Topic: '27 T roadster w/turbocharged 4 cyl (Read 19314 times)

2.3Turbo_T · « **on:** October 12, 2011, 01:37:01 AM »

Thought I'd post my build here. It's gonna be a long slow process! Here it is in the previous owners garage when I picked it up.

Loaded it up, drove 200 miles and made it home.

Set it up behind my toolshed until I was ready to start the build.

Traded the bed straight across for a turtle deck, pass door and some other junk.

Started collecting some parts.

BTW.........this is the motor that'll be powering the roadster (it currently resides in my fox body Mustang). 350 hp in a 1500 lbs Model T. Outta be a hoot!

Body disassembly in preparation for rust removal.

Rust removal using the molasses bath method.

Wow!

Time to start some bodywork. Many rusted and rotted panels. Hmmm........where to get some decent sheetmetal? Oh.......the things you find in the 'free' section of craigslist!

Both quarter panels were a rusty rotted mess!

I priced some repros..........are you kidding me?! No thanks, I'll make my own.
Off to do some treasure hunting at the local Pick-n-Pull. This early 90's Chevy van hood has just the right contour.

Had to remove the inner structure.

Removed the original skin so I'd have a pattern.

Layed it over the new donor metal and marked it out.

Mounted the support brackets to the subframe and tacked on the new panel.

The bun panels had too many compound curves to deal with so I ordered some new ones from Howells and welded them on.

That old washing machine just keeps on producing! Made up some extensions and new door jambs. Was even able to fab up top rails with flanges for hanging interior panels if I so desire!

Semi-finished product. Not bad if I do say so myself!

More patch panels.

Gotta luv those free washing machines!

Here's the next project. The tops of the turtle deck quarters are swiss cheese. Does it ever stop?!

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2011, 05:08:01 AM »

WOW, You've been busy, How long have you been working on this project? And you really do some nice work.....KEEP IT UP.....

carvinmark · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2011, 05:38:19 AM »

Looking real good, nice work. I love the turtle deck, great swap. Thanks for posting the pics.

obama · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:45:42 AM »

agree, like the turtle deck, keep us posted.

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:46:23 AM »

Thanks guys! I actually bought it at the end of 2009. It sat for over a year while I gathered parts. I finally started on it at the begining of this year. Like I said, it's a long slow process! I'm trying to build this thing as cheaply as possible. Aren't we all?!

Hey, how do you post an avatar??
I can't find any info on the profile page.

RaTaTat · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2011, 11:15:11 AM »

I love the use of recycled materials to patch up the car!!!! beautifull work!

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:28:31 PM »

Lookin good, keep us posted......

hotwheels · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2011, 02:38:02 PM »

wow, that is some great work man......thanks a bunch for sharing the build. That motor is gonna be sick in that ride.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2011, 04:59:15 PM »

cool build , now talk us through the molasses method . How much does it cost ?

jsmithbm · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2011, 05:48:01 PM »

Quote from: Greybeards Customs on October 12, 2011, 04:59:15 PM

cool build , now talk us through the molasses method . How much does it cost ?

yes, please expand on this molasses method, looked like it did a really good job.

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:26:09 AM »

Quote from: Greybeards Customs on October 12, 2011, 04:59:15 PM

cool build , now talk us through the molasses method . How much does it cost ?

OK, OK.....here's a detailed tutorial:

Dunk your ride in a tub of molasses........instant de-rust! JK.

It's actually on old skool method that I read about on another board. Works just dandy!

I built that box out of scrap 2x4's and OSB I had leftover from another project. I lined the box with an old pond liner we had laying in a dried up pond in our backyard.

Went down to the local feed store and bought five 3.5 gallon jugs of feed grade molasses. It was under $12 per jug. Horses love the stuff as do high grade marijuana growers! Apparantly, it makes an excellent fertilizer. Most feed stores here in Northern California tend to run out of it in August and September (right before harvest season). I've heard stories of guys coming in and buying pallets full at a time!

Anyway, load your parts into the tank, pour in the molasses and mix it with water. 7 parts water to 1 part molasses. Seems to me the 4' square tank took somewhere around 140 gallons total. No need to stir it or anything, just pour in the water. Put a cover on top to keep the varmints out. There's a slight odor when you're standing right next to the tank but nothing overwhelming at all.

I let mine sit for a solid 2 weeks 'cause there was 80 years of rust on that car! When done, pull the parts out and simply hose them off. A brown mucky mess comes off but underneath is clean virgin metal!

