Projects 1932 Ford Roadster Build- "The Template Roadster"

Super near car, well done. Where did you get that circuit breaker shown in post #350? Thanks.

 

The fuse box is from Centech and the 150a breaker is just a Autozone special off the rack.

 

@x77matt any chance you have and would be willing to share a build list with costs? Looking to build a similar spec 32 and would love a realistic estimate of costs. PM me?

 

Unfortunately I don’t really have a build list- it’s mostly swap meets, ebay, old junk, and good friends!

 

No problem, figured I'd ask! Now you have plausible deniability..

 

Little update guys- I was happy to be accepted to the Gathering at the Roc next month! I am scheduled for interior this month with Nathan Stewart (Stewart’s upholstery) but we are not sure we can get it fully complete before the show, so maybe I’ll have a seat or door panels. I got my chopped top bows working well and sent off to Paul at Cedardale Upholstery to build me a top remotely (Paul is the 32 top king imho)…. See pics below for masking tape mock up!

Also, tonight I hooked up the wide band 02 sensor to check the tuning (I’ve gone through about 4 tanks of gas in 200 miles)…. With 45 jets and 65 power valves I’m running 11.4 AFR at part throttle cruise, 13.5 at idle, and 12.5 under WOT load. Belt on the blower is slipping a touch so I’m only putting out about 3psi of boost. I ordered 43 and 42 jets and 67 and 69 power valves to play with. Once I get the AFR dialed a little better we are going to strap it to my friends chassis dyno and get a look at how little power these blown flatties put out. Current motor is a 255” short stroke but I have a 276” stroker on the sidelines waiting to get called into action.

 

Dash looks great, so does the tape top plan. Bob

 

Did you put a dog leg in the main iron to get things to nest into a tighter package?

Bob

 

hi Bob- yes- the rear bow I had to shorten and grind out the inside corners to get the frame to nest up in it it, and the bow width was such that I had to dogleg the lower frame to get it to fit well. I am not using stock bows, but rather some custom bows made by Brads wood shop that are a bit narrower than stock. The chopped top irons are by @fireballroadster on Instagram (Paul at Cedardale upholstery) and he has the geometry set up to sink the rear bow down nicely.

 

A little tuning update. I removed the 45 jets/65 power valves and installed 43 jets with 67 power valves. Light load cruise at 2000rpm is now around 13.0 AFR (was at 11.4), the idle is about 13.4 and WOT dives to little below 12.5 and ends up around 13.0 after a few seconds of WOT. I’m going to run it like this for a bit, but may fatten up the power valves by one size later if I get ambitious. Float level could be tuned a touch as well I suppose.

 

It’s been a while so here is the latest adventures…

I send my top frame to Paul at Cedardale Upholstery (@fireballroadster on Instagram) and he build me a top and side curtains using his roadster as the template. I originally bought the 3” chopped top irons from him as well. I haven’t mounted the top on my car yet but will happen in the next couple weeks.

I also took my car to Nathan Stewart (Stewart’s upholstery in Ohio) for a proper interior. It’s not finished but he is making great progress. This young man is really talented and just does really nice work. He recently finished the interior for the Root Bros roadster competing fir AMBR. On a side note, this is the first time I have dropped a car off anywhere to have work done so it felt a little weird not attempting to do it myself- but something like this requires talent above mine!

 

Top and upholstery look great! Who wood grained the dash, that looks great too. Bob

 

thanks Bob- Stuart Lyman from Lyman wood graining did the dash.

 

Looks beautiful dude. Can't wait to see the whole package again soon!

 

Finally! A '32 roadster top that is shaped right with the proper 'Gypsy', fitted with traditional Hollywood backlight!
Also a fan of the carpet and its excellent binding. Great project...

 

Thanks! I can’t take credit on the top… Paul sells the frames modified for a 2 or 3” chop with the rear bow attachment lowered, and I bought the top bows from Brads wood shop in Washington who does beautiful work. In my opinion, Paul has the top proportion recipe really figured out. For the rear window I used a Sid Chavers mail slot rear window.

 

Nice looking build.
You mentioned in post 366 that the belt was slipping. It certainly looks like you have enough wrap, judging by your video in post 349. Did you get it solved?

 

yep- after re-measuring my belt groove depth and angles to verify they were correct, I just bead blasted the V groove lightly and that provided all the extra grip I needed. No more slip

 

Love the dash. Love the carpet. Love the top. Awesome car!

 

How are you going to store and carry the top in your car ? Really interested since my Brookville body has a X brace and fixed frontseat....


Do you have a solution for windscreen wipers ? In my country the rule is: if you can look over the windscreenframe one doesn't need wipers, but since with top up it's not possible, i need to have wipers ...

 

no wipers on this one. Just rainex! As
Far as the top storage goes, it will fold down but I don’t like that look so it will either be on or off, depending on weather.

 

if you say not on this one.... how did you on the other one ?

 

Well- on the other one also no wipers! It’s actually a good point though- I haven’t really spent much time thinking about wipers but for a longer road trip it might be helpful!

 

I used to drive my Roadster on long trips with tonneau cover only, but often on my way back all ended in a down poor rain, soaking all.
Last time eaven fryed my bolt on wiper on the freeway at 80 + miles per houer.
Since then i have fitted a chavers bob top, but could not carry it in the rod, because of the headerwood .
meanwhile i have found a way to split the headerwood and fold the top to store in the trunk.

The wiper-question was still there.
One solution for me, is still with 1940 ford tower drive wipers, like on the Doane Spencer roadster.
But the other plan is; to fit the usual british wheelbox spiraldrive wipers, NOT in the torpedo in front of the Windshield, but just use the toothed wheel ( smalles size ) fabricated INTO the top frame, axle trough the frame..... i have all parts together but have not decided, which way to go... unfortunatley
: it never rains in California.... but in my country quite often..

 

@oldbanger71 , please start a build thread when you tackle that windshield wiper project, so we can all learn together.

 

Sure will do, but up to now i hoped x77matt would have a idea... not ment to highjack his build-thread..

 

Ha! No worries- I would be interested as well. I have an Austin Healey 3000 that might have similar wipers that you are talking about. Would be cowl mounted but very interesting.

 

For now I’m calling her finished! I picked up the roadster from Nathan Stewart near Columbus who did a fantastic job on the interior. He totally exceeded my hopes for this car. Also mounted the top that Paul at Cedardale Upholstery made for me off of his gennie roadster as a template, and mocked up the side curtains.

 

Wow, Matt, did that ever turn out awesome!

 

Very nice!