maddog
Here he comes to save the day!
Lookin good.
Last 5% is the hardest.
Last 5% is the hardest.
I'm one HAPPY CAMPER !!!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter donsrods
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rods Rule:
Gastrick
One of the Dirty Dozen!
Nice Don. Both cars in the shop painted and almost fully functional. They sure look sparkly. Did you paint your grill shell yet?
Man you guys dress casual in the shop.
. I'd look like one big burnt scab if I dressed like that. (some say I do anyway)
Man you guys dress casual in the shop.
. I'd look like one big burnt scab if I dressed like that. (some say I do anyway)
donsrods
Well-known member
Yeah, with the temperature as high as it's been, I hate to bundle up too much. Don evidently shares the same dislike for the heat too as we both get down to shorts as soon as we hit the shop. Sparks are kind of a hazard though.
No, been concentrating on Don's car, I still have to paint my grille shell and headlights. Don is busy playing now through Saturday, so I will have time to work on mine except Wednesday night. Dan is off then too and he and I are going to try to wrap up Don's wiring.
Looks like I won't have a proper interior in time either, but I don't care. I think I'll just hit Joanne Fabrics and pick up some foam and cheap fabric to get some cushions made up. Then I can get the interior done after Turkey Run.
Don
No, been concentrating on Don's car, I still have to paint my grille shell and headlights. Don is busy playing now through Saturday, so I will have time to work on mine except Wednesday night. Dan is off then too and he and I are going to try to wrap up Don's wiring.
Looks like I won't have a proper interior in time either, but I don't care. I think I'll just hit Joanne Fabrics and pick up some foam and cheap fabric to get some cushions made up. Then I can get the interior done after Turkey Run.
Don
BruceR&C
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!
Those are 2 sweet T's. Y'all do some fantastic work. I'm with rustywrench, wish you were my neighbor but, have learned a lot from your posts. Then again, in about 4 yrs, Columbus, Ga ain't that far,,,,,,
donsrods
Well-known member
Thanks Bruce. Guess what? Last night I drove the T for the first time!!! My replacement wheel cylinder came in and I got the brakes bled. We pushed it outside and fired it up for the first ride. It was raining, and the slicks kept wanting to put it sideways when I goosed it, but man was it fun and cool.
I drove it up and down the parking lot, then let Dan and Don drive it. We all had big grins from ear to ear. Being the bad influences they are, they talked me into taking it out on the side street, no headlights and all. I got up enough speed for it to shift into second, and was surprised how hard it pulls. Just a little gas would break the slicks loose but I could tell it is going to run pretty strong.
Gear ratio seems fine, tranny shifts solid, no vibrations, and I was able to take my hands off the wheel and it tracks straight. Surprisingly, the ride is pretty solt, even with me sitting on plywood. Noise level was even lower than I thought it might be, so it looks like the exhaust will need no further work.
Today I am going to take it to the upholstery shop and see if they can do an interior real quick. I was ok with sitting on foam for Turkey Run, but the Kids insist I get an interior and offered to loan me the money to get it done. (they charge such ridiculous interest rates though)
I'm still grinning. Here are a couple of nightime pictures in the rain.
Don
My replacement wheel cylinder came in and I got the brakes bled. We pushed it outside and fired it up for the first ride. It was raining, and the slicks kept wanting to put it sideways when I goosed it, but man was it fun and cool.I drove it up and down the parking lot, then let Dan and Don drive it. We all had big grins from ear to ear. Being the bad influences they are, they talked me into taking it out on the side street, no headlights and all. I got up enough speed for it to shift into second, and was surprised how hard it pulls. Just a little gas would break the slicks loose but I could tell it is going to run pretty strong.
Gear ratio seems fine, tranny shifts solid, no vibrations, and I was able to take my hands off the wheel and it tracks straight. Surprisingly, the ride is pretty solt, even with me sitting on plywood. Noise level was even lower than I thought it might be, so it looks like the exhaust will need no further work.
Today I am going to take it to the upholstery shop and see if they can do an interior real quick. I was ok with sitting on foam for Turkey Run, but the Kids insist I get an interior and offered to loan me the money to get it done. (they charge such ridiculous interest rates though
)I'm still grinning. Here are a couple of nightime pictures in the rain.
Don
Attachments
RUSTY50F1
@$$Fault Junkie
Congrats on the maiden run. It looks sweet.
FlatBroke
Hostage Negotiator
progress looks and sounds good Don.
One day.....One day, I will build something that sharp.
One day.....One day, I will build something that sharp.
Gastrick
One of the Dirty Dozen!
Great news Don. You can't beat that maiden voyage. Looks like it's all down to a couple of details now. My 32 has been to Daytona several times with no interior at all. Just a pair of seats bolted down to the bare floor. Not even a panel between the drivers compartment and the trunk. It didn't bother me at all then, I was just glad to get it there. Now that I have at least a partial interior in it I like it a lot more.
Bonehead
Skull Master
Good times there Don, 1st time I drove mine I had a friend run the gas by reaching through the unfinished windshield, I ran the clutch, and we had no brakes. We did a circle out in front of my shop in 1st gear and I was pretty fired up.
maddog
Here he comes to save the day!
