A friend of mine just picked up this 29 Hi-Boy on a Deuce frame. The car was from the Hollywood area and we don't think it was ever completed in this form. Details include: Early Bell tube axle, Early Mustang disc brakes, Halibrand Q.C., looks to be homemade hair pins, nerf bar etc. Car has a modified coupe floor pan with a complete steel trunk floor that has been modified to clear the A rear cross member, floor modifications are riveted and also welded solid, Many hand fabricated parts, All fasteners are 12 point aircraft type with holes for safety wire. Car looks to be built by someone with an Aircraft background. Any info will be appreciated
Wow. That's gonna clean up into something really special. Too bad you don'r have access to what the original builder's plans were for completion. Not that you'd have to follow them, but it would be neat to know.
That's not a Bell axle, at least not like the regular Bell axles with the spring perch holes. Looks like a steel tube bent and welded, not cast ends. I'd hazard to guess the car is a 1970's project that stalled and got left outside in the weather.
Honestly, unless it's a wierd sprint car axle or something, it's not a Bell axle. the original Bell axles were very much like Ewings "Super Bell" axles with perch holes and cast ends. I would guess the same as above being a '70s build out in the weather for quite a bit. That's when '29s on '32 rails came out of the woodwork again in droves. One last thought on the axle would be Jim kirby's Challenger engineering. Cool time capsule!
I'd have to go along with the 70s project stored behind the garage in the grass under a canvas tarp that went away. That axle is a typical 60s-70s etc. fabricated dropped tube axle as in T-bucket unless it's under and A then A dropped axle...but not Bell. The Bell axles, not dropped too much, were what the Super Bell was patterned after with factory forged ends similar to the 37-40 Ford V8-60 tubular axles.
I believe this is a Bell Auto axle... Neat car BTW...I like 70's traditional. There was some neat stuff done in that era. Neal
Neal, I could go $100.00 for the pair of axles !!! Seroiusly, That Bell Auto axle is way cool. My thoughts on the Roadster is that it could actually be an older build that someone found in the 70's and had a great idea to "up-date" those old front drum brakes, and he might as well get rid of that old dropped front axle that looked like someone beat and stretched the ends (ugly old thing... highly prized today) Again, just another guess. A very neat old roadster and a really cool find.
Really? Did they move the tail lights to the fenders for 29? I'm not being a smartass, I just don't know.
Hahaha...you are way too generous... It would be neat to get an early Ford axle and brakes back in that car...and still use the hairpins and the other little details. Neal