I thought I would post some pics of the progress since the Kansas HAMB-B-Q. I have actually been working on it quite a bit. It is an interesting dichotomy, on one hand I see how much I have done and how far I have come and it feels good. On the other hand I see how far I have to go and its really depressing LOL.
I have also come to the realization that I am a hack, I don’t have the knack (or desire) to make things pretty. I use what I have on hand or can scrounge from my farmer’s steel bone pile behind my shop. I am fighting an uphill battle with my steering setup; ’47 cross-steer with unsplit model A wishbone. I have 2” of clearance from the bottom of the tie-rod on the steering arm to the driver’s side ‘bone. I will have to heat and tweak it some more.
I also dont feel I have enough clearance in the rear, after recently raising the rear spring mount and frame Z.
The body is coming together slowly. Tack this piece here, tack that piece there. Bridge the gaps with pieces from all over. I think I counted parts from more than 12 different cars on body alone.
I couldnt find an affordable decklid, so I made one from an old aluminum construction sign. I bent it up in the gap in my picnic table, putting my weight on it and peening along the stress points with a 3 pound sledge.
Next I need to tackle the header area above the windshield, then roof, then door hinges. Then floor... yadda yadda yadda... The torquetube is shortened and hooked up. The pedals are in and need to be finished up. Brakes need to be rejuvinated, throttle pedal installed. I don't know if I can see the light at the end of the tunnel or not LOL.
Keep plugging away, before to long you'll be posting about that first ride. Then you'll forget about all of the inbetween steps. Well, maybe not forget but they will seem a lot less important as the miles rack up. Frank
Thanks guys- it means alot to hear kudos from my HAMB brethren. As a reminder- here's what I started with:
Man, that's a lot of progress since I first saw it in your shed in RI. It won't be long before you'll be ready to jump onto the tail end of the caravan going to Bonneville. Don't get discouraged, you're closer than you think.
Sweet, give me some hope for my stuff, I'm starting in about the same boat as you 30-31 coupe on A bones body in at least a million bits...... I need a good solid square cowl I think then I can work backwards from there. How did you get started on getting the body together ? I guess I'm sort of worried about doing a bunch of stuff with out a good cowl and then finding its not all going to fit right....
i remember those pictures oh so well jay, man you are getting there, now that's lookin gooood !! it's about time we seen an update on that thing, wtg buddy, i guess i will have to come to your house to get my first ride in it like you did mine?? mike
The front frame is from a Model AA. It is 6" deep with a much thicker wall section. It was cut off to make a tractor/doodlebug sometime in the past. I dragged it out of the woods in Connecticut. Believe me Paul, I don't know what could be more motavational, the thought of joining the trek to the salt with the Rolling Bones crew. Luckily for me, my best friend Mark (HAMBer General Gow) has a perfect coupe body in his barn. He joined the HAMB and I invited myself over to see his coupe. We then went to Lowedepot and got a couple pieces of plywood and set his body on it. It just fit enabling us to scribe around the outside and subrails with a Sharpie. We also made templates on the A and B pillars. And I got a awesome pair of doors from Slazzen. From then it's been to measure and measure again, then tack it. It looks 100% better in the photos than in person- believe me. But I figure if it looks like a hotrod at night in the dark, I'm set!
Hang in there man! You're making a LOT of progress. Think about it as a lot of little goals instead of one big one. For example didn't it feel good to get the deck lid hammered out? She's gonna be a killer ride!
Mike, LMAO! My first ride in a real hotrod was in your coupe! You time it so you can go to the HAMB Drags buddy! Although taking a trip to New England is certainly in the cards, after a 5 speed upgrade I think.
aaahhh, dood, that looks wicked pissah! (almost like being home, huh?) i can't wait to make vroom, vroom noises with you when i come out for the hamb drags! seriously, that thing rules. i need to get cracking with my perfect parts and no ability to try to catch up to you. especially if we are going to b-ville in 07... i want to see more pics of the adjustable rear spring perch.
you and mark need to DEFINITELY keep me informed if you make the trip back here, we will have to hook up someplace ( MARK - get moving on that thing!! ) ...hope to see you guys soon, later, mike
Yes it did. Still have to finish it though. hinges, latch, etc. oiy! Thanks for the kind words man. I used to work at a construction company that was started in the '30s. At some point the federal regulations mandated that all construction signs were to be orange. So there are a few yellow steel and aluminum signs that didnt get converted over in a little stash at the yard. I don't know what alloy the aluminum ones are, but it does not like to bend!
Looking good pal... you got more balls than I do starting off with a body that... umm... unfortunate? Never saw those pics b4... more power to ya. Gonna be done by the end of august??? Or you takin the ragtop again?? Lets caravan.
Your car and how you decided to rescue it, is one of my all time favorite stories on the HAMB.... Oh wait! Now that its coming together I can see it becoming one of my favorite CARS on the HAMB!!! You have the look nailed Nosurf...the history and family connection makes it even better. AWESOME ride thats gonna be one day. NEVER doubt your gonna do it...because its obvious you will.
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