Yippeee.
Thats what I'm talking about.
That car looks great, Don. Congradulations.
Thats what I'm talking about.
That car looks great, Don. Congradulations.
cycledog
A really rusty biker
Don, that is soooo cool. Been following your build for about a year now.
It's neat to see you take it out. (your car).
It's neat to see you take it out. (your car).
donsrods
Well-known member
Thanks for the nice words guys. Yep, it really feels great to see it actually move under it's own power as opposed to me pushing it around the shop.
Last night Dan and I finished up the aluminum filler plates over the shift hole, and around the brake pedal and master cylinder fill hole. We had to do that so I could drive it to the upholstery shop this AM. I have decided on a rolled and pleated interior in "saddle" color. It is close to the baseball glove color I wanted, and he gave us a sample book and we thought it went with the suspension pretty well.
When we were done we noticed it was dry outside for a change, so Dan and I adorned the parking lot with several sets of two black stripes about 50 feet long each. I know I said I was afraid to break anything before Daytona, but that little devil in me won out. Thing is downright scarey. At the top of low gear it starts getting squirrelly and wants to come around on you. I mainly quit because I remembered my rear slicks were $ 260 each, and I would like them to last a while.
I also took my windshield frame to the glass shop today to have new glass put in. Should have it back Monday he says, and it was only $ 50. I thought that was very reasonable. Don's goes to the upholsterer Monday, so we have a lot of stuff to do this weekend.
Here is a shot we took last night. Not great lighting, but at least it is outside for a change.
Don
Last night Dan and I finished up the aluminum filler plates over the shift hole, and around the brake pedal and master cylinder fill hole. We had to do that so I could drive it to the upholstery shop this AM. I have decided on a rolled and pleated interior in "saddle" color. It is close to the baseball glove color I wanted, and he gave us a sample book and we thought it went with the suspension pretty well.
When we were done we noticed it was dry outside for a change, so Dan and I adorned the parking lot with several sets of two black stripes about 50 feet long each.
I know I said I was afraid to break anything before Daytona, but that little devil in me won out. Thing is downright scarey. At the top of low gear it starts getting squirrelly and wants to come around on you. I mainly quit because I remembered my rear slicks were $ 260 each, and I would like them to last a while. I also took my windshield frame to the glass shop today to have new glass put in. Should have it back Monday he says, and it was only $ 50. I thought that was very reasonable. Don's goes to the upholsterer Monday, so we have a lot of stuff to do this weekend.
Here is a shot we took last night. Not great lighting, but at least it is outside for a change.
Don
Attachments
hi-roller
Well-known member
BE-AY-UU-TEE-FULL! I love the rims and the cheater slicks really set em off. Send some pics of those black stripes, too. haha
sakustoms
Well-known member
Wow, I just read this whole thing. That is such an awesome build.
Really makes me want a T. Better start saving my lunch money.
Really makes me want a T. Better start saving my lunch money.
donsrods
Well-known member
Thanks guys. 9 days to go till we leave for Daytona and I'm getting pretty stoked. Got my T out of the upholstery shop today and finally got some pictures in the sunshine. The upholstery guy had never done a T bucket before, and had it messed up at first, but he finally got it pretty good. It isn't an award winner, but it is fine for what I paid for it.
Don's engine bent a pushrod last night and broke a screw in stud. Not sure why, but I picked up some longer studs today at a Mustang high performance shop (they thought maybe not enough of the poly locks on the roller rockers were seating on the studs) Have to pick up another pushrod and try it again. That's why I kept my motor pretty stock, anytime you start building lots of HP like Don's engine they get so radical that they become undependable. Hope we get it sorted out this week for his sake.
Here are some pictures I took today.
Don
Got my T out of the upholstery shop today and finally got some pictures in the sunshine. The upholstery guy had never done a T bucket before, and had it messed up at first, but he finally got it pretty good. It isn't an award winner, but it is fine for what I paid for it.Don's engine bent a pushrod last night and broke a screw in stud. Not sure why, but I picked up some longer studs today at a Mustang high performance shop (they thought maybe not enough of the poly locks on the roller rockers were seating on the studs) Have to pick up another pushrod and try it again. That's why I kept my motor pretty stock, anytime you start building lots of HP like Don's engine they get so radical that they become undependable. Hope we get it sorted out this week for his sake.
Here are some pictures I took today.
Don
Attachments
35Mastr
Mastr Blastr
My hats off.The car looks real good.You guys do some amazing work in short time.I hope that you get that push rod problem straitened out before your deadline.It wuold be a shame if the car didnt make it there over somethin like that.Good luck
Bonehead
Skull Master
Inside looks as good as the outside, "sweet T"
FlatBroke
Hostage Negotiator
Don,
The bucket looks good. That thing almost too simple to be street legal.
Hats off for a job well done.......WOW
The bucket looks good. That thing almost too simple to be street legal.
Hats off for a job well done.......WOW
Gastrick
One of the Dirty Dozen!
Wow, looks great Don. I'm one of the lucky ones who will get to see it in person at Daytona, can't wait. I sure hope you guys get the push rod deal squared away on the blue T. Are you sure that the push rods are not too long?
