Decisions and Mistakes

Rustic Street Rods started to work on the car on February 4, 1997.

The first decision I had to make was whether to continue to use the existing modified ‘39 Ford frame or switch to a new aftermarket unit. Because the existing frame had independent suspension front and rear, Corvette disc brakes and engine mounts for the Buick, I decided to use it. I’m not sure that choice saved me any money or time. If I had it to do over, I would probably use a Fat Man frame.

Rustic modified the timing cover for a rubber crankshaft seal to replace the rope type and repaired a broken mounting tab on the water inlet manifold. They also removed rear sump oil pan from the engine in the car. The three pieces were sent to Jet-Hot coatings. The timing cover and water manifold received a high luster silver coating to reduce electrolysis between the aluminum casting and the cast iron block and improve appearance. The pan was coated with a black thermal dissipation coating applied to aid oil cooling.

I wanted to louver the hood for cooling also, but I wanted it to look like it was done in the ‘60s. Rustic found Nostalgia Motors in Boonton, NJ, who had a louver die made in 1951. Rustic had Nostalgia Motors punch 102 louvers in six rows. They also filled the holes for the lower hood spears and Ford Deluxe script. When the hood came back, I hated it.

Rather than remove the rear hood brace to start the rows closer to the cowl, they started each row forward of the brace. Worse yet, the rearmost louvers were straight across the hood so the shortcut was obvious.


I told Rustic that I wanted 24 more louvers punched; five in each outside row, then four in the next rows, and three in each inboard row. Nostalgia Motors said because of the punch design they couldn’t punch louvers behind a row. They suggested starting over on a different hood. The alternative would be to remove the brace, cut the hood at the rear louver line, punch the removed piece then weld the hood back together.
I knew that every time I drove or looked at the car, the louver design would piss me off, so I told Rustic to have Nostalgia Motors dissect the hood and add louvers. They did a nice job. It’s important to like your hood.
Rustic removed the much reworked firewall and replaced it with a Bitchin Products piece. They were able to use the small block model because the Nailhead Buick is quite narrow for a seven liter engine.
At my direction Rustic sent the speedometer and gauge cluster to United Speedometer for alteration. United was given the following parameters:
Speedometer – 140 mph
Battery – 16 volts
Oil pressure – 80 psi
Water temperature – 280 degrees
The alcohol thermometer tube in the temperature gauge was to be replaced with an LED stack which glowed green up to 240 degrees, then amber, then red.
When the instruments came back the speedometer was modified to 120 mph instead of 140.

Rustic sent it back.

It came back with a 140 mph face plate which didn’t match the instrument cluster.

Rustic sent the speedometer back again with the gauge cluster so United could match the two face plates. This time, it came back perfectly matched. United Speedometer was patient and responsive to our needs throughout this whole episode.