RPU Roadster pickup
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RPU Roadster pickup
Yep, roadster pickup. He is a deep thinker for sure. In fact, here is a picture of my two Son's working on Don's T. Don is on the right working, and that is Dan on the left pondering what to do next. Every time he walks up and strikes this pose while I'm doing something I know he is about to tell me a better way to do something. :D :D
Thanks for the nice words..............oh, his user name is Dodgerodder on the HAMB.
Don
Whoops, hit the button too quick.........heres the picture.
Don
lol:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
Don,
Has Dan considered cross-steering it with a rack & pinion or is he trying to stay more "old school"?
If that's a 9" Ford rear, he might want a couple of different gear ratios. They're easy to change; back in my stock car days, I could switch pumpkins in about 20 minutes. Anyway, as light as that thing is, the 3.89 is probably good for neck-snapping launches and local driving. Then a 2.75 would be nice to have in case he ever wants to drive somewhere long distance. I'm sure he wants a posi unit for the "everyday" gear, but he could keep a "junkyard" single track 2.75 layin' around for a road gear (if he can find one with 31 splines).:HMMM:
I'd like to go to the Billetproof event; time will tell. That's coming up pretty soon isn't it? My son can't take his car because the rear wheels are "too new"!:(
You mean they won't accept the car because of the wheels? If so, that is pretty goofy on their part, his sedan is very oldtimey in every respect. See, that is the reason I have dragged my feet on getting my car and Dons car registered, I can't seem to get an answer from any Poor Boy if our cars are acceptable or not. I have posted on two forums asking that question, and no response. I am not going to drive 4 hours to be turned away for billet pulleys. :( :( From the show info posted, it looks like they are being very narrow in their admittance policy.
As for the steering thing, yeah, he wants to keep it oldtimey sort of, using a traditional box type steering setup. We have looked at every possibility. We propped a F100 1956 Ford truck box up there, too wide to clear the starter. We considered a Vega cross steer, but he has no way to install a panhard and he has an all chromed front end waiting to install, so he can't weld any brackets to it for the panhard to mount to.
I think what we are just going to use a Flaming River Corvair box like Don and I are using. It will tuck up pretty tight and clear the starter and the arm points down, which is what we need too. He was supposed to order one from Speedway today so that we have it to try to install next weekend.
Don
The truck is looking super sweet don, your son does some amazing metal work!! Even if you cant bring the cars, are you still gonna try and make the show? I was looking forward to hopefully meeting up with you guys finally, since we always miss each other somehow. Let me know.
Thanks John, same here, we want to finally get to meet you too. I really would like to take the cars if possible..........do you know if there are still any openings and if we would be turned away if we would be able to preregister? Like I mentioned, the "rules" I saw posted said no billet, and our cars do have some billet and shiney stuff, so I'm just worried they would nix our entry.
I figured since I was personal friends with one of the head trophy makers and all.............:3dSMILE: :3dSMILE:
Don
Don
The RPU is looking better everytime I see it!:) Dan has a great eye for style.
I know he's probably already looked at cowl steering, but I think (for what that's worth) it would look very good on that car. I know it's a little over done these days, but it still looks good if done right.
BTW How does Don(the other one) like the dual quads on his bucket? I'm thinking about them for my T.
Mike
Don , tell your son I'm impressed with the crossmember so much I may steal it for one of my next projects. Don't worry I will credit him for the inspiration.
Ooo I will buy him a beer for design usage fee's. Remember to keep me informed about billetproof, because you never know when I want to drive 15 hours for dinner and a car show.
BradC
Thanks guys.
Mike, he actually had a BMW 2002 steering box in the first two versions of the car, setup as cowl steering. What he didn't like about it was that it complicated the inside of the firewall where your feet go and took up some valuable space there. So this time he wants one that is outside the cab entirely. It did work well there though and was easy to mount.
