My USA trip June-July 2012

Haven't had much time to blog, so here is a little sampler to start with of the trip les Winter and I recently did........................Found this old 30 sedan on day 2 in Texas/Fort Worth,,so it's now on the way to Aus for me to sell .....want it?? Hope it's all here in time for the Nostalgias in August!

This little coupe is a ripper, I bought this because it was sold as a rust free, non dented driving 29 Ford Coupe....there are some damaged areas on the roof, but basically, it is really good, so much so that I'd like to keep it...just as it is.  Will take it to Nostalgia drags maybe.......In front is some of the goodies I managed to get, including 4 sets 36 radius rods, buick drums, 3 hemi Chrysler engines, lots of intakes and valve covers, pulleys, way too much to list here.

Me...having a "magnesium moment" !!

My fovourite all time hot rod, had to pose for a photo

Then....got to see the genuine one in El Paso, Texas...we were fortunate enough to get the rare invite into the George Zaragoza collection, so thanks to those who arranged this for Les and I. Will post more in the coming days and weeks, over 600 photos to go thru for you'all!!

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The roadster is now back off the frame so I can tackle the extra bits needed on the frame to suit Qlds TAC rules...(don't get me started!)

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The new mount for the booster had to be 6mm plate..(wtf?), ....and to allow me to "C" the frame, have to use 10mm x 50mm x 450mm over the top....rules is rules, but I reckon it is "over the top"......what happened to good ol fishplates....and in the USA....don't bother using any of this!!

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Anyway...there's the flat I have to form for the C, and the So-Cal spring and hangers and Pete & Jakes ladder bars, and 31 spline 56" wide roundback 9" all fits nicely, but I had to notch the Vintique fuel tank to clear spring mount.

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I bought a scattershield for the Toploader, and this will enable me to use a hydraulic clutch on the LHS, as the bellhousing I had with RH fork was getting a bit tight on the other side. I have also purchased a Jeep T 176 shifter assembly to go on the toploader, will make it a lot easier than having to fit a factory or Hurst style shifter

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The frame as it came from the US will not fit our rego rules, so two upper tubes going forward from the ladder bar x member will be fitted, as well as an extra lower one under the ladder bar x member, then two on either side coming back from there to the rear, following the angle of the ladder bars...somehow I also have to get mufflers and pipes thru as well, might just use those internal spiral baffles you can slip up a 2 1/2" tube...will see what's avail on my trip to USA next week....

May 12th.."Ethels bottomless esky" coffee morning

Saturday morning coffee run at Les Winters shop, really good rollup, will do this more often! It was the day before Mothers Day, so special significance from some of our rodders remembering Ethel Winter. None of us went hungry at a rod run when she opened the bottomless esky...

Les has the new drab olive on the coupes frame, and long time rodder Dave Winter seen explaining to Tom Fulton that these old cars really are cool with Flatheads in them!..well, I think that's what they said..David was probably explaining how much room his Hemi will take up in his new Deuce sedan.

Lots of new cars, and new faces, so hot rods are here to stay.

Recently registered is this Ex New Zealand roadster...good to see it back on the road, it's been in the same family for years, but glad its now back on the road..hope to see it again at our 32 run in September.

Les still has the "ol 55" sitting in the back of the workshop..but 2500hp thrills have taken a back seat to hot rods again, and the main project is to have the Model A sedan delivery back on the road for the 3013 nationals on the Gold Coast

What a view..this has the word "HOT ROD" written all over it!

Some shots from our Tassie/Vic/SA trip

Incorrect order, but this is another of the abstract art works in Hobart.

Our home for 5 weeks..9800 km., $2950 worth of fuel...taken in front of Arturo and Annettes house in Launceston...they have a view to die for, don't they!

Still plenty of water covering the farms out west

Weird sinkhole made into a garden in a park in Mt Gambier

Can't do the Great Ocean Road without a photo of the 12...um 11..no 10 Apostles...the others fell down!

Good little museum in Penguin on the n.e. of Tassie...has the equal oldest running unrestored Ford in the world!

In Hobart, you have to go to M.O.N.A. This "new age" museum is filled with weird stuff, erotica, rarities, and just raw talent items.....but this life like intestine machine that does a poo at 2.30 every day is something else!!

Back from holidays...gotta do more blogs!!

had a nice drive on Easter Sunday to the Sundowner pub, for lunch with the bunch! Stuck behind an old 33 Ford!....come on Doug....lets git goin!

Munch munch..pass the salt...yeah, Cascade light please...Really Les, you're going to eat that?...No Mal, you've had enough!...Shane, how's the coupe?...Doug...don't push those bikes over....

Check the height on each rear window opening.....Hard to beat 3 deuces...

Another Deuce disrobed...The Winter coupe is getting just a bit more of a freshen up before it hits the road.

Really good body, once all the paint was removed.....now...to pick a colour...I'm thinking flat brown oxide....

here's proof of how different frames can be...I never checked the width of my US built frame, and have fitted the body and the fuel tank.....and the spreader bar i bought at Toowoomba is the right width by the books....my frame is about 3/8ths too narrow......."such is life"

Back to project sedan...looks like it needs just a bit of tidy up here and there, and plenty of spares. I want to print all your ideas on what I should do with this old girl...send your suggestions to greg@comstar.com.au and we'll all have a laugh!

I love  "aussie explanations" and "aussie assumptions"....like.."comes with a ton of spares!"....well, almost...maybe a half ton....and this included parts of a VW...HQ..EA..maybe some old truck fuel tank, some perspex..some roof guttering...floor pan from a Skoda?.....I'm still wondering why I thought the spares were to suit this....hahaha.

Maybe I should drag out the 33/34 frame and start on it as well.........I need a closed cab body and bed for this...flattie powered, on vintage rego, and no fenders.....please send parts....

OK..at the Toowoomba swap meet, I may have let it slip that I had a new project sedan at home...well, here are some photos to show it so far......someone told me I had to get it  "in the weeds"..so I did. 

I was thinking of going to the "basic" interior look...and...."hello!"  I think I've done it!



longer wheelbase should make it handle better.