Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[39Deluxe]

Lookin' good.

Tom

[Gastrick]

I love that firewall Jim. I wanted to make a similar one while I had my engine out but decided to go ahead and make one that matched my interior panels. I'm doing all of the small things too right now that don't make for exciting pictures on my engine swap. Seems like I'm doing a lot of work with not much to show.

[Itoldyouso]

Maybe if enough of us ask they will move Billetproof to June. We have given up trying to get Dan's done in time too..........but why rush just to make one show, there will still be a lot of cruising time left over the summer. And then there is the Turkey Run in November, which will be on us before we realize it.

Your T is looking really good Jim. We will get to see it sooner or later, and at least we all keep up on each others builds on here.

Don

[J. Robinson]

Thanks, everyone, for the compliments.

Bill, your firewall is beautiful just like the rest of your aluminum work. One of these days you need to do a "how to" thread on the rivets & ribs in those panels...

I have set a "drop dead" date of Feb 15. If I don't have the roadster running by then I will drop any plans of driving it to Billetproof and turn my attention back to my coupe. The transmission in the coupe (Turbo 350) has developed a leak that really needs attention before it drenches everything underneath with tranny fluid. I also bought some new tri-bar headlights at the Turkey Run that have turn lights built in and I haven't taken the time to install them yet. Then I have a few rattles & squeaks that I need to fix, etc, etc...

Hey, Don, have you considered the T-bucket Nationals? It's in North Carolina this year, June 18, 19,& 20. It may be a few years before it gets back to the eastern side of the country. We could caravan up...

[OFT]

Jim, that firewall looks great! I have faith in you to make your date. At least you have a back up plan if it doesn't work out.
Life can seem to take time away, but "life" is so much more important.

Earl

[J. Robinson]

Thanks Earl. I'm still plugging away at it, but only time will tell. My brake drums arrived today, so I can rebuild the rear brakes and run the lines. I hope to make some progress this weekend, but then the following two Saturdays are obligated elsewhere. Looks like "plan B" is becoming more & more likely...

[OFT]

Jim, with the 15th passing us all by (no added information on your thread here) is backup plan in effect?

Earl

[PRO53]

Nice build, like the tube chassis.Do you still have the model a in the avitar
J. Robinson? If so where are some picks looks awesome

[oldrodder43]

Well J.R., any updates on the T? Must be build weather down there by now, seeing as how our season has gone by---------haahaaaa. Perley

[J. Robinson]

Thanks for asking, Earl. Yes, I have reverted to "plan B". I had a couple of interruptions that slowed my progress on the roadster; life keeps getting in the way. I lost one week's evenings to the weather when it turned cold a few weeks ago (I work mostly outdoors) and then I lost a weekend when my wife's brother passed away. On top of that, I still haven't resolved the intake/carb matter. I know where there is a 2-barrel intake for this engine, but have not been able to connect with the owner when he has time to deal with it (he is a tax preparer & this is his busy season)... I have made some limited progress on rebuilding the brakes (nothing picture-worthy), but there is just too much yet to do and I don't want to schlock this thing together and then end up doing a lot of it over later. So..,

I will be driving my coupe to Billetproof. I went to the junkyard Saturday and scrounged a new light switch for it that has a parking light circuit (the existing one didn't - mid '80's switch when parking lights stay on all the time). I got that so I can install the new tri-bar headlights with integral turn signals. Then I will convert the existing turn signals to parking lights. Aside from that, it's just a matter of routine maintenence (change oil, chasing squeaks, etc.) and clean up and it's ready to go. As for the roadster, I still want to get it running as soon as possible and get some road time on it; my goal is to drive it to the T-bucket Nationals in Lenoir, NC in June.

[Hotrod46]

Sorry to hear that you're not going to make Billetproof, but I have to agree with you about doing it right.

Wish I still had that GM four banger that I pulled out of my Jeep years ago. You would be welcome to it. It had just the intake you're wanting. You know what they say about never getting rid of something, 'cause you might need it.

Looks like it's going to be tight for me to get on the road by March too, but I'm still plowing ahead like a stubborn mule. I still think I can make it.

Keep up the good work.

Mike

[stovens]

It's amazing how much time gets eaten up, even when your fully motivated. I had six days off in a row here, and wanted to work on finishing the frame and dropping the engine in. So of course it rained for five of the six days and is still raining a week later! Like J.R. I work mostly outside due to limited shop space, and not wanting to mess my Harley or woodworking stuff by welding inside, or painting in there!
J.R. any new pics to update us?

[J. Robinson]

Thanks, Mike, but it ain't all bad. I'll be at Billetproof, just not with the roadster. That's OK, though. Although my coupe is well traveled (I drive it a LOT!) and "road proven" (2400 mile trek through the midwest in 2006), not all that many people have seen it because I really haven't had it at very many rod runs. I've had it to Daytona for a couple of different events and to a few cruise-ins in the area, but that's about it. It's got some rock chips on the frame, road grime underneath, and a couple of rust bubbles coming up on the doors, but that just proves it's a driver. It's been a faithful "member of the family" since I put it on the road in 2005, so I guess it deserves to be displayed in a field full of "our kind" of people. The roadster's time will come...

Have you considered going to the T-bucket Nationals? It's June 18, 19, & 20 in Lenoir, NC.

[J. Robinson]

Ha! Steve, you must have been typing your reply at the same time I was doing mine (during lunch at school). Nope, no new pics. I really haven't done anything that makes any difference in appearance. What little time I have spent on it has been rebuilding the brakes (shoes, wheel cylinders, etc.), nothing picture-worthy there.

While I've been piddling with the little stuff, though, I keep eyeing the interior space and the seat frame I made. The more I look at it, the more I think I want to do it differently. I originally bought a pair of tractor bucket seats for it, but it turned out they wouldn't work the way I wanted them to. They couldn't be modified correctly, so I built the seat frame. Now I'm considering trashing that idea and using Speedway Motors aluminum bomber seats (if they'll fit). I think they would fit the track roadster image better. Tell me what you think, folks.

[Itoldyouso]

Jim, sorry to hear about your Brother in Law passing away. Don't sweat it, there is life after Billetproof. Now you can slow down and enjoy the build and take it to Turkey Run. That is the goal we are now shooting for with Dans too.

You've made great progress in such a short amount of time.

Don