Nuthin' Special gets a makeover, carston' T update.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Well it's been a few years since Carston's T "Nuthin' Special" has been here. Just a quick recap Carston came to me when he was 10 and asked to build a T for himself. Inspired by Mike Robison and friends who the "No Dollar Special" a T speedster built from his left over parts stash and as little dollars spent as possible. We did the same thing with Carston's and had the running chassis done by his eleventh birthday December 2017.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Carston must be nearly old enough to drive on the road legally by now?

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

20240221_115922.jpg[/attachment Life has been busy, Carston has grown up. He is in high school now a junior. He is a life scout in Boy Scouts of America and almost done with his Eagle scout rank (HOO-RAY!!), and also a member of 4H and FFA. So here we go again.... for his senior project next year Carston wants to update Nuthin' Special; Bodywork and paint a better interior custom hood, new glass, but most importantly a rebuilt engine with some go fast goodies, Warford over drive, 3.25:1 gearing in the rear axle, and rocky mountain brakes. We have a year! Carston's auto shop teacher invited Carston to bŕing his T to represent his high school at the High School challenge, during the Portland Roadster Show. Quite an honor! SO HERE WE GO...... So we needed to get it out of storage and get it running. First thing was to get a battery, then we went through and cleaned the ignition system and tried to start it, no go. We found the carburator was not working right, so Carston tore the carb apart and found it was plugged with varnish. We are waiting for a rebuild kit. In the meantime Carston wants his T to look better for the Roadster Show....well duh?! Last week started to do some body work and fixing things such as windsheild (at the glass shop, should be done next week.), and floorboards. Today Carston and his mom Melissa, did the major body work and I made some new floorboards ( took way to long as I am not a wood worker!!!), made patches for the rusted out pickup box corners and pop riveted them in place. Finally we masked up the outside of the box and sprayed the inside with Raptor spray in bed liner. Tomorrow's plan is to shoot the body with a dark satin blue oil based equipment enamel at the end of the day. I need to fill in a crack in the water jacket with some JB weld and clean up the under carriage for a quick rattle black paint job, while they mask up the body for pàint. [attachment=1]Screenshot_20240224_215646_Chrome.jpg

Carston likes this paint scheme so we are going copy it on Nuthin' Special hopefully before the Roadster Show.

Carb kit will be here next week. The Portland Roadster Show is the weekend of March 15th. I will keep updates flowing.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Going to get his permit soon hopefully. Just turned 17. Wants to be Heavy Diesel mechanic after high school. The so cal Roadster is the paint scheme he is doing.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

[Tim Williams]

looks good Becker family.

Tim

[Jamie Maxwell]

Congratulations to you all ! Boy
scouts, 4H, and FFA are some
Of the very best organizations. Are you
Using a small or large
drum rear axle? Model T or Model
A wire spoke wheels ? thanks in advance !

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Large drum rear axle and T wire wheels.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Hey Tim we need to get together soon. How's T-bone doin'?
Looking even better now...

[Norman Kling]

Be sure the fuel in the tank will flow freely. If it sets for a long time with fuel in it, sometimes it will varnish too.
Norm

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Thanks for the reminder Norm. Fuel in the tank is 3 years old so we will be draining it.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Couple of pics of painting the white scallops...

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Carston painting blue, a first for him. He did really good a few runs but that's OK.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

More touch up, polishing, and assembly getting closer. My freind Jeremy is coming up Tuesday evening to start Nuthin' Special. We will finish the carb rebuild drain the old gas from the gas tank, change oil, add water to her and get her running.

Roadster Show is a week and half away. Last thing we need is the windsheild.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

[attachment=0]20240303_152726.jpg[/attachment]
I think he likes it.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Big thanks to Clayton Paddison, and Rich Briggs. Both came up to the farm and helped make it run and pinstriped and lettered today.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Carston made new seat from a touring car spring. He covered the springs with a good Mexican blanket. Cheap hot rod fashion. Carston also added foot man loops pop riveting them to the hood. We take it to Roadster Show tomorrow night so all that is left to do is cleaning wheels and tires.

[Dennis Prince]

You guys turned the Nuthin Special into sumpin special, it looks great! Good job.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Hi Dennis,

Good to hear from. Thanks for the compliment! It's fun working with Carston and helping his ideas come to life, and learning new skills.
We need to get together some time soon. I can put Nuthin' Special on a trailer and come over get your speedster out and go for a drive.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

This is a great story! Especially in today's world, I love hearing about "good kids". Carston, you deserve a pat on the back for your interests, productive hobbies, and having a career path in mind. And of course, a pat on the back for you too Chris, for mentoring this young guy.

There is still hope for this world

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for kind words. Carston and I have had a lot of fun working together to bring Nuthin' Special up from a pile of parts.

[Dennis Prince]

Chris and Carston, I would love to go on a drive with you guys. The T-Bums have a drive planned for May 25th that would be a fun one to have you guys go with us or let me know when you can come this way and we will get a drive together.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Dennis I would love to come overand go cruising. Send me a private message with your phone and I will give you a call.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Last night we loaded Nuthin' Special on the trailer and took him down to the show to check in. Carston and hisnfreind Gabe drove it in to the show. He got it parked registered and did a little cleaning before we had to go.

Because we had no floorboards in it i never realized how much out of adjustment the clutch reverse and brake were. The pedals hit the floorboards be fore toally engaging. First thing when we het back Carston gets to adjust bands and clutches.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Carston with his High school shop Teacher Mr. Campbell. Carston did well at the Portland Roadster Show. The Pharoh's Car Club gave him there Club choice and $250 cash for parts. He had a great time talking to people about his car.

We had a good Easter weekend spent most of Saturday helping Carston service Nuthin' Special. We changed the oil, lubed the chassis checked the gear lube in the rear axle. Carston did the worķ I just sat ba kand advised.

[Norman Kling]

You are a fortunate family. To have a father and son pals during the teen years is difficult. Having a project like that to work on helps to increase the friendship. The first 3 pictures look like it was in the country out a way from Portland. I have some family members in the area and also spent most of my Senior year in high school at Lake Oswego High school About 70 years ago' so am somewhat familiar with the area.
That car is coming along very well and would be welcome as a speedster in club events as long as it has a Model T block.
Norm

[ClaytonPaddison]

This is just so good. It's been such a blast watching you guys put this RPU together. A far cry from how it looked when I drug that chassis home...

Happy to help on this one, can't wait to start on the motor.

[perry kete]

Nice job Carston and congratulations on the Pharoh's Choice Award.
I have followed this car build on the forum and I am so glad that the Pharoh's Car Club recognized Carston's hard work and awarded him with some cash for parts.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Hey Norm,
Thanks for the compliments. Carston and I are having fun with this Project. We do most of our work at my new shop which is on my friend Ed's 43 acre farm outside of Sherwood. Ed also helps from time to time as well as Clayton aka Mrmodelt. I like to just sit back and watch him figure things out.

[Powerwagonmaniac1]

Carston and i would like say a huge rhank you to Brent Mize aka The Coil Doctor. We sent Brent Carston's old coils rhat were literally falling apart. Nuthin' Special now runs better then ever, these are best looking and running set of coils we have bar none. We drove down to Brooks oregon for The Great Oregon Steamup and Nuthin' Special ran greateven on her old worn out motor. We cruised along average about 38-39 mph and tpped out once at 47.

Thanks Brent!

Carston and his freind Gabe were interveiwed by local news station at the show.