Got the pedals all figured out and bolted in. Also picked up a 48 pickup clutch linkage arm and got that all modified and bolted in. Nothing great but it was somthing I was avoiding for some reason. I'll post pics tomorrow. Time for bed.
Yesterday I got the grill shell, it was the best one I could buy with our budget. It isn't perfect but I guess only the originals are. I had to take the insert apart and tweak it a bit to fit the shell better but it looks pretty good now. I am also swapping the 40 front brakes out for some F-1's, they are newer than I wanted to use (was trying to stick to 46 and older) but I just cannot afford the drums. F-1's will be cheaper and they will stop better. Here is the grill.
Today was very nice out so I got a few things done. Modified a 31 headlight bar to use for my headlights , I am using some B-L-C 682j headlights. I also had a buddy at work save a chunk of polished 1 1/2 inch stainless tubing that came off a printer (My day job is a graphics and sign maker) so I could use it as a spreader bar. I like how it turned out. Radiator is being built by a local shop and should be ready this wednesday.
Lookin' good! Must have been a really nice printer to have that stainless bar on it. All the printers I see are made of old yellowed plastic.
It was an industrial printer, had 4 bars on it 7 feet long so I took them all. I plan on making something for the rear also but I am not sure what yet or how I am going to attach it.
Great thread! Considering tackling the A frame for my coupe. How were you able to keep the frame straight without a table? I noticed when you worked on the kick in the rear, the frame was on stands. Any advice would be appreciated. Chris
The frame was super straight when I started. I leveled it out on the jackstands. It measured within a 1/16 of an inch for squareness and I just took my time welding it, trying not to spend too much time on one spot. Measured it up after and it was still within a 1/16 of an inch. I left the middle and front crossmembers in which helped keep it straight I think.
Well, I am not a rich man so I had to do some things that were just cheaper for me. I wanted to run a original 32 grill but just can't afford one so I bought the aftermarket one. Then I looked at radiators and I just can't afford a Walker or an original so I had my buddies down at Superior Radiator make me one out of aluminum. It was 300 out the door and I think it looks ok. Not as tradiational as I wanted but I'll make it look as best I can. Also switched to F-1 brakes because the 40 brakes were going to cost me too much to rebuild. Still has 40 brakes on the rear though. Once it is all painted I think it will be hard to tell. Tomorrow I am making the radiator brace rods and going to start on the subrail patch over the z in the frame.
Running that same "cheap aluminum" Superior Radiator in my '29 with a Brookville shell, and couldn't be happier. Ok, maybe I could with a Walker or a nice original - but hey, we are mostly all poor men. Cars looking badass dude. Mike
They make a nice radiator. They have originals that they use as patterns and they are made right here in the U.S.A and they back their work. If you need one, let me know as cash pickup is the cheapest. Got the radiator support rods done today, we made them instead of buying them. They work and look good and do their job. We made them from threaded rod and steel tubing. Took us way longer than it should but alot of beers were drank which slowed us down big time! As usual, a fun Saturday building a car for him and drinking some beers. I am going to start on the subrail patch and wheelwells this week and also ordering header flanges so I can get those done while the body is on the frame.
Man your firewall looks awesome!!!! I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how I want to do my firewall other than the usual recess, then I saw what you did and it was one of those why did'nt I think of that moments. It's exactly what I was looking for thanks for sharing how you did it. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to your updates! Thanks again!!! Chad
Thanks for the compliments guys, today I got all the header parts I needed and also the rear wheel wells. Going to start on the headers when I get home and hopefully by sunday the wheel wells and subrail patches will be done.
Not a huge update, more like half an update. Today I got started on the headers and ran into a problem that I should have seen when I was installing the steering box. I am quite upset that I didn't catch this earlier. I was trying to miss the head which I did but the back exhaust port came out right where the tube is. We contimplated moving the box back but there was alot of work involved to do that: new draglink, weld up the old holes for the box, cut new ones, change the column drop, etc. So, I took a chance and cut a piece of tubing and made a "dish" in the tube to help the exhaust pipe clear. It worked, it is tight but nothing hits and everything has 1/8 inch clearance. Looks like something a kid would have done in the 40's. Used my left over 35 ford driveshaft for the header. Also finally found the air cleaners I have been after. 35-36 ford.
The Jalopy Journal
