Hot Rods Nature Abhors a Vacuum, Or, The Hemi A Roadster fills a void.

My buddy Jeff, from whom I got this Model A body, was disappointed I’d trimmed the wheel wells to fit the ‘32 frame. So, I fixed it. I want to see the frame and the kick up.


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I fixed it some mor, so the Chicken foot bottoms are finished.


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Todays big project, besides sending another raccoon that had taken up residence in the attic of the garage to a farm in the country where he could run and play (OK, I shot it in the live trap with a .22, but it's my story, I get to tell it however I want), was to separate the DeSoto Hemi from the Turbo-Encabulator unit. I had a spot of trouble getting the malleable amullite transmuter off the spervel vane, but a couple whacks with a BFH and 360 MegaJoules shock from a defibrillator loosened the crust, some reverse polarity thruster through the varble unit and it finally came right off. Now I can put the boring TH350 on it, make some motor and trans mounts and it will be ready for a trip around the block.

I'm kidding of course...

 

About Rocky?

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Rocky sleeps with the fishes.

 

I spent all day wrestling with the TH350 transmission for the DeSoto Hemi. I found the stock oil filter will not clear the adapter plate (or the transmission), and ordered a 30 degree offset one fro HotHeads.

Then I couldn’t get the torque converter to fit in the crank flange adapter. I ended up filing a rusty ring from the hub and bolted it on the flex plate first.

Then, for the life of me I couldn’t line up the torque converter on the input shaft . I gave up after at least an hour, pushed the trans back, put torque converter on the shaft, carefully got housing against the block on the dowel pins, and one tooth at a time on the ring gear, got everything lined up, seated properly and bolted together.

For my 66th birthday on 12-1, I’d like to have engine in the chassis and the car setting in wheels.




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Would you look at that, it fits.


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Damn that looks good! Just like a rancher the 3 S'.....shoot, shovel and SHUTUP!

 

I like that see through radiator. Looks like the fan will be close.

 

Air cooled.


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Snug as a bug in a rug.


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Do you use a day planner or what? I never know what you're working on and await a surprise each day I find a posting from you. Nice job by the way.

 

Haha! I just go out to the shop and do whatever seems like the most important thing to do. Today I mostly worked on the DeSoto, I have the right side bodywork done, and will start moving around to the left side after the holiday. Actually, I'm about 2/3 the way around, I've got the grill opening almost done, and in the rear the lower pan and taillight mods are almost finished. A little more work with some finer grit paper on the long boards and I'll be ready to blow some Feather-Fil on everything.

The wagon has to get finished this winter, but I should have enough time to get the Model A at least running and driving, if not finished. To what degree of "finished" the roadster will be is yet to be determined, but it'll be shiny.

 

My buddy Jeff Miller, from whom I got the body commented that he hated to see radius rod brackets covering the reveal on a '32 frame. Me too. I had those left from the '34 build, they're just there holding the radius rods in mock-up. Never fear, they'll be replaced with some welded on brackets hanging from the bottom of the frame.

 

Oh, I ordered one of those "off-shore" made aluminum radiators for a '32. With a trans cooler in the bottom tank. For $189. I'll take a chance on it for that. I've run those cheap radiators in several cars with great results. Since this is a "budget" build, seems appropriate.

 

I had a brainstorm: Why not use original ‘52 DeSoto gauge panel, along with the complete, NOS linen wrapped wiring harness that came with the wagon? I’ll have to weed a little of the extra stuff not needed in this little car, but it’ll be a nice detail that’ll make it stand out.

Then I had a momentary anxiety attack: I couldn’t find it, or the wiring! Maybe I threw the stuff out in our spring cleaning dumpster purge! Turns out, I’d stowed all that stuff in the wagons spare tire well. This is why I don’t often put things away...


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Love the DeSoto gauge panel, fits well.

 

I dug out the rest of the new harness that came with the DeSoto wagon, there’ll be plenty to get the roadster wired and have a bunch left over. I found a pair of ‘48 Chevy taillights with LED lenses from the ‘34, do cut holes in the tail pan and put ‘em in.

Perfect. This is why I can’t throw stuff away!


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Santa came! These are better than a Red Ryder Range Master BB gun with a compass in the stock and thing that tells time!


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That’s the plan.


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Looks GREAT. I would change the amp gauge to volts and bypass that sucker.

Ben

 

I now have not one, not two, but FOUR Wilson Welding finned backing plates coming, despite them not being made any longer! Two new ones, which I’ll use in the rear with Buick drums, and a complete set, barely used l, complete with hubs and drums from a guy pulled them from a Troy Ladd built ‘27 for disk brakes. The new ones are machined for a 9”.

At this point I’ve invested enough that I thought I might as well get a Brookville body, which is what a previous builder decided to do, and I got this one.


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So, this happened.


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I picked up a sheet of 3/4" plywood to day and got started replacing the floor I'd cut out to be able to set the body on the '32 Frame. I used a little less than half, the rest will make a bulkhead behind the seat. I need to get more matting and resin, I used what little I had, I'll get some more tomorrow. I'll finish that up, mark where the steering column should go and box, mock up a brake pedal, and the body can then come off and get the frame set up for real

 

I got started bracing the body yesterday afternoon, and Santa brought me some presents!


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Man, this car has all the right stuff.

 

Not finished with the bracing, but it’s enough to get it off the frame and back on the body dolly. On to the DeSoto!


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Pretty cool!

 

Ok, I got a question, and, it's probably a dumb one because I don't have any experience working on or building one of these. Can the rear mount for the front radius rods be put right on the frame as opposed to hanging it under the frame? I don't think I've seen a car with the rear mount for those on the side of the frame, and I'm guessing there's good reason, but to me it seems like it'd clean up the side view of the car without that hanging under the frame. Is it because that rod needs to be parallel to the frame or it creates some crazy ride quality or steering issues? I get it that it's traditional, I'm just curious.

 

I got one door cut, framed, and hung. I'm happy with how this looks, and glad I didn't use the doors in their extended shape. On to the other side.