Canfield is making me build a Roadster! Can I build it from swap meet only parts?

[Flop]

Well I got this cowl for reaaaly cheap Saturday so I guess I HAVE to build a roadster now! So lets see how long it takes to build a roadster from swap meet only parts !!



I also got a cowl side from a tudor with nice subrail extensions on the passenger side and some roadster stanchions!


I wanna try and keep the total build for the body under 1500 dollars in parts not including my time . I am going to try and use as much Henry as I can!

I will keep a running tally here .

cowl 60
tudor cowl 10
stanchions 20
doors/hinges 60
firewall 0

[ford3]

your darn right you can, just make a list of what you need and then go to the swap meets and friends for spare parts and gather them up, i helped a friend of mine build a 57 chevy step side truck from parts from swap meets and friends, nothing was bought new, the truck had nothing, no frame, fenders, bed, windows, seats or cab, the cab was brought home on a tow dolly, we went 5 miles out of our way on back roads to avoid the cops, any way it was assembled in six months, together now you would never know it was a tinker toy truck, so yes you can make a car out of spare or left over parts

[1931 flamingo]

Flop, I'm sure if you can't find swap meet parts you'll be able to fabricate what you need.
Paul in CT

[Hicktick]

I will go ahead and sign up for this one , keep on creating Flop , you the man .

[rollingsculpture]

this is a 29?

[31ster]

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It's a 30/31

[zzlegend]

Ok Flop. You got my attention. I will be tuning in. If anyone can do it, i think it would be you. Keep us updated and good luck with it. Mark.

[Carter]

I've got some rough doors and gas tank suitable for cutting up that would be pretty cheap...
haha

[Roadster62]

This will be fun to watch, keeping it at $1,500 will be a challenge. You can do it by buying more than you need and selling off unwanted items. Just this weekend I spent $145.00 on parts for my Roadster, and sold off the unwanted parts. After paying the postage the parts I kept cost me $10.66. Bob

[jimz31]

If any one can do it, it would be you! Can't wait to watch this come together!

[QGolden]

I thought they were all built from swap meet parts!

[Ray in La Mesa]

Of buliding a car from parts....... In 1968 I pieced together my '28 roadster pickup. I had $147 in the whole truck and put $1200 in to rehab the chassis.It was to be a "temporary " tour car till I got my Cabriolet restored. Now, in 2013 I'm still driving the pickup and the cabriolet is 1/2 restored. It's been a fun journey though.

[Uncle Bob]

This will be fun!
If availability back east is like out here in the west the deck lid might be the most challenging piece to find. Happy hunting............

[Wick]

Body for 1500...That easy. My lastest shopping is 29 roadester windshield frame $20.
New repo sanchions $11.00 29 Cowl with tank $35.00 new running boards $45.00 Perfect splash aprons for $10.00 29 Shroud $10.00 steering coloum $20.00 steering wheel $10.00 Nice front bumper $20.00 All nice stuff...no junk.
All the little stuff is no more then $10.00 or less...
Flop include Auctions,craigs List with Swap meets. Last week in N.C. about 25 fenders went for $80.00 total! A few years back in Elkton Va. Fenders went for $1-$10 each That wasent my best auction,but its in the Top 5
Have fun!

[fordcoupe]

Good luck with your project i have put together a 1949 Harly Davidson from swapmeet original parts for around 1,100 way back in the 70's when parts are cheap to buy parts now it would cost 11,100 for original parts ie springer front end 40.00 now 1,000 + i'm working on enough model A parts to put one together not started out that way just spare parts to keep my coupe/truck running wife says i'm out of control but parts are parts never know what you will need

[Petty Cash]

I started with a frame and a roadster cowl. Then I found a guy that hot rodded a restored car and bought a front and rear end. Then I found some doors and roadster pickup quarters. Then a bed and fenders. Then a nice running engine. I bet I have less than $1,500.00 in it as is. It has been a long drawn out process but I'm ready to test drive the chassis now.

Good luck Flop it's kind of fun.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Petty Cash, that's a rare engine you have with the water inlet and generator on the right side of the block.

[Mikeinnj]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Petty Cash, that's a rare engine you have with the water inlet and generator on the right side of the block.

Tom - as your sharp eyes noticed, the photo was "reversed" or as they say in the publishing business, it was "flopped". Perhaps he felt a need to flop the photo because he was replying to "Flop".

