That is the best way to get things done. I love the trade barter system. Easy way to get things done for no money. I have traded a paint job on a motorcycle for Tattoos. Works out great for my and my artist.
I got the fenders back form the trade deal I made. They turned out good, and are a bit darker color than the body, but I am gonna wait until I get the driveshaft and steering finished to mount them up. I finally got the hydraulic clutch bled thanks to google. It's getting there slowly.
Mounted up the rear fenders and lighting, and got the driveshaft and steering joint installed. I then fired up the old girl and went for a maiden voyage over to the gas station and treated her to some high octane fuel. With the 401 nailhead and 5 speed she pulled real hard, and will bark the tires going into second gear. I had a hard time putting her away last night, but with no head light or plates figured I better so I wouldn't get into trouble.
I hung most of the sheetmetal on the roadster yesterday and today. The front sits prety low to the tires, and I worry about hiting a bump on a corner and and rubbing the front fenders. I drove it around quite a bit with no problem, but a 3/16th spacer on top of the spring probably wouldn't hurt.
Congrats on the first drive Buddy. I saw another one for sale on eBay last week, and thought of you. Almost sent you a msg about it. It was all original, but rough.
The grille shell placement and spacing was a little off for the hood to fit properly but the space was smaller than the hood, so I was able to trim the hood to fit.
Just watched the video with my earphones in! That car is awesome John. I love that it's a Buick body (Buick grille shell too!!) with a 400 inch nailhead for power. And it has three pedals!! Can't wait to see it with some headlights man, keep us posted. Kevin
Thanks Kev. It has now become fun even though it's cold and snowy most days, spring will come back. I had to lower the seat about 3 inches so I wasn't staring at the top of the windshield frame, and now I sit much better, and more comfortable in it. I am gonna try the top on it in the next week or so, and maybe get it upholstered. Still working out the few little gremlins that seem to pop up on a new build.
I got some headlights for the buick the other day. I am not sure what they were on previously, but were in great shape for my project. I have included a pic of the original mounting point that had to be changed for my use. The lens is flat with the size of 10 inches with the marking on the lens saying Twin beam with the word monogram below that. The bucket depth is about 6 to 7 inches, and the mounting ring for the lens is 3/4 inch tall. They do have two bulb fittings in them. Whatever they came off of they ought to give the old girl some class.
I finished up the dash by installing the tachometer them moved on to the mirrors. I decided to mount them just forward of the doors so they will be stationary at all times. Not really necessary but I liked them that way. Maybe get the headlights shot and mounted soon.
I painted the headlight buckets and all the trim items that go with them and installed them on the buick. I now can venture out after dark.
I decided that I didn't like the removable hardtop that I built earlier. The old girl after 90 years needs something a little closer to originality, so I built a folding top mechanism for the car since they don't seem to sell to many buick roadster repops. I figured some 1/2 inch electricians hardwall tubing, 1 inch by 1/8th inch thick steel strap, a bunch of 1/4 20 bolts, and nylock nuts and some teflon 1/2 inch round tubing pieces with a 1/4 inch hole in the center. black paint. and some labor.
I have about 600 miles on the roadster, and after 100 of them last sunday, I needed to do something about the resonating sound coming from the 2 1/2 inch pipes that end under the car. The resonating sound is around 1200 to 1600 rpm. I spent a little time rearanging a set of pipes I had to make them go over the axle and out the back. It was tricky getting it to go around everything, and now I realize why some exhaust shops charge so much. I kept the 2 1/2 inch pipes all the way out the back, so the sound is muffled but not nonexistant. I do like a little rumble. one more step in it's evolution.
Man that sun in a roadster is brutal, So I had some cheap temporary canvas to play around with for a bikini style top, until I can afford the real stuff. It helped with the sun and wasn't to bad to install. The back wiondow is leveled, and installed about 1. 1/2 inch lower than the picture.
Yeah, I drove convertibles around the Rockies for years, but I found that I drove them more and more in Spring and fall, and late in the evenings, less and less in summer and the middle of the day. I'll bet that bikini top makes the drive a lot more comfortable. Great rod!
The Jalopy Journal
