Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Are the roadster body 27's bigger inside than the T or no? I was trying to find pics of a 27 roadster glass body to see if I like it but don't see any.[/QUOTE]


Yeah, the '27 body is bigger in some areas than the '23. Mostly in foot room around the underside of the dash. I was able to squeeze 3 pedals into my '27, but no way could I do it on the '23. Part of that was due to the high mounting position of the '23 engine, but still it is tighter. Model A's even have more room, and '32's are roomier yet.

I will dig out some pictures of my '27 so you can see how they look. I'll do that tonight if I can find them.

Hey, by the way, you have perfect parts to start your own rod. Just dig up a C4 Ford tranny or AOD, and that Chevy rear end is perfect in width and all. Those are all perfect ingredients for a rod. The "patina" on the Cragars is IN right now.

Don

Here. These two pictures perfectly show the differences between the '23 and '27 bodies. The one on top is the '23 I am using for Project $ 3K, and the one on the bottom is my '27 that is now sitting with everything stripped off of it for a rebuild. (It's only been SIX YEARS !!! ) I stripped off the purple primer and will eventually paint if for the first time in it's life.

You can see the differences in the two bodies. Hope this helps.

Don

Originally Posted by lt1s10

one dif. in you and me don is once i get started i can't stop. not sure thats the best way though.

I wish I had the energy to keep going like that Mike. How are you feeling BTW?


Don

The 27 is pretty nice! I like both and would be very hard to make up my mind on which one to get. Wanna just sell me your 27 instead of having to rebuild it? hahaha You've got a nice shop and all as well.

Thanks. One night I was out having a few beers with my Sons, and Don, my one Son says to me "so Dad, when you die, which one of us gets your '27?" I told him "neither one of you, I'm being buried in it !! ) Funny part is, I wasn't kidding. Wouldn't that be a cool funeral. Pay your last respects to some guy propped up in the drivers seat.


Don

FMX: Here are a couple more pictures of a '27. I borrowed these from the gallery of Jim Sibley, who is a member here. He does some nice stuff, and I love this T. Hope he doesn't mind me copying these.

Don

Originally Posted by DennyW

Now that's what you call: Drivin it into the ground. Like drivin the wheels off of it.

I'd have to get one of those cool little hats and goggles like Faith has, and they could put my hand on the shifter.


You don't think this would be HOT RODS TO HELL, do you???

Don

Is the green one a glass or steel body? Looks like steel because of the doors and hinges. The door kits I have seen from speedway look like crap... At least the ones I have seen people install did, maybe they didn't do them right I don't know.

I think it is steel, based on what Jim seems to build a lot of. I didn't put doors in my '27 because I don't like the way some of them fit either in a glass body. My good friend had a T bucket when he was alive, and when I would ride in the passenger seat my arm would be pinched sometimes in the door gap as the body flexed going down the road.

I always said when I get too old to jump over the side I'd sell it.

Don

There is more room in a 27 than in a 23. They are lots wide enough for two 250 pound men to set in comfortably.(personal experience talking here)--The sad part is, that in a 27 T roadster there simply isn't enough room front to rear. It don't matter how you do it, you will run out of leg room. On the one I built, I cut 3" out of the daisy panel (thats the part between the rear of the cockpit and the front of the trunk opening), and it still was tight for leg room, and I'm only 5 foot seven tall. The doors are so friggin narrow that even if you cut and hinge them like I did, only your legs will pass thru the door, not your ass. This means that to climb into them you have to step up, stand on the doorsill, slide your legs thru the door opening, lean your ass against the top of the seat, then slide down into a seated position. The reverse of this for getting out, is like watching a snake slither backwards-----and there is no way to put a convertible top on them unless its a big high goofy one like the old T-buckets from the seventies. I have seen 27's with 3 pedals, but only if you run zero upholstery panels in the kick panel area.(how do you like that Duvall style windshield frame I built from $10 worth of scrap 1/8" plate)---Brian

Don,
I have enjoyed watching your build so far. Although I have "been there done that" more than a few times it's always interesting to see other people's ways of solving all the problems. I continue to learn constantly... Now that my coupe is about 98% done, I am collecting parts for my next project. I am planning a track-style / lakes modified style roadster, so that has made your posts even more interesting.

Brian,
How about some details on the windshield frame? I can fabricate the outside shape, but how do you make the inside so it will hold the glass? That's a nice 27! Was that before the roadster pickup or do you still have it too?

That roadster was built to celebrate my 50th birthday (at least it worked out that way) I sold it after about 5 years, then 3 years ago I started the roadster pickup, and finished it in time to celebrate my 59th. (I'm 60 now). I will do a post on "how to build a Duvall style windshield frame.

Like most things hot rod it depends on how/what you're doing. My '27 Track roadster had three pedals. At 6', 32" inseam, 200# (give or take ) size 10 1/2 shoe (narrower the better) I fit "okay", but not for any long haul, local cruise around stuff mostly. The pedals were floor mount (Tilton if I remember correctly), the steering wheel was 12", and the column slightly higher than I would normally mount one. No opening doors, just step over the side. Probably why it worked better than Brian's was I had a 2.3 Ford banger and 4 speed which likely allowed a smaller hump in the floor.

You guys are killing me with all these great looking '27's. Makes me want to finish rebuilding mine.

Yeah, footroom in the '27 is a little tight, but I also got 3 pedals in there. Maybe the small block Ford and toploader 3 speed combo was narrow enough to allow that.

Great idea Brian about the Duvall build thread. These have gotten popular again, and the ones you buy are a little pricey. I look forward to seeing you do that.

Jim, from the way you coupe looks, your modified will be dynomite. You build a nice, balanced design car, so I hope you do a thread on it when you start. I'm like you, I love to see other people's work in progress.

I thought you guys might like to see another modified that a guy posted on another forum (It's a forum I haven't been banned from ) He is using 4 cylinder power, and is really doing a first rate job on it.

Here are some pictures I borrowed. I promise to put them right back.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

(It's a forum I haven't been banned from ) Don

You forgot the word YET!!

Charlie had posted some early construction photos of his roadster on here 3-4 years ago, but they must have gotten lost in one of the server crashes as I couldn't find them anymore.