Projects The Hardscrabble Hop-Up; A 1940's Style 'T' RPU build

I like what a see here Gary. This car will just be....right.





Curious to see what your final adjustments are on the headlights, but what about moving the headlights inboard a bit, put the bulbs right over the frame rails?



Just a thought

 

Been looking forward to this truck. I'm also building a 27 rpu on a 28a frame with a banger that's getting twin carbs, a Leon duray head and a lightened flywheel with v8 clutch. I haven't decided what era I will be going with mine. The bed has been previously shortend. That an the dual carbs kind of throw off the early thirties build I had in mind. But I will be running 21s , mechanical brakes, t spring on the rear and just reversing the eyes up front.


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Awesome build and one of my favorite threads.

My son and I just started on our A chassis tear down yesterday and plan on building up a prewar style jalopy with a 27t roadster/rpu or A roadster body.

 

Gwhite, a like Your car a lot!! It will be awesome. The autolite panel is great.

 

Man, thanks Clayton...your car has been a huge influence, that really means alot! I do like the lights centered on the rails...need to mock it up & see if I can still tuck them in them in close enough to the shell - the RPU is quite a bit longer than a runabout, so I want to be careful not to accentuate the length too much & blow the proportions.

Those sound like amazing projects! Can't wait to see if them!

 

Sweet! Should be fun figuring out how to make that A radiator fit under the T shell.

 

Great project Gary!!! And the RPU pictured above is one of my favorites... except for the fact that it's fuel system was clearly an early design study for the PINTO !

 

I'm honored Gary. I have likewise enjoyed you other builds, your knowledge of the early stuff and your love of it.

proportions are the hardest....and the most important detail. Here is the formula I have always found to work best and used on my T:



My T...



The "Becker Special"..

 

I also like to keep the lights low, with the bulbs just bellow the horizontal center line of the radiator.

Also, what period are you focusing on?

Bigcheese327 and I tried to break down the different styles into eras....

Speedster Era: 1915-'25

Gow-Job Era: 1925-'33

Supe-Job Era: 1934-'38

Hot Iron Era: 1938-'42

Hot Rod Era: 1946-'62 (and to present)

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Will follow this build, love T-RPU's. Here mine a while ago. JW

 

Subscribed, like the theme of this build, keep us posted.

 

Damn Damn Damn......so very cool! I like where this is going.

 

I really like your build. And this photo of yours gets my "Hot Rod Calendar" photo of the month vote. Gary

 

Thanks for the gracious words fellas!

Next step - suspension & steering. Complete front axle (hub to hub) out of a 33-34 Ford. Will most likely end up going with a reverse eye '32-34 front spring with a few leaves removed. Rear axle will be a stock A unit (3.54 gears) with a 26-27 T 8 leaf spring (might remove a leaf or two). Brakes - mechanical; just the way God & Henry Ford intended

Did some work on my front drums - they were turned for cleanup (still some meat on the bone) but the outside was pretty rusty & showed scattered pitting. Running without fenders (and stock '35 wires) the outer rim of the drums will be readily seen, so I came up with a solution to make them look fresh again.

After extensive wire wheeling, I painted them with a medium coat of Duplicolor 500* engine primer. Primer was followed by like brand semi-gloss black. Once sufficiently dried and heat cured, the drums were lightly sanded back until the surface was reasonably smooth. A little cast surface texture was provided by a very light dusting of Krylon sandstone textured paint, followed by two light coats of Duplicolor 500* semi-gloss. Between the light filling provided by the paint and a little 'cast' texture added - you'd be hard pressed to find the pitting. Temperature gun showed no significant decrease in heat dissipation (tried a few 200-220* cycles in the oven).

 

I like it ! well thought out ~ keep the updates coming...

 

Great project.

I've been thinking of doing something similar since I have a complete '29 A frame, A-banger, and a T radiator taking up space in the garage. After I get my post-war Phaeton done, I really want to do a pre-war roadster or RPU.

Subscribed with baited-breath...

 

Krylon sandstone textured paint............that sounds like something I need to experiment with. Thanks. Bob

 

Subscribed. Very cool indeed!

 

Way cool, glad to see this build thread get started. It's about time!

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Good stuff! My 'era' is 1945/early 1946 - seems like beginning in late '46 dropped axles, v8's, juice brakes, and aircraft style shocks took over. In my mind's eye, this RPU will represent a late 30's build kept going (and adapted) for transportation during the war (early 40's plugs, '40 steering wheel, 16" wires, etc.).

 

I have a soft spot for period trinkets. It's a real temptation to just go nuts with the stuff - but I try to balance that with a sense of the "Texas utilitarianism" so prevalent during the dust bowl/depression/war years. For the most part, modesty & restraint will rule the day on this build.

That being said, I'd really like to use this 'patriotic' pinback in my shift knob, but fear it may be overkill as I already have a few period accessories on the car. Thoughts?

 

Make a terrific "necker's knob" on the steering wheel! I doubt I could restrain myself. It's the little details that people see and remember.

 

I'm like you and dig all of that kind of stuff. I too have a hard time keeping myself from using every little period thing that I find on one car. But....I think that a few things on a build like this (especially since you are going for a car that was initially fabbed up in the depression years) can go a long way. On the other hand, they can be the thing that makes the car what it is. That being said, I'd use it as a spinner knob or in a shift knob. It's a cool piece. Maybe restrain yourself from here on out!

 

Great car, love the style. All the bits are perfect so far, keep it up!

____________________________
27 roadster build: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=749610

 

That is about what I was thinking. I would date your RPU as Supe-job era car....built between 1935 and 1939, with a few improvments and additions made during and imediately after the war. The 16" wheels were popular pre-war.

Have you thought about running 17" or 18" wires? 18" wires would look GREAT on that truck.

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Funny you should mention 18's...that was my original intent, may have to look into getting a set

 

Those sound like amazing projects! Can't wait to see if them![/QUOTE]

. Having trouble figuring out how to post photos on here. But here is my rpu mocked up with 21s. I dig all of your little accessories especially the shift knob.


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Your vintage motor is a thing of simplistic beauty! Really looking nice!

Mike

 

I was thinking that the 18" wires might look better proportionally with the way your building it...and fit that 1935 to '39 period.

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This totally needs a build thread! Sweet!!