Don likes his 2 x 4 setup, but hasn't gotten enough miles on the car for us to dial it in yet. (He just got a new forged steering arm to replace the broken one, and we are redoing his entire brake setup, so the car is semi torn down) His carbs are running very rich right now to the point of blackening the plugs. I ran the same setup on my '27 and it was just about right, so we just need to fiddle some more with them once we get it back on the road. He and I are getting together Thursday night to work on it and hopefully get it off of jackstands for a change. :)
Brad, steal away! I get some of my best ideas by stealing them from other people.:D It was actually not too bad to make. First we made a masonite template of the front and rear portions so that we could get a nice pleasing shape that would dip below the pan. Then we cut a front and back piece out of 3/16 steel. We cut most of it on the bandsaw and used a metal cutting blade on a jigsaw to cut where the bandsaw wouldn't reach.
After that we punched holes in it with various sized holesaws and clamped the front and rear pieces onto a 2 x 3 inch piece of box tubing. The box tubing kept the pieces in alignment and also kept them from warping from welding. Then he and I hand bent the top piece out of 3/16 x 3 inch flat stock so that it would make the top "cap" of the crossmember. He left it sit up a little so that when he welded it all up he would have lots of weld to grind down and make the rounded edges you see in the pictures. He then removed the box tubing and finished welding it all underneath.
Finally, he just happened to have a pair of Pete and Jakes radius rod mounts that were the perfect size widthwise to use for the motor mount portions. He bought some 442 Olds engine mounts that these go to. All he had to do was shorten the P and J mounts and weld them onto the crossmember. He still has to weld the crossmember to the car, but is going to do that when he finishes boxing the frame.
Here are some better shots that might explain it more.
Don
PS: If you show up at Billetproof, I'll buy YOU a beer.
Don is that all, jeeze I'd have slapped together something if I knew it was that easy!:LOL: :D :LOL:
Seriously you guys do very nice work! From those of us who are non metal welders we salute you!:)
Well, thanks Steve, but I'm one of those non-welders myself.........at least when it comes to nice looking welds. Luckily Don and I have Dan to do the pretty stuff for us.
Good thing he works for free. :o :D :D
Don
Don you might not want to mention you know me, alot of the clubs showing up, kinda want my head on a stake!!:eek: :eek: I made an opinion on another forum ,that did not sit well, part of the drama i was talking about!Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
As far as your cars go, i think they should be ok, but you still might want an "expert" opinion! Your son is good with the hamb guys, have him consult the "experts" over there and see if they will gratnt you immunity.
You can also try the southerngreasepit forum, they are real cliquey, but alot of them are heavily involved in the show. Im sure ol don garlits would love to have your cars there!!
I looked at the website for Billetproof... The only billet on my car is the rear wheel spacers, which aren't visible, and I did 100% of the build myself, so it should "pass". I may leave the coupe home and just go as a spectator, though. I don't want to get all the way there and not be able to get my car in... I've got to think about this for a while...:rolleyes: The following weekend is the Spring event at Daytona. I know I can get in there...:)
If those guys are as hard nosed as the guys who put on Hot Rodarama here in Tacoma anything that even resembles billet will cause you to be turned away, especially if they are enjoying "a full house".
Here's an idea. Many moons ago before well publicized events caused the standard for participation to expand to numbers with multiple zeros in them, we would be tickled to have a gathering of 10 cars, give or take. So, why not pull together a group of you, meet up someplace near the event, put the most likely to be rejected car at the front of the group. Pull up as a string of rides, if the first guy gets booted, you all just drive off (single finger salute optional:D ). Do your own mini-event based on comraderie, cruise around, have a meal together, B.S. (no problem there with you guys:) ) and just flat out enjoy being together around a common love. Whiz on the snobs!!!
Bob, I couldn't agree more. In fact the longer I think about it, the more convinced I am not going to go. I pulled up some of their "rules" from their website:
Here are the rules. Read 'em and weep:
* 1964 and earlier TRADITIONAL style rods and customs ONLY!
* No visible billet anything! Especially wheels!
