Projects Ford model T "Moonshine Hauler"

Just ran across this forum a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying looking thru it.

I realize this is a little off from the hammered rods and wicked customs that are normally posted here, but I wanted to show it for those that are interested in this kind of old stuff.
After all, this is something that maybe your grandfather or, if you're over 60 ( like me ), even your dad might have built when they were younger.

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... My project for this winter. ...


This is what's left of a 1925 Ford model T pickup that I found in a barn about 25 years ago.
It runs really good and has a clear ***le.










The engine has had the old "buzz coils" replaced with a distributor.
It has a 2-barrel down draft carb and intake and a larger exhaust manifold fitted to it.
A water pump was also added.

I also have an aluminum high compression cylinder head, a 3-speed auxiliary transmission and a set of H***ler Shocks that came with this.






This got me to thinking ....... what is a "hot rod" engine doing in a beat up old truck ?
Do you suppose some old moonshiner used a truck like this to run liquor down a mountain in Tennessee ?
... Probably not, ... but I decided that a " Moonshine Truck" would be a good theme to build this up to.

I want to keep it looking like something that was still being driven back in the 30's.





I'm going to build a "open" truck cab out of metal that will look sort of like this.
( This cab doesn't have a cowl. So mine will not be exactly like this, but it gives you an idea of what I'm after. )







First thing was to get it stripped down so I can get to every thing easy.




I cut out a floor pan from 3/4 inch plywood and bolted it in place.
The top section of the cowl is also bolted to the firewall.




Shaping the bottom edge of one of the cowl side panels.




Fitting the side panel ( outside )


( inside )





The finished cowl side panel section.




Cowl side panel installed.







I finished the cowl side panel for the drivers side and started on the windshield and dash mounts.



I cut part of the windshield mounting flange off in line with the edge of the cowl.




Welding on a new flange section that I cut from a piece of angle iron.




Final fitting the windshield bracket to the cowl and dash.




Finished windshield and dash bracket installed. ( On final ***embly, the hex head bolts will be replaced with round head bolts. )




The cowl is all built so now I can start on the rest of the cab.

 

Awesome. I like it very much.

 

Ray, I kind of liked it the way it WAS. Looks like a good project, have lots of fun. Post some pics of your engine on the BANGER thread. Does it run and drive?

 

Looks great so far. Keep posting those photos. I'm interested to see the rest of the build.

 

Sounds cool, I guess. It looks like a really cool car, and I hope you have a hoot in it.

 

Some of us here think this is the perfect example of the true definition of "traditional hot rod". Hot rod history DID NOT begin in 1948.

 

I like it. That's going to be a fun little ride.

 

Please give more details about that green Apache dually in the background.

 

Looks like a really fun project. I like it!

 

Neat project.

 

looks cool should be alot of fun...nice work so far

 

cool project

 

Man, I bet it sounds SICK!


Keep it up and maybe ask around, is there more history on it possibly?

 

Looks really good , i have a couple of these and we enjoy doing the model T tours each year just as much as anything we do with the other hot rods.
I drove my T speedster from Indianapolis to Morrris Illinois to the pile up car show.
What a ride in a open T.

 

Pretty cool.

You wouldn't happen to have any good pictures of how those H***lers are installed would you?

 

Nice work on the side panels!

 

Yes. After digging it out of storage, I got it running and drove it up and down the road until the old fan belt flew apart.

No, but I'll take photos of these when I put them on.

I got this from a guy that got it from a guy that got it from a guy, etc.

All I can say is that engine was in it when I bought it.
I know when I went to look at it, I sure didn't expect it to have a "hotrod" engine.
Not only that, it looks and runs like a fresh rebuild - go figure?

 

should be fun now to find some shine to haul

 

Henry's T gave the average man the opportunity to race his car AND the birth of the aftermarket industry.

That IS the beginning of traditional hot rodding, period.

 

Have you got any updates on your project. When I see what you are doing I think of my Dad and his tales of learning to drive a Model T truck when he was 12 yrs old by following the ruts in the road. He was born in 1913 in WV.
George

 

This is awesome! Thanks for posting.

 

No matter which direction you go with it, it still looks like it ought to put on lots of smiles and miles when it's road worthy. Looks cool. I dig it.

Jay