Hallock windshield frame on '29 roadster pickup

[Southfork]

I've seen several posts over the past couple of years of '28-29 Model A roadsters sporting Hallock-style windshield frames. My '28 roadster pickup project is nearing at the point where I need to decide whether to repair the stock stanchion supports on the cowl and use an original-style windshield, or find a useable Hallock and modify the cowl stanchion supports accordingly. Last I heard, the Hallock repros out there didn't come with a groove/channel milled into the frame for the glass to sit in.
That seems to me a huge problem if there's no groove. Has the market come out with something useable yet?

BTW, my parts pile for the original 1950's-rodded roadster pickup includes some Deuce rails, a 59-AB Flatty, original Thickstun PM-7 intake and Deuce grill shell.

Somebody posted a pic last week of a '29 Hallock-style roadster pickup on a thread surveying HAMBERS for preference as to Traditional or otherwise. That picture had much of the look I'm after. Anybody know whose rod that was???

[modernbeat]

Actually, the REAL problems with the repro Hallock frames isn't the groove. The groove is easy to cut, and the two repro guys that I spoke to offered to put it in for a small extra charge.

The REAL problem is that they DON'T FIT. They are a 90% sized copy of a real one. I had to take an inch out of the center of my cowl to make mine fit. Plus, it didn't have the small tabs that fit down into the cut off windshield posts. The castings were incredibly poor quality full of crap, miss-shapen, etc...

Instead of buying one of the repros, if I was gonna have another Hallock, I'd make it out of three laminates of 1/4 inch aluminum plate. It would be a bit of work, but there wouldn't be any surprises. Get a good look at one to see how the odd parts of it are shaped and carve one yourself.

FWIW, I've got more than 60 hours in mine and it's STILL not finished. It's the one part of my car that made me mad.

[Crease]

Modernbeat,

I've always thought it would be fun to make one. Thing that always stumped me was how to transfer the cowl radius onto the windshield frame. On top of that, you've got to lay it back at an angle. I guess if you used 3 layers of aluminum, you could just make 3 card board templates. Just curious what you had in mind. I would love to help Barnett make one for the bucket.

Crease
Barons So Tex

[Unkl Ian]

I like the lamination idea.

[HairyCanary]

Southfork, I sent you a pm. Dave

[Harrison]

Email this guy.... davidclove@shaw.ca

He has supposedly made a good reproduction without the problems described by Modernbeat.

His price is right at $1000 I believe.

JH

[Lowlife]

Southfork,I think that was Jim Pantal's rpu.He's a Brit.HAMBer Zibo might be of help.I seem to remember a thread about his Hallock style frame?

[Drewfus]

the Bottom line is that it depends on what you want, and wether your prepared to put the effort in to make it happen.

To my knowledge (as small as it is...) there is not an easy, off the shelf bolt on unit currently on the market.

And if there was, I don't believe it could possibly just 'bolt on' without major time spent with a vice and file, due to the complicated pressed curves of the fuel tank.

Without going into the finer details (or at least not right now, at the moment) I did some measuring, moderbeat gave me some recommended sizes, and after doing some homework on what was needed, I made a balsa wood pattern (with an outer veneer, a inner vaneer, an a series of 8mm spacers for the glass).
After laying it all out, trimming it to a size and shape that I was happy with....(see pic 1.)

[Drewfus]

I then took each of my Balsa 'patterns' and traced the basic shape onto some 3mm alloy plate, and made a 'inner' and 'outer' skin, with the front skin folded around the corners to create the 'end/side' pieces so that I wouldn't have to weld many joins, as well to try and minimise heat distortion etc.
(see pic 2.)

[Drewfus]

After getting the plates bent to the angle I required, I then spent an entire saturday (per veneer) filing, and gently trimming to suit.....

[Drewfus]

Each vaneer has been glued to the next with 'sikaflex'(windscreen glue stuff) in an effort to avoid distortion and the edges have been 'tack welded' to the mounting plates which then bolt down to the tank and plates which I fitted to where the old staunchions used to be (I appoligise for my poor spelling if it's wrong...).

I'm currently in the process of getting some flat glass cut to suit my template's, as well as needing to weld up those tacks I mentioned. I then will have to go and do a bit more work with a file to repair any distortion, as well as to tidy up the job.

After alot of work (and with more yet to come), I believe it's worth the effort, it will be different, period correct (ish, 40s/50s), and something that I can be proud off (even if it's not perfect....).

Here's a 'current shot, please excuse the 'development' work of my blower/intake setup http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Cheers,

Drewfus

[Southfork]

A lot of creativity, and even more sweat going into making the ones we do see out there. All the more reason for someone to solve all of the problems and put a quality piece on the market.

I usually take on the impossible and end up putting a K-zillion hours into making whatever I can't find at an affordable price. I'm thinking that if I just wait a little longer, someone will fill the market niche with a quality, affordable Hallock. 'Course I have been telling myself that for 2 or 3 years now.

The picture posted last week of the 29 roadster pickup with a Hallock had a Deuce grill shell. It had wide white walls on the front tires and two chicks sitting in the cab.

[SlowLearner]

Drewfus, NICE work!! Great TECH!!

[Levis Classic]

OK Drefus I'll bit whats behind the smily face? Some sort of secret weapon?

[Lowlife]

That'd be a pic of Zibo's I posted,thinking you might have saved the pic you were referring to.Here it is,still Pantal's,different wheel/tire combo.no chicks.

[zibo]

modernbeat is right,
there are about a million hours in my version,
as well.
but it is also thick and steel and chromeable.

I love drewfus? version,
there was a similar one on a san diego modified,
just out of flat stainless steel,
the only problem is
that the glass becomes the stiffener,
instead of the frame,
there is alot of tork
from door to door,

especially when you cut out the top dash rail piece.

anyway,

PM me if you are interested,
I can make one,
it'll take about a month to get motivated and finished
(but $ talks)
it won't go over $1000,

and the installation is kinda simple.

travis aka zibo

[Rustridden31]

[ QUOTE ]
Southfork,I think that was Jim Pantal's rpu.He's a Brit.HAMBer Zibo might be of help.I seem to remember a thread about his Hallock style frame?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, Zibo does clean work. I'd trust him with anything of mine.

[Detonator]

here it is again, con chicas

[Southfork]

Hey, yea, that's the picture I had in mind, Detonator. Thanks! I'm gonna print it out and hang it up for inspiration.

Thanks everybody for your thoughts on building a windshield frame, pro and con. Sounds like there's one in the brew that ought to come out pretty soon in quantity (and hopefully quality). Think I'll wait and see how it turns out before I restore the cowl supports to original condition.

[Lowlife]

I'll throw this up in case you wanta' save a rear view.Bitchin' truck,I definitely prefer the steelies/vintage rubber.