Home Build… Again…

Now this is cool… One year and one day ago, I wrote a post about a guy that found an old hot rod. It was a quaint little story about a guy, his car, his garage, and his thoughts. The guy was just doing it exactly how it should be done.

Well, yesterday I got an email from that same hot rodder. He has just finished his mechanical rebuild of the car and wanted to clue me in on his progress. He did so with an incredibly detailed spec sheet (how much fun is that to read?) and a few images. I just fell in love with the whole package and thought I would share it with you guys.

Caption: Now that’s an old hot rod stance…

Caption: Flatheads never died… (Internal note: Silva, check out those air cleaners!)

Caption: Texture makes this car… It feels old and solid, doesn’t it?

Caption: Now that’s creative…

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1931 Ford V8 Roadster specifications:

1. Body: 31 Ford Roadster steel body (original) , rumble seat trunk

2. Body specs: 40.25�? body height (channeled), 57�? windshield height

3. Wheelbase specs: 140�? overall length, 103.5�? wheel base, 62�? front width, 64�? rear width

4. Frame: 31 Ford Roadster frame, *A1161716*

5. Front end: 31 Ford front stock axle and spindles, not dropped

6. Rear end: 31 Ford torque tube and banjo rear differential, ring and pinion ratio: stock (removed) 3.78:1 (9, 34)

a. High speed gear set 3.54:1 (11,39) 60+ mph, (installed)
b. Drive shaft: 6 spline 1.090�? O.D.

7. Suspension: 31 Original transverse leaf springs with vintage friction dampers.

8. Steering linkage: 31 Drag link and tie rod assembly

9. Steering gearbox: 33-36 Willys Saginaw steering gearbox, worm and three tooth sector, 30-260367, 15

10. Steering wheel: 40’s Chris Craft steering wheel, 15.00�? diameter

11. Brakes: 31 Mechanical linkage brakes, 11.00�? drums, stock with woven shoes, floater kit installed

12. Pedals: 32 Ford pedals with custom clutch linkage

13. Grill: 33 Ford truck grill

14. Radiator: 33 Ford truck radiator (upper hoses point down), 4.5 gallon capacity w / water jacket

15. Fan: 46-48 fan hub assembly, custom crank pulley, 42-48 generator bracket spacer

16. Hoses: 1-3/4�? I.D. lower radiator hoses. 1-3/4�? I.D. to 1-1/2�? I.D. upper radiator hoses

17. Signal device: 36-38 Fooey face rear signal device, patent number 2,106,333

18. Dash: 38 or 39 Ford deluxe dash

19. Windshield: 38 Ford deluxe 2 door convertible windshield

20. Rear bumper: 38 Ford deluxe 2 door rear bumper, shortened

21. Firewall: 39 Ford firewall

22. Water pumps: 39 78 series water pumps

23. Motor specs: 39-42 Ford flathead V-8, 24 stud, cast incorporated bell housing, C201.33-X15 (Re-built 8/2006)

a. Block: 91A (1939 Ford deluxe) or 99T (1939 1-1/2 ton truck) series block
b. Block: Possibly mid 41 – 42 pre-war block due to raised intake deck
c. Clutch: 11.00�? clutch, 1-3/8�? dia 10 spline shaft
d. Cylinder bore: 3.313�? bore X 3.750�? stroke, 258.6 cubic inch displacement, HP 125~150 TBD
e. Compression ratio: 8:1 w / Navarro heads (100 psi cold / cylinder) *6.20:1 stock compression ratio*
f. Crankshaft: 3.750�? stroke, 26.03�? crankshaft length, 41 crank pulley
g. Oil capacity: 4 quarts dry 20W50, 3.8 quarts typ

24. Pistons New, 4-ring: Egge 3.313�? O.D., 3.75�? stroke, .195�? domed top, .750�? dia. wrist pins

25. Heads: 48 Nostalgia Navarro heads, 24 stud, 8:1 C.R., (Used with domed pistons, 100 psi cold)

26. Cylinder bore old: 3.090�? old worn bore, 3.730�? stroke, (221) 223.7 cubic inch displacement, 85 – 90 HP

27. Valves: 1.500�? intake 30 deg exhaust 45 deg

28. Valve seat inserts: (Old) 1.645�? O.D., 1.340�? I.D., .210�? height, .100�? – .130�? seat width

29. Connecting rods: 91A series rods (1939 Ford deluxe)

a. Full floating rod bearings, 2.230�? dia rod I.D., .872�? rod width, 7.00�? rod length C to C

30. Connecting rod journal: (OEM book spec) 1.999�?, Rods measure 1.990�? – 1.993�? (*re-ground to .030�? under*)

31. Main bearing journal: (OEM book spec) 2.499�?, Mains measure 2.490�? (*re-ground to .010�? under*)

32. Camshaft new: Isky Max 1 street cam Lift: .364�? Duration: 249 deg

33. Camshaft journal: 1.795�?

34. Lifters: Johnson hollow adjustable lifters, (80g)

35. Intake manifold: 36 Vintage Thickstun PM-7 2 X 2 HI rise intake manifold, 4.75�? carburetor spacing

36. Transmission, manual: 39 Ford top loader three speed transmission, 1-3/8�? dia 10 spline shaft, 78-7006-U,

a. 39 and later gear set installed. Cluster gear: 28 24 18 14 teeth, main gears: 16 22 29 teeth
b. 39 and later double detent shifter housing with 91A front fork installed

37. Spark plugs: Champion number CHA844-1, H10C or Autolite number 216, M14 X 1.25 X .375�? threads

38. Carburetors: mid 30’s Vintage Dual 97 Stromberg carburetors, 42 main jets, 65 power jets

39. Electrical system: 33–37 6V generator, 6V system

40. Ignition distributor: Mallory dual point, 6V, centrifugal advance w condenser

a. 3 bolt mount 32 – 41
b. 5/8�? rotor shaft
c. Crab style distributor cap

41. Headers: Vintage cast iron Fenton headers

42. Mufflers: Cherry bomb glass pack mufflers, 1.50�? inlet, 4.00�? diameter, 24�? length

43. Exhaust tips: 50’s Harley-Davidson panhead fishtail exhaust tips

44. Fuel Cell: Late 20’s Model T fuel cell, ten gallon capacity, custom installed 6V fuel sending unit

45. Rims: 40 – 48 Ford steel rims, 4.00�? X 16.00�?, 5.5�? X 5 lug pattern

46. Tires: Firestone deluxe champion whitewalls, Front 5.00/5.25 – 16�?, Rear 6.50 – 16�?

47. Seat belts: 65 Vintage aircraft lap belts, military surplus, Davis Aircraft New York, model FDC-2700D-66-4

48. Front seat base: 45.25�? X 17.50�? X 8.00�?, 12A1-15-H64395, vintage wool blanket cover

49. Front seat backrest: 45.25�? X 17.50�? X 5.50�?, 11A1-22-H64394, vintage wool blanket cover

50. Floorboard layout: 50.75�? X 41.00�? X .75�? red oak floor cockpit

51. Rumble trunk layout: 21.75�? X 42.50�? X .75�? red oak rumble seat trunk, 1942 WLA H-D seat and floorboards

52. Headlamps: 30’s B-L-C 682 J headlamps, 7.00�? 6V Wagner 6006 W

53. Fuel filter: Fram CG6 fuel filter, glass bowl, 1.750�? bowl dia. X 1.750�? bowl height, 1.625 gasket I.D. X 2.125�? gasket O.D.

54. Sediment glass bowl: 2.060�? bowl dia. X 2.375�? bowl height