Thread: tin-man has some questions, it begins.....

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Originally Posted by rspears

John,
When you started here you mentioned buying a finished car, and now you've mentioned building which I assume means having one built to your specs. Mike's got a good eye, as that engine in the yellow coupe is angled back way too much to look and function right. I'm a big fan of "Ford-in-Ford", but shoe-horning a BBF into a deuce coupe is going to be interesting, and any vintage Ford engine (pre-modular) is going to be longer than the Chevy's - Bob gave a very good history lesson back up in post #15 in this very thread. That's why if you choose to buy a finished car you'll likely see about 3-to-1 Chevy powered, and about 1 in 10 stick shift. For me, if I build another one it'll likely have a newer mod-motor for power - I'm a glutton for punishment, and those mods look nasty in an open hood street rod (IMO).

Earlier in this thread it was pointed out that the '33/34 is 6" longer than the Deuce, and that almost all of that room is in the cabin & trunk. You have not mentioned your stature, but for me at 6'3" that extra length is priceless (plus I just love the profile of the '33/34)! We've been through this a lot lately, and while I love to build a guy can get a whole lot of car for a whole lot less money by shopping the market today. Don (DA34GUY) mentioned recently buying a really sweet little deuce roadster for about 65% of the cost of parts on a pallet - very sad for the guy who paid to have it built, but very nice for Don!

I think you're doing the right thing, honing in on what you like, but I would really recommend that you give it just a bit of time, get back on this side of the ocean and spend this summer going to cruise-in's and events like Good Guys & NSRA Nat's where you'll see tons of cars, but more important as you talk to guys and they see that you're serious they may entertain you putting your backside in their driver's seat to see what fits best. It's too bad you won't be back by March 9/10 for the Good Guys Scotsdale event. We're going to be out there visiting friends, and I intend to spend Saturday there roaming around seeing what I can learn, and enjoying all the different ways things are done. If you're serious about spending the bucks to have one built you might talk to Don - he built both of those Deuces above, and can have you living your dream (instead of suffering buyer's remorse) in a month or two, unless you have really crazy ideas about what you want....

Roger you are correct, I did say I wanted and preferred, to buy, but, and I add this, it would need to be fully sorted and I believe that would be the best way to go from a financial point of view. That said, I will leave the build option open if I cannot find what I want and I absolutely agree with the notion I need visit many of the various car events and get added experience by talking directly with the owners. 29 days to go and its on. Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

I don't know but maybe the guy that built the yellow one liked the look of the tilted engine and is running a two piece drive shaft. Again, build what you like. It is your car. The resale will/might suffer of you go way out of the box though.

Yeah, no kidding Don!!!! Heck, I thought somebody put those wheels and tires on their in one of those 'photoshop' deals, can't imagine somebody mis-matching things that bad on a build!!!! But, to each their own, I guess there's no test required before you build a Hot Rod!!!!!

I'm not an authority on building 30's cars,,at all,,but,tinman,look at whats out there,as others have said,and after seeing some of Dons pix of what he's built,I know what I would do if I was in your shoes..Talk to the guy about building one for you..If you are going to pay for what you want,,get it built the way you want it from the start..I have friends in Aussie(NZers) who had a 32 roadster built in Kansas( I think),and drove it back to Ca. a year or two back..Its actually kept at a friends place,so they can do rodruns when they go to US..I would think that Don knows what he's about..Look at what he's built already..Some nice lookin rods there..

Yeah,I think that yellow 3w is ugly,too..

Originally Posted by lamin8r

I'm not an authority on building 30's cars,,at all,,but,tinman,look at whats out there,as others have said,and after seeing some of Dons pix of what he's built,I know what I would do if I was in your shoes..Talk to the guy about building one for you..If you are going to pay for what you want,,get it built the way you want it from the start..I have friends in Aussie(NZers) who had a 32 roadster built in Kansas( I think),and drove it back to Ca. a year or two back..Its actually kept at a friends place,so they can do rodruns when they go to US..I would think that Don knows what he's about..Look at what he's built already..Some nice lookin rods there..

Yeah,I think that yellow 3w is ugly,too..

Robin, Thanx for the kudo's
A few more to wet Tinmans lips

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Robin, Thanx for the kudo's
A few more to wet Tinmans lips

No probs,Don..I've seen enough of your builds on here to realise that if ya havent got it nailed by now,,,well,,ummm,,havent said the wrong thing have I??Ya know what I mean.. They all look kool,,and,yes like the last one,too..Billy Connolly's favorite color....

Don, my compliments, you build fine machines can you send me a PM and as an example let me know all about the blue one above, its an awesome piece of work. Oh, and just outa curiosity wherein the heck is Location: Out in the country (Duncan), I'm in China, what country are you in?

Cheers, John AKA, tin-man
Zhuhai, P.R.C.

