[sixball]

Here is a link to pictures of the raw material for my '26 Chevy roadster build. I can not seem to actually get started on it though I have been working on components for years. Bear with me and I'll talk you through the plan and likely beyond. The main inspiration is the early version of the Spurgin/Giovannie roadster. I'm not into clones the original is still out there and has been restored. Actually ultra restored beyond it's former glory as restorers often do. I'm going for an early look but won't tie myself to an exact place in time. In the early '60s I ran across a '25 Chevy roadster that had been raced on the dry lakes probably at the same time as the S/G car. It was in pretty rough shape but I could have bought it for $175. By the time I was able to sell my '40 Ford sedan delivery it was gone and I never heard of it again. I'm still looking for it and the '40. My thought here is to build this roadster like I might have done that one and what it might be like if I still had it.
https://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/26ChevyRoadsterBuild?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLTucjOnozEBA&feat=directlink

 So here's where I'm starting. A really nice '26 Chevy roadster body, a slightly modified '27 frame, 19" wire spoke wheels with 4.00X19s front and 4.75/5.00X19s on the rear. That is about a 30" rear tire. The front suspension will be a MOPAR tube axle on Chevy style leaf springs. It will have Chevy AD pickup front spindles and brakes. A Ross box from a Jeep will steer it unless I come up with a good early Chevy box. The rear suspension will be a combination of 1/4 elliptics and triangulated 4 bar. It will hang a Dana 44 limited slip with 4.27 gears. The engine is a '62 153 Chevy II 4 cylinder bored .040" with a 181 Mercruiser crank. (175ci) It has a lump port head, built by Tom Lowe, with 1.86 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves. It's shaved .030" and with the forged flat top Ross pistons the CR will be around 9.5-10.0 to one. The cam was custom ground by Erson, nothing crazy but stout. I'll run big block roller rockers unless I find a good deal on 8 1.75 to 1 Chevy six rollers. The ignition is an old Mallory with a 2 piece cap that I modified to fit. It was for a Pontiac V8. Fueled by 2 Zenith single barrels on a modified 3X1 Offey Chevy six manifold. The tranny is a BW T86 OD from a Studebaker with a floor shifter from a Jeep BW T90. Gauges came from a '55 Studebaker Speedster. Radiator and shell are '28 Chevy truck.  Still lots to work out but that's enough to start. I hope to make progress this winter. 

[themoose]

Sixball

Sounds like your gonna end up with a really fun car. When you finally get going it looks like you have everything mapped out and most of the major parts ready to go. Should be a quick build (I know...Easy for me to say). I'm looking froward to following your build.

Moose

[TFoch]

Cool project!  Looks like you have all the pieces to the puzzle, now to make them all fit together.  Looking forward to seeing the completed puzzle.
Tom

[sixball]

Thanks guys, I really want to get on it. Here are some more pictures of the body. It came from the Harrah's collection when it was broken up and was bought by Bill Anderson who owned the Ponderosa Ranch at Tahoe. Bill had a storage yard in Dayton, Nevada and this body sat outside there for years. I looked at it often but he wanted $1000 for it. Too much for me. Another guy I know got it in a trade and didn't really want it. I was able to work a deal of some cash and some parts and got it. Luckily Nevada being so dry there is little rust and most of the wood is still there. Some I could use and the rest will make good patterns for steel replacements.

https://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/26ChevyRoadster?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMGrn5aTjqyueQ&feat=directlink

[sixball]

Here is a link to pictures of how I modified a 3X1 Offenhauser intake for a 194-292 Chevy six into a 2X1 for a Chevy four. There are also shots of converting 6 cylinder header flanges into a 4 cylinder flange. These are the hardest pieces to find if you want to build a 153 engine. The 153 is 2/3 of a 230 Chevy six. The Mercruiser version is rated at 120HP and the 181 at 140HP. I'm shooting for 175 or better. If not I have  Kaiser super charger setup.

https://picasaweb.google.com/sixpics/153IntakeManifold?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNz2gJDSl8_GuQE&feat=directlink

[logride]

That is going to be a cool ride!

[PBRmeASAP]

Looking forward to seeing this come togther...
Keep us posted for progress