This is my first traditional hot rod build, I have got so much inspiration from you guys on here over the years. I found a vague add on Facebook marketplace for a roadster and was lucky enough to talk to the gentleman that night and he explained that the roadster was his fathers, owned since the 30’s, driven to college in Ohio then eventually moved south to Georgia where the car was disassembled in 1969 to start a restoration but never even got started on. I talked him into letting me drive the two hours early the next morning before he went to work and the deal was made, because we all know if you don’t pounce on a deal it will be gone. The car was originally black but at some point had been painted over, with what looks like a green house paint, the patina was perfect and I loved how all the accent pieces like grill shell areas and hubcaps were all painted with the same green. He had made himself a hot rod back in the day, 35 wire wheels and fake louvers on the hood, fenders remained on the car and a stock banger under the hood. I instantly knew this car would be a perfect candidate for a war era hot rod. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I debated about running the fenders but decided to go without them, that’s the first thing a young man would have done back in the day, ripped the fenders off Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
yup, nice save ! got a hockey eye, but that looks like henry's green primer, maker a perfect patina whoever laid it down...
Awesome find! Yeah, I’d totally run the car just as it is body wise! Congratulations! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
They are good and match the car perfectly but I’ve always wanted a high boy but I’ll probably keep them if I ever decide I want to change it up Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I decided to use a frame I already had from a previous car I sold because it was nicer than the one I got with the roadster, I bought a matching engine, transmission, and rear end out of a running /driving 39 Ford that was “updated” to modern drivetrain, a pair of 18” 32 wires for the back and 17” 33/34 for the front, a cool banjo steering wheel. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
That car would go together with the fenders and hood if it was mine. It's great to want a hiboy, but just not this car. Oh well it's yours, so do it your way. It'll be cool to see it back together after all those years,however you build it. Keep us posted.
The first order of business was to really check the frame out, it was good so we proceeded. I got Chad Adams to pick me up a couple of dropped axles and springs when he was at the GNRS from SoCal a couple years ago so I assembled the 4” drop for this build, split a set of A wishbones and welded the brackets on the frame. The 39 rear end is a spring behind the axle rear so we fabbed some brackets and mounted it above the axle for the A frame. A few leafs were removed and others reshaped to get it sitting down enough in the back and decided to mount the rear shocks in front of the rear end so we made those mounting brackets. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
IMO... don't run the spare on an A frame... the frame stops at the rearend… some support from the bumper braces but not enough... the weight of the spare and its bracket will split the body where the larger beltline splits and has half run down the quarter and half across the tulip panel... check out retired stockers to see it... my $0.02 .
I’ve been working so much, two jobs, and on the roadster that I haven’t kept up with the progress in stages on here but I’m getting pretty close to wrapping it up. The fab work is done, pedals, master cylinder, firewall trimmed around the oil fill tube, motor mounts, bones, steering box and column, F1 shock mounts, and headlight bar. We are blowing it back apart to final weld everything in place then will throw some black paint of the parts that need it, rebuild the brakes and get the car fired up, rolling and braking, wire it, finish the interior, and find the few parts I need to complete it and she will be ready for the road! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Might consider redoing those rear hangers. i would hate for one to brake... maybe something like this: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/my-av8-roadster-build.1033274/
Everything is working and fitting like it should so I blew the car apart for final welding and painting parts. I’ve got a handful of parts to order, proper brake lines, wiring harness, hood latches, welting, and few other small things. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The rears are 6.50-18 and I got them from Coker Tire Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Haven’t posted an update lately but the brake lines are plumbed. I’m going to try to rebuild the wheel cylinders this week and fill/bleed the system. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Sorry it’s been a minute since I’ve posted an update. I got the body back on the chassis for the final time, shimmed and bolted down, wheel cylinders rebuilt and bled, bracing fabbed, found a set of original 38/39 tail lights on eBay and got them mounted, got the exhaust run and I’m probably forgetting something but it shouldn’t be long now until the first drive through the Georgia mountains this fall. I plan on being at the Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville also! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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