The Ford Barn

tinman080 · 01-29-2018, 11:28 PM

I'm getting a few things together for an Indy Ford-style speedster. The left and right dash panels are commercial brass door push panels I drilled for a GPS speedometer and Bosche gauges. The speedometer surround bezel I cut from 3/16'' aluminum plate to match the surplus F-4 aircraft gauge surrounds. A push-button start switch finishes off the driver panel. The right side I centered an aircraft- inspired rally clock. Both panels will be mounted with stainless hex bolts and washers. The steering wheel is a 18'' Kenworth wheel I brushed the chrome finish and ordered a Ford tie-tac and installed it onto the center hub of the wheel. lol My headlamps are '31 Ford. The body will be a boat-tail speedster style, steel on a tube framework. The chassis is a '98 Ranger, 4 cylinder and 5 speed. A '31 hood and '32 grill shell. A strange mix, but I think it will be fun.

hardtimes · 01-30-2018, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman080

I'm getting a few things together for an Indy Ford-style speedster. The left and right dash panels are commercial brass door push panels I drilled for a GPS speedometer and Bosche gauges. The speedometer surround bezel I cut from 3/16'' aluminum plate to match the surplus F-4 aircraft gauge surrounds. A push-button start switch finishes off the driver panel. The right side I centered an aircraft- inspired rally clock. Both panels will be mounted with stainless hex bolts and washers. The steering wheel is a 18'' Kenworth wheel I brushed the chrome finish and ordered a Ford tie-tac and installed it onto the center hub of the wheel. lol My headlamps are '31 Ford. The body will be a boat-tail speedster style, steel on a tube framework. The chassis is a '98 Ranger, 4 cylinder and 5 speed. A '31 hood and '32 grill shell. A strange mix, but I think it will be fun.

Sounds/looks like great fun and boat tailed is a favorite style. All looks great to me...except that steering wheel (?)

!
Let us see the metal work as you proceed on the cowl and tail section. Are you metal work skilled ?

tinman080 · 01-30-2018, 03:49 PM

I have a little experience with metalwork. The steering wheel is not set in stone, but I do want a big one. We will see. lol I have an English wheel, a beader, a tubing bender plus all the body shop tools you could shake a stick at, having done it professionally for over 40 years. I'm always willing to learn, so holler if you have any good advice. Gary

hardtimes · 01-31-2018, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman080

I have a little experience with metalwork. The steering wheel is not set in stone, but I do want a big one. We will see. lol I have an English wheel, a beader, a tubing bender plus all the body shop tools you could shake a stick at, having done it professionally for over 40 years. I'm always willing to learn, so holler if you have any good advice. Gary

Hey Gary,
'good advice'...Yes, can you move all your stuff in next door and teach a 'youth' the metal trade

!

I know an OLD guy who raced speeders back many decades ago. He is putting together another one from parts that he has had left over from the olden days. Awesome old guy, as he doesn't even have a driver license, but the 'fire still burns' in him for the need for speed !

I do speedster bench racing with him as often as we can. Smart guy about building A/B hot engines too.

tinman080 · 01-31-2018, 02:04 AM

Hardtimes I worked on everyone elses cars for all those years, Since I've retired I'm doing them for ME! LOL Gary

hardtimes · 01-31-2018, 02:58 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman080

Hardtimes I worked on everyone elses cars for all those years, Since I've retired I'm doing them for ME! LOL Gary

Perfectly understandable !
Still like to see progress pictures , especially of tail and cowl build. Thanks

.

old31 · 02-01-2018, 09:20 AM

I like everything, except the steering wheel.

California Travieso · 02-01-2018, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old31

I like everything, except the steering wheel.

I agree. Too modern. A couple of years ago, I saw a guy at the National Roadster show who made reproductions of antique steering wheels. He probably has a website that you can find using Google.

I also saw a speedster on YouTube that had a Model T steering wheel.

David Serrano

tinman080 · 02-01-2018, 04:30 PM

I have a 4 spoke wooden wheel also. I would like to find a nice Bell wheel, but I want a big one (expensive). 14 or 15 inch won't do it for me. So until I find the ideal wheel, the 18'' modern wheel will do. All of my cars have had parts switched out or changed as circumstances allow during their builds. I have a 17'' T wheel on my REO. The other cars have tillers....lol Gary

Tinbasher · 02-01-2018, 07:24 PM

If you don't have a lot of metal skills, a trick to make a boat tail is to use a hood from the 40's early 50's and split it down the middle. Then flip the outer edges to the middle. It will take some trimming of the edge but works. Once you have the shape you want then you weld the center up.

The Old Tinbasher.

01-30-2018, 03:49 PM	#3
tinman080 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Forest, Virginia Posts: 250	Re: Early '30's speedster, making and gathering parts I have a little experience with metalwork. The steering wheel is not set in stone, but I do want a big one. We will see. lol I have an English wheel, a beader, a tubing bender plus all the body shop tools you could shake a stick at, having done it professionally for over 40 years. I'm always willing to learn, so holler if you have any good advice. Gary __________________ Just Passin' Thru.....Slowly!

01-31-2018, 02:04 AM	#5
tinman080 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Forest, Virginia Posts: 250	Re: Early '30's speedster, making and gathering parts Hardtimes I worked on everyone elses cars for all those years, Since I've retired I'm doing them for ME! LOL Gary __________________ Just Passin' Thru.....Slowly! Last edited by tinman080; 01-31-2018 at 02:24 AM.

02-01-2018, 09:20 AM	#7
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,094	Re: Early '30's speedster, making and gathering parts I like everything, except the steering wheel.

02-01-2018, 04:30 PM	#9
tinman080 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Forest, Virginia Posts: 250	Re: Early '30's speedster, making and gathering parts I have a 4 spoke wooden wheel also. I would like to find a nice Bell wheel, but I want a big one (expensive). 14 or 15 inch won't do it for me. So until I find the ideal wheel, the 18'' modern wheel will do. All of my cars have had parts switched out or changed as circumstances allow during their builds. I have a 17'' T wheel on my REO. The other cars have tillers....lol Gary __________________ Just Passin' Thru.....Slowly!

02-01-2018, 07:24 PM	#10
Tinbasher Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Innisfil, Ontario Canada Posts: 1,174	Re: Early '30's speedster, making and gathering parts If you don't have a lot of metal skills, a trick to make a boat tail is to use a hood from the 40's early 50's and split it down the middle. Then flip the outer edges to the middle. It will take some trimming of the edge but works. Once you have the shape you want then you weld the center up. The Old Tinbasher.