Projects Rosie The Red 40

Well after a couple weeks off, we finally got back to work on the 40. I found a reamer and decided to go ahead a ream the bottom half of the steering arm hole and it seemed to work fine. Everything fit up tight and there is no play. We decided to go ahead and reverse the rear spring while we were at it and the end result is exactly what I had pictured. I’m super happy with the stance now, just need to figure the oil consumption problem out and she will be ready for some miles. Here’s some photos @bchrismer and I shot of the 40’s together at the fair grove mill on the way home from Meekers shop today.

 

Those photos put a big smile on my face!

 

Looks great Ben and cool with Bret’s truck too.

 

I zoomed and cropped this pic on my phone to show a better view of the ending stance. I'm curious to see if it settles anymore after having had the springs both apart to do the reversed eyes, or if that is where the ride height will stay, but that is exactly where I had been visualizing in my head.

 

Nicely done guys. Sorry I couldn't get out there yesterday but even the plans I had originally made got thrown into a tailspin.

 

Well, I’ve been slacking on my updates here but I wanted to atleast hop on here and drop a photo dump since we got the car lowered. I did check a few things off of my list, like installing the vent windows. I couldn’t find anyone around here to touch them so I ordered the setting tape and did it myself. I also got the opportunity to take the car back to the guy I bought it from and let him look it over. He was happy to see it and I always enjoy hearing his stories. Not much else has changed, the springs have settled a bit and I did pull a head and confirm the engine is WORE out. Not sure what my plan is there, but we have the southwest mo hot rod hundred this Saturday and I am determined to finish the run just to say I did it on all stock, non rebuilt drivetrain once. Check out my rigged up smoke tube with a PVC bushing I made to go in place of the breather cap. Who needs engineers when you have rednecks right? Lastly, I had a friend from Arkansas come up and sling some paint for me and he killed it! I was going for the 60’s look on this car and I think we nailed it. Enjoy the photos, and I’m hoping I’ll have a good story to tell after the weekend! View attachment 5372829

 

Nice Ben! I heard Cory was coming to put some lines on it. Turned out great! Oh, and see you soon...like this weekend.

 

Looking forward to it!

 

Well, this will be my final post here for awhile as the 40 is no longer in the “build/project” category. I have had the goal of attending and finishing the Southwest Missouri Hot Rod Hundred with the 40 since I bought it back in December and at the time it wasn’t really road worthy and had been sitting for quite some time. Yesterday, I achieved that goal and put 200+ miles on the sedan without any hiccups. I couldn’t have come close to achieving this goal without the guys that have taken me under their wing and helped tremendously throughout the process, you know who you are and I appreciate it so much. The flathead burned 10 qts of oil and kept all of the mosquitoes away from the rest of the 200+ cars that also joined us for this event, but she made it. Thanks to all who followed along, I’m not much of a story teller but I did enjoy keeping track of my progress here and interacting with everyone. There are a few bugs here and there with the car that need fixed, but that’s a story for another thread/another day. Enjoy some pictures from yesterday, and we’ll see you all down the road!

 

Congrats Ben! And, good to finally meet you in person. Here are a couple more shots I took following you for a bit. I also got a video and can post it later of the mosquito smoke screen.

 

Thanks, and likewise! Jimmy send me a couple of videos as well lol.

 

Congrats on meeting your goal. The car sits right and evidently drives pretty well; well done.

 

Your Smile says it all, it looks great...those Tudors are quite the lookers...congrats on the Smilestone and look forward to any updates and its sounds like IF there are any I suspect they may be related to swapping to Off for repelling mosquitoes...keep your eyes peeled you never know what might pop up...that's a lot of crude...

 

Thanks man. I’ve got my eyes out for another flatty to get me through the summer. I’ll continue to throw the book at this one and see what happens

 

When you rolled into the park and gave us the double thumbs up that was pretty cool. Happy for you.

