Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

Well, things have progressed slowly this week. We're back at school and the beginning of a new term is always hectic, so I haven't made the progress on the roadster that I would have liked.:( Anyway, these aren't exactly step-by-step shots, but there are a couple of things visible here.

First, the engine-turned aluminum firewall is back in place. Before I installed it, I put two countersunk 10-24 bolts through the firewall and the plywood reinforcement/battery mount inside. The purpose of the bolts is to make sure the plywood can't come loose even if the body filler adhesive lets go. I then installed the aluminum to the fiberglass body using 3-M spray adhesive. I used the adhesive to ensure that the aluminum stays flat & tight and won't ever rattle or squeak. The aluminum angle firewall lip was then installed with steel-shank pop-rivets. (I used all of them now instead of only 4 like back on page 27);)

The radiator is now in place with its fan attached. There is about 1/2 inch clearance between the tip of the water pump shaft and the back of the fan motor. I installed the nose and hood sides temporarily so I could make sure that the radiator support is adjusted properly.

Before I installed the exhaust manifold, I removed the heat-riser shroud and the sensor, welded a plug in the hole, and gave it a liberal coating of Krylon high-heat silver paint. My first experience with this paint was on my son's sedan. When we first fired his engine and the carburetor was malfunctioning, the headers got hot enough to glow bright orange. When they cooled off, the paint was undamaged!:eek::3dSMILE:

Finally, I built a new seat bottom frame in the shop at school. Using the old temporary OSB piece as a pattern, I built a perimeter style frame from a combination of hard maple and yellow pine. This one will get web-strapping woven across the openings before the installation of foam and upholstery.:D

Is that all you did?:LOL:. Looks like great progress to me. That firewall looks suuuweeeet. It compliments the car well.

Looking great!! And i must compliment you on that fancy wood work you have going on there! Ive worked with plenty of so called framers through the years that could not pull those angles off, good job! But then again didnt you say you taught woodshop for awhile?

From a wood worker/hobbiest that is very nice work. I've taken my share of furniture apart, and those are some stout nicely framed seats you've got going there. Looks like you dowelled the center piece in and used tongue and groove joints?

Thank you all.:3dSMILE:

Yes, guilty as charged! I did teach woodworking for a while. Now I teach Construction, so I still have access to the machines. No, Steve, I didn't use any tongue & groove joints; the multiple angle miters just about taxed my abilities to the limit.:whacked: What looks like dowels in the pictures are actually the counterbore holes for the 2 1/2 inch drywall screws. All joints are glued and screwed.:)

Nice looking Jim, your moving along nicely. Keep it up. Does appear it will be one sweet looking ride when your done.

Is that huge thing on the back of radiator the electric motor for running the car at low speeds? Is this really a gas/electric "green" car? lol

Earl

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Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Thank you all.:3dSMILE:

Yes, guilty as charged! I did teach woodworking for a while. Now I teach Construction, so I still have access to the machines. No, Steve, I didn't use any tongue & groove joints; the multiple angle miters just about taxed my abilities to the limit.:whacked: What looks like dowels in the pictures are actually the counterbore holes for the 2 1/2 inch drywall screws. All joints are glued and screwed.:)

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J.R.
When I started woodworking the New Yankee workshop was just getting popular on PBS. Norm was using a biscuit joiner to do most of his projects back then. So I went the biscuit joiner route for most stuff too, instead of tongue and groove. I had to break a joint I'd made in a simple pine dinner table. It was so strong I had to cut it off! Groove or no grove there are going to be a few tongues hanging out when you are done!:D

Progress has been slow this past week. I have done the initial sanding on the body and have a good portion of it in primer. I discovered a rash of pinholes in the back of the turtle deck:HMMM:, but no other unpleasant surprises.

