well, i finally bought me a roadster. its not an original roadster but its what i could afford and i am as happy as can be with it. i will be doing a bunch of things to it to personalize it in the near future. so i thought i would start of by introducing the car... Rudy (from the Rumblers Detroit) built the car to what you see in the pics. he built the ch***is from 2x3. used a early 70's 350 (freshened up) w/ camel hump heads, shorty water pump, off intake, a mild cam and finned valve covers. this is mated to a saginaw 3 speed trans and a 43 banjo rear end (new spider gears inside and axles i believe). so far there are only rear drums (it stops amazingly good, but ill later install front drums too). the body is a bit "unfinished", sedan doors and cowl with dodge rear quarters. well, i just wanted to make sure he gets his credit. part 1... wheels and tires i am indecisive of what exactly to go with. i like the look of old spoke wheels as well as old 16" steelies (current set-up is 15s w/ 6.70s). i know i want taller tires out back (to help the gearing) and smaller up front. so far my thoughts have been gloss black spokes with wide whites, but there are sooo many combinations that also look good. well, any insight or suggestions are welcomed. some pics of the car: i added the blanket to soften up the "arm rest" as well as the little Jesus (thanks Chris): i already have a list of "things to do" that will follow the wheels and tires. thanks, Yaril
Yeah it's definitely cool! I would go black KH's with the white wall or black wall. 7.50's out back and some 5.50's up front. Keep that Body color and engine bay color and set it off with those Black wheels. Note: the stance of the car may call for 16" steelies instead of the Spokes. Enjoy it Brother!
wow, thanks every one. the car is a ton of fun. 53sled, thats my 51 Buick. look through my profile and you can find some pics from threads i started for it. jeffrey, please elaborate on the stance may call for 16" steelies? i am not sure what you mean by that.
Well, I guess when I look at the car again it could either way. The more I look at it it really could lend it self to a late 40's hot rod that could either use the 16" steelies or the Spokes. At first glance I thought it sort of looked like it was going for a late 50's Early 60's look which would look great with Chrome Reverse wheels or steelies. But now that I have taken a second look this car really could have have popped out of the Birth Of Hot Rodding book with the exception to the Engine and a couple minor details. It's pretty bare bones and Bad *** so I guess you really have a ton of options. What period were you looking to go for?
Great looking roadster, and it looks like a solid build, too. Extra points for running the dual quads! If it were mine, I'd go with 16" steel wheels the same color as the firewall and interior panels (and, I guess, the wheels that are on it now). Steel wheels are more in keeping with the period when people started putting in Chevy engines. The previous idea of using chrome steel wheels is *****en too, for the same reason. have a great time with your new car!
16 X4.5 Gennie (steel) wheels front and rear. 500/525 x 16 up front, 820 X 16 in the rear That's what I'm running. on my Roadster...
i guess i was having a hard time trying to figure out what period i am going for... yeah the motor and some other things keep it from being early, so that put me in limbo; but the shape that the body is in keeps me from ever taking the body to the next level. so with that thought out... i would love to have it very much a late 40s. bare bones as possible with little to no flash. guess i need a profile shot and some photoshop to ease my decision. i can not afford to spend the money and not love it, its gotta be right. thanks everyone and feel free to add pics for reference or ideas...
Well spend the summer driving the **** out of it and start looking for a Flat head or a four banger to throw in there next summer. Ditch the seats in favor of a bare bones bench seat and perhaps a ****on cover for the ****pit. The get 16" 1940 Ford wheels or Spokes which ever you prefer. OR you can run what I plan to which is V8-60 Wide Fives up front and 4" Wide fives out back with Caps of you choice. It has a Banjo out back and a nice front suspension. There is a great deal to work for if you want late 40's. ENGINE SEATS STEERING WHEEL WHEELS TIRES I know it's not going to be that easy but it does not sound to long of a list compared to most new projects huh? Also what about a hood and a track nose?
