A couple of years ago I was slowly collecting parts for my second T, they do multiply, you know
I was thinking about making a 1926/27 roadster pick up - I had found some parts like a good pick up bed and a bad front part of a '26 touring body. Then when Stan Howe posted pictures of John Steele's Detour Deluxe it hit a nerve - I like it (not the temporary seats, though)
I'm not real good at sheet metal work, sawing off a few pieces of wood and bending some metal brackets was more fun. Sold the pick up bed to a friend and started sawing..
Got it started thursday - Facebook film clip: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=697171130355832
Engine bored 0.030 with aluminum pistons, a reground camshaft from Antique Auto Ranch in Spokane, Wa, and a Prus high compression head shaved 0.100" for a true 5.8:1 compression. Chain driven Bosch magneto w/o any impulse coupling, still easy enough to hand start
I've adjusted the bearings with timesaver lapping compound, guess that's why it's not too tight to hand crank when fresh. Didn't get the Nife accessory carb to run right so I put a NH in place. Got everything ready 06.00 saturday morning, slept for three hours, test drove it half a mile, readjusted the bands and drove to a gravel pit race / barn dance 50 miles away
It rained on the way home sunday, but it didn't wash out the smile on my face
Now, what should I call it..? Detour Deluxe is taken, Primitive Pickup too simple.. Double Duty? Sloppy Second might be a bit too much..
How about Beaut Ute!
From the land that invented the coupe utility,
Allan from down under.
I like!
Giterdone!
Very nice post! I love the new seats!
Super, Roger! After all these years your helping other people on these Forums, you finally show us you really do know your stuff.
That is Mega Cool!!! John will be proud of this when he sees it. He goes to bed early and gets up early, I go to bed late and get up early, too, but not as early as John. He'll comment in the morning. His Detour Deluxe is great, they would make a fine pair!!!
Roger
1. What is a gravel race? describe
2. All the guys have a cup in their hand?
T Truck is Way Cool
Wow Roger! This should inspire us all to put our bits and pieces to good use. Well Done!
Justin
South Africa,
That is freakin' SWEET!!!! I love the seats and the mounting of them. And everyone thinks suspension seats are a new think, LOL.
I got one question though, Where is the fuel tank?
Lol Hey Jon - looks like Swedish raggare to me. Roger will be able to tell us a lot more about it but from what I've read the 50's never died over there. They embraced it and have held on ever since.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/oct/01/raggare-swedish-rocknroll-cult
Thanks for the comments.
Ralph, I've learned just about all I know about how to make these cars run from the forum. Thanks to all who contribute to the forum I didn't have to bother rebuilding any fan or water pump - I even have a restriction in the water outlet from the head, a 160 degree thermostat and I'm running an old but good original radiator, but still no overheating issues - not even a gurgle when I had to wait in a line of cars for a couple of minutes
The high compression head may have helped, higher compression uses the fuel more effective, less waste heat to cool off.
Jon, the race in the gravel pit is just a fun event for a gang of invited enthusiasts - you race between a few cones three times and strive to get the same time. The guy who won had the same time down to a 1/100 second. I was a bit late so I didn't participate, I just arrived in time for the mid race coffee break that can be seen in the picture. I'm the guy in the middle with a blueish hawaii shirt, (actually full of Ford logos )
Here's a film clip from an earlier race at the same place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQDeVGicGRo
Next year I'll have double carbs - wouldn't have made a good impression on the V8 crowd with just one NH..
Here's another clip from inside the barn, we're picking the best parts out of the 40's and '50s and live it. The future was brighter back then and most things were better looking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6jZK-IKBf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bRfvg2QrNU
Chad, I've mounted an oval tank o bit back on the bed just to leave leg room for my kids - I've made a rear seat to put over the tank later on.
Seth, your post on moving the handbrake outwards inspired me to move mine too, wouldn't have been drivable without that modification
The folks at this meet, Hayloft Hoedown wouldn't consider themself raggare necessarily, we're rockabillies leaning towards the hillbilly music side. "Raggare" is somewhat degratory. It's a bit like calling people living in the rural US south hillbillies. They just might be, but you can leave it to themselves to say it
how about Karlsson's klunker
What kind of wood is that, Roger?
Viking Vibrator
IT IS DIFFERENT
I love it.
The wood isn't anything special since I planned to paint it anyway - spruce for the floor and pine for the bed sides. It's a cheap rattle can resto, some patina over time is expected and welcome. Yeah, the Viking vibrator - it does vibrate some but not really bad, got the crank, flywheel and trans drums balanced. Closed in on other cars in 45 mph zones but got overtaken in 55 mph zones - shouldn't really drive that fast with a fresh engine..
Isn't the handbrake move the best?!? I have lots of cool things on my speedster but ever since I did that whenever I get in my speedster I think "Man! I'm so glad I did that." I hadn't realized how much it was annoying me in that little Faultless body.
The whole 50's era still being alive over there is just wild to me. Thanks for the heads up on the use of the names. I didn't know how many different levels of the 40s/50s there were. The real raggare in particular seem like a fairly rough crowd with the organized fights and all, even if it's calmed down some.
LOL Viking Vibrator is fantastic.
Thor's Thunder
The Ford Fart-er!
LOL I think fart is Swedish for speed, yes?
I wouldn't be surprised to see a pair of seats like those showing up on John's Detour Deluxe. They look great!
Sure, Seth. There's a joke about translating this sentence in swedish: "Det är inte farten som dödar, det är smällen" to: "It's not the fart that kills, it's the smell" while the true translation to english would be: "It's not the speed that kills, it's the crash"
Hi Roger,
Cool! I made a seat for the DeTour Deluxe but can't find any pictures with the seat installed. Stan may have some. Great car and lot's of fun.
Why don't you call it DeTour Deluxe II. I try and get a picture this week of my seat.
Looks like a motorized version of the buckboard wagons in the old western movies
I do like the pickup. Probably the only thing I'd do to it is put some floorboard pieces over the ujoint and pedals. =) I'm sure Roger has that in the works.
Great truck!
How about "Just 4 haulin'"
"shouldn't really drive that fast with a fresh engine.."
Especially perched on a tractor seat.
Rodger I see I screwed up the name ,but you get the point.
Thanks John
Steve, The seats aren't really as bouncy as on a tractor, the springs are Model T rear spring leafs, they don't flex much in use from my weight (195 lbs). I didn't butcher up useable ones - have found some broken leafs to cut from.
Besides, I'm pretty much stuck between the steering wheel and the seat. I will make a safety belt for the passenger who hasn't got much to hold on really..
The car itself may need some type of shocks, it got in a bouncy mood on bad asphalt so I will look at installing friction shocks. Brakes wasn't as bad as expected with 3:1 in the rear end and a narrow brake drum in the trans, no big problems there.