3/21/13 Franken Crossmember

Just like we did it in 1939
Bolted in crossmembers
3/8" bolts
Might need additional bottom spacer leaf
Never thought he'd be working on cars again. And enjoying it.
I remind him of himself at Womble's Garage back in 1939 for $0.10 an hour
Like a professional did it
Encouraging

See My Latest Progress on Instagram

While it would appear from the lack of posts that I've been idle on the project, I've actually continue to work steadily on the roadster. Unfortunately, I'm now building more than I'm blogging (the opposite was once the norm), resulting in a nearly (I hope) insurmountable backlog of draft posts.

So, rather than ending up here and being disappointed at not getting the "rest of the story", check out my Instagram feed (linked at the right) to see my latest progress.

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In-Between Posts

This is work I did between the shop nights of 2/14/13 and 2/21/13:

Because my notes are sketchy, I'll summarize by saying it looks like I spent the week talking to people whose advice I respect about the condition of this lightened flywheel and seeing if they had a lead on a 9" flywheel.

I ended up getting a used (good core, or possibly make-do condition) 9" pressure plate from my uncle, and my friend B thought he found the correct 9-1/2" pressure plate (1949-50 Lincoln? Truck?) to fit the pre-'49 throwout bearing snout.  I found a flywheel at SF Flatheads/So-Cal Speed Shop Sacramento that is drilled for 9", 10", and 11" and looks just like my 9-1/2", so it might be a viable option.

Lastly, I made an unsuccessful visit to a local industrial hardware supplier to see if they had any clevises I could use for the brake pedal arm to master cylinder linkage.  Alas, they did not (in fact, the first counter jockey didn't even know what a clevis is!) but the second parts man correctly recognized the part I had in my hand (the threaded rod with an eye at the end) as a brake/M/C rod (although he guessed VW or early Porsche.  I got to talking with him and discovered that he builds sprint cars, drag motors, and does car builds/restorations.  I made sure to get his name and number for possible future fabrication work with my original go-to guy is gone (retired, as I've heard).

Also, during this week (although it might've been later as I'm writing all of these several months after I took my working notes) I got from my uncle several brake rods (mechanical) and clevises to use for the brake and clutch linkages.

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Valentine's Date?

I wasn't very consistent when I was drafting these posts.  I might've done this work on 2/14/13 and drafted this on 2/21/13 or I might've done the work on 2/21/13.  I know we worked Valentine's Day as my wife and I postponed our date to avoid the crowds and expense of the holiday.  Nonetheless, my notes are sketchy enough that it's a brief post.

It appears that this night we drilled out to 3/8" the mounting holes (I originally had 5/16") for the master cylinder (a '39 Ford-type) on the Tardel mounting bracket that I had made from the drawings in his (and Mike Bishop's) book.  Despite my wanting to purchase all original style Ford bolts from this supplier, W insists in the interest of cost and ease of assembly (coarse thread (UNC) being faster to start and tighten than SAE (fine thread)) that we just use hardware from the local hardware and big box stores.  And seeing how he has become our parts runner (going out and buying hardware for which I reimburse him), how can I argue with him?  The cost is a good factor, but I sure appreciate not futzing around with "just the right bolt" when we can have it assembled that night.

We also took a look at the 9" flywheel on my other flathead to discover, in W's words: "some damned hotrodder's lightened this thing!"

Not sure it will work, but I'm still coming up dry looking for a 9" flywheel elsewhere.

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Early Ford V-8 Service Bulletins

This was meant to be essentially a notes post for myself, to record the tags/labels/whatever Blogger wants to call them now, that I'll begin tagging and, eventually, go back and retag my old posts for easier topical searches.

I have recorded below the categories or binder tabs found in early Ford V-8 Service Bulletins (also used in the Model A era, maybe Model T, too - I'm not sure.  In searching for a link for the previous sentence, I was surprised how little I found on this topic outside of eBay listings.  If you ever get a chance to see/borrow/scan/buy an original set of these service bulletins, do not pass up the chance!  The repros are great, and I have a couple of sets, but the originals are priceless because of their size, clarity, and the tactile feedback you get from the (cotton-based?) paper and history they ooze.

Anyway, the bulletins were issued to Ford mechanics to update/illustrate/educate them on running changes to Ford parts and services, including some of the new, gee-whiz things like hydraulic brakes and overdrive (Lincolns) and are invaluable nowadays to understand the how and why of Ford parts when most of the original old-timers are gone.

Binder Tabs:

Service Management	0 – 999
Wheels & Tires	1000
Brakes	2000
Front Axle & Steering	3000 / 3500
Rear Axle & Torque Tube	4000
Frame, Exhaust & Springs	5000 / 5300
Engine	6000
Transmission & Clutch	7000 / 7500
Cooling System	8000
Fuel System	9000
Electrical/Ignition System	10000 – 15999
Fenders - Shields	16000 – 16999
Accessories	17000 – 19999
Body & Paint	70000
Interior & Top	A-1
Control Systems	C-1
Specifications	S-1
Inspirations/Aspirations	X-1

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