Speedster or DropTank/Lakester

[moddamatt]

Hello y'all, I have a simple but difficult question. I recently got my hands on a semi rolling chassis with the plan to do a full build series on youtube and of course I'll post updates here to get y'alls tips and tricks. But I have come to a dilema, what do I build it to? Do I go low buck period lowerd speedster and have fun on the streets or do I build a salt flat racer and chase a speed record?

Some things I do know currently. The engine is completely stuck so no matter what I'll be doing a complete rebuild of that. I have no title but according the previous owner and looking up the engines numbers it is a 1919 chassis. I definitly am going to lower it in a period fashion. I have done tons of research on underslung and plan to either get a lowered front axle or dodge/chevy spindles. Most lickely I will be getting wire spoke wheels but for now I'll stick to the wood. I am pining for a OHV conversion but we'll have to see if that is in the cards.

Let me know y'alls opionions, I know the main goal of this forum is factory stock but I feel y'all have better takes than the hotrod/ratroders.

[Wayne Sheldon]

The valve cover looks 1921 or later, and the firewall is 1924 or 1925. So I doubt the 1919.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Also high radiator, 1924 or later.
Lakesters going for speed records are something someone builds if they have more money than they know what to do with. It is about bragging rights, not antique automobiles.
I like model T speedsters a lot! And the fun they provide can be addictive and long running. Personally, I very much prefer them restored "era correct", and NOT overdone like a work of art.
But that is me.

A good speedster can also be run on the lake! All the fun without the high cost of pulling those last couple mph out of it!
You have a good start there! You could restore it back to a nice touring car, or pickup. So many choices.

[moddamatt]

Thanks for your input Wayne. Yeah its real nice blank slate. Which is kind of the problem. I have and idea of what I want to do if I choose speedster but Langs has so many good choices for bodies its hard to pick.

As to the year. I have checked the number on the engine before against the info availbe on this forum and have atleast the engine dated to august or september of 1919. The rest I figured was a hodge podge of what ever the last couple of owners had.

[Petrah Phyre]

This 'sparked' the thought. Since it has two coil boxes. Would there be any advantage to running two coils per cylinder? Two wires to each comutator terminal. Just a thought.

Oh, and speedster first for tooling around and then you have something to drive to the parts store while building your next one.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Check this out. More ideas than you'll know what to do with...

https://www.nwvs.org/members-speedster-gallery/

[Kevin Pharis]

I used to run a similar “dual” ignition in my ol roadster. Not sure if the performance gains were measurable tho

[randahl]

That looks like it's in about the same shape as what I started with.. mine is a running driving speedster now, so there is hope for it! Don't worry too much about the details.. you'll have plenty of time to day dream while you are cleaning parts on the wire wheel for hundreds of hours.

[Wayne Sheldon]

As to the year. I have checked the number on the engine before against the info availbe on this forum and have atleast the engine dated to august or september of 1919. The rest I figured was a hodge podge of what ever the last couple of owners had.

A lot more to the year built than a serial number. Serial numbers got changed for all kinds of silly reasons!

[Chris Haynes]

Where do you plan of finding a P38 drop tank?

[TRDxB2]

May still be for sale https://sakowskimotors.com/classic-cars ... onneville/
website page updated in 2022

[Harry Lillo]

For the $20 000 for the belly tank, I bet some tin basher could make you
up a pretty nice nice body. Or you could buy an nice speedster..........
Harry

[HalSched]

Here's what I did with a frame and 4 wheels AND about

$3000.00

[moddamatt]

Where do you plan of finding a P38 drop tank?

I actually found some one that sales fiber glass replica tanks, So I have resource for that.

[AndyClary]

Really the only choice is a speedster or depot hack. I would go with speedster. You can check out Northwest Vintage Speedsters at NWVS.org for a lot of examples for motivation.

If you want to build a lakester, note that theV4F records are at the 152/153 mph mark. If you find an overhead you’ll need to best 200. Our own Model T guy Steve Nelson has the V4/FL record at 201 and change. That was not with a Model T motor.

Andy