Projects Pounding out a T roadster

Well here it is to date. After mocking it up in the corner, creating a plan, and starting to collect parts to build a glass roadster, things took a turn. While figuring out how to put a floor , seats, and everything in a fiberglass tub, I thought maybe it would be just as easy to build a steel body instead. Needed to get the frame length sorted out to figure where everything needs to fit in the big picture.

 

So I ended up starting to build the basic structure using the glass body as the template. I am going to cheat and use a stock firewall, cowl top, and the center back panel just to speed up the process. I am going make the door openings a couple inches longer to aid in ingress/egress.

 

Once the basic structure was established, it was time to start on the body. Spent a whole day shaping the first corner only to have so much tension in the panel I couldn’t get it to lay right. Instead of walking away, I cut it apart and made it 2 panels. I didn’t even attempt the other side in a single piece but I think I know how I could have fixed the first one in hindsight. The second panel only took a couple of nights after work to knock out. Clamped them to the frame to at least feel like I accomplished something.

 

As I am still waiting on the cowl top, I decided to rough out the turtle deck made the first side an inch off so need to grow it back yet got both sides roughed out but not perfect by any means

 

Fun watching this!! Go for it, full speed ahead.

 

This will be fun to watch. Really like the rear frame kick up.

 

It’s was Monday night that I realized I had no way to roll the 3/4” wide beads and no one makes that size die for my Chinese bead roller. I asked a question, got an answer, and made my own adaptations accordingly. I now have a cheap die set to roll my beads. Came out close enough for this hack anyhow.

 

And that is where I am at now. Feeling like I am getting sick so going to take it easy for a day or two until I am back at it. By then the cowl top will be here and I can start making the rest of it. I have the rest of the turtledeck laid out but too exhausted to go work on it tonight.

 

Would you believe that an inch out of the top in the right spot brings the rear rails up to level? Worked out pretty good. I thought I was going to have to do major surgery to make it work. The rails will even fit inside the turtledeck without bobbing them.

 

Love seeing sheet metal manipulated, looking good!

 

Love the bead roller die. If you can pull that off you are unstoppable.

 

Pretty nice work...I see you have that HF English wheel. Can you give a small review of what you think of it. Been considering buying one.

 

Needs work. Bottom anvil holder wobbles I just need to weld it. I have had the good fortune of working working on the Baileigh series of wheels and even their off shore one seemed to be better than this one.

 

Wow. What a wonderful piece of work, preseverence and creativity!

 

Baileigh has 15% off on Friday. But it would still be 675.75 plus shipping. I would really like one of their EW-30 wheels but it’s $6000

 

Hey Doug,
I am going to love following your build! You are crazy talented and ambitious to say the least. Can't wait to see it come together!
Dave

 

And you should see the taillights I have for it

 

Nice job!

 

Awesome

 

Great work, a breath of fresh air to see how you improvise.

 

Thank you for starting a build thread. I saw your posting in the "Who's Building a Model T" thread.

You are doing some amazing work. Its going to be fun to watch your progress.
Bobby

 

Pretty damn cool

 

Man it's fun to watch a craftsman grab a bunch of sheet metal and turn it into a hot rod.

 

I'm following this from the beginning. Nice work.

 

For every problem there is a solution! Great so far and look forward to seeing this come together. Love that kick up in the frame and side profile with that 32 pressing..

 

Very nice! I'm following this one!

 

Love the siderail profile on the deuce rails. Absolutely perfect! Following this one.

 

If I was wanting to buy a serious English wheel, this is the one I would go after.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...de-available-to-public.1012714/#post-11903861

 

Hey can you post a link to the bead roller die it looks like washers ground to an angle? I will be making some 3/4 beads for the 37 Plymouth I am building. Thank you Hobo Jim

 

When I first started reading this thread I thought "this won't end well", boy was I wrong.
Very impressive and creative use of available resources!