I have been collecting brake parts so I can undertake that part of the "plumbing", but I haven't been able to assemble much. I need to mount the master cylinder so I can proceed with the brake lines. Before I mount the master cyl, however, I need to clearcoat the firewall and the weather has not been conducive to painting.:mad:

One good thing... I ordered two new brake drums to replace the mismatched pair on the old Econoline axle. When I got them home and opened the boxes I discovered that they are finned. A quick coat of dull silver heat resistant paint almost makes them look like finned aluminum.:3dSMILE::cool:

The odds of me driving this car to Billetproof grow slimmer by the day. If I haven't "motorvated" this thing around town by the first week of March, it probably isn't going to happen... and there's still an awful lot to do.:CRY:

Jim, progress is progress with each step getting you closer. I like the drums and paint. Bet that was a whole lot cheaper than the "real" deal. I like how your build is coming along. Keep at it and one day soon you'll be going for that first ride.

Earl

Keep on plugging away Jim. I want to see it.

Looking great man. Keep up the good work! You can make it!

Progress is still slower than I would like. Life keeps getting in the way...:rolleyes: Anyway, as I said before, I am at that point in the build where the things I am doing don't really show up much. I have finished rebuilding the front brakes, so moved on to the rear. I pulled the rear drums and discovered that they are pitted beyond using:mad:, so ordered new ones. While I'm waiting on those, I thought I would run the brake lines.., but I need to mount the master cylinder... and I can't do that until I clearcoat the firewall...:HMMM: So, this evening I masked off the surrounding area and shot 3 coats of X-treme clear over the engine turned aluminum. Hard to tell in the pic, but the gloss coating really makes the engine turning sparkle.:3dSMILE:

Lookin' good.

Tom

I love that firewall Jim. I wanted to make a similar one while I had my engine out but decided to go ahead and make one that matched my interior panels. I'm doing all of the small things too right now that don't make for exciting pictures on my engine swap. Seems like I'm doing a lot of work with not much to show.

Maybe if enough of us ask they will move Billetproof to June. :rolleyes::LOL: We have given up trying to get Dan's done in time too..........but why rush just to make one show, there will still be a lot of cruising time left over the summer. And then there is the Turkey Run in November, which will be on us before we realize it. :)

Your T is looking really good Jim. We will get to see it sooner or later, and at least we all keep up on each others builds on here.

Don

Thanks, everyone, for the compliments.:3dSMILE:

Bill, your firewall is beautiful just like the rest of your aluminum work. One of these days you need to do a "how to" thread on the rivets & ribs in those panels...:cool:

I have set a "drop dead" date of Feb 15. If I don't have the roadster running by then I will drop any plans of driving it to Billetproof and turn my attention back to my coupe. The transmission in the coupe (Turbo 350) has developed a leak that really needs attention before it drenches everything underneath with tranny fluid. I also bought some new tri-bar headlights at the Turkey Run that have turn lights built in and I haven't taken the time to install them yet. Then I have a few rattles & squeaks that I need to fix, etc, etc...:HMMM:

Hey, Don, have you considered the T-bucket Nationals? It's in North Carolina this year, June 18, 19,& 20. It may be a few years before it gets back to the eastern side of the country. We could caravan up...:rolleyes::cool:

Jim, that firewall looks great! I have faith in you to make your date. At least you have a back up plan if it doesn't work out.
Life can seem to take time away, but "life" is so much more important.

Earl

Thanks Earl. I'm still plugging away at it, but only time will tell.:rolleyes: My brake drums arrived today, so I can rebuild the rear brakes and run the lines. I hope to make some progress this weekend, but then the following two Saturdays are obligated elsewhere.:( Looks like "plan B" is becoming more & more likely...:HMMM:

Jim, with the 15th passing us all by (no added information on your thread here) is backup plan in effect?

Earl

Thanks for asking, Earl. Yes, I have reverted to "plan B".:o I had a couple of interruptions that slowed my progress on the roadster; life keeps getting in the way. I lost one week's evenings to the weather when it turned cold a few weeks ago (I work mostly outdoors) and then I lost a weekend when my wife's brother passed away. On top of that, I still haven't resolved the intake/carb matter. I know where there is a 2-barrel intake for this engine, but have not been able to connect with the owner when he has time to deal with it (he is a tax preparer & this is his busy season)...:whacked: I have made some limited progress on rebuilding the brakes (nothing picture-worthy), but there is just too much yet to do and I don't want to schlock this thing together and then end up doing a lot of it over later.:HMMM: So..,