You could redress the motor to look like a really early 55or6 SBC, and it would fit right into the late fifties.. Three things.. drop the grille, too high, looks ratrod. put a gl*** screen in, perspex says "im lazy" bring the **** end up two inches, needs some rake.
jef that picture is about perfect. i am on it! i can easily run this motor while i source something to fit the bill. i personally like a bench, but the drive shaft is too high for that (ill work on something though), the steering wheel is in my list too (ill tackle that issue later). thanks for the insight and yeah i am excited that i can enjoy my car as i transform it. yup! the grill is on my list as well. i will have to look into that one later on cause the rad only allows for about 1.5" drop of the shell so i will fix that, trust me i will. gl*** screen, i think your referring to the windshield, well i want to address that probably around the time i do the radiator adjustments. lastly the car sits level (body that is), i hope to achieve that rake that i agree with you it needs with the tires and wheels, then adjust accordingly. just a side note, if i ever paint this thing it will maybe only get a darker shade but same family of color.
That picture is really kind of close to what you have now. If you notice the cars in the backround are from the 50's and he is running a 50's type engine. I threw it up there just to show you that you really don't need a photoshop because your car is so close. I will try to find some actual 40's type Hot rod pictures that are close to what your going for and throw them up later. And as far the bench seat goes, if that is out of the question then just look at what some guys were using at the lakes back then. You might find something cool to use such as two backs to a milk truck seat. I think that the Old Crow Belly tanker used one. I see if I can find some of those too!
aww man! i was in miami all last week and kept my eyes peeled for any old cars and didnt see ****!maybe cause i was stayin in miami beach and all i saw were ferrarris, porshes, lambos and homos..would of made my trip if isaw a cool little hotrod like yours tearing up the freeway.imean causeway, (things have different names over there)
I saw that on e-bay a few weeks ago. Caught my eye cuz I have a coupster I'm messing with too. Keep us posted. I need to do a frame for mine next and I've been looking for a stance I like. I still havn't found one. Enjoy the car!!!! Looks like fun Jeff
The new ride looks great, congrats! .........and I see no reason why you shouldn't give me the 51 now that you have a new project.
jef you have been a great help! thanks for the guidance and i look forward to the other pics you will post. i am feeling it. i know, its not the end of the world. thankfully there is a serious drive shaft hoop in the tunnel for safety. i will address the floors when i pull the body off in the future. you wont see much around here. next time contact me and ill show you where they are. yup it was on e-bay, my friend won it then his wife said "i dont think so!", so then i struck a deal with the guy. haha, i still have ideas for that Buick that i have not done. plus i need car with a back seat, the roadster is kinda too "******" for me.
i couldnt resist. i got ahead of my plans cause i remembered that i had my original 51 Buick steering wheel (i put a 53 wheel in my Buick cause it had more chrome). so i modified the original wheel to accept the quick release hub, then covered the center with the horn crest. whatcha think? Yaril
jeff i think you forgot about me well, ive sourced 2 16" wheels and 2 18" wheels locally. got them cheap plus im getting the sandblasting free and a deal on the powder coating (i hope). the front wheels where even on a hot rod from the early 60's. the gray beard talked my ear off (great guy!). i know they may look rough but they are solid and not pitted, the lip will need a little fixing but its only on 1 or 2 areas. 18's 16's now, i need some serious advice on tires!!! my idea so far is obviously new Coker tires, and i have decided on black wall tires: front: http://store.coker.com/prod/500-16-firestone-ribbed-front.html or http://store.coker.com/prod/550-16-firestone-blackwall-tire.html rears: http://store.coker.com/prod/700-18-firestone-blackwall-tire.html i am open to suggestions, i definately want a taller back tire about 31" tall to help the highway speeds. thanks! Yaril
That'll be a fun hot rod. not too far away for finishing touches to get it to your taste. Nice package and you have most everything there now.
I love black wire wheels but only with blackwalls. Go with some Firestones, maybe 450/475's and 750's. Just my 2 cents.
Just for a second I did. I thought about it earlier today thought and now I am on it my friend. Here are a couple I had on my computer. Note: Not all are Model A's but they are sort of the style you were after.
Most of those pics are out of the Book The Birth Of Hot Rodding. I definitely think that you should pic it up and just keep staring at the pictures. Oh and by the way the 18" and 16" will be pretty bad ***. Just look at Kirby's coupe with the same setup. I hope your powdercoating them back too!
wow! great pics! im very motivated. btw i forgot to mention that today i also ordered my lakester headers from lakeheaders.com, Matt was real cool answering all my dumb questions. so in the next coming weeks this car will have a totally different persona! i cant wait.
on my lap is the Rodders Journal 37, with his feature in it! i cant stop looking at the pic of it rolling down the highway! funny you should post that picture! and yeah black powder coating, gloss. front back inside everything.
The Jalopy Journal
