Thread: Roadster pickup getting closer

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Thanks guys. Yes. it has been a long road for him on this one, and I am so happy to see him at this stage. We stopped on the way to the shop last night and bought a 6 pack for the anticipated victory toast, I would have gotten Champagne, but I don't think he would have let me break the bottle over the bow.

Anyone who has been down this road knows how the long hours and sinking every spare dollar you have into it gets old after a while. Dan has put many, many long nights in building this one, often coming in at daybreak after putting in all nighters. He is going to have a cool little rod here, and all the hard work is going to be forgotten when he takes that first ride. If he would have had steering and brakes last night I think he might have sat on a milk crate and tried it right there and then.

Don

Sound's fantastic with or without the baffles.
Bradc

Thanks Guys. Yep Ken, I haven't seen Dan that wired for a while. Don and I are just so happy for him to get over this hurdle. All the serious fabrication and grinding are done, the car runs, so now it is just a matter of stuff like brake lines, wires, fuel system, and then getting it painted and upholstered.

Brad, the baffles didn't do a whole lot to muffle it. Maybe once we are out of the shop it will sound different, but for now stuff keeps falling off the shelves in the shop. We even went out and bought some earplugs before firing it up, and I had them in the whole time, and needed them.

Tonight Don, his GF Taylor, and I went to a little cruise, and Don got to start Dans car and listen to it. Between Don's X cam and Dans cam I am feeling pretty inferior. Might have to order a little hotter cam for the old T so I can go cruising with these two.

When we pulled out onto the highway tonight Don punched his T and I was behind him. I kicked mine, and when it went into second the rear tires lit up and I went completely sideways. Ended up using all three lanes before I came to a stop. Got the old heart rate up a little. Won't be doing that one again for a while.

Don

After watching those videos Don, I am very worried about the punishment those skinny tires in back are going to take. ;-)

Originally Posted by Rickomatic

After watching those videos Don, I am very worried about the punishment those skinny tires in back are going to take. ;-)

So, I guess "PINKS" is out? Yep, I think you are right. Good thing Dan has a light right foot.

Don

Don, I'm starved for some update................LOL
BradC

Brad, haven't had much real stuff to post about, but this past weekend we got a lot done. The body hasn't been back on the frame since we had it powdercoated, so we needed to do that to make sure everything still clears and also to plan our next step. After 2 hours of Dan padding the frame with everything he could lay his hands on () we got the body put back in place. He was soooooooooo worried about scratching anything, but it went fine.

We also put the bed back on, as well as the framework for the top. He went with a Kwik-top frame, but didn't like the way the one support bar protruded down into the window area, so he modified it to only have one bar on the side instead of two. He won't be ever folding the top down, so it doesn't serve any purpose. Looks much cleaner this way.

I also got some stuff done on my rpu. I always liked the off white suspension and engine on Bo Huffs T coupe, so I am doing this one the same color. I found a fleet color in Imron and shot the motor and transmission over the weekend. It photographs whiter than it is, and to me it looks pretty old timey. I am doing the complete front end, brakes, rear end, steering, engine and transmission in this color, and the rest will be black. For the body I am going to brush paint it black to match the original color, and then "age" it with a scotchbrite pad. I want it to look like this car has been around for a while.

Here are some pictures of where Dan ended up and also of my motor and transmission.

Thanks for asking Brad.

Don

Sweet ........ looking good.

ratty 46

Thanks guys. Hopefully, no leaks. Brian, you know how it goes, you do lots of things but nothing worth posting. We've been doing those little things like fuel and brake lines that aren't worth mentioning.

Hey Paul, are you coming down to Orlando for the Billetproof drags in Oct? You might get to see me make a pass or two. I suspect the whole gang will be there, Gastrick, JRobinson, Hotroddaddy, and more.

Don

Oh, Brad, about the top frame. Bob Parmenter had asked about it too a while back, whether or not we liked it. It is a Kwik Top, I think made in Australia. Speedway sells them. Really not a bad piece, pretty basic but made well. The reason we modified it is because Dan's windshield is chopped 2 inches and the frame has two bars running down the sides in a V pattern laid on it's side. The lower bar comes a little low and would have necessitated making the canvas covering to come down low on the rear portion of the window to hide it. Dan wanted it straight across, so he cut it up and did it non folding. If he ever wants to take the top off it will be like a Carson top, lift off style.

Don---I'm glad you finally posted!! I've been checking every day, and I thought maybe you guys all had the swine flue or something. The rpu looks great. I hope your white engine doesn't have as many oil leaks as mine does after 5 years.----Brian

Don, I'm real interested in that top. I like the color choice on your engine and trans, except it's going to show every leak...........LOL
BradC

super nice, can't wait to see it all together

Looks really nice, he is getting close. So are all the brakes and fuel plumbed?
Have you done anymore on your truck, or have I missed that post? Ive been gone a lot.
Ken

Thanks Josh. Yep, he's getting closer, all he has now is bodywork and paint, some upholstery, wiring, and that kind of stuff. We have 4 months till Daytona, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Ken, thanks. Most of the brake lines are done, and also most of the fuel system. He had ordered a stainless tank from Tanks, but we had to send it back. It was already starting to rust in spots and had dents in it. He ended up going with a dune buggy type tank he bought originally, and it looks fine in there. He also got his fuel pump, filter, and regulator installed too. With the body on temporarily he can finish plumbing the brake system that goes to the underdash master cylinder.

As for my rpu, I have made some progress too. I try to fit it in when it won't take time from working on his car because he tends to wander over to my part of the shop and starts helping me. He always says "here, it will just take a couple minutes for me to cut or grind this for you" but then it ends up that he does most of the work. I have to keep chasing him away. Next thing I have to do is cut the remaining brackets off of the frame to make way for the new ones to hold the motor and transmission. Then I can get him to finish the welding on it so I can either paint or powdercoat it.

I really have very little to do on mine since I am not shooting for a really finished look on this one. I want it to look like something I would have built in the 60's. Actually pretty much a clone of one I DID build in the 60's. Never got that one licensed and inspected because of Pennsylvania's restrictive laws, but this will be somewhat of a clone of that car.

Don

Oh, here is a picture of the tank and stuff he got mounted for the fuel system.

Don