I have had a few, and work on them a lot, Everybody needs to own one at least once in there life, keep it simple and you can have fun on the cheap.

Blake, I think he has used those few tools wery well :)

You asked in the PM about rear ends.... This is a Speedway Engineering quick change "live axle" on Coilovers... in my '33





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/file-170.jpg




Also --- You might want to think about using a Dearborn Deuce '32 body - which would give you a convertible rather than a coupe -- yet still be all steel.
It comes with power windows - windshield - top - etc.




You also asked about gas tank placement.... this shows the filler etc in the '33 trunk - because the tank is behind the seat... In the Dearborn Deuce and this Speed '33 -- the tank is further AFT because the top goes down inside the body behind the seat. So the tank eats up a lot of the trunk space. I'll see if I have a picture of the trunk of my '32 which is a true roadster -- it's trunk is way more useable!





http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...img_52_std.jpg

Here's my '32 ROADSTER with the Kugel Komponents Independent FRONT END --- note there is no need for "hair pins" on this type front end - but it is not "stock" either so that's mostly out of the question for you apparently.






http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_0889.jpg







Here is the TRUNK in the '32 Roadster.... you can see how much more space there is when there is no top to deal with! The filler neck is behind the drop down storage panel.








http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMG_0813.jpg

Thanks Greg, you gave just the info i needed now. I think my wierd question might be too much for hambster:lol:

And your hotrods, perfect!

Greg made a great point without knowing it. It is so important to figure out what you want the car to do.

For example, If you want to travel with the car, you couldn't pay me enough money to put the gas tank in the trunk. Moving your stuff to fill the tank sucks, and the space it takes up is significant. There have been cases where I nearly needed to sit on the decklid to get it latched and I have done everything I could to maximize the trunk space.

On the dearborn deuce, if traditional aesthetics are important, a dearborn is not the answer. It resembles a roadster and dimensionally, they are similar, but it will never be a 32 roadster. I can pick em out a mile away. The flip side is the extra leg room and larger door opening plus windows and folding top = more comfort.

If you can, post a picture of the car you want it to look like.

Donny -- Good points!

I "wanted" an exterior fill cap (Moal version) because I HATE putting fuel in the trunk... it's just dangerous and annoying. But the way the lid opens on the Speed '33 - there's no place to put it. And personally I think the pop up "hidden" type are too small and just invite paint damage...

I had actually forgotten all about trunk space in the '33 -- and had I been at the shop and seen how little space is in there - I think I would have asked them to be much more creative with the fuel tank! There is space "under" the folded top directly behind the seat - and with that capacity utilized the portion of the tank extending into the trunk could have been far less. It's a game of inches!


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Having now owned and driven the '32 for a couple of year... there's not a chance in hell I'd build another true roadster. There's just too many downsides to it.... While I love to drive it "top down" -- I'd far prefer to be able to put a top up and windows up when the weather turns too hot or too cold. I'm too old to freeze my hinnie off during the early morning drives in September and October.... Or suffer the heat of August pounding down the highway after a few hours of it - I'm done! Thus the '33 with it's drop top and windows.



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I think the most critical factor to decide FIRST is how a guy wants to use these style of cars. That will lead you to build a car with the right body - and components.

While I'd love a rowdy little flathead -- I don't want to deal with it's foibles... and as above - I love the little roadster - for about 2 hours.... and I love the RIDE of the IRS / IFS -- I hate the stance that it mandates. Even though it truly rides like a dream.

If I was SMART - which I'm not - I'd have built the '33 with IRS/IFS - and fenders to hide all that nastiness.... it already has the venerable LS motor and auto and A/C and heat... and I'd have been more creative with the gas tank but if it had fenders i'd have left it in the stock position.

Now let's see what I come up with for my patina'd '40 Ford P/U....

Thank you again Donny and Greg for good points and opinoins.

I totally agree at i need to make my mind first what i am looking for.. And i dont have a million bucks to spend it anyway. I know it is not very practical without top. I have not driven even my 59 vette without hard top many times.. So I dont except too many miles with the hotrod either :D

Dearborn body is spot on in looks and function. But is it "real" any more? Offcourse with 100% repop parts, how real it can ever been :)

Fuel tank location is not so important, stance and decent driveability are most important. This car is really close what i would like to have someday.

http://1-photos.ebizautos.com/used-1...7780-1-640.jpg