Projects Building a Traditional 32 Roadster Beater

You want to see a beater? Come see my garage

 

Looks Great !!

 

Any more progress on your roadster??

 

I am making great progress. I am trying to finish the chassis.... I'll post photos when I have it all together.

 

Looking good buddy! Farther along than me. But hopefully not too much longer it will come together.

 

I love the altered wheel base on your build

 

I say beater too. Some good info here.

 

Life is better in a beater!

 

See what I mean?

 

Ok... I have been making some good progress, so time for an update......

I spent a while looking for a seat. I wanted one that the seat folded back as well as the lower cushion flipping up. After looking at everything from OEM seats to make my own, the obvious choice for me was from Bengels Hot Rod Products (alliance vendor) here on the HAMB. Fits Great !

I took the body off and flip it upside down to paint the underside a gloss black epoxy over DP 90 primer. Hopefully that will provide adequate protection.


Next I worked on the front suspension. I had Okie-Joe drop the front axle 4 inches for me. He does great work. I sent him my 32 spindles in which he bent the steering arms, installed the king pins/bushings, and set the camber. I guess he has done a bunch of them... he serialized mine 648....


I like to powdercoat everything myself, so the axle went in the oven....


I modified the 32 stock spring perches to remove the mechanical brake mounts.

Before....


After....


Here is the front end together .... I bought a reversed-eye spring to drop the front a bit more.


The 40 rear end was shortened with the help of HAMBER Titus. We removed half of the stock 40 rear springs and ground the spring assembly to fit the rear x-member. Sorry... no photos of this.....

Next was the brakes... using all 40 brakes... everything was cleaned up and powdercoated....



I made a bracket for the stock 32 parking brake to attach to the 39 tranny.


I made a bracket for a 40 master from 1/4 inch plate to bolt to the k-member.....


Here shows the installation and routing of the 1/4 inch brake lines and parking brake (40 ford cable) .....





The stock brake pedal had to be modified.... I had to cut off the lever and move it to the other side.


Here we are .... almost ready to roll.....

 

The rear frame rails were repaired at one time. Since this is an early 32, it does not have the added support that was done on the later frames. Since I will be using Houdialle shocks, I added 1/4 inch plate to the inside of both sides to prevent further cracking.


I forgot to show the adapters I used for the using the 32 spindles with the 40 backing plates. I initially bought the Speedway kit, but found the piston ring adapter was really not a great solution. The "Early V8 Garage" offers a much better adapter plate.


The project came with a gas tank. A little beat up, but ok for my 'beater'. I also powdercoated it.

 

Nice progress. I've just sat in a lazy-boy for the past 4 months. I need to build a beater!

 

Any updates on this build?

 

Time for an update......

I have been concentrating on the bodywork of late. It's nice working on Brookville body with zero rust and pretty straight. I've had my share of body work in the past, this was a sure joy doing.

Since I like to powdercoat stuff, I decided to powdercoat the rear deck lid. This allowed me to 'skip' the primer step, and do both sides of the deck lid at the same time. I was able to blow the powder inside the deck lid cavity, providing coverage that I would not get easily with paint. Since I am painting the car black, the inside of the deck lid is done. The top side will be scuffed and painted.





I sprayed the body with an epoxy sand-able primer. I use a turbine HVLP system which allows me to do this with very little overspray. In a messy shop, it works for me.....



I did a bit of sanding and fixing a couple spots with a 2 part glaze. I then sprayed the entire car inside and out with DP90 epoxy.



I then sprayed the floor with a high gloss epoxy. It will be covered, so I was not too concerned about it.



After wet sanding it, I sprayed the color. Concept DCC9000. I sprayed 4 coats, leaving plenty of material to color sand and buff. It went on very well. Perfect painting weather here in MN. 40F, no bugs. I turn the furnace off and draw heated air through my shop from my other heated shop, out the wall through a good size exhaust fan.





I also sprayed the doors and deck lid. Now, on the sanding and buffing......

 

That's very nice. Nothing looks as good as shiny black!

It must be fun working with a completely new body. I would have bought a new one if I could have, but no one is reproducing these. This one is the best I could come up with,

 

What a nice ride! Making great progress.

 

Paint is looking nice !

 

Nice build - I like the bracing you did behind the seat. My car is currently open in that area and you have got me thinking ....

 

Lookin good! Roger

 

That stock air cleaner would really look cool on the flatmotor

 

Great looking build - keep the updates coming.
Cheers

 

Looking damn good - cool project!!

 

Been working my arse off on this car of late .......

Spent some time sanding and buffing the paint, but still have more to do. With the help of some buddies, stuck the body back on the frame for the final time.



I powdercoated the center support. This holds my battery, in addition I bent up a tool carrier and mounted it to the top of it on the trunk side. This space is unusable .... good place to put spare parts and tools for the long trips.


Here it is installed....


Getting the body shimmed properly for all the door gaps correctly took a bit of work, but looks almost perfect. I'm happy now, but it may change with the added weight as I complete the build. Installed the 3 inch chopped windshield.


Got the floor and side panels insulated ..... now ready to get the interior done.....


More to come soon.....

 

Looks great. Can't wait to see it in person.

 

The windshield looks too vertical......egg out the mounting holes, and lay that sucker back!

 

Screw that! The stanchion mounts are still in primer. Pie cut those bitched and lay'm back now before you paint them black.

 

LOADS of envy here... You know what'd look good in there?
ME!
Superb finish work with all this black...tool tray's a winner! (expect that to be the 'trick '32 accessory' for 2016!)
Agree on the windshield 'misalignment'...a friend drafted me to fix his, ended up reshaping the bronze stanchions plus slight 'dimples' in the Deuce cowling beneath them...
Also helped him shim the body. Still think about that...
Thanks for the thread, very astute build!
Question about rear cross member/'40 spring: Did you apply the spring to the 'bent' member? (grinding the spring?) Used to be a popular modification.

 

Looking good!

 

'32 Roadster = beater? How is this possible? Why are all those damn kids on my lawn?!