Scratch build Art Deco Roadster

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Back at it. Laying low during the panic so the shop is a safe place.

We've been traveling for a couple months and it took a while to recover from the trip but it's time. Back on the door remodel.

In case you forgot, I decided to redo the top rear of the doors. This photo shows the old door and the plan for the new top.



I finished the drivers side last fall but this week started on the passenger. It was a bit easier and I'm happy with how it came out. Still some tweeking but pretty close, The back is a little narrow and the front a little wide but it can easily be moved.





I closed up the gap on the front top also. This is the before photo...I forgot to take an after photo this afternoon when I quit for the day. Get one tomorrow.



I hope to finish the door tomorrow and decide whatever I'm going to do with the side vents. I may not know what that is until I start. I have some ideas.

[tdoty]

Glad to see you back at it!

I have to make an effort to stop by. I ran into Dan Shady, accidentally, on Saturday. My wife was meeting up with someone to buy a video card off of Craigslist and the GPS took us out east of Huntsville. Made a right turn and was thinking to myself, "Dan's shop is around here somewhere" when I saw Dan out in the lot. Happy coincidence! Only been in the area for 2 weeks.

Spending time in the shop seems like a good way to lay low......as long as you don't need toilet paper!

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Spent a couple days replacing the 8' florescence bulbs in the main shop with LEDs. Wow what a difference. Need two more bulbs in that room and 8 for the machine shop. Ordered them today and will soon be all LED.

Kicked around a bit on the door gaps and bit the bullet and made a decision on the side vents. This is pretty much how it will look. This is a panel I wheeled up before the curved return is rolled over. You can see the sharpie line that will be the bend line



A trick I learned from Wray Schelin a million years ago is to run a tipping wheel down the bend line with out actually tipping or using much pressure. It will make a visible track on the back side that can then be tipped. Once I got it tipped up about 30 degrees, I used my trusty tipping tool to take it past 90 degrees and then a hammer to take it the rest of the way. To finish it off, I ran it through the Ewheel with a wide anvil just to crush down the return. A little bending to get the profile right and the contours are right.



Still need to cut out the old and weld in the new... Tomorrow hopefully.



I think I like the look...at least that will be my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Mike Rouse]

Great to see you are back at it Kerry. Looks like progress.
I was able to drive my 33 Chevy hot rod a week ago for the first time in 58 years last month. Felt good.
Mike

[Gojeep]

Nice to see you return to this. It was one of the first builds I read on here when I joined.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Made the other side. After ruminating on it a bit more, I decided to move it back a bit. Yesterdays photos were 8" front to back. This photo is 12" and works better imo.



There is an interesting optical illusion going on. The bottom looks further apart than the top when viewed from certain angles. It's not and I've made wooden spacers to insure the front and back are parallel. Makes me look twice every once in a while however.

FIFTY EIGHT YEARS! Wow Mike, that makes my lack of progress for the past 15 years look like a speed build! Maybe there's hope for me after all. The last time I saw your project it was getting close.

On another note, I'm interested in the brain trusts thoughts on hood latches. Here is a photo of the side. The hood is two parts with a center hinge. I've looked at leather belts like Morgan and MG TC, etc. I've looked at Model A type exterior latches...also used in many prewar cars.

I dont want to get street rod looking but I'd be interested in some type of hidden latch. I can reach inside through the side vents and manipulate a latch. I've thought about something similar to the safety latch on a car hood. Simple, effective, hidden. Also I could build that in my shop easily.

Something like this:


Could mount on the top of the fender vent and hook over the lip of the hood.

[cliffrod]

It's looking good, Kerry.

[Steve Hamilton]

What about a horizontal spring loaded, slide pin with a tapered end.

Make a block with a 1/4 or 5/16 hole to guide the pin.
Pin could be a grade 5 bolt, cut off the threads and taper the end for easy engagement. Use a spring, flat washer and cotter pin to hold it locked in.
Another thought ...... flip the bolt end for end, cut the head off and taper that end. Use the threads to mount a knob.
This could all be mounted to the body within reach of the side vent.
The bracket on the hood could have a rubber grommet for the pin to engage in and eliminate a rattle.
One of the parts would need to be height adjustable.

Clear as mud

Steve

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Made the rocker panel under the right side door.



There are three pieces that have to be welded together. and I have to fix the bottom of the rear fender to flow into the rocker panel.



I sure think rounding the corners of the doors would look better but don't think it is a correct look for the era. I may do it anyway. And yes, the curves on the door line are intentional.

This was considerably more difficult than I had anticipated. Getting a straight line on a curved panel that was not vertical took some thinking and trial and error.

[Jaroslav]

Kerry, the convex shapes are beautiful. I've always admired them. It belongs to nature. But they need another pair of eyes to watch them. The same place is different from each side. Sometimes it is difficult to decide which view is the main one.

When is the target date for finishing or painting? What color is in mind?