Hot Rods 29 RPU- "Street/Strip" B/SR Build - Marty Strode

There was a driver Gene Fredricks that had small feet and he use to wear BUSTER BROWN shoes. Gene ran a midget out of his shop on Ross Ave. in Dallas Texas.

 

Then there was Bert McNees, a Denver area Midget Driver, who wore tennis shoes, while sitting behind a V-8 60, he was a Dare Devil !

 

Henry Watson ran a couple of Midgets out of his shop in Dallas. Also Walter Allard ran several Midgets out of his machine shop on Ewing St. in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. He even built a aluminum head for a Vega for one of his cars and it did well.

 

Mert Hulbert up here at the Valley used to drive the dirt modifieds with no shoes only socks, hence his nickname Mert "Socks" Hulbert. Ran the Kennedy Garage #8. But you can't drive legally here in NYS in socks on the highway. Besides the feet are still too wide...

 

I was just thinking that Marty’s RPU build looked a whole lot Like Jim Steven’s “ Grant Piston Ring Service” Alhambra Ca. World Champion 29 RPU. That racer was sweet racing with the likes of Bill Roadie’s 27 T- Roadster (spelling may be off) . Fantastic. build!!!!

 

Thanks Kevin, I plan on getting back on it this winter, just have too much going at present.

 

BTTT

 

Well, I finally pulled this project off the lift where it was stored, and have it center stage. This morning, I went to a swap meet and bought a pair of 30X9 slicks, a year or two old, but never run. I recently bought some 8" wheel shells, to go with the W-5 centers I already had. I will be working on this one, and plan on racing it this Summer.

 

Today, I tackled the dirtiest phase on this one so far. I removed the seat riser, it had to come out in pieces. The sub-rails will get sandblasted, before going any further. The cross sill needs to be modified to clear the shifter. The seat riser was rusty, and I am using bucket seats like Dean's truck, so it had to go anyway.

 

Nice save Marty, looks good. What seats will you be using? Austin Healey, or Sprite seats are perfect. I think the TR Triumph seats are very similar, if not exactly the same. Just please no glass patio chair seats.

 

Dean, I am on the lookout now for seats, anything close to yours would be great. On our Water Pumper Dune Buggies in the early 70's we used those plastic patio seats, to keep the weight down, so I do know what your referring to.

 

Since this truck will be for racing use only, in the beginning, I arranged a trade and will be picking up a pair of these on Friday.

 

Let the polishing Begin!

 

Or blasting and powder paint!

 

Looks almost like the DOW 7 that many of those wheels were. I am going to have all 4 spindle mounts blasted, using a special process that a friend does Triumph Motorcycle barrels and cases. And follow up with Gibbs Oil.

 

I have always wondered how that would work. I would be afraid they would corrode from under the coating.

 

No problem if it is done the right way.
We did it like this...first blasting, then the parts go thrugh a chemical bath, first degreasing, then anti corrosion/rust.
Then primer, paint and clear coat.

 

They look awesome.

 

I like to know more about the process Marty described. Thanks Frank

 

Not sure about the process, but most of the blower builders, here are a couple examples, Mooneyham and Ed Pink did offer the service. The clutch can is aluminum and has the same treatment.

 

Marty, are you referring to vapor blasting? That is real common on bike restorations.

 

I am not sure, I only know it is an expensive machine, and my friend has access to it.

 

Frank, sorry, I got your post mixed up with another. That happens when you get old !

 

I'm wondering if "Street Roadsters" require front brakes. The few time I raced my roadster it had them. Dean would know. I bet he also knows how the NHRA "bastardized" the Street Roadster rules. The SCTA was late in following through, but the have, too.

 

Jim, the rules evolved, and didn't require front brakes. I realize that is after the period that the truck is based on. But those wheels are going to look great.

 

Boy, do I know how NHRA "bastardized" the street roadster classes! To keep my RPU competitive, would have required virtually taking all the "street" out of it. In the years I ran, up to '67, we had to have a full electrical system with full lighting and charging system, full exhaust system with mufflers, 4 wheel brakes, an original frame and original steel body, functional passenger seat, and be fully licensed and registered, and the weight was dropped from 8 lbs. per cu. in. to 7. I have no doubt we could have made my car competitive, but I refused to destroy the the original purpose of the car by ruining it for street. I had 5 years of being at the top of the class, it was time to move on. Did I miss racing? Hell yes! Still do.

 

In SCTA Impound at El Mirage a few of years ago with my 29 Street Roadster, the head Impound inspector claimed that our rear fenders looked too wide. (Why the hell anyone would widen them beats me.)

I told him he should ask Henry about them.
"Henry Who?"
"Henry Ford -- he made them."

I guess thru the years they have looked at so many modified bodies they can't identify an all-steel car.

 

I started on the rear wheels tonight. Had to machine the center to round it up, and make it a press fit. Once I am happy with the front side dimension, (relationship of the drive plate on the hub, to the outer wheel surface), I will spin them for straight, and weld them up.

 

Marty,
How far were the centers out of round?
I like your wheel truing fixture (but disc brakes aren't traditional).

When you do the first tack, does the weld pull it out of square? In my mind, it might move quite a bit until you have 2 or 3 welds. Just curious as to what your experience has been.

 

Bruce, I should have used a Frankland drum brake and hub, for aesthetics.... I should get points for using the 4C hub cover however. When I machine the next one, I will show how far out of round it is. For a stamped part, it is amazing how close they are. I bought 8 centers from the J,D. Presley out of Alabama, they are the same as the ones sold with the vent slots, they left out that part of the process. I plan on tacking with a wire welder in about 6 places, then proceed with the tig.