Thread: Roadster pickup getting closer

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Don,
Looking at those pics, I feel like I can see a master at work. Let Dan know that the ride is looking first class.

Thanks Rick. BTW, I see Dan posted some pictures on the HAMB, some I didn't have. Here are some pictures of the two brackets we made up to support the rear of the body. They are pretty basic, but they really allow a lot of adjustment to line the back section up since they are bolted and we oversized the holes a little. To make it easier to assemble we welded the nuts to the bracket so now we simply have to insert the bolts and tighten down.

And, they only took us 5 hours to make the pair.

Don

We went to the shop tonight with the intention of getting the firewall cut out so that we can do more work on finishing up the subframe tomorrow night. To do it we had to reinstall the engine and transmission so that we could cut just enough from the firewall. It went pretty well, and everything lines up like we hoped it would.

We need to shorten the frame 3 inches because the '30 body is shorter by that amount than the '29 body he built the frame around, but that is no problem. We just have to section it and when it is finally boxed you won't know we have been in there.

Here are some pictures of the body in it's final resting place on the frame. Of course we had to put a header on it and prop up a back tire to get the full effect. Tomorrow we should be able to get most, if not all, of the subframe bracing installed, then we only have to build the sheetmetal floor and transmission tunnel.

DOn

Lookin nice! I love the offenhauser valve covers, on his engine! In my opinion, some of the nicest covers ever designed! Wished the'd mimic that style for the 429!
The back ground shots of the shop look great too! I wish mine was half as organized!

Don, Do you think the tri-deuce 455 will have enough power to move that metal monster down the road. Or do you think Dan's going to have white knuckles after the maiden run?

The RPU is looking perfect - proportions are fantastic. I love the gas cap oil fill on the engine too....very neat.

Thanks guys.

Yeah Steve, I wish they made some covers like this for the 429/260 too. There isn't much out there that is old timey for those motors.

Bob, Dan has NO idea what kind of power this thing is going to make. Don had that tripower set up on a milder 455 in a '65 Olds convertible, and it moved that big old tank pretty well. Don surprised quite a few cars with it. Dan keeps asking if we put a radical enough cam in it because he wants it to idle like Dons T. With flattop pistons I told him we were on the edge anyway, don't want any parts kissing each other in there.

Believe it or not Signshop, that is the stock Olds oil fill cap. Dan is going to chop the tube to set it lower, but leave it otherwise stock. It is kind of different looking though.

Don

Looking good Don, tell Dan for me that if he want only $200.00 for it like you wanted for the T ( I still have Hillary Dollars ) ....... LOL
I like the collect of vise grips hanging on the wall.
BradC

Damn, it just keep getting better, that is a beauty Don. All the right stuff! We are truely in the company of greatness! I am absolutely jealous of your great toys! Awesome!

Thanks guys. Brad, I think there are times when he might have taken that $200 offer. But things seem on the upswing right now. Funny thing about the vicegrips, we can tell when a project is coming to an end, more vicegrips are on the wall than holding the car together.

I don't know Brick, I see some of the stuff others on here do and I feel the same way. Did you happen to see that '40 Willys the 19 year old kid built? He posted pictures of it on the HAMB, MAN, what a talented guy he is. The entire body is made from aluminum......from scratch!! I wouldn't know even where to begin.

Tonight we got the main crossmember built for the subframe. Not major progress, but now we just have to start filling in the gaps with smaller pieces of metal, then the floor can be made up. Dan forgot to order his Genie shifter so we can figure out how much room we need to leave for the shift arm and linkage, so we will have to do some other stuff until that arrives next week. No shortage of things to do though, so we'll find something to keep us busy.

Don

Hmmm... 455 Olds engines are torque-monsters. I forsee those skinny rear tires going up in smoke frequently. Don, you better put some locking lugnuts on your roadster or your slicks are apt to disappear...

Funny you should mention that Jim, Dan ordered his center section for the rear this week. He got a 4:00 posi setup, and is talking about needing some slicks if he runs the nostalgia drags in Bradenton in November. Good thing he is running 16 inch wheels or he might borrow mine.

We got a little more done on his subframe the past few nights. He built a hoop for the rear out of some 5 inch pipe that we split and added 5 inches to so that it has an oblong shape. We also put a flange on the back of it so that it will bolt to the rear section of the body, tying it all together. The sheet metal of the driveshaft tunnel will go over this hoop and one in the front, then become larger to go over the transmission. These hoops will never be seen when skinned, but it still took us 2 nights to build the one.

We also got the front crossmember of the subframe done, and had to drop down the center section to clear the driveshaft. Here are some pictures of how that all came out.

Don

Wheels? No problem... Do the two cars have the same bolt pattern on the rear end?

Man you guys do nice work. That hoop looks like a factory-made piece...

Don that is really fantastic looking work. I can tell that you have a great eye for detail.

Jim, no, luckily he has 5 X 5.5 and I have 4.75.

Thanks Barb, but actually it is my Son Dan who has the eye. I would have been done with this thing sooner maybe, but he is the one who takes the extra time to make every part much better than I would or could.

BTW, our evening was a little disrupted last night, we had to run Scooter (my fat cat) to the emergency Vet. She somehow hurt the underside of her belly and was bleeding pretty badly. I think it is because she is so fat her belly drags the ground. Not sure what she did, but they gave her an antibiotic shot and gave us some oral medicine we have to give her every 12 hours. The bleeding has stopped and she seems like nothing has happened, but I am really afraid for her.........she's either 14 or 15 years old, so that is working against her.

So, for now she is going to be contained to the shop office until she heals. Darned pets become like your Family.



Don