Progress on the Model A speedster
 

After completeing the Model a restoration, my wife said I could not retire and not have a project of some sort. She was right, and this is what I have started now.

I have seen some very nice examples of metal shaping, and this will be my first attempt at a 'real' project in that regard. It is going to be able to fit on a stock Model A frame with no welding. It is the plan to learn to gas weld aluminum (Henrob ?) and polish the body, with the current idea of using copper rivets to fasten the aluminum panels to the steel substructure.

I wanted to build a speedster, but the width of a standard Model A was not appealing, so I made some layouts in SolidWorks and this is what I am going to start with. It was a little hard to get the dimensions so that both driver and passenger would fit in the standard wheel base, but this is what I have come up with.

I had to do some additional work to get the driver to be able to steer from the center of the chassis, so I devised the double rows of RC40 chain to offset the steering shafts. I have adjusted the sprockets so that the chain links are 'half-lapped' with each other, and there seems to be NO discernable backlash in this design.

The modifications to the steering and the pedal arraingements are preliminary designs, as it is my intention to attempt to build an aluminum body, not so much an entire car. At this juncture, I plan to use 3003H14 for the skin, a Henrob torch (I have a gas setup as well). I have not decided on the filler metal rod at this point in time. I want to use semi-tubular rivits to attach the body to the sub structure.

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Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

That's a cool project; kind of like a fighter plane! It will be fun watching as you progress. Thanks!

R/ Roger.

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Wow, very interesting concept! Good luck and keep us informed please.

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Bring it with you when we all go to Huntsville so we can help make scrap metal with you!! http://www.model-a-ford.com/ROFL.gif

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Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Cool looking project, I been working on a speedster design in my head for years, neat to see the two person seating. Keep us updated, or let us know where the updates are.

My newest mental plan is working out a 4 seat speedster so the 2 kids can go along too.....

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

How about one of these for your offset steering?
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Steer-...nish,6254.html

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

2Many: At $700, that is why I didn't use that device. So far, I have $26 in the setup shown. Wife seems to be tracking the costs on this project for some reason. I got away with it on the Panel Delivery, LOL

Vince: LMAO!

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

But...but.....but that would be easy and make sense....... :D

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Hey, 'Flexi' I too thought of several ways to do what you described, and that was what was so funny to me. I was thinking of different ways to make a four seat speedster as well, so when Vince said 'Phaeton', I fell on my butt laughing at how easy it was for me to veer off with my imagination.

If you proceed to build something like that, I will be happy to help or share experiences with you.

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

There was a favorite book of mine and my children in the middle 70's called "Cars and Trucks and Thing that Go" by Richard Scary. He had a tasteful and unbridled imagination for fantasy cars and classic cars. One of them was the tandem "two-seater pencil car". I need to find that book again and possibly adopt (steal) one or two his ideas. www.olympic-speedsters.com

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

I remember reading richard scary's books to both kids.
Paul in CT

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Jim, thanks for the link. I had seen it before, but had lost the 'address'.

Thank you!

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

I can probably date myself by saying I spent hours as a kids with his books, and now am reading them to my kids..... Definitely an imagination to come up with all that he did.

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

I'll keep you in mind when I start working on it, sadly I have to finish up a Jeep project and then repair my coupe after it was hit by a drunk driver and put on it's side. Will be a while until I get to the Speedster project. I am thinking more of a boat tail look, almost a 30's indy car type thing over a Phaeton. But we shall see what happens in the future.

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

I have made a prelimanary layout for the wooden buck to make the grille shell.

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Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Will,nice work..some real good ideas I see. Look forward to seeing you at Hershey in 8 weeks and hear more about your Speedster.
Wick

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Hi Will,

I think you should change your name from RockHillWill to RockHillOverAchiever!! You never cease to maze me - Hunter :)

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

Hey Hunter:

I don't feel like an over achiever, only that I get bored quickly, LOL.

Here is the finished nose buck. I sent .dxf files to the waterjet guy today.

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Re: I could not sit idle, have a new project
 

In your first sentence you indicated that your wife stated that you needed a project. What I want to know is where in the heck did you find her!!!! I want a wife like that.
Most wives that I know would hand you a "honey do" list and THAT would be your new project. She's a keeper! :)

Jack

Re: I could not sit idle, have a new Speedster project
 

I think it works like this, here at my house.

The first thing on the wife's honey do list is 'stay out of the house', LOL

Anything else around the house she will let me do in the order that I want.

Truth be known, I have a terrific wife. She is my best friend, will help in the shop if I need her. She does most of the sandblasting around here and some of the painting as well as some diss-assembly work and the sorting of bolts and hardware.

If I am short a few bucks, she will even 'kick in' on occassion, and has always been my greatest supporter and puts up with all my 'lists' and 'proceedure sheets', etc. We need to work on her sense of humor a little, though, LOL