Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[stovens]

Jim the seats look great. I too am glad to see you back on this project. It's fun watching other peoples builds which inspires me to get back to work too! You must be getting close to being done with the mechanics of the build. Did you decide which way to go with the red and white paint?

[J. Robinson]

Thanks, Steve. Yes, the big stuff is done. I still need to run brake and fuel lines, make a dash panel and mount the gauges. Then it's down to bodywork, paint, upholstery, and wiring. Not sure on the color yet, but I'm still leaning toward the Wimbledon white with red scallops...

[dlotraf33]

Looks good. I need to go back and reread this thread. This is the one that got me hooked I read about 50 pages straight. You are certainly inspirational, the build, and the thread. Look forward to more progress....

[J. Robinson]

I'm leaving the seats for now and moving to the hood. It isn't terribly obvious in the pictures, but in person it was very plain that the hood sagged in the center (1st pic). The reason for that is it simply wasn't properly reinforced. I used a couple of strips of 1/8 x 3/4 flat stock (2nd pic) and a line of large-head rivets to attach the lightweight piano hinge down the center. The flat stock and hinge just aren't rigid enough and the rivets look like crap, so... I drilled out the rivets and removed all the hardware.

I cut two pieces of 1/2" square tubing and some heavy-duty piano hinge (3rd pic) to the appropriate length. Then I clamped one end of the tubing pieces to my workbench, put a stack of shims under them and pushed down on the other end (4th pic). After working both ends the same way, I ended up with the tubing pieces slightly bowed up in the center (5th pic).

[J. Robinson]

The next step was simply to weld the tubing pieces to the hood halves. Using a pile of Vise Grips, I clamped the tubing pieces to the hood halves flush with the edge. Then I spot-welded through the old rivet holes (1st pic). I ground the welds flat and put on a coat of spray-can primer to inhibit rust (2nd pic). I ran out of time before I got the hinge attached, so next time...

[Itoldyouso]

I bet you are really enjoying working in that new garage, huh Jim? Lots of room. Funny how your stuff expands to fill the space and pretty soon you realize you need more room yet.

Keep hitting on the T, only 271 more days till Turkey Run.

Don

[Mr Blue]

Hoods looking good!

[J. Robinson]

I bet you are really enjoying working in that new garage, huh Jim? Lots of room. Funny how your stuff expands to fill the space and pretty soon you realize you need more room yet.

Keep hitting on the T, only 271 more days till Turkey Run.

Don

Yeah, it's nice to be able to work without having to move the coupe, my Harley, and half my equipment outside just to make room... You're right about "stuff", though. When I retired I had to bring my Electrathon cars and all my other stuff home from school - guess where it all went... Turkey Run? I had originally planned to drive this thing to the T-bucket Nationals this year, but it looks doubtful. Maybe in two years when it's east of the Mississippi again.

[hotroddaddy]

Woohoo! looking good! good to see ya back at it after a break.

[J. Robinson]

Thanks Mr. Blue and HRD. Hopefully I'll be able to keep crankin' on this thing now.

OK, I ran out of time before I got the hood halves put together Wednesday night, so... Putting the two halves together was a pretty simple proposition. The piano hinge I used here is some heavy duty hinge I bought at a surplus store in Orlando. If you've ever looked at piano hinge in your local ACE Hardware, you know how expensive it is just for the lightweight stuff. A 3 ft. section is over $20. I got a 7 ft. piece of this heavy stuff for $9.50! It says it's stainless steel, but it is apparently a low grade of stainless because it's a dull gray color and it welds beautifully with ordinary mild steel wire.

I clamped the hinge to one hood half and put 3 good tack welds on it (1st pic). Next I clamped the other hood half in place, aligned it with the opposite side, and tacked it (2nd pic). Finally, I set it on the roadster to check the fit (3rd pic). It's not real obvious in the picture, but the sag is gone. It's also rigid now. Before, I could flex the center down with one hand; now it doesn't move. I'm not going to put my 230 pound fat ass on it to find out, but I believe it would support my weight now...

[stovens]

Wow that came out great Jim. Nice score on the piano hinges too. Any thoughts to louvered lower panels?

[J. Robinson]

Wow that came out great Jim. Nice score on the piano hinges too. Any thoughts to louvered lower panels?

Already done, Steve. Long story about the louvers; if you're interested you can scroll back and read it... Anyway, here's a pic of the louvers on the left side panel.

[J. Robinson]

Well, the hood is hinged, but still needed a positive means of keeping it on the car. If it was a one-piece hood top I could just use Dzus fasteners in the four corners. However, I chose to make it a hinged two-piece to make it easier to check oil , etc, so there has to be something to hold the center hinge in place (similar to early Fords up through 1936).

Something I didn't illustrate in the earlier posts, when I cut the hinge to length I carefully left the center rod an extra 3/4" long on each end (arrow - 1st pic). I discovered that 1/4" brake line fits perfectly over the center rod, so I cut a 3/4" piece for each end. Then I cut, shaped, and drilled two pieces of 1/8 x 3/4 flat stock for the brackets (2nd pic). The piece for the front is longer because I need to shape it to raise the front of the hood slightly. I welded the brake line tubing to the brackets and then ground down the welds slightly (3rd pic).

The 4th and 5th pics show the ends of the hinges with the brackets in place under the hood. The rear bracket holds the hood at the correct height with no alteration. I had to bend the front bracket so that it is about 1/4" higher in the center.

[Itoldyouso]

What I love about your builds Jim is that you are really inventive and make a lot of your own parts. That hood looks great on there.

Don

[oldrodder43]

Hooray Jim, so glad you're back at it, and with a spanking new workspace! But it's too clean though. But then, so was your old workshop, as I remember. Gives me inspiration to get on with mine, if ever the many feet of snow goes away, and the temp gets more in my favor. 10 below last night!
Perley