 

Looking grrrrreeaaaattt Brent!!!

 

Brent, Really like that frame with a fresh coat of black paint. It is like a slab of marble ready for some jewel like decorations . . . Nah, just keep installing parts as they are painted. Looking for the frame when it is a roller !

 

Stock Model A perches aren't long enough to fit through the later front bones. So, a modification needed to happen. It's not completed yet but I'll take you as far as I've gotten so far.

First four pics are how the perch was situated originally (during mock-up).







You can see how there was not enough thread at the bottom.



I measured the thinner bottom section and match the top to it. I marked both sides and got the 4.5" cutting wheel out. There's a thread showing a similar job with a band saw. I was going to use my friend's saw but he was out of town, so I used what I had. Plus, I'm like Da Vinci with this tool now, since it's one of my most-used tools.





Partially cut.





Trimmed and checking out the available thread. Next, is clean-up and prep for the chamfer/countersink.



This is the area that needs to be counter"sunk". I picked up a 1-1/4" counter sink to use but the shaft was to big for the chuck. So, I'll have to see what I can find on Monday.

 

Shaped up.



Post cut comparison w/ a 32 bone.

Only thing left to do is to countersink them. Hopefully I can find a countersink locally rather than somewhere online where I'll have to wait.