Thread: Roadster pickup getting closer

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Although that looked like a dark color in the dimly lit shop it changes dramatically in bright light. (the trash streaks on the cowl are not scratches, just body shop dust). These pictures are over a year old but may give you an idea of the effect of a fine metal flake size on color in different light levels. That is all from me now from old files so now I have to get back to some new work. You are way, way ahead of me with your 12-15 hour days but I can slowly peck away snd hope to wrap up the radiator shroud and reassemble the radiator shell and then get on to the tricky problem of fitting the metal hood to the 'glass body in the near future. As I said on on aother thread I am trying to do all the mechanical work and putting off the dreaded wiring problem but eventually I will have to face up to that. Maybe the metal hood (already painted the same color with the stock tall louvers) will give me enough work for quite a while? Keep up the great work; I envy your collection of body clamps!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Don (the former).
I just checked - I really can't get much of a picture with my added body reinforcing but my finger tips tell me that the top tabs are fully welded rather then spot welded to some strengthening piece that follows the deck former.

Don (the latter) - hopefully you can get a photo

Don, don't be afraid of the wiring. Some of the new kits really make it easy. We are going to use an American Autowire kit on Dan's car, but Ron Francis, among others make good, easy to use kits. Each wire being labeled really helps a lot.

As for the clamps, surprisingly, sometimes we run out when we are clamping things down. I always am amazed how many tools you drag out to do the most simple job.

Don

Between last weekend and this weekend we really got quite a bit done on Dan's car. As I mentioned, last weekend we got the frame shortened to fit the new body. This weekend we worked on getting his steering box mounted and building front shock mounts.

He's using a Flaming River box, same one Don and I are using in our T's. It is a Corvair knockoff, and is a little challenge to mount because the base angles in two directions, so you can't simply mount a flat plate to the top of the frame to hold it. After we figured out the height and angles we built the mount and got it welded to the frame. The shaft in the picture is just the mockup one, he doesn't want to put the polished stainless one on till the frame is painted. He still has to build a gusset off the back of the mount, but will do that when we box the frame.

The second thing we worked on was getting the front shocks mounted. Since he is running a suicide front end, and the car is only 4 inches off the ground, it was tough to figure out how best to do them. Finally, we used some Speedway lower shock mounts that we modified to fit the Pete and Jakes shackles, and we modified a set of Ford F100 upper mounts for the top end.

We needed to heat and bend the lower part of the F100 mounts, so we built a jig so that both sides would come out exactly the same. Dan wanted them bent in a particular spot, so the jig made that easy to do. Here are some pictures of the jig and mounts being bent, and some of them mounted on the car. You can also see the steering box mounted in the background.

We won't get anything done next weekend because he is playing out of town both days, but we plan on hitting it a few nights this week. Next big project will be boxing the frame rails, which we will try to do weekend after next.

Don

That's a really clean looking shock mount, Don! The rest of the front end is very well done also! Gonna be a very good looking car when it's done. I'm still an IFS guy, but if you're going to do the traditional looking front end your setup is definitely a great way to go! As for the jig, how would we ever get anything done without good old ingenuity engineering?? Everything on the car is really first rate!!! Fit and finish is way over the top. Congrats to "the crew"!!!!!

Hi Don--Glad to see that things are still progressing for you and the boys. I have pretty well quit posting on this forum, because I simply don't have much to add. I am still driving the Wild Canary everyday and going to cruises a couple of times a week. My current passion is making steam engines ---I bought a mill, a lathe, and a metal cutting bandsaw, and have leapt with both feet into the world of working model steam engine building. I found a great forum to post on, somewhat similar to ClubHotrod, and am doing my "how to" builds and posts on there now. I wish you and the boys continued success with your cars, and I still receive notification of all your posts.----Brian

Hey don, you guys be safe down there! looks like the weather is really coming your way, gonna get us mid week. the roadster is coming along nicely! cant wait to see it in daytona.