I will be driving my coupe to Billetproof.:3dSMILE: I went to the junkyard Saturday and scrounged a new light switch for it that has a parking light circuit (the existing one didn't - mid '80's switch when parking lights stay on all the time). I got that so I can install the new tri-bar headlights with integral turn signals. Then I will convert the existing turn signals to parking lights. Aside from that, it's just a matter of routine maintenence (change oil, chasing squeaks, etc.) and clean up and it's ready to go. As for the roadster, I still want to get it running as soon as possible and get some road time on it; my goal is to drive it to the T-bucket Nationals in Lenoir, NC in June.:rolleyes::D

Sorry to hear that you're not going to make Billetproof:(, but I have to agree with you about doing it right.

Wish I still had that GM four banger that I pulled out of my Jeep years ago. You would be welcome to it. It had just the intake you're wanting. You know what they say about never getting rid of something, 'cause you might need it.:rolleyes:

Looks like it's going to be tight for me to get on the road by March too, but I'm still plowing ahead like a stubborn mule. I still think I can make it.

Keep up the good work.

Mike

It's amazing how much time gets eaten up, even when your fully motivated. I had six days off in a row here, and wanted to work on finishing the frame and dropping the engine in. So of course it rained for five of the six days and is still raining a week later! Like J.R. I work mostly outside due to limited shop space, and not wanting to mess my Harley or woodworking stuff by welding inside, or painting in there!
J.R. any new pics to update us?

Thanks, Mike, but it ain't all bad. I'll be at Billetproof, just not with the roadster. That's OK, though. Although my coupe is well traveled (I drive it a LOT!) and "road proven" (2400 mile trek through the midwest in 2006), not all that many people have seen it because I really haven't had it at very many rod runs. I've had it to Daytona for a couple of different events and to a few cruise-ins in the area, but that's about it. It's got some rock chips on the frame, road grime underneath, and a couple of rust bubbles coming up on the doors, but that just proves it's a driver. It's been a faithful "member of the family" since I put it on the road in 2005, so I guess it deserves to be displayed in a field full of "our kind" of people. The roadster's time will come...:rolleyes:

Have you considered going to the T-bucket Nationals? It's June 18, 19, & 20 in Lenoir, NC.:3dSMILE:

Ha! Steve, you must have been typing your reply at the same time I was doing mine (during lunch at school).:HMMM: Nope, no new pics. I really haven't done anything that makes any difference in appearance. What little time I have spent on it has been rebuilding the brakes (shoes, wheel cylinders, etc.), nothing picture-worthy there.:rolleyes:

While I've been piddling with the little stuff, though, I keep eyeing the interior space and the seat frame I made. The more I look at it, the more I think I want to do it differently. I originally bought a pair of tractor bucket seats for it, but it turned out they wouldn't work the way I wanted them to. They couldn't be modified correctly, so I built the seat frame. Now I'm considering trashing that idea and using Speedway Motors aluminum bomber seats (if they'll fit). I think they would fit the track roadster image better. Tell me what you think, folks.:o

Jim, sorry to hear about your Brother in Law passing away. Don't sweat it, there is life after Billetproof. Now you can slow down and enjoy the build and take it to Turkey Run. That is the goal we are now shooting for with Dans too.

You've made great progress in such a short amount of time. :):)

Don

Well I'm glad to see you are going to Billetproof anyway Jim. We can all get together there again and shoot the breeze......and it'll be way easier to find Don :LOL:

I'm still worried about making it myself but I have at least test fired the hemi and everything seems alright. If you want to hear it, check out the link to youtube for a short video that my brother made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL0Sh3rE3w8

You may find this to be shocking, but I'm a big advocate of bomber style seats :LOL:. Seriously, they would look good in your car but those seats you made were so nicely done that I would hate to see you tear them out.

Jim at least the ride to ocala will be less stressfull!! You`ll be driving a tried and true ride, and it will give you time to work out all the bugs by november. See ya`ll in ocala.

