This is going to be a fun ride. I really like the tub aspect which is unusual as I don’t usually like them. This one has changed my thinking on that. Beautiful hot rod.
Thanks EVERYONE for the nice comments and likes on the progress of my ride. My next week's work will be all the welding and finishing of the bottom of the body, body off to the paint shop (by the way the exterior color will be Hot Rod Orange, not sure if I have mentioned that) and I will start on the completion of the frame. Completed exhaust system is about to be off for coating in a high heat stainless color. At this point I'm feeling really good that it will be at Deuce Days in Victoria next July, so chevbucket, we are coming!
One step forward and two steps back. Throughout the project I was going to have this a completely open car, no top. Then I received my latest Rodder's Journal and in the article on the 32 Phaeton by Brookville they included 2 drawings of the car with a top on it, done by Chip Foose. While that was it, I got so excited when I saw them that I put the body back on the frame, mocked the car back up and began a tube frame lift-off top. It is 3/4 tubing and will be skinned in .040 aluminum sheet (available in 10' sheets from most race car supply houses fairly reasonable). This should keep the wife a little bit happier. These shots are in the paper mockup stage over the tube frame. Good thing Northwest Deuce Days are not until next July!
The top is now complete and ready for upholstery. Water-jetted the rear window frames from 3/16 aluminum then finished off with lots of hours of hand work. Now I can blow it apart for the final time to go to paint. Progress.
Some may not think this is progress, but now the body portion is off to my life long buddy, Lonnie's Auto Body in Medford, Oregon, 3 1/5 hours north of me but I know the quality of the job I will get in the end. Chassis will be off to the local powder coater (45 minutes away) nice part about living in the country. Next time you see all this stuff it will be orange.
I'm looking forward to the orange. I'm personally not a huge fan of orange although it can look great on many different cars. My buddy had an obsession with orange for a time as his T (which inspired my build) is orange as is his 47 coupe.
O.K., now I'm waiting on the body. Hopefully back soon. Lots of details to do in the mean time, but progress.
Back from the paint shop, body meets frame, Kinmont brakes installed, rushing to make my appointment at the upholstery shop....Progress
These were made out of Indian head nickles. The last one is what I call my Jewish nickel that ny grandfather gave me when I was about 8 years old. Some people call it a big ear nickel. I am afraid if I put it in my roadster someone will take it. Love your build especially the grill shell.
Coming together but have lots of wiring to get done then off to the upholstery shop (the top will be black). Can't wait to hear it run. Progress!
Very tasty!!! ( looks a bit like mine built 20 years ago on a Plymouth chassis with 360 Chrysler power )
Yeah Dude!...My kinda Rod!......Nice!.....Orange......Nah?....but Nice!!! Sent from my SM-G930T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Wow! John that's awesome what a great looking hot rod. Looks like I'm going to see it at Deuce Days this year!! Cheers John AKA Chevbucket.
That is a nice looking rig especially like how the blown Merc fits under the hood! Could someone provide the overall height and width dimensions of the 27-28 Whippet grill?
The grille shell is some what bell shaped, and measures 20 1/2 at the widest point and is 26 at the tallest point. I had not mentioned it before but The Brassworks radiator shop has all the measurements to build another after doing mine. Also note they were able to supply the egg-crate front facia for an original look. The radiator is still tube and fin. Hope this helps.
may be too late but [4] swing out from under eyes or hooks so a rack from the ceiling can lift and store it and make it a one man top... my $0.02.
Never too late for your two cents but the top is surprisingly light and easy for my wife and I to remove. Might be a different story once all the convertible top material is on it and the rear glass is installed. My wife is making bets that we never take the top off. Time will tell.
Back from the upholstery shop and now have all the final details to complete before getting some road time. We will be taking it to Craig Judd for pinstriping shortly. It doesn't show well in the photos but the tonneau cover has a zipper in the center to allow access to our backseat storage, should work real well. Once the headliner and the top material with rear glass installed, weight wise it still remains a two person top for removal. Progress!
The Jalopy Journal
