Thread: Bringing my old friend back to life.

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I mentioned that instead of my next project being my '39 Dodge truck I am going to restore my '27 Ford roadster and get it roadworthy again.

To give you some history, I started to build the car about 20 years ago and drove it pretty much every day for 7 years once it was done. About 7 or 8 years ago, after coming home from driving it to Daytona for the Turkey Run, I parked it and haven't driven it since. The plan was to pull it apart and redo some things and finally get it into paint. However, life got in the way, I met a girl and doing things with her like vacations, bike riding, walks, etc became more important. So, the '27 just sat collecting dust. Then when I started building my '23 I began to rob parts off of the '27 and it fell into even a deeper state of disrepair.

Essentially it is a fiberglass Speedway '27 T body on a boxed original Model A frame. I wanted dependability so I went with a 302 Ford coupled to a top loader 3 speed tranny (stick shift) and a 9 inch rear out of a '68 Mercury Montego. The front end is a 4 inch dropped axle that was evidently done in the old days, it is actually done pretty well with no distortion from the dropping process. I am thinking Mordrop or similar, but don't know for sure. I also used a Posies Superslide front spring that really worked great.

Steering is via a traditional '56 Ford pickup box and that also did a great job. The engine was mildly hopped up with a Crane cam, two four barrel carbs on an old Offy intake, early Ford 302 four barrel heads, and Sanderson Limefire headers. Rear suspension is via Model T spring and radius rods.

The original plan was to drive it for 3 months to get the bugs out then blow it apart so I could paint the body the same Dupont Fleet Purple as the frame (it's PURPLE Bob...........NOT PINK!!! ) But the car had no bugs right from the start, and I was having too much fun driving it, so it stayed in purple tinted primer for all those years. However, after so much time and miles the car was getting tired. Horsepower was starting to drop off, and the car was running hotter at red lights. It was just time to take it off the street and redo it.

So, that is where I am right now. Last night while Dan was working on his '29 I started to poke around on the '27, and before long I had the body ready to come off. Once Dan and I lifted it off the years of use started to show up. The frame and running gear are still ok, but looking really shabby. The years of sitting in a dirty shop haven't helped either. BTW, those rear tires are the originals from 20 years ago, and even though they have a lot of miles and a few burnouts on them they still have good tread. They will be replaced though,as will the front tires.

My plan is to not reinvent the wheel, but just freshen the car up by taking everything back down to bare metal and refinishing it. I stripped the purple primer off back down to white gelcoat a couple years ago, so that part is already done. I am going to rebuild the rear end, brakes, and the rest of the running gear. I have a Mustang 5.0 roller cam engine that will replace the '78 Ford Truck engine it originally had. I like the sound of the X cam my Son Don is using in his 5.0, so I will probably use one of those. I am going to rebuild the engine and add a little more HP to it while I am at it.

I am going to retain most of the original running gear like the 3 speed stick. It worked fine and with the 3:90 gears it performs well. The biggest change will be color. I liked the purple originally, but it has run it's course with me. I think the car will now be semi-gloss, and probably dark gray or black. Not sure about the color for the running gear yet. I still like red, even though it is over done, but I am also thinking about off-white. The color decision can wait until I look at a bunch of cars on line to find one I really like.

Here are some pictures of when the frame was done years ago, and how it looked last night after stripping it down. I'll post some updates as I go along, but I am in no rush to finish the car, so the updates won't be coming as often as the ones I did on my '23.

Don

Should be fun Don!!! As for the color, yeah red is overdone but us redaholics still like it!!!! Ford years ago had an off white color that looked great with good old Ford Bright Red!!!!!!

Me too Dave. Red is still my favorite color for wheels and stuff like that. I will probably still use it this time too.

Don

I can't imagine a steel wheel that is NOT painted red!!!!!! Not even sure it would still be a wheel!!!!!!

I am looking forward to your detailed posts about this pink T. Just don't pretend to say it will only cost 3K and then blow us out of the water with a show stopper. Just admit up front you like perfection (that is where your son gets it from) let us enjoy with you a great refreshened ride. ;-)

It's PURPLE!!! No, this time I have to keep my budget, I'm on a fixed income.

Don

I've always wanted a T, but never got around to it-can't wait to see the finished result, how long until you think it will be done?

I'd like to have it finished for Turkey Run next November. It is actually a better road car than my current T, maybe because of the higher seating position or just having more room inside. I just know it is a lot more comfortable on long highway trips. It's been to Daytona twice before and it was a pleasure to drive. The new T is ok around town, but a little crampy when you are sitting for hours behind the wheel. The '27 is also a little quieter because the headers are capped and the exhaust goes through mufflers all the way to the rear of the car. All that adds up. The '23 is more like a motorcycle, you have to be thinking the whole time you are driving. The '27 was more like a regular car, you could sit back and relax a little more.

I'm thinking this time of more of a '60's look, with Dodge Lancer hubcaps and stuff like that. Just not sure, but the car will tell me what it wants to be as it comes together.

Don

Looks good, Don. Did you get those tubular crossmembers from Speedway? I've used three of those now and really like them.

Thanks. Yep, Speedway. I like them too, and have used them on both my cars and my Son's T bucket. Sure make mounting the engine and tranny easy.

Don

Glad to see you fix her up don, she`s waited long enough. Cant wait to watch the progress too!

Thanks John, maybe I'll have it done in time for our Don Garlits get together in August. I'm looking forward to that.

Don

Me too!! But from the responses, it looks like only a few of us will be going. But thats cool, better quality time with friends.

I want to make the Garlits get together, but I gotta find a project to build first right?? Gotta show up with something other than my 98 Chebby truck!!!

Not at all!! Im bringing my daily. the idea is about the meet, not the cars, we have car shows for that!! Come meet some new friends! Hope to see you there.