Thread: 1929 Essex Highboy

Tweet

Perley...keep at it!!! The build is progressing so nicely and it appears most of the major fabrication work is done.
I just read the entire thread and it is really awesome-especially with the tools and garage arrangement you have. NICE work.
Wolfco

Perley guy I work with put a 4 cyl on a little tractor with a snow thrower . He said at idle thing would move snow 20 ft . With some revs it would throw rocks a long way off . > Still reading here and watching your build .

Originally Posted by oldrodder43

Well, started on the radiator mounts and such. As I mentioned, got a '65-'66 Mustang Radiator from an ebay buy. Looks in good condition and fits very well. I welded two flat pieces of metal to the ends of 1 x 1 tubing, found some reinforced flat rubber, cut two small pieces to go under the flat plates and two smaller ones to go on top of the flat plates. Then bolted all down to the front crossmember in the holes for the original 'A' radiator. Then put small rubber grommets in the holes in the side frames of the radiator, bored holes through the 1 x 1 uprights, then bolted through the uprights, the grommets and the radiator frame. This gives a small amount of vibration isolation through the mounting set-up. I then cut a piece of 1 x 1 and welded it across between the 2 uprights just under the top tank. That makes everything rather solid. Eventually I will bolt the grille shell into the uprights, and I am going to put 3/4 square tubing from those uprights back to the firewall, one each side. These will keep the front assembly secure and give me something to hook the hood top to when the time comes. Pics attached. Enjoy. Perley

Perly--Wirh that mustang radiator mounted, you can see why so many people run a 32 grill shell. With a model A shell, there is just no way to hide those ugly damn top and bottom radiator tanks. With a 32 shell you can run a purchased (or easily home made) grill insert, and by painting the rad and tanks flat black they totally disapear.

Thank you all for the support and encouragement. Now that the Holiday Season is behind us (or a LONG way ahead of us) maybe I can get a little more progress.

Wolfco, thanks for sticking with me, and yes, the garage and conditions are kind of primitive, but they suffice. Just wish my Grandson was still working with me on it, kinda takes the punch out of it working alone, no one to share things with. sigh

Hey BobbyD. WOW, that would put a LOT more excitement into moving snow, HUH? And I got a 2.8 from one of my disassembled Chevy S-10's, hummmm

Hello Brian! Glad to hear from you. I presume you have read thru the posts and hope you approve of the way the coil supports and such came together. I am having a little trouble now in finding shocks to fit. Ride height looks like it will be around 9 inches. I have found that Monroe makes a short one, but very limited travel. I wonder what you found to work with yours? Is that cup like affair on the top of your upper mount designed to give a longer shock length? Yes, I agree with the radiator/grille surround thoughts. But--the 'A' surround was really inexpensive and available locally, whereas a '32 surround at this point in time is out of the question. I have given thought to making a mask of sorts to extend the 'A' surround inwards some to cover the major portions of the rad tanks, mounts, and other ugliness. Who knows, I may stumble onto something else before it's over!
Lack of temperature in garage and lack of firewood for stove will make things move along a little slower for a while. Here again, lotsa time (no work) but not much to fund it all. heeheee. Typical problem, aye? Thanks again for helping me along Brian. Perley

Old rodder43--I haven't followed your post too closely---I've been off in "model steam engine world" for the past 9 months, as I had reached "burn out" on the whole hotrodding thing. However, I still cruise the hotrod websites to "Stay in touch". My "Wild Canary" will ride again, when and if we ever get rid of this damned cold weather and snow, come May. You are absolutely correct in your assumption---The little "towers" on top of my upper mount is designed to let me use a marginally longer shock, to get the rearend travel I need. There is no commercially available shock to work on the rear end that is short enough to fit between the upper and lower spring cup plates. The shocks that I used are Monroe, #5751ST 28-80283, purchased at Partsource. I just checked my "build book" and see that I have written that they are 8 1/2" retracted and 13 3/4" extended, with an optimum length of 11 1/8". I am not sure now, (its been 5 years) but I think those lengths are to the critical mounting surfaces where the top and bottom shafts end and the threaded shaft portion starts at each end. As far as the grill shell goes---Don't try and save $200 now, and then have to live with something ugly after the fact. You can pick up a fiberglass 32 grillshell for under $200 and build a very nice insert for about $20 worth of 1/4" cold rolled steel rod. I did a good thread on that when I built mine.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...d+grill+insert

oldrodder43 thats a great looking car I really like the 6 it should be good on gas with that 5 speed is the frame done yet anything I can help with let me know