Originally Posted by lamin8r

I'm not an authority on building 30's cars,,at all,,but,tinman,look at whats out there,as others have said,and after seeing some of Dons pix of what he's built,I know what I would do if I was in your shoes..Talk to the guy about building one for you..If you are going to pay for what you want,,get it built the way you want it from the start..I have friends in Aussie(NZers) who had a 32 roadster built in Kansas( I think),and drove it back to Ca. a year or two back..Its actually kept at a friends place,so they can do rodruns when they go to US..I would think that Don knows what he's about..Look at what he's built already..Some nice lookin rods there..

Yeah,I think that yellow 3w is ugly,too..

Had a several email discussions with Don and he sent me more pics, here is one that rings my chimes on all fronts. It has all the elements I am looking for and can be made in a Hi Boy configuration. We are in early discussion stages but basically I am leaning in that general direction of having him build a rod for me after I have returned to Arizona, unless of course I can find one from one of his previous customers. Any comments?

BTW, post 39 has additional pics.

Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

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Don, I love the last one! If I win the lottery I'd have one of those.

David

Check out the height of the frame under the cab. Notice a difference?

I had to go back and find your question about front suspension. Quote "Decidedly I like the idea of having a visual engine, thus the question and 2), about coil over shocks. I have seen various pictures of both, the coils over look better in my opinion and I am wondering from a performance point of view what are the benefits of with, or without, this application?"

Coil Over shocks are used with Independant Front Suspension (IFS), some folks find IFS hideous on a fenderless ride. Others prefer the tune-ability and don't mind the look. Some others think of the old straight axle and buggy spring suspension as outdated and rough riding. These are the things you need to decide for yourself!

If you prefer a "traditional" (there, I used the "T" word!) old school look - go straight axle. If you like the IFS with coil overs, there you go! It's your car so your decision.

Here's a straight axle set up with coil overs,
not traditional looking , but rides nice.
I do prefer I-beam with hairpins and transverse spring though.
Any front end suspension "can be tuned " to handle and ride great.
Ya gotta remember, ya ain't drivin a new Cadillac.

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Here's a straight axle set up with coil overs,
not traditional looking , but rides nice.
I do prefer I-beam with hairpins and transverse spring though.
Any front end suspension "can be tuned " to handle and ride great.
Ya gotta remember, ya ain't drivin a new Cadillac.

Don, thanks for these pictures they helped settle some questions I had but dang ,they have created more, sorry. Here goes, as I do a close up on the bracket holding the coil over assembly, is that weld securing the ninety degree cylinder at the top , sufficient to withstand a bottoming out event as in going over a pot hole? Are the tubular components of the bracket solid or hollow, I conclude they are solid otherwise the weld sections would be compromised due to minimal weld area. Same question applies to the bottom of the coil over assembly, the two brackets cantilevered forward over the axel seem to be a likely candidate for weld fatigue over time and thus a potential hazard. If possible do you have a close up of the tradition assembly without the coil over.? Also, as I look at the close up of the frame I conclude the hairpins are to secure the axel from moving forward while stabilizing the vertical travel am I right? BTW is there a technical treatise on the overall 32 build available anywhere that I can get my hand on?

Don, I appreciate the PM, I will be sending you several questions off grid. My that's some awesome work you do, my compliments. I am not sure I would call it an appetite stimulant its more like cruel and decisively visually stunning, punishment. Excuse the play on words.

Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man

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Don set me straight on what hot rod builds were all about, wow, he don't hold back, huh, anyway he sent me this picture of a traditional shock set up, no coil over. Mark me down as sold on the traditional look. No coil over shocks. Cheers, John, AKA, tin-man.

View image in gallery

Originally Posted by 34_40

I had to go back and find your question about front suspension. Quote "Decidedly I like the idea of having a visual engine, thus the question and 2), about coil over shocks. I have seen various pictures of both, the coils over look better in my opinion and I am wondering from a performance point of view what are the benefits of with, or without, this application?"

Coil Over shocks are used with Independant Front Suspension (IFS), some folks find IFS hideous on a fenderless ride. Others prefer the tune-ability and don't mind the look. Some others think of the old straight axle and buggy spring suspension as outdated and rough riding. These are the things you need to decide for yourself!

If you prefer a "traditional" (there, I used the "T" word!) old school look - go straight axle. If you like the IFS with coil overs, there you go! It's your car so your decision.

John - this is what an IFS(independent front suspension) with coil overs looks like on my '31 :


It's too 'busy', IMHO, for a fenderless car. This is what it looks like with fenders:



All those parts are hidden away, but do contribute to a great ride.

Here's someone's '32 with the traditional front suspension:



For the rear end - either, but my preference there is coil overs regardless:



All those rusty bolts on the rear hat and calipers - been changed to ARP stainless :-}