Projects My '26 Roadster / Vintage photo search

Whoa, Whoa!, WHOA! ....let's not say anything we can't take back now!

..Lizzie here is still all T

 

Don't worry my H.A.M.B. friends.....my car will not loose it's "spindly T" look.

It is a "gowjob" at heart after all.

 

When they were soupin' up the T back in the day, didn't they use A parts?

 

Although we’ve never met in person, I consider Clayton a friend. I was just giving him a hard time.

I’m sure any Ford guy who found an A in the dump was grabbing any part he thought he could make fit his T. And realistically, by the time a ‘26 was available to supe up, the ‘28s wouldn’t have been far behind. Were this a ‘16 roadster, the story might be a bit different, of course.

The A parts are a good fit with Clayton’s self-described build theme, which as I recall is early-Depression gow that has survived the last 75 years with minor mods: hence things like the Falcon carburetor and Hudson air cleaner, which certainly don’t detract from the car in the least.

But if V8-style wire wheels or sealed-beam headlights ever work their way into the picture, we’re gonna have words about it.

-Dave

 

Dave my friend, you are absolutely correct. I think we also need to remedy that whole "not meet in person" thing...maybe Bonneville next year?

They made work whatever they could find....didn't matter the make so much. This is why my car is a mixture of makes like:

Hudson, Willys, Packard, Nash, Lincoln, Oldsmobile, Chrysler, Dodge Bros, Mercer, Simplex, Locomobile, Stutz, Cadillac, Studebaker, Buick, Franklin, Peirce-Arrow.......and a lil' Rolls-Royce and ranging from about 1911 to 1927....the kinda stuff someone might find sitting in a wrecking yard at that time. I can certainly see Model A's turning up in wrecking yards in the early 1930's.

"early-Depression gow that has survived the last 75 years with minor mods"

I don't think I could have said it better myself ...although some of the later parts...mainly the Hudson air cleaner and the Falcon carburetor are "leaving the band" in favor of some more 1940's additions to the car, like the Stromberg 81's and Burns intake



"If V8-style wire wheels or sealed-beam headlights ever work their way into the picture, we’re gonna have words about it."

Neither of these things will have a home on this car...funny you should mention this though. I thought about mocking those up just to screw with ya all....but I figured I would get "words" from more then just you

Those things just wouldn't fit on this car at all...and I couldn't bring myself to change it cosmetically. Mechanically however, that is a different story. It has to be drivable, safe and most importantly what I want as far as looks and design....all while not messing up the car

On that note, what do you think of the new engine for it?


Mwahahahahahahahahahahahah!

 

I think meeting up soon is a must. Bonneville is probably not gonna happen, unfortunately, as we’ll have a new six-month-old right about the time of Speed Week.

I do, however, have friends who relocated to Portland that I’ve been meaning to visit at some point. I will certainly look you up when I get out there.

That Chevy mill is gonna look great in there. I’ll start hunting Craigslist for some 15-inch directional mags.

On a serious note, however. Whatever became of the Chrysler hydraulic brakes project? Back burner until after Bonneville?

-Dave

 

Meh. A SBC? Talk about cookie cutter.

On a more serious note, I'm glad that you're sticking with the gow job direction, avoiding those "newer" wheels and equipment. That Burns intake is pretty cool. Your car's aesthetic appeal is a big factor for me. I have a set of Model A wheels sitting in my garage that I like to mock up with every once in a while. I only had two at the time of this photo but I'm sure I'll find something to use these wheels on in the future.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Now we're talkin'! ....or maybe some Torque Thrust-D's would look great!

No worries my friend....if it doesn't happen on the Salt, we'll get together some other time...and of course, Congrats on the coming "little one"

If you do make your way out West, please do give me a call and make a visit to the "Shop", I know Chris would love to meet ya as well.

Well, as for the Chrysler Hydraulic brakes...I did put those on hold until after the Bonneville trip. I have too much on my plate with redesigning the entire suspension system, building a whole new engine, Aux. Trans, rear axle and numerous other odds and ends by May...AND getting it on the road for road testing.....AND getting it dialed in before Bonneville



...So needless to say, building a whole new set of untested, unknown brakes on top of all that was not gonna happen. I also might just buy a second set of Rocky-Mountain brakes and modify them to duplicate a set of these which I found in a book of Model T aftermarket accessories:




This would also cut down my fab work load. If the Chrysler brakes don't end up on the T, they will go to the 1917 Hupmobile Model N touring that I am working on getting for a future project. All the important stuff is there and I have access to a 1914 White 30hp 4-cyl for it and I have a White 4-speed trans for it.....should make an awesome period car!

 

I know lol! Mwahahahahahahah!

Oh, don't you worry TS....going away from the "gowjob" theme has never crossed my mind and never, EVER will. That would be the stupidest idea EVER!....and its not what this car is about.

If anything, I want to make this car MORE of a "gowjob"....if that is possible

I'm excited about the Burns intake and the 81's, hopefully it all works like it's supposed to. The new motor should be more then enough to handle it, but it still might be a job to tune it right.

Nice looking Model A roadster! It would be pretty awesome to see a Model A roadster lowered a bunch (with period methods) on 21" A rims set up like a "gowJob" would have a great look if it was done right

What are your plans?

 

The one pictured is actually a coupster. It's going to be an as-period-correct-as-possible hot rod built in 1959. I already have an '57 Chevy 283 that'll be going in it with a 3-speed and a Banjo rear. It'll probably get chrome steel wheels. The build thread is in my signature (Project Mattitude).

But now that you went and talked about the idea of a Model A gow job, I think I have an idea of what I want to do with my spare Model A Sports Coupe body. Hmm..