Hi Perley! I recently saw a '28 or '29 Model-A that had a grille insert made of expanded aluminum mesh. Everything that was visible through the grille shell opening was painted flat black including the aluminum mesh. From just a few feet away, you couldn't tell it from a stock '28-'29 radiator. I don't know how the mesh was attached to the back of the shell, but it could be done with a few small dabs of body filler, JB Weld, or silicone sealer on the back inside of the shell...

If you want to put a '32 shell on it someday down the road, I bought mine (fiberglass) for $90 at the Turkey Run a few years ago and made my own grille insert from 1/4" round stock (frame) and 1/8" welding rod (teeth). The chrome surround on the grille is plastic stick-on wheel opening molding available at any auto parts store.

Thanks Old Cars, and thanks for the offer of help. Wish we lived closer together--------I was gonna say, wish you lived closer to me, but I'm sure the weather is nicer down there! It's below zero tonight (and last night) and wind chill is horrid. I won't be in the garage until it warms back up again.

J. Robinson. Your T is coming along really well. I like it. Wish I could get back down there this year to see it, but --- ALAS.
I plan on doing the expanded metal thing in some form at this point, but everything is subject to change, you know? I know the '32 shells are really popular, but I have no bad feelings about the A shell. It was cheap and it is in good shape, so Why Not? I suspect most people won't be standing there starring at the radiator through the grill.
Warmer days are ahead, so this is only a temporary slow down. Meanwhile, I'll be watching other's builds. Always get ideas! Thanks again for all of your help. Perley

OK, Perley. I know from our online conversations that things have been progressing on the Essex. How about some updates and pictures here? It's been eight months...

Hello Jim. Yeah, making some progress, for sure. I will post some updates pretty soon. It's getting too dark now to do any work on it after day work, so more time for computer!!!!!!
Thanks for the inquiry. Perley

car DVD player online store

We professionally export and online wholesale all kinds of car electronics and car entertainment system for more than ten years, which include Car PCs, Car DVD Players, Auto DVD GPS navigation Player, Central Armrest Car DVD Players, Headrest DVD Players, Roof Mounted DVD Players, Sun Visor DVD Players and car DVD GPS navigation players special for many famous brand ,Such as VOLSWAGEN, AUDI, OPEL, RENUALT, PEUGEOT, SKODA, FORD, BUICK, GMC, CHEROLET, CHERISTLER, TOYOTA, HONDA, MAZDA, SUBARU, MITSUBISH, NISSAN, HYUNDAI and KIA ,ect and long time OEM for them

1. Professional and Focus
We,one of the largest global manufactuers and golden suppliers of car electronics and car entertainment system , can quickly provide you with the most comprehensive and up-to-date info on atuo electronics and auto entertainment system .We are professional car electronics distributors in Hong Kong. Dropshipping is available.
2. Reasonable Price
We offer cheaper price on all the car electronics products due to long time business partnership with many local manufactures and our focus on auto electronics.
3. Superior Quality
All car electronics and entertainment system are brand new from large hi-tech factories and are carefully tested by a responsible QA team before packaging.
4. Safe and Easy Payment
PayPal, PayPal Express Checkout, Moneybookers,Visa and Master credit cards, Wire bank transfer (T/T), Western Union and Letter of Credit. Your privacy is safely protected.
5. Secure, Fast and Multiple Delivery
Shipping via international express companies including FedEx, UPS, DHL,TNT and EMS typically takes only 5-10 days. Ocean Freight is available for volume order.
6. Warranty and After-Sale Service
All car electronics are 100% brand new and are covered a 12-month warranty. We have a responsible customer service team to provide helpful after-sale service.

