Figured I would start a thread for this car. It's a 26 roadster I found on craig's list a few years ago. The name came from my 2 year old daughter, she was really in to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the time. I had been collecting parts for a while and stumbled on this by accident. It's a great body, but has the usual issues. I didn't take a lot of pictures in the early stages, but have been taking more lately. I owe most of the credit to my buddy for the fab work and the machining, and getting me interested in this stuff in the first place. Also thanks to the board, I was able to learn the difference between what works and what doesn't. I think we're doing real good so far. The goal is drive it to bonneville next year. Stay tuned and see if we make it. This is how it looked when I dropped it in the yard in 2010:
We get together once a week to work on each others stuff. We spend a month or so at my place then switch to my friend's. Keeps us from getting too burnt out on one project most of the time. The first thing I did was pull the body off and sell the old chassis and my old pile of 23 T stuff. Mocked up on an a frame:
We started really focusing on this about a year ago this month. We spent a good month rebuilding the "rebuilt" 40 rear I got from another craig's deal. The pinion support bearing retainer was gone and the bearing was floating around and crashing in to the carrier. The casting was also shot, so I swapped it for a 48 rear center section. We flipped the axle bells for a spring in front setup also. I did not take any shots of the rebuild, wish I had. Here it is inside.
Then we moved on to the front end. I had bought a severely bent dropped axle from craigs list for cheap, and had it straightened at a heavy truck repair shop. Put in new bushings, perch pins and spent a lot of time machining bungs for cool guy tie rod ends:
Man, I am starting a roadster build after New Years - sure wish I could find an original as nice as yours to build on! Congrats and good luck!
While we were doing the front end, I spent some time chopping the really nice seat frame out so I can fit in the damn thing. I'm 6'4 so every inch counts. A shot of the floor to prove they had them. Can't believe it was so solid.
Thanks guys. I looked for a body for a long time. Wasted some gas chasing down some real piles. The only thing I can say is have the money ready and keep looking. It won't find you.
Before I ever got started on the chassis I had to cough up the money for the firestones (5.00-5.50x16). The rears I got lucky and found some nos National 7.00x16. Once the axles were together enough, it was time to roll it out and have a look. This is still the stock A frame at this point.
After we got everything looking good, we got to butchering the frame for what seemed like months. We were getting real tired of cutting and grinding. We built motor mounts, new front crossmember, and the rear kick. Thousands of cutoff wheels gave their lives for this.
nice try on hiding that spider welded grille shell! we are the hamb and we see ALL! looks like its got alot of potential though!
HAHA, thanks for noticing 60. I bought that shell for $30 at the swap meet for mockup. About $30 too much. I had NOTHING to do with the spider web. Someone spent a lot of time on that, the welds were really nice. I can send it to you if you want, $20 + shipping.
Great car. I'm collecting pieces for one myself. I'd love to buy the floor from you if you don't have plans to use it!
Got ahead of myself. Somewhere in there, we dropped in the lump and figured out the position for the motor mounts. Also checking for firewall clearance, and ride height, etc. More mockup pics with the motor:
Somewhere in there I also spent about 100 hours chamfering and polishing every leaf in both springs. It was worth every minute. I will do it on every spring I put together from now on.
Thats looking real good. It was said before that the doors looked 27, i have a 26 and is there a difference ? JW
You would see progress if you were over here helping, instead of screwing around at the early-bird buffet. HA
Looks great man. '26 doors are said to have smaller holes in the inner panel from what I have heard. I just noticed, you are way ahead, windshield posts, lower windshield frame and a deck lid? You have got it made!
Spent a while searching for the perfect transmission mount. I think we found it. I can stare at it for hours, haha. It just fit so perfect. Here we have the motor and trans mounted, and the new front crossmember is also in place.
Thanks Cactus. The decklid is really bad. Not sure it can be saved. The stanchions are bent, but can be fixed. The windshield frame is broken, but can also be fixed. The body is damn nice, all things considered. Just have to do the patches in the bun panels, and fix a bunch of dents.
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