Hot Rods Another roadster build down under

Thanks Mick

 

Mounted a master cylinder and sorted the clutch and brake pedal on Sunday. Got it out in the sun to blow out all the metal shavings and dust

 

Looking great, nice stance, enjoying seeing the progress, keep at it and you'll be cutting laps at Gulgong for sure.
Cheers,
Drewfus

 

Thanks Andrew, I really like the good progress days, but some just go back and forth. Picked up an old fuel tank at Bathurst swap last S unday, so I stripped it over the weekend, made a mount for it to sit on, just need to finish off the stainless straps that will sit over a layer of rubber. I will build a firewall between the back area and the seat.Tail lights sorted, just need the buckets and lenses, tag light from XK120 jag.

 

Fuel tank is more than likely from a Citroen Traction Avant. Pretty much 100% sure.

 

Thanks 34GAZ, I did a google search but could not find anything close. My tank is oval with no pressings on face or sides. Has a seam across the top, with a brass neck. Would be good to find out what it was out of though.

 

Starting to sort some of the body out. I drove 11 hours to look at this body with a trailer attached to collect and although it was missing alot of it's original design, I didn't want to go home with an empty trailer. The first thing that had to go was an aftermarket firewall which I replaced with a stock one.
Today, I decided to try and make the doors that are a patch panel over square tube, look a little more like doors, so a cake tin and some sheet and fine rod were used to get it this far.

 

genuine NOS cake/baking tin , love it.

 

Well Christmas is over and now it's a new year and time is getting away, so with a couple of weeks at home I thought it would be a good opportunity to move forward with the roadster. I lightened the rear lower panel since I was adding so much steel inside to compensate. Bodywork is going to have to wait till a later date to get it right, that is why it got a quick colour with a paint brush for now.

 

Fitted the outer and inner cake tin door skins up and squared them up best I could on the body, catches working and gaps are not too bad, had to cut the fronts of the doors , trim the windshield stantions and line them up but it will do for now.
When I purchased this body it had hidden hinges fitted so I didn't want to go further than I already have by cutting it all out and starting with stock hinges. I had to shorted it back up as it was, as the doors were flush fitting which I did not like.

 

I had an old 32 grill shell the was from a channeled car that came with this body when I bought it years ago. I thought it was way too short to use with a hiboy but with about 5 inches added to the lower sides and a hood top donated by Dago88, the profile is almost there. I am not a fan of hoods running uphill, so I will need to look for a 28 /29 style radiator to fit the 3/4 scale grill shell. Also need to make an insert which will take same time.

 

A little progress update now as I was thinking about the Pete Eastwood story of the deconstruction of his coupe, only I will need to get this roadster back together. Body off and finished off the subfloors in the body.

 

Looking at the side profile with the body, I noticed the remaining rear frame horns hanging out like duck feathers, so I marked where the body line finished so I could address it once I removed the body. I pie cut the rear horns and added a rounded tail to finish off around the rear spreader bar.

 

Not wanting to call it a day until it was painted, so with it still a warm 32 degrees C in the garage at 10pm, the mozzies started to try out the tacky black.
Now to get all that running gear freshened up.

 

This cleaning and painting process takes some time. Next build I will use a molasses bath.

 

A small issue with the tie rod and armstrong shocks means I need to find a decent pair of Model A Houdaille shocks. New ones are way out of my budget for now so if anyone has a working pair they would like to part with

 

Well this week was 1year since this project got started so I'm hoping to get things moving along as I have about 40 days until Gulgong. Ran all brake lines and fitted new clutch, pressure plate and machined flywheel and got motor and trans mounted back into its home. Hope to sort out handbrake today and once the
hub seals turn up, I can finally have this rolling again.

 

Only one year.... wow you are getting this little roadster happening real quick.
Gunna be a great looking rod. Hope you make it to Gulgong...

 

Looking fantastic CW

 

Another real HOT ROD build down under. Cool, thanks!

 

Why did you put the wishbones upside down?

 

Thank you very much, Yes it has been a challenge trying to put in the hours after work and weekends with a busy family. It will make it to Gulgong, just not sure on the finish.

 

Thanks M/P excited to get this done.

 

Thank you, I wish it had more original Ford in the body but I'm working with what I have.

 

Wishbone is a '36 with the spring relocated above axle.

 

A couple of chassis shots before I cover it up again.

 

Well, it was nearing 2am on Thursday night and I still needed flooring and some seating so an early start was needed to get the car sorted and packed for the Model A 90th Birthday Bash.

 

We made it to the show and it was great to finally drive it past 1st gear, still a lot of things to get sorted but happy as a pig!

 

Congratulations Chad, the roadster looks great. If you see Chris' pickup go up an introduce yourself, tell him you know me.

Geoff aka whodaky

PS I can see a cover happening here