* Traditionally styled choppers and bobbers ONLY! (No modern West Coast Choppers, OCC style fluff bikes)
* No trailered cars (race only vehicles excepted with prior approval)
* No digital gauges (it's not traditional and it's ugly)
* No IFS on fenderless cars (it's not traditional and it's ugly)
* No mag wheels made after the 60's
Keep in mind that we have the right to refuse any vehicle WITHOUT A REFUND, so read the rules carefully and decide for yourself. Don't cry when we turn you away, tears stain billet.
I really don't need this show THAT bad. I just don't care for the narrow interpretation of what is acceptable or not. They can keep their show......I might go to Daytona instead a week later, if anything. I don't like hanging around with snobs, be they the high buck ones or the guys on the other side of the fence.
I'm also turned off that no Poor Boy has responded to the two requests I have made for clarification.........I THOUGHT they were a pretty good club up to this point. :confused:
Don
This is the "rule" that really makes me shake my head:
* No mag wheels made after the 60's
So what do they do, have a mag wheel expert who can carbon date your rims just to make sure they weren't make in (gasp) 1970!!! :eek:
I just don't need any car show or cruise that much.
Don
Sounds to me that they cater to the "pure rat rod" crowd. :mad: And I mean the clowns who cobble together a bunch of garbage and call it "old school". :mad:
I've been pondering on this all day and I think I'm going to stay away. I don't like their snobby attitude.:mad: A field full of rust and flat paint is just as boring as a field full of billet barges. I kind of like seeing a mix of all kinds of cars; it's more interesting that way... It would really piss me off if I sent the money, drove the distance, and then got rejected at the gate because my "traditional appearing" hotrod has disc brakes and torsion bars on the front end. Besides that, if they turned me away and then refused to give me my money back, I believe I might get irate... and I don't need to spend a night in the Marion County jail.:mad: Too bad; I've met Don Garlits before and he's really cool. I doubt he had anything to do with the rules...:rolleyes:
I'll just go to Daytona the following week; there will be a couple of thousand cars of all types there plus a big swap meet. It's not as big as the Turkey run, but it's still pretty good.:cool:
It's exactly what Hotroddaddy was posting about yesterday......all of this division really gets old real quick.
Don
Yeah. I like Barry Maguire's attitude: "It doesn't matter if you are a guy or a girl or what kind of vehicle you like, you're still a 'car guy'!":D
Hey, I've even seen some ricers that were pretty cool. That's not my "cup of tea", but I can appreciate good looks and ingenuity on any kind of vehicle.:) :cool:
Yeah Jim, the first turn off for me was you mentioning your Sons car not making it because of the rear wheels. What's up with that?? :confused: He has a great looking car that you and he built together, and he is proud of it. That is the kind of cars they should welcome.
I understand that if I tried taking a Ford into a Super Chevy Show that would be not right. But we are talking about hot rods and customs here that are, by their very nature, modified. What difference does it make if the mags came from 1970 or 1965?
I think we might see you in Daytona Jim. :)
Don
BTW Jim, did you know Barry M was a hot rodder? Here is an exerpt from his story:
“I had ‘32 Ford roadsters and every hot car - a Jag roadster, a Siata roadster with a Corvette engine - it weighed 1,800 pounds and had a 300 hp engine.
I remember the Siata from some magazine back then.
Let me know if you guys are skipping, and headed to daytona, i will do the same! Its gonna be a day full of ego trips for me now anyway, so i just assume go elsewhere!! I know most of the cars that will be there anyway, and i parked with them at turkey last year, i had more fun once i met up with gastric, so if you guys are down for daytona, im in!!
As of this minute John it looks like that is where I'm going, but I have to talk to my traveling buddies Dan and Don to see if that is cool with them. I know there is a swap meet at Daytona, so that alone should swing Dan's vote. :D
Maybe we will finally get to meet you. :)
Don
hey this way i will get a trophy:LOL: :LOL: i already have a spot in the garage for it:LOL:
I had to share this. One of our members Elpablo is on another forum with some of us. He did a few cartoons of our cars and they really came out great. Here is what he did of my T. I think we have a budding Ed Big Daddy in our midst. :D
I love it, except my complexion is a little off. :HMMM: :3dSMILE:
Don
Don you better get that made into a T-shirt, quick. I will have to see if I can make it down to see you guys this spring or wait till turkey run.
