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Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by J.Ukrop, Sep 7, 2020.

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  1. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,141

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Good stuff, the burgers and the roadster both ;)
     
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  2. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,517

    Nobey
    Member

    What a nice pickup…..
     
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  3. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    Thank ya!

    It's my favorite. I'm so grateful to be able to drive a real-deal, H.A.M.B.-era machine when I'm home. I love the four-speed and the Crystal Green paint. Back in 2020, I shared the truck's—and my mom's—story on Mother's Day. It makes me smile every time I look back on that.
    IMG_3318.jpg
     
  4. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,142

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @J.Ukrop
    That is indeed a great kick ass rig. There is something very dramatic, about the appearance of the white wheels with black hub caps, and the paint color, is a great choice as well.
    Thanks from Dennis, for sharing that interesting photograph.

    Below, me waiting for the "puppet show" to start!

    IMG_0236.JPG
     
  5. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,414

    RodStRace
    Member

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  6. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,142

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @RodStRace
    I totally agree with you, I have gone down the rabbit hole of various cool painted G.M.C. hub caps, and have owned a few of them.
    Thanks for posting that great link.

    I always crack up when I see your avatar, because I know where that came from!
    Thanks from Dennis.
     
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  7. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 3,626

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    GMC V-6
    Don't let it idle while fueling it or you will never get it full....
    they sure will pull their heart out though
     
  8. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    Now that I'm back in town, it's time for a small update. Yesterday was a fun and productive day. In the early afternoon, my friend Jason swung by on his freshly finished Shovelhead chopper. IMG_3518.jpg
    We cut through the Richmond to my favorite, Arguello Market, for some world famous Turkey sandwiches.
    IMG_3516.jpg
    Back at the garage, our friend Dave came by to buy some 'banger Model A pieces.
    IMG_3523.jpg
    As luck would have it, he was driving an early-'60s Chevy pickup, much like my mom's! With Jason's help, we loaded up the engine, transmission, and axles into the bed. Dave has a 1930 Model A roadster, which will be getting Version 1.5's driveline. "The story continues," he said. I can't wait to see it in action later in the year.
     
  9. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    IMG_3511.jpg Leaving the Midwest can be tough, but San Francisco has an innate ability to put a smile on my face. When I arrived on the terrace after my flight, I found this flier taped to my front door at toddler height. What an honor to have my car featured! More details to come. That's all for tonight!
     
  10. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,141

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

  11. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 5,414

    RodStRace
    Member

    That's a child that needs a few hot wheels to appear!
     
  12. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 3,626

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    hummmm.....wondering if there is a Dizzy sequel that needs to be made called 'Karz'
     
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  13. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,141

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Ya know the visual director of that entire franchise is a Hamber…
     
  14. That makes sense with all the great well thought out details throughout the films.
     
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  15. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 3,626

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes...I remember that now that you mention it....and that reminds me, I need to go check my radiator springs
     
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  16. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,517

    Nobey
    Member

    Always wanted a Sportster, it just never happened. The sure looked like a fun day....
     
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  17. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    Thanks, everyone! For the past two afternoons, I've been dialing in the roadster's wood blocks with my new-to-me bandsaw and finalizing the body mounting points. Seeing that the Model A and 1932 Ford mount somewhat differently due to their footprint, I had to drill some extra holes in the frame. IMG_3130.jpg
    My FB Marketplace Ryobi seems to be up to the task.
    IMG_3131.jpg
    Wood(work) in progress.
    IMG_3132.jpg
    Those wonderful subrails, now painted!
     
  18. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    Tomorrow, I'll be picking up hardware and bolting the body into place. Once the two are solidly united, I'll remove the bracing and check the door fitment. If all goes to plan, I'll set the seat back in so I can start thinking about steering column angle, pedal placement, and gas tank positioning.
    IMG_3536-1.jpg
    Last night, I grabbed the floor panels from the other garage and dropped them into place. Like a kid on the jungle gym, I swung into the space where the seat should be. All the work with the body placement has been a little tricky as of late, but seeing this view is definitely motivating.
    IMG_3184.jpg
    Speaking of motivating, check out the ignition button that @Hitchhiker sent my way. It's old chrome and perfect. I'll install it in the cluster soon here. Thanks again, Matt!
     
  19. Mikko_
    Joined: Aug 3, 2018
    Posts: 482

    Mikko_
    Member
    from Sweden

    Coming together nicely.
     