4-banger, 21" wires, lower the car without Z-ing the frame or dropping the front, perhaps even unspilt wishbones, chop the A and B posts but leave the roof open kind of like Desoto's Sports Coupe (if I'm not mistaken?). Keep everything pre-V8 like yours. I'm liking the idea.

Just gotta finish the '59-era hot rod first.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Although I agree the 16" Budd wheels would carry the car into the next era, they where actually introduced in '32 as an 18" version and as a 17" in'33 and '34. I have a set of each and had concidered running them till I bought my '29 chassis with a very useble set of 21"er's. I have a circa '33 dirt car on the back burner that might end up with those.

Ron

 

Sounds like an awesome build, will have to check out your thread.

The "gowjob" model A idea sounds like a good one too....see!? you got the eye for it

....you sure you wanna finish that '59 era coupster first?

This is very true, but they do have that look and I really wanted to keep my car in the 1929 - '31 range...no later then '32. While these wheels would have been available starting in '32 and one might have been able to buy a set from the local Ford dealer....but at that time, who would have? Not someone building in their garage on a budget

 

Don't make this any harder for me than it already is right now.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

I do agree the Budds would change the feel of the car. After the time I put into my 21's They will always be with the car, how ever I do have a pair of '26-7 and a pair of '28 Chevy 21's also...food for thought.

Ron

 

Who, me? ..I'm shocked!

 

21" Model A's and 21" Model T's are virtually the same except the bolt patterns are different....T's are smaller.

I run '26-7 T wires on my car and always will....just bought a exceptional set to replace my current beat up ones. The only wheels I would consider switching to are 18" - 20" Buffalo knock-off wire racing wheels.....

...21" Chev wires might look pretty hot too.

 

The Chevy wheels are disc's not wires.

I would like Buffalo's too but pretty hard to manage on my SS checks.

Ron

 

Is the Burns intake intended for a Model T? Or is it a Model A piece you're adapting? Don't I recall that your 1x1 intake was a flipped Model A item?

-Dave

 

Duh! Sorry Ron....not sure why I was thinking the Chevy's were wires.

Yeah.....they're a lil' out of my price range too. ....makes my checkbook hurt

My original "home made" down draft intake was indeed a cut and re-worked stock Model A intake...just chopped, flipped and re-welded the snout.

The Burns is not a a Model T manifold, it's actually intended for a Model A,B or C...but the cool thing about the T, A, B and C is that the intake and exhaust port spacing is the same ...so for the most part, whatever cool manifolds I can buy for those later engines....I can run them on my T motor

 

One of my favorite things about this build thread is the wealth of knowledge for pre-war stuff on here. I'm learning so much.

Are there any web sites or forums other than the HAMB that you do your "research" on mixing and matching all these oddball parts?


iPhone - TJJ App

 

Information is spotty. Talk to the really old guys ( I don't quallify, I'm only 66). Best is to just get in there and get your hands dirty.

This has been a real challenge to me (I'm used to building t-buckets). I have to remind myself not to go to the inth degree with finishing parts. Most of these cars were running with parts that were just pulled form one car and installed on the current car. Spit and polish was only on a few. Most paint jobs were done with a brush in the driveway.

Ron

 

I love the Pre-War era....I think it's Hot Rod ingenuity at it's best. Everything had to be figured out from scratch and built since there was not allot of "off the shelf" items on the market yet. All those techniques are what made pre-war hot rodding and the "gowjob", "supe-job" era what it was.....and I love keeping those traditions and techniques alive.

As for the sources for this kinda stuff.....where ever you can find it.

The H.A.M.B. is certainly a major resource as there are many Pre-War, Brass and Nickle era enthusiasts here. The MTFCA forum (Model T Ford Club of America) is also an excellent resource for anything Model T. The rest can be found in old books, articles, old photos, talking with old timers, etc.

Ron is correct though....info can be spotty at best, but when you find it...it's usually gold

 

In a way we are starting from nearly the same place as the builders back then. There certainly wasn't the internet to turn to. Most of the imformation came from the dirt tracks around the country. And then there was the ol' trial and error method. Lately I find myself looking at vintage suspensions from all makes and models.

Yesterday I found a mid '20's Overland chassis in a grove. Very odd looking piece. The rail chanels face outward and the springing is all quarter eliptic. The axles look like a T. Odd but cool. Paid next to nothing for it and will be dragging it home this weekend.

Ron

 

Sweet. You'll have to start a build thread. I'm curious as to what that looks like. Going to build a gow job out of this one?


iPhone - TJJ App

 

That is very true. There were no resources available, so everything came from either trial and error or, as you said, what was being done at the local dirt track.....or on your buddy's car

Those old Overland chassis are pretty strange. Does your new find have the crazy 1/4 elliptical springs up front that mount to a long frame bracket that sticks out in front, then back to the axle? ...If it is, it would be an '18 to '21 Overland Model 20.

 

Yeah the springs are just like in the pic you posted.

Texas speed

I'v already got a '25 roadster started. Need to finish that first. The future of the Overland is uncertain at this point. Didn't really need another project but for a C note i couldn't walk away.

Ron

 

Ah. All right. Good score though.


iPhone - TJJ App

 

* Mr. Machinist strikes again!!*

Well MrModelt has somebody building pieces for his front end while he is asleep at the wheel! Or is that becoming domesticated as a family man (good job by the way!)?




Well I made some pieces on the lathe for his front shackles over Thanksgiving in prep for hanging the front end on Saturday.

See ya Saturday early Clayton(yeah right!!!)

Chris
​

 

Chris, Just have a alarm clock to wake Clayton up early (no snooze button . . . ). Then have another just out side his room to go off about 10 minutes later. That ought a do it . . .

Dave

 

Julia his Lady put a stop to the five alarm clocks he used to get up in the morning apparently!!