The new sheet metal parts around the grille needed to be painted and since I can’t match the 20 year old color we decided to paint it black this time. Got it disassembled in January and sent it off to be recolored.
I disassembled several of the old instruments so that I could get bezels replated. This meant also replacing some scratched lenses, and using new gaskets and retainers. All back together now.
Looking good. I didn’t realize the radiator was so narrow until I saw the picture with the grill off.
Hello, You have one of the best looking roadsters that I have seen currently and from the past. It just has that “Look.” At the present time, your look includes the nice headers being tucked in place. Thanks for not putting on those odd ball so called, “Lakes” pipes coming straight out of the motor and ending up near he door. That would have ruined your “Getting the lines right”…style and idea. But, if that is/was your next step, it might need a better flow and smooth curves to go with the look of your clean roadster. Perhaps a modified version with smooth out/down flow and a nice exhaust pipe running parallel to the body lines, away from the cab and pointing to the rear tire. Jnaki As far as being road worthy and keeping those nasty pebbles and up-spray of any road grime blasting your hot rod drives, a rear fender might be in the works? A smooth design of a rear fender of some sort to continue the design and yet, keep the road grime from flying all over. Having been in open wheeled vehicles of all kinds, a well-designed fender solves that problem, while still making the hot rod looking rather cool. Many old hot rods we have seen are not as well thought out as yours. Your ideas and current style are pretty nice and the end result will be a very cool hot rod for those great road trips, anywhere. YRMV
Thank you for your comment 1-shot. Although the radiator is much smaller than my old one, it cools pretty well unless I am not moving. I do keep a close watch on the temp gauge and I am planning on adding an electric gauge on the right head because I don’t really trust the old mechanical gauge. I do keep a laser temp gauge in the car and find that the engine is often cooler than what is shown on the gauge. Where I live in western Massachusetts we have only two blinking lights in town and lots of nice roadster roads so I am almost never stuck in traffic. It’s a wonderful place to be. Howard.
Thank you, Jnaki, for your positive comments on my roadster. I won’t be adding any outside exhaust. I just have Fenton headers on my flathead. And although I had rear fenders for several years, I am liking the car without them now. I also want to say that I do enjoy the many stories about growing up in California that you share with us. Very different than growing up in a small town in MA. HFH.
Slowly going back together now. I like having the chrome fender welting going under the windshield and down the joint in the cowl. I like calling attention to this line and connecting the windshield to the body in this way. My wife was a tremendous help, pushing and holding the welting in place on the outside, while I tightened the fasteners inside the car.
Boy have you been busy...but the rewards speak for themselves...and finding the lines that seal the deal always makes me think of that saying "walking a mile in another's shoes" certainly makes one respect how challenging it can be...but you do have a good eye for this... I look forward to the 2021 update @hfh
A month has gone by and the hood is on, the gas tank and new fuel pump are in place, a small gauge panel with two small gauges has been made, and other details have been worked on. I’m getting anxious to see it outside.
Finally getting a few miles on it with the new paint. Had to replace a leaky wheel cylinder on the left rear.
Many years ago when my roadster had the bronze windshield I made a top that was reminiscent of the tops in old woodies.
Hi Frank, thanks so much for all your positive comments. I think the top needs to have a shadow over the top of the windshield. I’m going to make a steel piece that helps me to achieve that, then see if I can adapt it to the old top. It’s all fun for me however it works out. I only drive the car 300 miles a summer and don’t need a top really. But it will be fun to see if I can make it look the way I want it to be. Howard.
I just noticed your windshield wiper transmissions in post 166.are they early ford? I have previously used ones out of a English car with cable drive. And how did you latch your top to the windshield? Thanks Frank
Hi Frank, the wiper towers are ‘37 Ford. I had to reshape them to fit the shape in the cowl. I think I did that with a file. I still haven’t gotten very far with the top project. But I have some ideas that I will work on this fall I hope. Maybe I will do some pictures in the morning. Hope you are well, Howard.
This is how the towers fit for the first 20 years. They had the shape that fit the ‘37 cowl. I really didn’t have time then to fit them then.
The wipers are driven with an old VW electric motor. My friend extended the levers on the bottoms of the towers and made many adjustment holes so that we could dial in the sweep of the wipers.
This makes me want to work on mine harder. There was a picture on the H.A.M.B. Of a 29 roadster full rendered with a 33 Grill on it and the curve of the grill matched the curve of the coach line. I don’t know if you saw it or not. Thanks Frank
Too bad you have to run a front license plate. I think it really interferes with the look and styling of the front end. Oh, well...
The Jalopy Journal