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  20. Six Ball
    Joined: Oct 8, 2007
    Posts: 6,326

    Six Ball
    Member
    from Nevada

    Those buttons and the sound of a flathead starter bring back a lot of memories, some are good. :D
     
  21. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    I have lots of updates, both from this project and the Northern California Roadster Run. In the meantime, here are a few photos from the Terrace and out on the road. IMG_3562.jpg

    IMG_3563.jpg

    IMG_3662.jpg
     
  22. Outback
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,795

    Outback
    Member
    from NE Vic

    Your roadster is looking so good! @J.Ukrop must be so exciting!
     
  23. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,141

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Man that looks soooooooo good…. But those blue sidewalls would drive me crazy lol

    keep on truckin man!
     
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  24. Nobey
    Joined: May 28, 2011
    Posts: 1,517

    Nobey
    Member

    Your car has gone through a bitchin metamorphosis in such a short and it looks so good.
    That ride in the woods with roadsters looks like a dream to me. You're going to driving
    your own roadster soon. Wow!
     
  25. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,141

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    With out fail the photos of that run make me drool every year. Maybe next year I’ll make it over and throw a thumb out ;)
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2024
  26. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
    SUPER MODERATOR
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    Thank you! I couldn't be more excited. The pieces are really coming together.

    Thanks, Tim! It's funny that you mention the sidewalls. To be honest, they don't bother me. Scrubbing them will be a sign that we're actually getting close to hitting the road.

    Thank you, Nobey. It's crazy to think that it's been a little more than a month since we put the body on the frame, and two of those weeks were spent back in Michigan. We're really cooking now!

    Come through! I really really want to have my car ready for next year's run.
     
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  27. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
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    Picking right back up. After my trip to Michigan, I spent my first days in the garage cutting and adjusting the wood blocks. Once I had everything in position, I focused my attention on actually bolting the body to the frame. This sounds extremely simple, right? Well me being me, I did a ton of measuring before finally drilling through the subrails and the frame.
    IMG_3542.jpg
    David gave me some great advice: use a piece of pipe so that you don't crush the subrail when bolting everything down. So the process went:

    1) Drill a pilot hole
    2) Drill all the way through the subrail and the frame with the 3/16 bit.
    3) Use the 3/4-inch holesaw through the top of the subrail, but not the bottom
    3) Cut a piece of 3/4 OD pipe to fit
    4) File everything so it sits flush
    5) Finish with a Grade 8 bolt and a fender washer

    IMG_3551.jpg
    This may be common knowledge, but it was a new process to me. As I worked, I felt like I was frenching an antenna (which I've also never done).
    IMG_3554.jpg
    The end result is clean, sturdy, and will probably never be seen by anyone except for me.
     
  28. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
    SUPER MODERATOR
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    Once the body was bolted in place, I was able to remove the bracing and see how the doors closed. Much to my surprise, they both open and close as they should. Looks like the wood blocks and wood shims worked!

    As I returned the brace to the other garage, I picked up the windshield and the seat. It didn't take long for me to bolt them back in place and finally have the car looking like a car. Right before midnight, I rolled the roadster out into the driveway. I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
    IMG_3559.jpg
    I may take pictures for a living, but pictures don't do it justice. Underneath the glow of the street lamps, I saw the car I've been dreaming of since I was a little kid sitting in my driveway. IMG_3562.jpg
    I went upstairs, grabbed a Coors Banquet, and walked down the steps just like I did when I first put Version 1.0 together. I sat in the neighbor's driveway, savoring everything about the moment I was in.
    IMG_3565.jpg There's no denying that we still have a long ways to go, but it was an amazing feeling to see all the pieces finally come together. The whole thing was nothing sort of surreal.
     
  29. J.Ukrop
    Joined: Nov 10, 2008
    Posts: 3,189

    J.Ukrop
    SUPER MODERATOR
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    From there, I knew I had to keep the momentum going. I looked at my checklist. Next up, steering. There was one problem: in order to figure out the steering column angle, I had to have my seat finalized.

    Longtime readers will know that I had many great miles in my modified school bus seat. That said, I wanted to have more leg room and a slightly lower seating position for Version 2.0 (I figured my post-op knee would thank me). I weighed my options, and I decided I needed a Dodge Caravan seat. Fifteen minutes of FB Marketplace searching later, I came across one in San Jose. The ad was simply labeled "Car chair."
    IMG_3574.jpg
    The seat itself is in mint condition. I wasted no time stripping off all the plastic pieces as well as the metal base. When each component came loose, I chucked it on the ground as if I were on Monster Garage. (They ended up in the recycling bin!)
    IMG_3600.jpg
    I like the shape of the new seat compared to the old. Since it's a little shorter than the last, I pulled the old package tray out of storage in the top garage. I've since painted it semi-gloss black to match my Harbor Freight moving blanket upholstery.

    I have much more to report, but it's getting late. More updates happening soon!
     
  30. Outback
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,795

    Outback
    Member
    from NE Vic

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