BradC
Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
Looks like he got the hair right though!
:eek: :LOL:
Glad to see you are back to your old fiesty self Bob, I was starting to worry about you. You've been so MELLOW lately. :p :LOL: :LOL:
Don
Don
I've been looking into dash options, and actually like the billet remake for modern guages for my old ford. It's funny that they picked on billet! And the mags being pre 70's is stupid! When I was younger we used to joke that the non confromists all looked alike, I guess that's where these guys are headed.
I also thought you did a typo on the Siata, until I looked it up on google. Nice roadster, kind of a cross between a Shelby AC Cobra and a Triumph Spitfire.
Here is a photo I found.
http://www.ritzsite.net/Fiat_8V/1953...ignale_f3q.JPG
That's it. I think they are Italian (?) and I remember the article in the magazine years ago about Barry having this car built with the sbc in it. Nice lines on it.
Don
Oh ya, I'm going to just tell my buds to get lost because thier car isn't the same as mine, I would miss out on a great deal of great peoples company.
That is a great looking roadster for 1953 it was very ahead of it's time.
I agree Brickman. For 1950's the design is what was hot in the 1960's and still today. Gotta love those roadsters!:D
Oh ya, I had a 1962 MGA MkII Twin overhead cam 4 speed car, a 79 MGB, a 74 Triumph tr6, and a 67 Austin Healey Sprite. That was a great car but even then hard to get parts for. They all had true style through and through. They were alot of fun on winding roads, and good on gas. Hard to beat british sports cars of that era.
Oh ya, I had a 1962 MGA MkII Twin overhead cam 4 speed car, a 79 MGB, a 74 Triumph tr6, and a 67 Austin Healey Sprite. That was a great car but even then hard to get parts for. They all had true style through and through. They were alot of fun on winding roads, and good on gas. Hard to beat british sports cars of that era.
I had a Bugeye Sprite, great little car. I first put a Judson supercharger on it which really woke it up. Then I lost my license for a year for drag racing so I had a lot of time and swapped a 289 Ford into it with a Cobra package on it. It basically ruined a nice little car. Yeah, it would smoke the tires if you punched it at 60 mph, but it cornered like crap and was super nose heavy. Sure wish I had that car now in stock form.
Don
Hi my name is Tom,I am new to chr I have read all 214 pages of this thread and I think you and your son,s have done some really nice work. The T,came out awsome as well as Don jr and especially Danwith his 4 door/rpu the fab work and famialy pitching in on one another is great. As for myself I have wayyyyy too many Irons in the fire I have a 89 iroc home built 383 tpi stroker 5 speed , 87 nissan ex cab with sbc 400, 94 chevy 1500 excab with 5/7 drop, 90 model dodge3/4 ton cummins auto .I know that yall like clean painted rids as well as I but I found this forum looking for some help and ideas for I am looking at what I belive is a 1947 kb7 international truck to make a RATROD out of I want to fab a frame from skratch and do a serious cp and channel. I love hot rod and things that go fast. Don I also read the thread abought your cop top truck but only skimmed through it.Alot of my projects are on hold I am trying to to build a shop by the end of the year whell thats my goal anyway!!!!
Thanks for your time and all the entertainment
Tom (RATATOOLY)!!
Hi Tom, Welcome to the group, and thanks for doing your intro on this thread. Sounds like you will be doing one a lot like my own Dodge, Fantastic, we'll have a lot to talk about for sure.
Even though the T is done I figured I'd keep this thread going for a while to incorporate some of the other things going on in our shop. Your nice words were certainly appreciated.:)
Post us some pictures of your build when you can.
Don