Thread: 1929 Essex Highboy

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That is some nice work and glad you updated your build cause I have been wondering how you have been doing.

EXCELLENT oh buddy, nice work Now get back to work and dont be so long next time with an update.

Sincere thanks Pastor Bubba and Crazyrat. Thanks for sticking with me--

So, having gotten the column done, I had to make a column drop or hanger. I know Larry has been racking his brain to come up with something and I have too. Decided to keep it simple, (like me), and cut two pieces of 1/2" pipe with the ends cut on angles to match the cowl and the column mount brackett. Then I welded in bolts in each end sticking out at what looked like square angles from the cut ends!!!!!!!!!!!! Afterwards I had to tweak these a little, but they were close. Then I drilled matching holes into the cowl. This whole thing will be covered eventually by the dash panels. Then I worried about lateral movement, so I cut a section of plate out of an old snow shovel (Yeah, I know I'll have to buy another SOOOON). I cut this to shape and welded it to the two pieces of pipe.

Next came the pedals (2 because that's the way a hot rod should be )
AND, cuz I got a standard shift!! This unit came from a Chevy S-10 that I stripped for parts some time ago, fit pretty good except that the pedals were too close to me and long ways from the floorboard/firewall. So------out comes the hacksaw again. haahaa. I cut the front end where the master cylinder mounts and reworked the ends so when put back together I had lost 3 inches. Where they are built on a downward slope this made the pedals hang closer to the floor too. I tacked these up and then remounted the whole affair. Judging them to be alright, I then mocked up some scaps to fit into/onto the pedal unit and fit into the cowl/dash. After marking things up, I then removed everything and headed for the welder again. Then back to fit it up. Some tweaking was necessary, but close! So---this all bolted up, Master Cylinder on the firewall, I then made a rod to attach to the brake pedal to operate the M/C.

Time now to think about an E brake. UGH. So, again, parts from the S-10. Looked everything all over and figured it'd go on the quarter panel if I had some metal there. NOW, my scrap pile is getting really low, BUT, I found an old seat riser out of my old blue Chevy Van, out comes the cutting gear again, and Voila! Piece of metal for ebrake mount! Cut to fit and then marked holes for bolts to mount the pedal unit. Bored holes, then found some bolts to stick through from the back. I then fitted the brake assembly on the bolts, nutted them, then welded the bolt heads to the back of the metal plate. Then removed the brake unit, fitted the metal in place on the quarter and welded it in with the wire feed unit. NICE. Then hang the column again on the new mount. WOW. How about that?

Thanks Bradc. I'm enjoying this too!

Tomorrow hopefully I will work on clutch operation. Not sure at this point whether to go hydraulic or mechanical linkage! And got to get the front portion of the ebrake cable to go from pedal unit to the two lines underneath. Then--and then, Oh Well, more! Happy Holidays folks. Perley

Looks really good Perley. I still believe you're playing catch-up on me

I am still gathering parts to build my steering column. I have a good friend out in New Mexico who is sending me an old piston rod for my column drop, should look pretty kool.
Going over to my brothers house today to use his lathe to turn out a couple of locking collars and his mill to cut the flats on my steering rod to except the d-joints.
Man it sure helps to have family who does machining too.
Will post the pic's soon.

Larry

I love your ingenuity, Perley. This is the way Hot Rods used to be built, using pieces of whatever was available rather than picking up the phone or punching some info on the internet to order a ready made item. Cutting metal out of a snow-shovel; building a grill shell out of door frames: using your brain instead of your wallet....I love it!