[Ross/Kzoo]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Petty Cash, that's a rare engine you have with the water inlet and generator on the right side of the block.

That's an old eBay trick. Got a damaged 1/4 panel? Take a picture of the good 1/4 and flop the photo. LOL

[Petty Cash]

I tried to edit it but can't. It is correct on my phone and the photo bucket account? Sorry.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I DID IT! "I'm gonna' flip, flop, & fly! Buster T.

[28-31]

Tom -- Piecing my Roadster back together from scraps hasn't been enough torture for ya?
;-)

-Jeff

[dumb person]

Originally Posted by 28-31

Tom -- Piecing my Roadster back together from scraps hasn't been enough torture for ya?
;-)

-Jeff

Maybe he enjoys it?

[Flop]

hey thanks everyone!! Alot of good stories and all in good fun . It will take a while and has a back seat to my customers my coupe and my 47!

some details





the piece from a tudor cowl ?



mocked up hahaha





i like a challenge if ya couldnt tell Jeff!!

[Flop]

more parts !!

60 cash spent today

doors .. rough but ver very very fixable



and some hinges



thanks Dave!!

[Flop]

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got a free firewall for the roadster !! slowly but surely !!

[todd3131]

Flop, how is the healing going?

[Flop]

todd its moving along thanks for asking! stitches are out . doctor says to start using my hand/arm but nothing more then 5 lbs in it . still hanging out at home but the urge is coming back to go to work . I will probably end up at the shop next week and start cleaning /doing little things . then maybe some work middle to late september .

[todd3131]

Good to hear, you will have to be careful not to re-injure your self by trying to do to much too soon. Might be time for you to find an apprentice.

[Russ/40]

Those falls get more perilous as we age. Be more careful next time. I did a similar thing last year, but I fell on the front fender and hood of my '40. I fared better than the '40. Really looking forward to some more of your metal work. Your my metal man idol!

[RUNNERBUN]

Originally Posted by todd3131

Good to hear, you will have to be careful not to re-injure your self by trying to do to much too soon. Might be time for you to find an apprentice.

If Flop is putting on an apprentice, I'll be applying for the job. I'll move from Australia to the US to be trained by a man with his ability and know-how

[Roadster62]

Good to know you are slowly getting back to the projects. You never had a cast did you? Guess hammer and dolly work will feel different now. Best wishes, Bob

[Purdy Swoft]

Glad you are better and good luck with your project . Building a roadster out of parts will be no problem for you. Finding all of the parts for fifteen hundred may not be easy unless you've already got a bunch of the parts . I don't believe that I could do it. This kinda reminds me of a few years back when Leroy Tex Smith was building a hot rod model A roadster for a dollar a pound. It turned out that he already had the 30-31 roadster body that he said he only paid seventy five dollars for. Wish that I could find them like that. Good luck, if anybody can do it, you can.

[Flop]

todd .. not pushing things at all . i need that arm the rest of my life!!

russ it was more or less me being lazy by not moving the chain fall and then me paying for it ! lesson learned

runner i will keep you posted haha

roadster62 no cast since it is plated and screwed together . very curious to what it feels like when being worked . i am not allowed to lift more then 5 pounds until october then up to 10 lbs .


Purdy. i started off with what is posted . no other roadster parts in stock ! we shall see what hershey brings this year . should make it alot more fun .

thanks again guys !

[Bill in NJ]

What size is your cart to hold the body for patch repair ? Is it just a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood or bigger ?

[mndodge]

It is nice to see a finished car.....but to see them start with a frame and a cowl and adding the pieces along the way and then sitting in the shop on the four tires and rolling chassis like that earlier picture you posted, that is the stuff dreams are made of......

[juke joint johnny]

Flop Glad your on the road to recovery !!!

That roadster is a great challenge but we all have faith in you !!

and know you can do it . I bet it will be on the road before mine is!!
John Cochran

[Roadster62]

My Hershey spots are C4J 41-42, in the Chocolate Field,last ones on the left of Main Street by the food vendor. If you want to leave parts there for the day and save a trip to your vehicle mid day Ford Barn and HAMB members are welcome. If you have any Roadster bits for Flop, you can drop them off there. Bob

[jim1932]

I think you can get it done by the time you retire..

[JSRTUDOR]

That is how I put my 31 together! Nothing on my car was originally on this particulal car in 31.