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Originally Posted by Gastrick

Well I'm glad to see you are going to Billetproof anyway Jim. We can all get together there again and shoot the breeze......and it'll be way easier to find Don :LOL:

I'm still worried about making it myself but I have at least test fired the hemi and everything seems alright. If you want to hear it, check out the link to youtube for a short video that my brother made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL0Sh3rE3w8

You may find this to be shocking, but I'm a big advocate of bomber style seats :LOL:. Seriously, they would look good in your car but those seats you made were so nicely done that I would hate to see you tear them out.

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Gastric that hemi sounds like it's ready to eat some pavement! Congrats.

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Originally Posted by J. Robinson

......... Now I'm considering trashing that idea and using Speedway Motors aluminum bomber seats (if they'll fit). I think they would fit the track roadster image better. Tell me what you think, folks.:o

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You probably want to check ebay. Speedy Bill, as he often does, is now having the seats he sells made in China, having used the ones he used to have built locally as a pattern. The guy that used to make them for him is now selling direct on ebay for less $.

OK, progress has been slow as it always is this time of year. Things get busy at work and I come home too beat to spend time in the garage... I did get the steering box & pittman arm painted with the same silver I used on the radius rods & bumpers. I also painted the support that goes under the cowl (black) and the battery mount. Also coated the inside of the firewall & cowl with rubberized undercoating. I'll post some pics up later.:rolleyes:

My purpose for this posting is to get some opinions. Below are 2 quickie sketches of the roadster with different (reversed) color schemes. The first one is my original concept, but recently I've been considering the second one. Tell me what you think...:HMMM:

Being a certified redaholic I'd go for the second one, the white scalloping (with gold leaf edge striping to tie in with numbers) and gold leaf numbers would really pop. If you went toward the white I'd push it more toward a "creme" color. Harley did one a few years ago that is really nice, a slightly warm color. If you went that way orange scallops with black edge stripe might work well too (depending on shade it might fight the suspension colors you've already done though), and I'd then do the numbers in the same color as I don't think the gold leaf jumps off the white near as well as the red or orange.

Either one would look great, but since you already have one off white car you might want a red one in the stable too.:D

Don

I would go with what Bob recommended. A cream and red kind of like the Gilmore race cars. I look forward to you pics.
Joe

J.R. I like em both, but like the second one a wee bit better. I guess the larger red mass appeals to me!:D Either way will look sharp! Nice sketches by the way.:cool:

Jim I'd go with the second also , It just looks right .

Another vote for option 2. It looks faster.

Good Lord J.R. Those are just quickie sketches?????? WOW, what do you do when you get serious? Glad things are coming along. I haven't done anything on the Essex since November. Just too darn much snow and COLD, and no firewood for the barrel stove. So----------been playing with my little trains, keeps me sane, sort of. Regards, Perley:)

They both look good to me but I still like your original design the best.

I vote for #1! looks better to me.JMO

It's been a while since I put anything up on this thread. Once I decided the roadster wasn't going to make it in time for Billetproof, I just kind of laid down on it for a while.:rolleyes: I've done some minor regular maintenence on the coupe, painted the exterior of my house, went to Bikeweek, Billetproof, the Spring event at Daytona, and helped my wife build the set for her Spring musical at school. There are still a couple of things I need to get done, but I am finally ready to start progressing on the roadster again.:3dSMILE:

Since my last real entry here, I undercoated the inside of the firewall, painted the steering box and mounting hardware and assembled same.

The sprint car nose I have was originally designed for the triangular shaped insert with vertical bars (as in my drawings). However, I really like the looks of the rounder shaped grille with horizontal bars; to me it seems more like the ones I saw as a child when I attended sprint and midget races with my dad. Last week I decided to take a chance and ordered the '27 Track T grille insert from Speedway Motors. As soon as I took it out of the box, I laid it on the nose and knew I had made the right choice.:cool:

These things come "as cast", so my first job was to polish it. I used a D/A sander with 220 grit paper, followed that with 400 grit, and finally worked it over on the buffing wheel at school. It turned out very nice.:D I still need to do a little work between the bars with a Dremel tool, but I'll do that later. Next step was to get it to fit in the nose. A little trimming with a sabre saw was all that was needed. It is just taped in place for the pics; I will drill and bolt it as soon as I get some stainless button-head bolts...