Now, the bare metal tends to flash rust immediately. I simply gave the panels a light sandblasting with my trusty Harbor Freight sandblaster. That's all there is to it!
BTW, got a price quote from the local chemical stripper to do my car. $600! Not! I spent $60 in materials and it probably did a better job!

Here's a door I did for testing. This sat in the brew for 5 days. Note the original factory paint on the bottom. The process doesn't touch paint, rubber or pot metal.........only rust!

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:15:37 AM »

Very cool, thanks for the tip....

~Dustin

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2011, 04:37:18 AM »

Thank you for sharing the Molasses Method...Seems to do a Great Job.... Could you by chance Please post this Method in the Rat Rod Tech Tips area, This might help someone else in the future...Thank you in advance...

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2011, 12:36:21 PM »

Quote from: Grumpyoldman on October 13, 2011, 04:37:18 AM

Thank you for sharing the Molasses Method...Seems to do a Great Job.... Could you by chance Please post this Method in the Rat Rod Tech Tips area, This might help someone else in the future...Thank you in advance...

Done!

Just one more question. How do I post a pic to the left of the title of this thread on the 'Rat Rod Builds' page?? BTW, thanks for the tutorial on avatar posting!

hotwheels · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:29:59 PM »

2.3Turbo_T, if you want to add a picture to the left of the title, just click on attachments, browse, locate your picture in your computer, lastly click on "post"...........should upload your image and then place a small image to the left of the title.

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2011, 12:10:58 AM »

OK, I give up! Where do I find the 'attachments' tab at (besides the one under the reply box that doesn't do anything for me)

hotwheels · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2011, 01:14:34 PM »

When you click on "reply" or "New Topic", after you finish posting in this box.....Look down just a little bit and you will see "Attachement's and other options". Click on that, then scroll down just a little bit. You will see "Attach:", click on "browse". Locate the image in your computer. (For each picture you want to upload, just stay on this page, and keep clicking "(more attachements") you can upload upto 12 images at one time. Once you have the images located from your computer, click on "Post".........

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #17 on:** October 14, 2011, 07:58:41 PM »

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Edit:
HW, followed your instructions to the letter but it only posted a photo at the bottom of my reply. What am I doing wrong?

hotwheels · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2011, 07:15:51 AM »

You did it correctly. I think it only pulls an image to the left of the title off of the first post............I will do an edit on your first post and it should put the image outside for ya....Looks good man.

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #19 on:** October 15, 2011, 10:23:39 AM »

Thanks HW! You 'da man!!

hotwheels · « **Reply #20 on:** October 15, 2011, 04:20:11 PM »

You are very welcomed bro..............glad to help.

2.3Turbo_T · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2012, 12:11:36 AM »

Well, it's been awhile. Thought I'd post an update. It was time to build the frame and I needed a frame table. A friend bought a custom made kingsize bedframe off of craigslist. He realized when he got it home it wouldn't fit through the door of his apartment! So........he asked me if I'd take it off his hands. Oh yeah!

Made a couple of mods and now I have my frame table!

Bought a couple of sticks of 2"x3" .120 wall and went to town.

Grabbed a piece of 3/16" walled pipe that we use for railings from work and built the front X-member. Decided to 'Z' it 3" also.

After splitting the bones I needed to get the spring perch parallel with the axle. Instead of heating and bending the perches, I elected to piecut and reweld the bones. It worked out.

Fabbed up the bone mounts. Bought 2 of those little shock mount buttons from Speedway, $2.99 each and welded them into the mounts. They have the correct 7* of taper.

Had to build a pretty sizeable spring perch 'cause I'm running a stock '38 front end with spring in front of axle. Found some sort of small steel door (1/4" steel) in the dumpster at work and used that. Cut it all up and came out with this.

I'm using a Suzuki Samauri box with the cross steer. I needed to move it over it a little so I'd have room for a radiator in there. I decided to notch the top half of the frame and set it in the hole. Saved almost 2"!

Here's before and after the notch.

Got the rear half of the frame finished also. It might look a little unorthodox but it works! The body panels attach to the rails so I had to extend them beyond the kickup.

More to come!

miraclepieco · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2012, 01:42:04 AM »

Dang, I'm diggin' this!

hotwheels · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2012, 06:41:53 AM »

Really nice work.........thanks for sharing

Redbeard101 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 07, 2012, 07:25:13 AM »

AWESOME build!! Lots of info...Thank You

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AuthorTopic: '27 T roadster w/turbocharged 4 cyl (Read 19314 times)

miraclepieco