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It seems like lately the hot rod hobby is being inundated with all these “period correct” rules and regulations, and our shop is no different. We get so caught up in building cars that represent and “era” or even a specific year “1948″, that we lose sight of what is really important: build a hot rod that is fast, basic, dependable, and drivable. We used to have a saying around here that we build cars you drive 80 in the left lane….and this is one of those cars.

We were asked to build this chassis for Bobby Lynch with a pretty simple request and a long leash – Bobby wanted a nice tight car, with a killer stance, big ‘n littles, stick axles front and rear, chrome and polish everything, a big-inch flatmotor, and 3 pedals. Here is the start of that – our standard 106″ chassis, chrome I-beam, chrome ‘pins, 9″ on four bars….more to follow….

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Here are some early shots of the Hilderbrand’s frame going together in our shop, still using our basic crossmember setup -

Step one is to obviously dis-assemble the spring back, clamp it, take hte bolt out, and slowing back the clamp off. Next we like to lay the spring on the floor, and draw the arc of the spring out with some chalk. Next, mark the spring in 1 1/2″ increments from one end to the other, and the top of the leaf. I fogot to snap a picture of this, but basically starting from the hole in the center, make a mark ever 1 1/2″ down the spring until you get about 2″ from the rolled portion at the end.

From here we go to the press, and place to blocks 5″ apart, and press each mark that we made on the spring 5 times each. We bring the press down until it makes contact on the leaf, then give it five hits with the press, and move to the next mark. Continue back and forth along the lenght of the spring until it is prefectly straight. This may take a few passes. Don’t get impatient and try to do 6-7 hits per mark, as you may kink the leaf, by trying to bend too much at a time in one location.

Once you get it straight, continue the process in the same direction, until you have the correct arch going in the opposite direction. Re-assemble the spring and enjoy your new ride height!

This is a new project, a ’32 frame, with the pinchwork for a model A body. Instead of pinching the frame drastically, we re-contour the rails themselves, before any boxing or cross members are added. This chassis will be receiving a ’31 coupe body, with a 59A flathead, 3 speed, closed drive with a Rodsville quickchange -

Turns out Joe was going to pick up this ForDor – super complete, very nice original sedan.  Aluminum oil pan, nice fenders with no bead brakes, etc. The plan is to build it slide in a hotter 59A motor, lincoln brakes, reverse the main leaves, and drive it…

The LA Roadsters club has some basic rules – the car must be finished, with nice paint and upholstery. When the LA Roadsters club started the show, the idea was to make hot rodders appear more friendly to the public, and not a bunch of trouble making kids – so they only wanted nice respectable cars in the show. This is basically the only rules they enforce.

The most interesting part of the show – It is free – if you have a roadster, you and your car get in free.

I ran around the swap meet taking some pics and buying some stuff – I tried to buy only small things given the limited space in Max’s trailer, and the fact that I am 2500 miles from home. This is the best early Ford swap meet I have ever attended – by far. So many stocker ’32′s for sale – a slick fresh roadster right out of a garage – coupes – sedans…Kinmont brakes…awesome.

We took off from the swap meet and headed over to SoCal around 4pm. This “little get together” has been growing exponentially every year – and this year was out of control. The entire 6 blocks of Grand Ave in front of the shop was packed with cars, 4 wide, all the neighboring buildings parking lots, curb parking – cars were everywhere. I had to park in some random lot 3-4 blocks down. There were people tailgating along Grand, with pop-up tents, grilling food…it was like a pre-party for the Super Bowl. Unreal. Inside tons of cool stuff as usual – the ’29 on ’32 rails that Jimmy and the crew are building for the owner of SCAT cranks is unbelievble. They have spent so much time fabricating so many small details on this car – the hood props bolted to the firewall probably took more time that the average guy spends building his entire perimeter frame.

SoCal has become a full on car show – with locals coming just for a car show, free burger, etc. You could tell just from what you overheard people talking about, that at least half of the attendees owned a car older than 1985. Walden’s shop was a much different story. A parking lot only loaded with dialed pre-’40 cars, less people, real hot rod guys. When we rolled up there was the regular assortment of tri-5 Chevrolets, post war Fords and such parked on the street, which made us think it was going to be a full house inside – but not too bad. As we pulled in, Matt & Megan were just parking thier red roadster, and I squeezed in next to them. When I stepped out, Chuck Vranas was right next to me with the rootbeer colored ’27 T pheaton that contended for the AMBR last year. The car had been at the Peterson since January, and Chuck told me he put the first 3 miles on the car just that day…The car is so well detailed…you know you are at a special place when you can a parked next to an AMBR winner and a contender on the same day.