Hot Rods Homogenized ‘28 roadster build

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As close to symmetrical as I felt like getting. I built these caps for the 5-window at work and will probably make the same thing for my roadster with some different wing nuts.




I have to sing the praises of this band saw while I’m at it. Long story short this isn’t the saw I sought out but it’s the one I ended up with. Milwaukee deep cut, corded, and with adjustable speed…and a little light built in. Then the Swag Off-road stand for it completes the package, and it has been really awesome for cutting all the tubing. I don’t have the room for a legit band saw at home, but this bench top setup does a hell of a job.


Up next will be upper shock mounts and finalizing headlight mounts. I also have a plan to cut down my Zoops water pump riser to position the fan exactly where I want it.

 

Definitely getting the McGee/Scritchfield vibe off of that spreader bar. Lookin good!

And, thanks for posting your band saw! I've been trying to figure out how to get one, but I also have space issues. that would work for anything I need. Do you have a model number of the saw?

 

It is a 6232-20. Short story long, I ordered a dewalt from Amazon but wasn’t paying near enough attention and ordered a battery powered one, which I did not want. So I sent it back, but the only thing I could get by that weekend was this one from Lowes. I had ordered the stand at the same time as the Dewalt and kept it because it was supposed to fit a bunch of different brand and model saws. Well it doesn’t actually fit this saw, but there are two holes that were “close enough” in the mounting plate to get the job done. The saw and blade aren’t totally square on the stand but it works. I’m sure Swag sells one specifically for this saw.

 

Been thinking about that saw set up as well. I think they make one you can put in a vice instead of a table top also?

 

I believe they do, but I wouldn't want to tie up the vise.

 

I was thinking it would be handy if it was a tool you only occasionally used. I am short on work bench surface so that also comes into play I suppose.

Nice to have either way

 

Cut the headers to length and made my caps. A little shorter than the ones on the 5w. I also found these perfect wing bolts on McMaster Carr. They are stainless. Should take a little clean up and polish nicely. Where’s my copper antisieze??



These are the pieces I made that are welded inside the ends of the headers for the bolt to thread into.


Also machined these bungs for the shock mounts. I plan on getting the upper mounts done this week, and to finalize the headlights while I’m at it.

 

Looks slick

 

Tonight’s fartin-around project. Found an older non-auto gauge of the same diameter as my new speedo with a better looking bezel. It was $30-ish on eBay, and I figured I could swap the bezel over. It worked out pretty well.

 

Even better with it painted black. How hard was it to pop off the bezels?

 

Does that AC gauge glow in the dark?

 

………whoa!!!

 

I thought I’d need to make a special tool, but a small flat blade screwdriver, then a bigger one works fine to peel back the crimped edge.

 

I have a set of those I plan on putting in my 34 roadster when I get to it. I would love to find a fuel gauge and a 8000 rpm tach. I have a nos AC 2500 cable drive tach but it doesn't glow...

 

The paint probably has tritium in it. I wouldn't lick your fingers after touching it.. lol

 

If you want the leftovers it’s yours, it is cable drive

 

@Anderson Thanks, but it's a long way to ship and I'd still have to get it redone to at least 5000 rpm. Maybe someone else cal use it.

 

Finally got the shocks done. Made a little fixture to aid in drilling through the boxing plates in the same spot as the rails. After I trimmed the shock mount bungs to length I plug welded them through the boxing plates, then welded the outside. After that, I heated and bent everything to be where I wanted it. These Speedway shocks are for mock up, I’ll be using some chrome covered ones from Roadster Supply in the end. Then finished locating the headlight mounts and drilled/tapped the frame for hardware.

I also cut the holes in my gauge insert, but the material I thought I would use for the inlay wasn’t quite right.

 

Great progress. I especially like the headers and caps!

 

That’s a clever jig for the threw hole. Very nice

 

Probably not the most original idea but found some guitar pick guard material I liked for the gauge insert.

 

I can dig it. I think @oldsboy ended up doing a pick guard type inlay as well

 

Looks awesome! I think I have a pick in that same pattern.

 

Needed to clearance the Buick drums for the early ford backing plates. I have had some pretty good success in the past using a router on aluminum, so gave that a shot and it worked pretty well! Also got my steering box mounting plate made, might get it welded in tomorrow.

 

I mocked up the column and got the steering box mounted, then shortened the steering shaft and added the splined end for a u-joint. Luckily the header masks most of the u-joint stuff. I’ll wait until I’ve got a seat in it and have the column position figured out to finish the linkage. With weight of a full engine I think the front end will settle to have the tie rod and drag link parallel.

The latest grill insert is a Vintique…and while it is pretty much junk, it at least fits the shell best. I’ll have to do some work to get it just right, but it’s close-ish.

Now that the front end is about done, it’s close to sheetmetal time. I’m going to change out the rear crossmember in the frame and get everything else final welded soon, then start getting things lined up on the frame and start welding it together and doing patch work. I think the body will need to move forward another 1/2”, and I need to taper the bottom of the cowl to match the frame.

 

I have my engine just a little bit higher than most…but it still wasn’t high enough to get a factory fan on the water pump and clear the radiator hose, or even be above the bottom of the tank. So I got a Zips riser setup to put the fan 5” higher. Of course, that is a bit too high…and overlaps the top tank. Since I’ll need to get the fan closer to the radiator, I had thought of notching the top tank for fan clearance. But I also don’t think I’m going to stick with this radiator either, so needed a solution that wouldn’t have me cutting up a second radiator. I ended up cutting the Zips piece apart (after hacking off all the accessory brackets), took about 2” out of it, and welded it back together. It was a little bit more work than that, but not very involved. I drilled a piece of 3/8” steel to bolt everything down to hold it while welding and it worked pretty well. I need to do some light surfacing to completely flatten the gasket surfaces again but they’re still pretty close. And of course there’s still some weld cleanup, sanding, and texturing left to do.

 

Had a nice little day off yesterday which started with running out to Bass’ to pick up my new kingpin reamer. Buncha yard and house work today. But yeah…didn’t work on the car at all this weekend. I did get my “new” old chrome front backing plates.

 

Note to self: Anderson has an early Ford king pin reamer...

And that pic of Bass' shoebox...

 

Great to see @Bass Shoebox still around!