car DVD player online store

Originally Posted by oldrodder43

Hello Jim. Yeah, making some progress, for sure. I will post some updates pretty soon. It's getting too dark now to do any work on it after day work, so more time for computer!!!!!!
Thanks for the inquiry. Perley

car DVD player online store

We professionally export and online wholesale all kinds of car electronics and car entertainment system for more than ten years, which include Car PCs, Car DVD Players, Auto DVD GPS navigation Player, Central Armrest Car DVD Players, Headrest DVD Players, Roof Mounted DVD Players, Sun Visor DVD Players and car DVD GPS navigation players special for many famous brand ,Such as VOLSWAGEN, AUDI, OPEL, RENUALT, PEUGEOT, SKODA, FORD, BUICK, GMC, CHEROLET, CHERISTLER, TOYOTA, HONDA, MAZDA, SUBARU, MITSUBISH, NISSAN, HYUNDAI and KIA ,ect and long time OEM for them

1. Professional and Focus
We,one of the largest global manufactuers and golden suppliers of car electronics and car entertainment system , can quickly provide you with the most comprehensive and up-to-date info on atuo electronics and auto entertainment system .We are professional car electronics distributors in Hong Kong. Dropshipping is available.
2. Reasonable Price
We offer cheaper price on all the car electronics products due to long time business partnership with many local manufactures and our focus on auto electronics.
3. Superior Quality
All car electronics and entertainment system are brand new from large hi-tech factories and are carefully tested by a responsible QA team before packaging.
4. Safe and Easy Payment
PayPal, PayPal Express Checkout, Moneybookers,Visa and Master credit cards, Wire bank transfer (T/T), Western Union and Letter of Credit. Your privacy is safely protected.
5. Secure, Fast and Multiple Delivery
Shipping via international express companies including FedEx, UPS, DHL,TNT and EMS typically takes only 5-10 days. Ocean Freight is available for volume order.
6. Warranty and After-Sale Service
All car electronics are 100% brand new and are covered a 12-month warranty. We have a responsible customer service team to provide helpful after-sale service.

car DVD player online store

Well folks, here I am again!* ** After a loooonnng Maine winter and a wet cold Spring, finally got back to work on the Essex, around the end of June or first of July as I remember.* Darn, the cold gets into these old bones now.* First shot here is of my helpers ---------- My two Boston Terriers, constant companions, relaxing in the den.* Taken over visitor's chair, since I have no visitors (much) anyways!* Next shot is starting the mounts for the headlights and shock absorbers.* I took 2 x 2 box tubing and cut away one side of it, making a U of sorts.* Scribed it to fit the frame horns, made a pie cut and folded over the remainder to make a top, then welded it all up, tacked it on and tried the shock!* Notice I did this on the PASSENGER side, DUH.* You'll see why I shouldn't have later!* Here is a shot of one of my headlights, they are Speedlight, and appear like they have only one light level, not low and high.* I may have to add some small driving lights later on for real world night driving!* This last shot shows the shallow angle of the shocks.* Don't like it -- but I guess things happen that way!!!!!!!!!!* ***** Perley

Arrrrggghhhhh--------This first pic shows a rear view of the driver's side light/shok mount, shallow angle, andddddd, interferance with steering arm!* ** I tell you, I don't make ANY mistakes, but WHEN I do, they're beauties!* The shok was laying down at such an angle as to stop the steering arm in mid travel before it had adequate swing to turn to the left--------Well, take left hand turns in stages, huh?* heeheeeee.* I NEVER even noticed this at the time, believe it!* I'll tell you more later on.* heeheeee.* Now making body mounts from 2 x 2 box tube.* Nothing scientific about this, simply cut and weld, whoops, gotta take body off first.* Don't do good welding upside down---------barely able to weld right side up.* Mock-up to determine where to attach to frame. Two main supports, one at'A' Pillar (this shows another mess up, front main cross member lies right across shifter plate, had to cut it and modify it so I could install/remove shifter assembly!) and the other at 'B' Pillar.
Here are both mounts on pass side welded on.* And then both mounts on driver side.*** Enjoy!

First photo shows Essex body piggybacked on my other project -- a '47 Ford effie gonna-be a pickup truck.
I ran out of room to park that on the floor, so used the bareback frame for sawhorses!!!