Projects 26 T Roadster Pick Up build Thread

I think it's fine like that Larry. It's JUST a Y block.... :grin:

 

Come on now Eric
The Y block would twist that exhaust tubing like a pretzel

 

Hee hee, I know just messin' with ya!

 

Decided that I would get after the windshield today after I mounted the new driveshaft.
I modified the corner support brackets that hold the top bar in on the new Mr. Roadster windshield frame.
The brackets they supply are pretty useless as they come because they flop around inside the frame and make it very difficult to have the corners of the windshield frame fit nicely.
So, I added some 1/8" x 3/4" flat bar and they now fit perfectly.
The windshield frame is 4" lower than stock so I cut down the pair of nice original posts I had.
I like the results, sitting in the car it will serve the purpose of blocking the wind and bugs etc.
Plus, it is the right height to allow a nice top, which I will build soon
Larry

 

Go Larry go!

 

That's a nice ''useful'' height, looks good. JW

 

Nice work Larry!! Where did you get your drive shaft done?

 

Looking good, as usual, top quality work.

 

Thanks guys, I had the driveshaft done at Pats Driveline, they do a nice job.
Now that I have the quick change this is the last driveshaft, it better be as it's driveshaft #3
The second one was to fix a screw up in length made by me on # 1

 

Im thinkn you better chop that windshield a bit more. Tall windshields are way overrated.

 

And to that I will say a big no way.
The 4" chopped windshield is by no means too high.
Any lower and you get bugs etc in the face and forehead.
And it becomes almost impossible to have a working top.
My buddies 27 has the same windshield and having ridden in and driven his car I can tell you that this windshield is perfect.

 

This is mine and yes you get bugs in your face but I dont give a shit! I think sometimes its form over function.

 

That is a part of what makes our hobby great, we all build our own vision of what it should be and to hell with what anyone else thinks. If the time comes where I feel I have to please the masses, I will quit building.

 

That looks good and suits the build. Nice fun little car.
I'm leaning towards the function side of things.
I don't look over the windshield of my motorcycle without a full faced helmet
I don't see myself wearing the helmet in the roadster so ...

No way you could have a top on that little car.
I want a working top that will still give me a chance to get in and out of the car
It rains on Vancouver Island, that's where I'll eventually be.

 

Ain't that the truth.

 

Well Larry, I have finally court up with the read from page one and may I say, wow, what an amazing trip so far and a bigger WOW for your skill in whatever you do on this car. I felt your pain too when I got to the kidney stone story too as I have been there and felt that too but mine was too large to break down using the laser shock treatment so had the operation to remove. I have to totally agree with both you and Dick on the screen height also as your car wouldn't suit a lower screen as it would look as if some giant had hit it with a sledge hammer due to the overall length. You keep at it sir as I now will be keen also for updates. Oh thanks also for taking the time to tell the story with really excellent photo's.

 

Thanks very much, it has been and continues to be a journey.

 

Im just Kidding about the windshield. You are right about not being able to run a top on my modified. Actually I wish mine was a bit taller, I went the easy route and just used the stock height lower section. Great build so far.

 

So what's new this week Larry?

I got nothing so I figured I'd come here and look

So Ive been debating on sharing my thoughts about your windshield stiffeners. But here goes. As I read that post last weekend I couldn't help but wonder if the installed glass keeps the corner from being floppy, and now that the corners are 1/4" smaller than the rest what's your glass cutter/setter going to do to handle that?

 

Not much new right now
Working some extra time teaching a night course to pay for that fancy quickchange.
So, with late nights 3 times a week this ol' guy gets tired
If I were to show you a close up end view of the windshield frame tube ( a cross section) you would see that the frame actually has a formed channel for the glass inside the round tube that makes up the frame.
The whole corner bracket along with the extra metal I added just slides into the 1/2 round portion of the tube under the glass channel and serves to align the frame corners and hold the top tube in place once the glass is in.
So, it has no effect on the glass channel or glass size.
Larry

 

I figured I might be missing something,
Fantastic build here.

 

Something small but new
The quick change needed a vent and I decided to incorporate it into the fill plug on top of the housing.
Removed the hex plug and got a 3/8" NPT x 1/4" NPT bushing.
The differential vent is a Mopar part.
The bushing was perfect size to be drilled and tapped for the 7/16" NF threads of the vent.
After that I welded the vent into the bushing at the bottom to make a one piece vented fill plug.
Installed it then put the bed back on to start fitting the tanks universal gas tank.
I included a couple of shots from the rear. Not a lot of room in the garage for pictures from that angle
Larry

 

All looking very slick, are those original tail gate hinges on there? JW

 

Those are handy little vents; but from past experience, positioned there, the ring gear may force oil out.

 

Repros of the originals. My tailgate is a repro model A that I narrowed 4".

I'm hoping that doesn't become an issue.

 

I had to vent mine also. When I got it running for the first time it really pushed lube out, If you look close you can see a small silver bump on the axle tube below the license plate. I dont even remember where I found my vent.

 

Mocked up a gas tank today out of cardboard.
It's about 17 gallons and leaves me with a bit more than 1/2 of the space in the bed. So a little bonus.
I'll build it out of aluminum.
Also put the Frank Wallic bomber seats in place and spent some time looking and pondering, some time sitting in them.
I'm on the fence about using them, I have considered selling them and going with a built in bench, however the bombers are starting to grow on me....
With the pads they are fairly comfortable and I like the look...I think
Opinions welcome as always
Larry

 

Larry, they do fit in there pretty well, but I have to say I'm not a big fan of bomber seats, FWIW, I think a bench is the better look.

 

Those seats -- and pads -- look really good in there.

 

Alum seats are nice ones,but I do like bench type best my self. Here is why for me,back when I started building rods in the late 50's as a teenager,having the Gals ride with me when I could was importen=could get them closer with a bench,better room to play,makes rod look bigger in side I think and with a good bench design you can hide stuff behind an or under them. Just a extra word about all black seats,that was my first color too,but ended up having to keep a beach towel in hotrod all the time here in Miami Fla. {not a bad thing really] cuz we'ed burn our ass off on that black upholstery in the sun. Now I still have black but with yellow panels were I sit,an keep towel behind the bench. Being old an not that much into newer trends,like bomber seats in street rods,they were a racecar thing an not used as much as most thing now for street drivers, Not that any of that matters,those alum bucks look good.