restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

So I bought a old roadster body and would like to return it to stock. It has been a hot rod at one point, but I prefer stock or lightly modified cars, I believe you guys call them touring cars. I have a 95% stock banger powered model A widebed pickup I daily drive here in Seattle and I just love it. Anyways, I am here as I know you guys are more experts in the department I am about to undertake. I know a lot of you will wonder why I am doing this, I am young and have more time than money and I want to see this old body put back to her original graceful self. It will never be a fine point restored car. but I think with a little elbow grease I can save this thing and put her back on a stock frame. What I am hoping is that you guys can look past what it currently is and help me bring her back. I am going to need measurements I am sure, and lots of advice.

I'd like to learn to rivet like Ford and use that where appropriate. I am planning on ordering a stock brookville subframe and building it from there. the passenger side is in decent shape, It had been sitting on its side for about 40 years and the drivers side had a mice nest in it and it did considerable damage.

I would like to locate a quarter panel for the drivers side that I can splice with this one and have a good one. If I can't find one I will again try a brookville unit and I also need a good firewall.

I have already cut the welded shut doors loose and removed all the bondo over the trunk in preparation of cutting the trunk lid loose where it was welded shut.

So I guess my questions are has anyone used the brookville stock floor pans? how are they?

are there patches for my bad quarter panel available so I dont have to buy a 800 dollar quarter panel?

also thoughts on the door? should I look for a used one in better shape?

I hope this doesn't upset you guys as its not my intent. I truly want to bring this thing back from the dead and I think you guys will be happy to see her saved from this pile to the lady she once was.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Good for saving something others would discard.

I'd look over this site as it contains a lot of detailed pictures about what you're doing.

http://www.abarnyard.com/roadster/roadster.shtml

-Tim

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Kudos to you. dont think anyone here will argue with what you are doing, rather encouraging really. Yes it's a lot of work, but you will be pleased in the end. If you are on a budget, I would do a searchon the bay for the qtr and door, etc. Much less money if you are handy then buying the brooksville parts.
Also folks on here will have some of the parts you need. If you're not in a hurry, you can buy the parts over time, as they become avail and as you have $. I was fortunate
this week to land about 5 parts I need for various projects through wtd adds I placed on various sites. I was stoked to find a horn cover for my Pierce, that was lost when the open car hauler went flying up the interstate!
Anyway, GL and dont be afraid to make a list of wtd items and post it in the swap section.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Hitchhiker
Sent you pm
Gil. NoCal

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Why not try for show car? You've got a lot of work ahead of you, so you may as well go for the top. Take your time, learn along the way (like we all do), measure advice carefully, and take pride in your project and your work. As a younger person, you have some time, and you are embarking on an adventure that may well influence not just the course of your life, but many others' as well.

Read lots of books, ask lots of questions, look at a bunch of cars (especially like the one you are working on), take lots of pictures, use original parts every time you can, and don't throw anything away, because you will need it somewhere, some time, during the project.. And don't give up!

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

You may take some time and look around, you may find a nice complete running gear with a motor and trans in for cheap, left over from someone making a hot rod.

GDG

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

My thought would be to forget about the 'show car' thing. You are in for a lot of work (but enjoyable work) and will feel justifiably proud of it when done. So now you would take it to some show and have a bunch of self-proclaimed 'expert' nitpickers criticizing little details?? Why lay out huge dollars for the correct cotter keys in the brake linkage or the original air in the tires?! Plus getting a sore butt from sitting in a lawn chair all day! Just make it a 20-20 car and enjoy driving it!

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Very nice and keep us updated,,
I may know of a guy with some parts he wants to get rid of... If he still has them I will PM you...

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Sorry. I don't agree. "Good enough" seldom is, and he (or someone else) will end up doing it over. In Hitchhiker's case, it sounds like he has the time and interest to do a good job, and I think it is worth encouraging that attitude. It doesn't take that much more to do a job right.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Adding to the chorus. Congrats on saving another one. I can't add any more wisdom than already shared. To me, there is nothing better than resurrecting something like this.

Do look for existing running gear. I see it for sale occasionally and it might be a lot cheaper and easier.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Good plan you have. Just keep doing the restoration to the best of your ability and budget and you'll soon be in the driver's seat of a nice roadster.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

You will want to look at this thread by Flop, he did what you want to do.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72648
Good luck

Bob

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Good luck on your preservation it looks very do able! I am with post #6 in try to find a rolling chassis, that would get you where you want to be a lot faster !
Keep posting with you progress :-)

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

This was posted in the Swap Meet a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188324

These pop up every now and then, would make a good start for your project.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

I forgot to say I have a complete stock front and rear axle and suspension. A 7:1 winfield head, intake, carb, cam, lightened flywheel and counterbalanced crank rebuilt engine. A trans. I just need a nice frame. and I'm off and running.

also when I mention "not a show car" I mean I'm not concerned with having the correct date coded parts for the car. I will of course build it with as much skill as I have.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Neat always worth saving a Roadster (or any Model A as far as that goes). Good luck to you keep us posted very interesting project you'll do well

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

This is great! Good for you bringing this one back to life. The Brookville parts are nice, quality is good. They're good folks so if you have any question about fitment or compatibility, they'll steer you right. Keep an eye on the classifieds section here, frames pop up with some regularity.

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Here's one close by http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pts/5453047570.html

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Thank you for saving something that is priceless --it will never be made again...

Re: restoring a old roadster back to stock. Seattle
 

Good plan.:)