Projects And so it begins......1928-29 late 40's style roadster project!

Ever since I sold my T, Ive been collecting parts for another hot rod build. I have always liked 28-29 roadsters, and I had a few things left over from the T, so I decided I want to do a postwar style roadster.

I started off by buying a model a frame from "motormouth" Matt from the Reelers, who lives nearby for $200. It used to be under his 29 roadster (the grey 42b car with the olds rocket motor) It needs a little work, but should work out fine.

I already had one extra '40 ford 4" steelie rim, a brand new Optima Red Top battery, a working Ahooga horn, 40 parking brake lever, some NOS wheel bearings, some NOS front shackles, some cool cast aluminum speaker grilles, some old aftermarket/NOS seatcovers that didn't fit, a cannister oil filter with brand new filter, a good rebuildable holley 94, and a few other odds and ends.

Stuff that I recently scored;
- '40 standard steering wheel on ebay that someone smoothed over. It looks pretty cool. $100
- A super clean set of BLC headlights, with the marker lights on top, $150
- a model a radiator ( i gotta convert it to flathead, Anyone know any good places in the LA area?)
- 28-29 grill shell. Its kinda beat, but I like them painted anyway. (It reminds me of an old cartoon car that way)
-brand new in box-never used "Keep it clean" wiring harness- $50
- front '40 ford backing plates, the guy through in the cad plated inside cover things- $30
- WW2 oxygen tank, scored from a neat 80 year old cuban guy down the street for $30
- 2 complete thick red leather cow hides (my mom scored these for me at a thrift store) $100. I figure ill do some sort of combination of leather and the aftermarket seatcovers..
- Another 4" steelie rim $50
-f1 pedal assembly- $60

So, my buddy Daniel "superman" (that doesnt really post on here that much) tells me he's gonna get a '41 ford business coupe. He wants to build a reliable cruiser/custom and says he's gonna go with a small block and bags in the rear etc. Im sure hell do a build thread on that.

Score!





So I went over there to help him dissassemble the car, he wants to take the body off the frame and blast everything. We pulled the flatty, and I brought it home to tear into it.
It looks like 2 of the pistons are rusted stuck. the car was sitting in the desert for a lot of years and water got in from the carb.

Im still deciding if Im gonna rebuild the '41 flatty or look for another rebuilt/running one. Either way, Ive been cleaning up all the components and painting them etc. Ive blasted the heads, intake, pan... steam cleaned the transmission, etc etc.

What's a flatty rebuild go for these days?





I ended up getting the steering column, rear end, torque tube, drive shaft, rear brakes, steering column, from the '41.

Im planning on running a model A or 32 heavy axle in front, with a slight drop and model a spring, split bones in the front, friction shocks, 40 front brakes, ribbed front tires,

This swedish roadster is so far the closest to what Im picturing in my head:


I really dig these 2 as well, very classy 40's style cars..




and for some reason, I really like those old 40's cars with the windshields like the elvis car or the $1000 deuce roadster. We'll see though...



except mine will be this pale creamy yellow color, with red engine, rims and interior, trim etc..

 

probably gonna run the stock heads, intake, exhaust manifolds for a while...


score! leather interior here I come...



starter, what do you think? try and rebuild it or find another? it was all caked with grease..

scored a generator on ebay for $30. should rebuild nicely


radiator, shell, and driveshaft (needs to be cut down)


here's my steering wheel:


and my column, that I gotta cut down. I want to run the side shift transmission. Its all cleaned up, gears are nice, and ready to go!

 

Right on man!

 

^ Do that ^.....please

... something like the 1000 deuce roadster has, but slim it down...thinner posts etc to blend better with the smaller A roadster size.

I like that brown red primer split windshield car the best of the pics you put up. I like the dark wheels on it without hub caps or maybe cast some 2 bar spinners

 

Nice u-joint!



mics. odds and ends

 

Awesome, it would be cool to make it a column shift car, since you got the trans for it already.

 

Best score so far, BLC headlights!



got the flywheel turned and pressure plate steam cleaned at this little machine shop in the hood - $20 !

 

yeah, I got all the linkage etc since my buddy wont need it. The trans is really nice inside, and now I painted it etc.. so I might as well use it.

