Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

After lunch, I started cleaning the transmission case.

If this isn't a room with a view, I don't know what is. Once it was completely clean, I told David it was ready for paint. "I think you still have some white paint here," he said.

"You mean we can paint it today?!"
"Of course!"


I'm so excited to get it loaded up and bolted to the engine.

Time to buy some parts!

 

As soon as I got home, I got straight to work. I bolted the side-shift transmission to the engine to make sure it would turn over. It did. By midnight, the engine was back in the chassis.

The following morning, I got ready for the biggest day of Version 2.0's life.

 

I’m on the road again! But before I left, I put together an update video.



Right now, my transmission parts are on their way and my e-brake components are in the works. I’m figuring out my brake drums and getting ready to set up my flux-core welder at the house.

If all goes to plan, we’re gearing up for an exciting season with this project!

 

It's been a busy month in so many good ways. My laptop is in the shop, but my roommate was gracious enough to lend me his computer so I can keep the thread going. (Thank you, Michael!) So where were we?

Earlier this month, I took a solo trip to Southeast Asia to see what's out there. I split time between Thailand and Bali, and it was incredible. While I was there, I spent a great deal of time traveling, eating, relaxing and reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I learned more than I ever could have imagined in those 13 days, and I returned to San Francisco last week with a fresh perspective.

On Friday, I went to one of my friends' gallery openings here in the city.

I'll share the full story on The Jalopy Journal soon.
It was one of the most fun nights I've had in a long time. Hot rods? Great friends? Here in San Francisco? What could be better?

 

Amidst all the excitement, I've been working on 2.0. When I got home, I was greeted by a huge pile of transmission, brake and emergency brake components. I can't wait to unbox them all and get them assembled.

In the meantime, I've been focusing on the chassis. First, I made a bracket for the rear brake lines. A curved piece of hardline will exit from the master cylinder, and then a rubber hose will link it to the torque tube. The 1/4-inch NiCopp brake line is on its way.

Paper mockup.

Fabrication at 947 Works HQ with Yama.
Here's how it sits. I need to rework the top piece so the front is longer. I'll weld it all to the frame when the time comes. I also notched the K-member for the master cylinder.

That's all for now. But it feels great to be making progress!

 

Yep, but I drilled holes in it to lighten it up. I didn't want anything flimsy.

 

This is how Tradrod1930 has it set up. I was inspired by its simplicity and functionality.

 

Thanks! And, in a wild way, it's a throwback to my Triumph, too.

Great eye. That's exactly. Once I establish the position for the hard line, I'll drill for the speedo cable as well. The painted transmission still needs to be reassembled, so I plugged in this side-shift for the time being.

 

Hahah that character will need to find another set of wheels—I'm sticking with a three-speed toploader for this project. I'm fortunate to have the best co-pilot for bikes, cars and whatever else we can find!

Did someone say bikes?

Earlier this summer, DicE Magazine was kind enough to feature me and my favorite things in issue 100. Naturally, Gen and I had to shoot the opener on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Good times behind, great ones ahead. Now back to the build!

 

Thank you, Alan. Little by little, the project is coming together. Even though I may not have the most space, I make the most of it! Please let me know if you have some rear brake drums—I'll gladly pay shipping on them.

Building this car has been an incredible adventure thus far, and I'm enjoying every step of the way.

 

The luckiest!

Along with hunting for drums, I've also spent a great deal of time hunting for answers. So far, nothing definitive has come up. If good reproduction drums with hubs were available, I would buy them. I've spoken with Boling Brothers, and they do not have hubs in stock and won't for the next few months.

This has become one of the biggest challenges of the build. Where are all the brake drums? Your guess is as good as mine.

You hit the nail on the head, Tim!

 

Just like old times, I have a quick update before I go to sleep.

First thing's first, the brake components are coming in.

Longtime readers will remember that I splurged for the right tool for the job back when I was building 1.5's fuel system.

Tonight's task? Bring the handbrake hardware back into service. This bolt was good, but the cotter pin had sheered off in the hole. First, I broke out my second favorite tool: Liquid Wrench.

Then I tapped the remnants of the pin out with ease.

I then sanded and painted the hardware and the bracket. I may clean up the handle a little bit more, but I think the worn out chrome fits the build. Next up, I'll source a bolt for the bottom and attach it to the transmission mount from Dennis Lacy.

Nothing major, but it felt good to be back out in the garage. When that task was finished, I spent a little bit of time exploring my options for brake line routing. Once I get the master cylinder where I want it, I'll start bending up the brake line.

Bonus: here's a shot of 1.5 out on the town from this weekend. I logged a bunch of miles going here, there and everywhere. I love this car.

Parked in front of Washington Towers, built in 1961.