Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[rspears]

Rspears - The seat hinges are just bolted through the riser with fender washers on the back side. The riser is made from 3/4 inch thick white spruce and it is fiberglassed into the body; it's very rigid. Hopefully I'll never hit anything, but if I do the seat belts should stop the driver and/or passenger and the seats from ripping loose. This car will be equipped with 5-way harnesses; the shoulder and crotch straps are optional, but I'm a firm believer in seat belts (A few trips into the concrete walls on a race track will make a believer of anyone).

Jim,
I knew you'd have it covered, but seeing those strap hinges bolted to a wooden riser kind of jumped out at me. Reinforcing the back side is the key, but the 5-way harness will indeed absorb most of the shock so the seats will only be dealing with vertical forces, and some side G-forces as you power through turns!! Thanks for the reply.

[stovens]

Jim the reason I asked was related to an Adirondak chair I made vs. two we bought. The one I made was from a plan, that has a curve under the seat planks that you sit in as you said above. It is very comfortable even without a pad. The two we bought have flat seats, that you sit on as stated. I never really used them until recently we we repainted the house and put them on the front porch. They look good, but are like sitting on a pile of bricks. I even bought seat pads, thinking that would help, but they still are uncomfortable. I think I'll take the seat planks off, and cut a curve into them, which hopefully will change the angle of forces to the butt and lower back!

[J. Robinson]

Ah, Steve, I am very familiar with Adirondak chairs. That was one of my student's favorite projects when I was still teaching. A few years ago I pirated some plans of two different styles of chairs off the internet, combined the features I liked from both, made a set of patterns, and we made dozens of them. Since I retired I have been making a few chairs and selling them to friends and neighbors. People comment on how comfortable they are, even after sitting in them for extended periods. I believe it is because of the contoured bottoms. These Kirkey seats are similarly shaped in the bottom, so I should be able to get by with very little padding in the upholstery.

[J. Robinson]

Not much to show here. I've been busy on the roadster, but didn't bother with a bunch of pictures. I have been doing the mundane tasks of running brake and fuel lines. It's pretty standard stuff and didn't involve a lot of fabrication, so I didn't think it warranted a bunch of photos. Besides, it's tough to take pictures lying on your back under the car... The good news is, the roadster now has working brakes and, except for some pieces of flexible fuel line and a few hose clamps, it has a fuel system. I also cleaned up the carburetor (see below) and tested it - it seems to be working fine. (I guess I'll find out when I try to start the engine.)

[Dave Severson]

Looks good Jim, going to be a sweet little cruizer!!!!!!!

[J. Robinson]

OK, I've made a little progress recently. As stated above, I plumbed the fuel system from the tank to the carb. I mounted the electric fuel pump right next to the fuel cell. It should work OK here, but I've never used this type of pump before, so I guess we'll see... I patched up the slots in the tunnel that I had to cut for seat fitment. I used masking tape and cardboard to make forms underneath and then laid in 3 layers of glass mat & resin on the top side. When it was cured, I removed the tape and carboard underneath and shot the bottom side with rubberized undercoating.

[J. Robinson]

Next, I massaged the body a little (mostly the hood fit and alignment) and put it all in primer. There are still some pinholes and blemishes in the fiberglass that need attention and I will get to those eventually. Right now I just wanted it all one color and I will undoubtedly drive it this way for a while before I paint it. I have installed the bumpers, side nerf bars, windshield frame, and headlights. I still need to fabricate the dash panel and a new, longer shift lever. I rolled it outside yesterday for some pictures. This is the first time it's been all together and out in the light of day in a long time. Seeing it this way has me excited again!

[rspears]

Lookin' very good, Jim! I predict that once you get that first few shakedown drives done painting will shift farther back on the "To Do" list - at least that's what happened with me.... That's going to be a lot of fun to play around with!

[Dave Severson]

Looks great Jim! If we turn the calender back a few years, she'd be ready for a Saturday Night at East Bay or Volusia!~!!!

[oldrodder43]

WOW, Jim. Glad to see that you are back into it again! Looking great. Someday maybe I can come down and have a ride in it with you. Perley

[stovens]

Looks great Jim. Like the nerf bars and grill insert/skull. Still thinking red/white combo?

[J. Robinson]

Roger - Thanks. Yeah, I drove my coupe for a year and a couple of months before I painted it. I may not have painted it when I did, but I was in a hurry to get it done so I could drive it to Indiana for my old hotrod club reunion.

Dave - We'd have to turn the clock back a long way. I think the last roadster race was run in Florida in about 1951 or '52. It sure would be fun if we could go back in time and see them run.

Perley!! - It sure is good to hear from you; it's been quite a while. Did you make any progress on the Essex this past summer? I expect cold weather is keeping you out of the garage now, right? Ride in it?? You get down here, man, you can DRIVE it.

Steve - Yep, eventually. I'm still thinking Ford Wimbledon White with Red scallops and gold leaf lettering. The red will be the same metallic red I used on the frame and engine.

[Dave Severson]

Go back and see them run? Heck no! I'd want to go back and race with them!

[J. Robinson]

I stand corrected, Dave. I would much rather drive than watch any day. Check out this cool old video of racing roadsters from southern Cal in late '40s:

[Hot Rods, Southern California, 1940s] : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

[Dave Severson]

I've seen that one Jim, but still enjoy watching it!!! Some great old cars, for sure! Especially the #54 car time trialing, that was one of my car numbers back in the days of racing Super Mods! My Dad raced roadsters for a couple years, then when Midget racing moved into this part of the country he raced them until he had 3 of us boys all racing go-karts, then he unselfishly gave that up and put the efforts and $$$$ into our karts! Sure is a gorgeous old track, though! Big, wide half mile, very little banking and afternoon dry-slick racing at it's best!!!

Thanks for putting it up again!!!!