If anyone has ANY pics of a sideshift trans in a hot rod, PLEEEEAAAASE post them! thanks.

 

Cool deal man. Good luck. Looks you got the right idea and a plan to tackle it.

 

Yeah, Im really considering it since you dont see it that often, and it looks totally 40's.

I still need a body, but I figured I would get the chassis to be a roller and do all the little stuff I can without a body.

Ill just save up and wait for a deal to come along. Im trying to build this car on the cheap, and have a cool period car to put around in.

I would even consider a 26-27 body or even a non-ford body, but I really want to do a 28-29 ford.

Basically something that would fit right in that "El mirage in Color" thread.
I really need to just buy that book.

 

The Walker-Morrison 32 roadster.
No detail shots, but I think it rules.

 

thanks! that does rule, and looks clean and more leg room too.

PS, if anyone likes those wood jackstand things, they only cost me $3.
They are called "pallet stickers". I went to home depot to buy 2x4's and I saw they were throwing these away so I grabbed 20 of them for free. the $3 was for a box of nails. My buddy Daniel is always saying im "thrifty" haha

 

Aw yeah, this is gonna be cool, I can tell already! Column shift, closed car ws... awesome.

BTW, I have about 4 quarts of "frosty lemon" pale yellow semigloss enamel from the 60's sitting in my garage. Came from my grandfather, something leftover he never used. I've been trying to figure out what to do with it for years. Probably not worth shipping, but if you want it, pm me.

 

Keep an open mind when you run across misc 28/29 body non-roadster parts...

I am not really an "A" guy but I saved these pics on my PC. I have no idea why this car speaks to me, but it does. I still look at the pics from time to time. I guess I imagine it is what many low budget builds looked like, using whatever they found.

Different chassis than yours, but maybe you will spot something you like.

 

The little books are your friends........... Car Craft April 1957, page 50 "Column Shift for Early Fords........how-to-do-it-feature". If you don't have that one or can't find it PM and I'll send a copy of the really dark copy that I have.

 

Save the X out of the V8 donor car? May consider using the center of the frame in the A frame. Makes a really solid frame.

 

yeah that does look stout.

Alright, I see what my buddy says. Dont know if he's gonna need it for his build though.

I figured F1 would be the easiest since im using the F1 pedals already..

 

alright, Ill keep an eye out for this issue. thanks!

If anyone reading this can scan the article I would appreciate it.

 

yeah, thats basically what Im shooting for. Just a fun 40's car to put around. Ever since doing the PRC run, I decided I want to do another roadster. haha
Looks like it was a sport coupe?

 

messed around with the blue 28-29 in photoshop and added the windshield, red steelies, red interior, and a flathead! Its starting to take shape in my mind at least!

anyone know how to change the color to yellow instead of blue? I never got that far in photoshop class! lol

 

Here's from the photoshop thread to end all photoshop threads,

 

Here's from the photoshop thread,

 

I'm gonna subscribe to this thread...been wanting to do a 40's or older early A roadster myself.

Have you seen this: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422177 ?

Also, I really like his work: Chis http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403291

When the car was a depression era style 4 banger, SWEEET

 

looks like you've got some good parts there. only missin one thing, a body? or did i miss something

 

Cool build!
Have the "ring" machined off on the flywheel .Makes it much lighter so the engine
will rev quicker. You will have a light car so that is perfect.
Michael

 

Nice job getting the rear quarter of my coupe in the picture with the black 29'. Neat car. Keep at it!

 

i like where this is goin cant wate to see more.

 

I did that to mine in a brake lathe. I weighed it before and after, and I was able to take 10 lbs off. It took about 2-3 hours worth of heavy cuts though, so it might be spendy if you hire it out.

 

yeah, I still need a body...
I found a pretty decent one in the midwest for $1000 about 2 months ago, I was trying to find out about shipping it, and I guess the guy sold it locally.

Im just gonna try and save up for when a deal comes along (preferably closer to LA) and meanwhile get the whole chassis started.

The good thing is I have the reelers guys nearby to take measurements for the body etc, plus the frame I had got already had a 28-29 roadster body mounted on it...

 

Ok, ill look into this... sounds good.
I was just asking a buddy about this. I wonder if I could do it at school somehow?