Thank you Dave, coming from you that is certainly a compliment. Yep, now we have one more jig sitting around that will probably never be used again ever. I was ready to heat and bend them in a vice, but noooooooooooo, we had to build a jig.

Brian, thanks, and I really miss you on the forum. I was just thinking the other day that you haven't been around much, but then you posted on some thread. Glad to see you are into other hobbies, you really were a great contributor in this hobby. I still see posts here and on other forums where someone will ask a question and another member will say " Go to Brians thread on building a hot rod, it will answer all the questions you have." You took great lengths to help out others, and I just miss shooting the breeze with you as much as we once did. Please check in often.........lots of us still need your wisdom and experience.

John, thanks. I was shocked last night when we heard on the shop radio there were hurricane warnings for this area..........last I heard the thing was supposed to head up the Atlantic. Guess I better head out today and load up on Spam and other emergency food we will never eat in our lifetime. I don't think it will amount to much, but with hurricanes you never know. Hope you and everyone else fares ok too.

Don

Looking great Don - my only comment is that I hope that you will be reinforcing that section of frame with at least a couple of gussets if not boxing under the gear.

I was wondering where Brian went - been too quiet here.

Thanks IC2. Yep, the frame is going to be totally boxed with 3/16 plate, plus he is going to run a gusset down the backside of the steering box mount to add even more strength to that area. That is how I did mine too on my T. He is also going to weld some plate under the shock mounts so the bolts run through an extra thick area there too.

I think this will be the heaviest roadster pickup ever built........we already can't move the frame by hand, and even our gantry is groaning when we use it to pick it up. Good thing he has the 455 in there.

Oh, also if you peek back inside the frame rail right under the box you will see a 3/8 inch thick steel plate fully welded inside that the radius rods bolt through. The frame is 5/8 inches thick in that area.

Don

Here, in this picture you can kind of see the 3/8 plate in front of the K member. There is one on each side for the radius rods to mount to, and they are about 4 inches x 12 inches long.

Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Thanks IC2. Yep, the frame is going to be totally boxed with 3/16 plate, plus he is going to run a gusset down the backside of the steering box mount to add even more strength to that area. That is how I did mine too on my T. He is also going to weld some plate under the shock mounts so the bolts run through an extra thick area there too.

I think this will be the heaviest roadster pickup ever built........we already can't move the frame by hand, and even our gantry is groaning when we use it to pick it up. Good thing he has the 455 in there.

Oh, also if you peek back inside the frame rail right under the box you will see a 3/8 inch thick steel plate fully welded inside that the radius rods bolt through. The frame is 5/8 inches thick in that area.

Don

OK - you convinced me - plus with what you've doing, I didn't think that you would NOT fully box the frame.

Now - for horsepower to move this thing, I saw a couple of surplus aircraft Merlin V-1650-3 engines a few days ago in my web wanderings............

Hehe, I tried to convince Dan NOT to box it under the body, just on the front end. It is 1/4 inch steel on the siderails, and with the K member it is really strong enough as is. I said "no one will ever be able to see under there anyway." His answer was "Yeah, but I will know it isn't boxed back there."

I think you are right on the engine. This thing is waaaaaaaaaay heavy, but should at least ride well.

Don

Don, the tropical storm changed directions because my wife and daughter are down there in Dade City visiting my wife's parents. She's suppose to leave on Wednesday or Thursday to drive home. Most likely the storm will follow her North.

Since the storm will probably hit hurricane strength by the time it hits your area you might want to go out now to get the toilet paper, bread and milk before the stores run out.

So it was your Wife who made that storm come over here?? That's one woman you DON'T ever want to make mad, Bob.

I'm getting ready to run out now and pick up some stuff. I had to stick around waiting for Fed Ex to deliver my radiator and rear wheels for my Dodge, and that just happened, so I can leave now. Got my emergency list all made out......

flashlight batteries

beer

canned tuna

beer

canned soup

beer

bread

beer

Spam

beer

Hope I didn't forget anything.

Don