Looking to Get Started...

Thanks! I just reached out to 100% Matt. Let’s see what he says. TM

 

Ok. He just directed me to Millworks. $479 T Springs currently out of stock. I have ordered from them before. Nothing new here.

 

I've got a half dozen out back of the shop.

A few years ago I stopped by a shop that I knew belonged to an old restorer fella. Outside was a small trailer loaded up with what looked like a good haul from a swap meet. Inside were the fella and a few of his buddies, drinking coffee and resting. They had just gotten done loading the trailer, for a trip to the metal recyclers.

For a few bucks I happily relieved them of a half dozen rear springs, as well as a bunch of other good parts.

 

^^^Outstanding^^^

 

So there is a treasure trove of T Springs! I sent you a message.

 

I’m still looking for a T Spring since I’m not going to road trip to Iowa anytime soon. Maybe someone will have one near Maryland or be willing to ship if it’s not too expensive.

 

I’m excited to get my windshield assembled.
I have been soaking my old frame with Kroil in anticipation of taking it apart to swap the glass into my new/old frame. Turns out I really didn’t need to since it was so rusted it basically fell apart.

 

I’ll need to get some of the smaller hardware pieces but the windshield should be good to go when I’m ready for it.

 

Still Evaporusting the tank. Finally drained the used up fluid and added a couple gallons of new.

 

Here’s a couple of updates.

First, @lothiandon1940 connected me with a fellow Maryland hot rodder who had caravan middle seat that he was not going to use. So now I have a start on the roadster seat solution. Thanks Don! His Friend Tom (who had the seat) has an eye and a passion for truly detailed hot rods. He had multiple classic mustangs. Any of which I would love to have. His Orange 1968 is showroom floor condition. So nice. More importantly, he has just recently finished a beast of a 1930 Model A Coupe with a perfect 3 inch chop and a 289 H.O. Cobra power plant. Not only is it the most perfectly detailed hot rod I have seen but it sounds like it owns the neighborhood. Super fun to hang out with Don and Tom for a bit.

Next, I had a few of my best buddies over last night just to hang out. I took advantage of the situation and we removed the Roadster body from the frame. Super easy with all the help.
Awesome time talking about cars, fishing, and plans for future adventures.

Like many have said before, this life is all about relationships. It’s great to have fun hobbies but means nothing without sharing it with friends and family.

Happy Father’s Day! TM

 

I was glad to put the two of you together and it was a pleasure to meet you. Hope we can catch up at an event somewhere down the road............Don.

 

Man that coupe is NICE!!!! And Ford powered as a bonus.

 

Great following along!

 

Kaden welding in some frame braces before adding Tardel Step.

 

You need to get him wearing PPE when welding!

 

Working on stepping the frame and taking out a few leaves from the rear spring pack. Interestingly, there are 9 leaves in the pack. I know roadsters should have only 7. Makes me doubt this was actually a roadster frame. Regardless, it will have only 4 when I button it back up. I know the leaves are probably different tension rates than roadster leaves… but I am gonna try 4 and see what that does. Not cutting any of them up this time

 

Made a little progress tonight with the rear spring and the step. Decided to use a couple of the short springs as spacers and then also weld spacers on the u-bolt ‘brackets’. I tacked the rear crossmember in place and did a bit of a mock up. I’ll do some more measurements and finish it up sometime this weekend and then switch to the front end. I’m still sloshing evaporust and bolts around in the tank. It’s a pretty good workout. Doesn’t look clean in there yet.

 

Lots of small victories with the roadster this weekend.
Finished stepping the rear and completed the install of the spring with 4 leaves.
Wrestled with the old rusty windshield frame to get the original “pulls”. They wanted to die with the frame but I wouldn’t let them.

 

I also spent some time with another fellow H.A.M.Ber @mantuajohn . I made the road trip up to NJ with my beautiful wife to grab some more cool parts. This guy has everything. 57 Thunderbird, 62 Corvette, 32 Roadster, 29 Phaeton, 30 Roadster, T Bucket and I forget the other cars. There were more. His garage(s) were like museums. Everything was displayed in a way that kept your eyes moving around the garages from floor to ceiling. I really appreciate John answering all my questions and showing us all his treasures. However, now my wife feels like she has seen a glimpse into our future and is concerned

 

Still sloshing new evaporust and bolts around in the roadster fuel tank.

 

I also got the old tires pulled off my 35 rims in anticipation of my new skins.

 

Here is a better pic of my step welds for your critiquing pleasure. Ha! I know they are not pretty. I’m not a trained welder but I penetrated the $hit out of them inside and out.

 

Hey Tribal,
Mantuajohn is a great guy!
We have crossed paths several times over the last 10 years!
He always has great stuff!

 

What is on your trailer, the new score. I see another project, get score.

 

Sorry. I didn’t mean to mislead you guys. I didn’t buy the rolling chassis. That was just a good shot of John and my girl.

I bought a Tardel K-Member, a 31 grill, and some old scuffed up V8 hub caps for my 35 wheels. I’m still in the market for a good running 8BA, trans, and juice brake parts. I have some leads but nothing really lined up yet.

 

Out with the old worn out front end.

 

I’m also gonna check with a local radiator shop to see how much it would cost to get the leak(s) fixed.

 

One of the things I am learning from this project is that it is very hard to have and stick with a specific plan when you are still trying to source parts for your project. You never know when you will find the parts you are looking for at a the right price and you never know what other deals you might stumble across for parts you are not really looking for…. Seems like having a locked in general/high-level plan is doable but a specific plan can be a challenge unless you have an unlimited budget and/or patience.

 

My plan remains two part.

1. Get the roadster tagged and on the road with banger and mech brakes by end of summer.
2. Continue to collect parts for a winter AV8/Juice brakes build.

I’ve also considered eventually doing a mild banger build for the coupe.

Paint is lowest priority