 

I know I have already told ya, Ben, but with all the soot that it left on the floor of Jimmy's shop when I fired it up, I'm hoping that the rebuild of a 94 carb with the Vintage Speed kit I gave ya, will solve the rich running condition. I'm betting that you've got fuel washing out the rings and accelerating the oil consumption. Double check that kit to make sure it had a power valve in it. If not, I have an extra one on my shelf for the 94.

 

To that point, I learned that not all the power valves would actually seat correctly in the 94's I ran for a while. Pretty sure mine were dumping fuel at first until I figured out that some kits come with the wrong style. Guessing the one from Vintage Speed would be correct.

 

Yeah, Charlie turns them on a lathe, is my understanding, and takes the shoulder out of them so they seat correctly. That solved my power valve issue on my 94.

 

Well, I said that would be it for updates for awhile but just as soon as I almost gave up hope to find a good flathead, one came up for sale and I pulled the trigger. Out goes ole smokey and in goes a good running 59AB out of a local 46 sedan. Hoping to have it wrapped up and back in business in the next week or so, but we’ll see.

 

Well, in just shy of a week of working evenings after the baby goes to bed, I got the old motor out and the new motor in. Thanks to @bchrismer for lending a hand last night to help stab the new motor into place. Now, I just need to get the crank pulled swapped for the old pulley off the 40 motor so I can run the lower crank mounted fan on the newer motor. My goal is to have it to the exhaust shop for some gl***packs and duals on Sunday, but we will see how this weekend goes. Im anxious to drive it with its “new” power plant

 

Very cool Ben! You will be going again in no time!

 

Don't mess with the mufflers, just run straight pipes. My 39 has straight pipes, it sounds awesome, and with pipes to the rear bumper, I can barely hear it inside the car.(SBC) That ol flathead will have a cool burble with no mufflers.

Also, go with 1-3/4" pipes.

 

Definitely going with 1 3/4” pipe, and I’m going to run 12” gl*** packs. I love a good straight pipe but I need to be able to get in and out of the garage without waking up the baby lol.

 

Not arguing with you, but your bone stock flatty will be quiet at idle and off idle. If you wind it up to 4 grand to back it out of the garage then yeah, better get mufflers.

Food for thought: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e4xJ5t_1ZKg

 

Finally back with another update! After fighting the crank pulley for a couple of days, and breaking both pulleys off of the slave they were attached to, I rigged up and exhaust flange that finally allowed me to get a good grip on the puller and get the old double pulley off. New pulley went on just fine and I got everything put back together, minus the hood and grille. I did get to fire the car up this morning! I sure love these flatheads with no mufflers, but I think I’m making the right choice with a couple of short gl*** packs. I should have the car on a trailer and headed to the exhaust shop Saturday. I’m looking forward to being back on the road! Here’s a short clip of the car running.

https://youtu.be/Eh2RAicMbnw

 

Reviving an old thread here, but the story of Rosie continues on and one day I’ll be glad I kept this thread going. After swapping motors in the 40 earlier last year, I managed to add what I guess to be a couple thousand miles over the course of the summer. The highlight of the year was definitely the trip to Bartlesville for the Gathering. This was the first old car that I turned the wrenches on and got to road trip with, and that was definitely a hot rod milestone for me. That being said, I’ve had my fun with the stock drivetrain and flathead in this car and it is time for Rosie 2.0.

My plans are to swap the old original drivetrain for a rebuilt and pretty much stock 283, a 4 speed Saginaw that will retain the stock 40 column shift, and a 3.25 8” from a comet. These updates will make the car a little more highway friendly as well as family friendly (safety wise). Im planning a few visual changes as well, but I’ll keep those a secret until I can post a “finished” picture

 

That should sure make the 40 a great road trip car! And, those wrapped up tires might be a clue to one of the visual changes?

 

Yep, maybe so!

 

Pleasure meeting you last week Ben. Meant to tell you that if you need any 40 pieces check with me, I have quite a bit .

 

You too, Joe. Thanks for showing us around your place! I’m looking forward to seeing your Tudor come together.