Projects The Her Mink Roadster (Another Build Thread)

Hey guys, so I've always debated on doing a 'build thread' here on HAMB. I'll try to keep it brief to catch you up on where I am at now, and will do my best to update it when I make progress. With a toddler, and a baby on the way, I feel like I work on this thing 15 minutes at a time. Keep in mind that this is my first hot rod build, I did a frame-on restoration on a '55 Chevy a few years ago but now I'm a little older, a little wiser, and more financially stable to do something nicer.

Let me start by explaining the meaning behind 'Her Mink'. Before my time, my grandma was saving money for a mink coat. My grandpa took that money and bought himself his first '55 Chevy. To make light of the situation, my grandpa plated the car with a plate that read 'HER MINK'. When I built my '55 a few years ago, I also registered the car with 'HER MINK'. Even though, this isn't a TriFive Chevy, I want to carry on my family's tradition of automobiles and hot rodding onto other projects.

I had been looking for a Model A roadster for a few months, I had even went and checked a few out and driven them. The one I ended up with came completely unexpected. I went on a shop tour with a friend to Brookville Roadster, on their floor they had an unfinished and abandoned '29 roadster roller. The price was slashed and comparable to most of the cars I had been looking at. Obviously, I would have a lot more parts and work down the road but I couldn't pass it up and this was going to be a great start to a project.

Well, here she is......

 

I spent most of the Winter 18/19 gathering parts together, and prepping things for the chassis.

Most of the suspension is SoCal, Ford 9", and a 383 SBC stroker that I already had (hasn't even been turned over yet).

I have always loved a high-boy with black frame and a different color body. So, I sent the chassis parts and frame out to be powder coated black.

The engine I had was just a longblock, originally meant for a different project. But now that I knew where it was going, I started bolting some parts on it. Decided to go Tri-Power / Rochester 2Gs, lake style headers (nothing fancy but may change them down the road - easy enough), Offenhauser intake and Offenhauser valve covers.

A buddy of mine came over and base/cleared the drivetrain gloss black.

 

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of pushing this thing around on those plywood rollers (and a few splinters along the way), I picked up a set of wheels. I went with, surprise-surprise, '40 Ford repops with '41 caps. At the last minute I decided to go with 18" on the rears. Picked up some Firestone 4.50/4.75-16s for the front and 7.00-18s for the rear. Has some serious rubber rake!

That's pretty much where I am at on the car right now. The body still needs tons of prep work, I need to drill and fit a lot of things before I'm ready for a body shop but I'm hopeful I can get it all accomplished this Summer.

 

Nice man !


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It's tough making progress with a toddler around. Looks like some nice parts there, good luck keeping your grandpa's old car heritage going

 

I always wondered what Her Mink was about.. (from your Instagram posts) guess I coulda asked hah. Awesome story and cruel and funny at the same time Haha . Can’t wait to see this thing together it’s gonna be super nice. You built an amazing 55 so this can only get better.


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Keep it Comin @HerMink your sure not disappointing......Nice Hotrod...

 

The photos are killer, and the that rolling chassis is nice.

 

Wow!!!

 

Niiiiiiiiice!!!!!!

 

what a nice build, love that big time rubber rake, those 18s will be good goin down the road.

 

VERY COOL

 

Nice, I like it.

 

Very cool

 

Rubber Rake.............I guess so!

 

Question ,did grandma ever get her Mink Coat....?

 

Been spending an hour here and there finishing up some details on the drivetrain. Just need to build the plug wires and I'll be just about ready to turn it over.

I spent the last week building the fuel line from pump to carbs, installing the regulator and gauge and all of that good stuff. Had a little generator mount fabbed up and threw my PowerGen on as well. It will all be taken back off and painted gloss black to match the drivetrain once I verify that it all works. Still need to polish those front two pulleys as well, I picked those up for free from a friend.

 

What color are you thinking about for the body? Bill

 

I’m thinking a root beer brown, I really like a Toyota color called Bronze Mica Pearl which is similar to a root beer.

I’m leaving the chassis black, I like the black ‘32 rails on a dark colored car.


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Just a few more little detail shots.

The shifter is a Gennie, still debating on what height stick I want to run.

 

Looking Great, Root Beer would look delicious!

 

Short shift handle. Don't make it the focal point.

 

So far so good. HRP

 

Finally made the first hole in the body.

I mounted up a simple set of ‘50 Pontiac taillights and a plate light from Granite Castings.

 

I got the body sat on the chassis this weekend. I love the way it sits, it’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to fit the pedals, transmission and steering column with everything together before I sent the body off to the body shop.

 

Looks great, what did you use for an alternator bracket ?

 

I bought a Mr Gasket bracket that mounts to the front two header bolts; I also bought the Mr Gasket arm that attaches to the water pump bolt.

I also had to buy (Actually just had one made) a simple bracket that mounts between the bottom feet on the generator that attaches to that Mr Gasket header bolt bracket. These would have came on a factory generator but are not supplied with the PowerGen units. You can buy them repop from DanChuck TriFive Parts but it was cheaper to make one than it would have cost just for the shipping.

 

Thanks man^^^^^^^

 

I got around to drilling the dash for the gauges. I picked up a really nice machine turned bezel from Haneline Products and a set of Stewart Warner’s.

 

Nice