Hot Rods Homogenized ‘28 roadster build

Man, great progress lately. Looking forward to checking it out at the Gathering!

 

Yup. I picked up some old chrome backing plates a while ago and these were included so I hung onto them.

 

I knew I recognized those square with a round head bolts. I have a few kicking around here somewhere but they're not chrome.

 

Are you putting the wood body reinforcement pieces back in?

 

I had intended (maybe still intend?) to add a diagonal brace from the top front corner of the quarter panel down towards the subrails at an angle to stiffen that up, but won’t be putting any wood back in the body. I will be putting the wood pieces on for the top to attach.

 

That is why I was asking. If you don't intend to add the wood back in I would do some more reinforcements before I got much farther with paint if it was me. The door jams on the latch side especially. Iron Trap did a really good video on reinforcing the door jams on a Roadster recently.

My Roadster has reinforced door jams, reinforced lip around the top of the tub above the seat, and added bracing behind the seat back. I have no wood at all on my Roadster, but also have no plans to run a top.

I'm really enjoying your build. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

Glad you dig it!

There are a lot of things I want to do but am either putting to the side, or waiting until the last minute to finish up. I have a month to go and it’s going to be close. I need to have a running and driving car in the next two weeks if I’m going to make the Roc. Both doors need major repair and I’m going to be installing bear claw latches. The decklid also needs a bunch of work. But it doesn’t need doors to drive right?? As for paint, it’s has got a long way to go for that and I have plenty of time to make changes. The primer I’m putting down is mostly for presentation. I’m not really into surface rust and bare metal!

 

Firewall painted!

 

Damn nice-looking project. Very motivating for mine I like the details.

 

I have a new pair of Roadster Doors from Brookville that I don’t need. I live in Denton and will be at the VA in Ft. Worth Tuesday Morning. You can call me at 214-537-5663 or email me at darbey23@aol.com Frank

 

Thanks for the offer Frank, but I’m holding out for original doors or will just be fixing what I have.

 

This build is so awesome. You're an awesome fabricator and I admire your creativity.

 

Thank you Dale and Brent!

 

Towel officially thrown in. I couldn’t leave engine #3 as-was, and it’s a good thing. I already knew the water jackets were full of crud and I found two abandoned freeze plugs inside the block. After I chipped away as much of the corrosion as possible I stared cleaning up the rest of the block. Well, in cylinder #3 I found some crazy pitts. Like sleeve the cylinder pits. I said to hell with it and continued cleaning. But then I discovered that I don’t have the right non-rope rear main seal (or even a rope seal), but wanted to see if my fresh crank from engine #1 would be fit…so I put it in. It’s too tight. Blah blah blah long story short, I have no engine. I don’t have the time or energy to figure it out or find another engine and I don’t have time for EVERYTHING else…Sheetmetal work, priming the rest of the body, wiring, finishing plumbing, battery mounting, engine break in, putting a top on it, test drives, etc. It’s not happening, no Gathering at the Roc for the roadster.

I’ve gotten more done in the last 6 weeks than I would have in 6 months the way I was headed. I’m happy with everything I’ve done so far and will continue as is at a little easier pace. I’ve got a back up plan for the ‘57 to make it to Oklahoma though so not completely dead. Here’s some fun stuff to look at.

 

Thats problaby the right thing to do.
Why rush things trough and risk to do it half done.
Give it another year and you can have the car you wanted.

 

You are quite a discerning builder...I'm not surprised you have made that decision even though you missed a big event with it...changes nothing from my perspective though...you are really putting a wicked Hotrod together Anderson. I'm thoroughly enjoying my front row seats here at the Hamb...and I definately know how missing a deadline feels...

 

Like you said, the motivation to meet a deadline got you a lot farther than normal circumstances. So that's a definite plus! And, you have a pretty dang cool "spare" hot rod at your disposal. I'm back down to one car and it's up on jack stands for the foreseeable future.

 

Probably the best decision. It's still shaping up to be one of your best builds to date even if you have to wait a little longer. I'll be looking for that 57 at the Roc! Really looking forward to the show.

 

I found a pair of magnesium 15x6 Americans locally, then found some 15x6 Crestlines that are a pretty close match, though in aluminum. Had someone who wanted the polished Americans so I dismounted the tires. The “new”’wheels still need a lot of cleanup but good enough for a mock-up. I actually think I’ll keep the mags for my slicks and try to find another pair of Crestlines for the back. The mags out back have a little too much offset and are too far away from the body without narrowing the rear end again.

 

The rears are way cool!

 

Been a few months, anything new?

 

I was wondering the same thing.

 

What a killer roadster! Giving me plenty of motivation for my own!

 

Sorry it's been a while. After the big push for the show last year I was pretty burnt out. But have gotten some stuff done here and there. I went ahead the put and engine together and got it in the car. The chassis is done...need to adjust pinion angle and caster but never had all of the weight on it until recently. Just finished up master cylinders, slave cylinder bracket and brake lines. Had an ordeal with the starter, but figured that out. Another issue with the distributor driveshaft but figured that out too. Mounted the powergen. Oh, and I put new door skins on the old inners with some smaller bear claw latches. The doors still suck, but at least they open and close now.










As she sits. I plan on bleeding the hydraulics this week. I need to add the rest of the leaves to the rear spring now that it has settled, notch the quarter panels for the rear axle, then shoot the rest of the thing blue. Probably be on the road sometime next year at this pace...

 

What's the first CAD project for it?

 

Oh yeah! since you mentioned it and I forgot...

I designed and had these carb scoop screens 3d printed. I might also put one of those fuse panels in it, or make a cover for the first fuse panel I did for this car.

 

Cool! I was wondering about this roadster. The car is looking great. Hope all is well with you.

 

Yesterday I notched the quarter panels, put the last two leaves back in the rear spring, and worked on the trunk rain gutters and decklid hinges. This decklid is pretty rough but I think I can save it.



I don't think I posted the finished column drop. Had to add a little embellishment too.

 

Decided to go ahead and get a new decklid skin. The old one needed patched and a lot of straightening...decided to put my efforts into fixing the inner structure panel and abandoning the original skin. So I got it apart and patched the inner last weekend. Also cut off the old rumble seat hinges that had been welded on. Its still got some holes that could stand to be patched but I'm just going to get it together with the new panel and get it in primer. An interior panel would cover all the other stuff and they don't cause structural issues.





The new skin isn't too far off. This is it just setting in place. I'll weld the two pieces together soon and get the hinges and latch sorted out.

 

looking good man! you'll be screaming down the road before you know it!