|
Then followed 18 months of building the '32 Roadster
shown here, a supercharged fire breather that gets driven all over
the place. Pat hasn't missed a Valla Park run in 27 years, and this
Roadster knows its way there and back.
The chassis started as a pair of boxed American Stamping
rails, which were put together by Pete of Pete Osborne Productions
in New Zealand, along with one of his stainless steel independent
front ends. Carrera coil-over shocks are used front and back, while
the front discs are polished Girlocks from an HX Holden. The rack &
pinion steering was originally fitted to Series III Bluebird.
The 'glass body is also from Pete Osborne,
and was ready for painting - a fact that many manufacturers
claim, but few deliver. The bod was all steeled out, had
burst-proof latches fitted and concealed hinges, and a
smooth floor. The interior trim is a chamois coloured vinyl,
and is protected by a removable hardtop.
The engine is a very healthy 350, bored
.030" over and blueprinted. It uses a GMC 6-71 supercharger,
which forces compressed air through the double-hump fuellie
heads, and out through the block-hugger headers, and down to
the back through a stainless steel exhaust system. The cam
is a big lumpy job, meaning it idles with a distinct lope,
but the brand is unknown.
The blower is driven by a 2" Gilmer belt,
and a pair of 600 c.f.m. Holley carbs mix the juice that has
been pumped up from the original fuel tank by a Carter
electric fuel pump. The distributor is an electronic billet
type that uses a stock Chev cap.
The interior contains an XC Falcon steering column, which
has a wood rimmed wheel fitted, and a Lokar shifter directs
the Turbo 350 tranny. Pat spent many years in the auto
transmission business, so was able to rebuild the
transmission himself, with a 2500 r.p.m. stall speed
converter, and a stage 3 shift kit.
The
rear suspension has a 9" Ford diff that uses the Carrera
shocks mentioned earlier, and a 4 bar and panhard bar set
up. Pat put 15x9½" Halibrands on the back, and 14x6 Halibrands on the front; the fronts use Michelin 165/70x14 radials, and the rears use Hancook's 275/60x15.
The
headlamps are original '32 Ford Standard units, that is,
they have painted mild steel buckets instead of stainless
steel buckets as in the Deluxe models. The tail lamps are
also original '32 models. While we are out the back, we
should mention that the boot (trunk) is electrically
operated.
Pat
is a member of the Southside Hot Rod Club, and is a TAC rep
for Southside, so his opinion is considered helpful in the
hurly burly of the TAC. His Friday night soirees (piss ups)
are legendary, and attract a cross section of Hot Rodders
from all walks of life.
Pat
does Hot Rod work for almost anyone - his shed currently has
a '65 Holden belonging to Frank Norris, to which Pat has
fitted a late Commodore V6 and transmission. Other recent
projects include Noel & Elaine Endors' '32 3 window, and the
'32 sedan and '32 3 window belonging to John Colbrane. Two
of Pat's cars were in the Top 10 at the '04 Yamba run, and he
has had quite a few Top 10 winners at Valla Park.
◄
Accreditation: The Editor,
and information supplied by the owner.
|
