WHAT'S IN A NAME?-- LURCH

Okay, so I've settled on a name for the T. It's going to be "Lurch". Why Lurch? Because it's an acknowlegment of what the car's build will be influenced by. Which for the record, is Mercury Charlie's old T, the Munster's and the Addam's Family and the 60's show cars. "Lurch" seems fitting. Now, lest you think I'm going to get too carried away, I assure you that a few carefully chosen tips of the hat to the Munster's Car is all it will take. Basically, we're talking about 60's show cars, George Barris and goth. Darks colors, crushed velvets, etc. Subtle funeral-esque touches without being totally creepy. 

Below are a few pictures and other reference points I'd like to pull from:

Dig the Keystone five-spokes. I'm toying with the notion of Cragar SS wheels on the rear of Lurch,
and perhaps reverse chromes on front. A little more "show car" versus classic and traditional.

To me, Charlie's old T was the epitome of cool. Note the white walls and chrome reverse rims, the suede paint and wicked purple and pinstriped flames by Von Franco. 

The Uncertain-T is another influence. Dig the vinyl roof and the engine/intake.  I know I do.

Here's the canvas I'm building from. You gotta start somewhere, right?

I've love this wagon's attitude. The metallic roof, the suede black paint, the chop,
the Radir wheels and whitewall tires. Very cool and goth.

Note the aggressive rake. Badass. 

Here's the type of paint and color I'm leaning towards. Wicked.

Dan Stoner's T was vertically sectioned by Tim Conder.
Another heavy influence. 

REAR SUSPENSION AND PROPER REAR GEARING

After talking to Charlie about the rear suspension and rear end for the T, Charlie recommended I contact Pete and Jakes to get some parts prices. I chatted with Jason at Pete and Jakes, who provided a couple of options. Charlie and I discussed those option and landed on the following set-up. We're going run ladder
bars with a 40 Ford style low-arching traverse spring. Here's a breakdown with Pete and Jakes Part #'s for the Ladder/Traverse Spring Rear Suspension:

Model A Ladder bar kit PN 2011

40 Ford style spring PN 3058

Brackets PN 5019

Rear shock kit PN 1070

Rear Crossmember for traverse spring PN3016

On Charlie's recommendation, I also inquired about rear ends with both P&J and John's Industries. 

Both Jason (@P&J's) and John (owner of John's Industries) very helpful and really took the time to base recommendations on my intended use. After discussing what I intended to do with the car, which was simply cruise it, both gentlemen encouraged "highway gears". Their rationales were almost identical. I'm building a light car using a 425 ci engine that normally came in a heavy car. Heavy cars generally were equipped with 2.75-3.0 gears. Knowing the car would be about half the weight of its original car, Jason and John both strongly advised I go with something close to factory gearing since that was what the engine was originally matched to. I based my discussions on the fact that I'd be running a 30" cheater slick. In looking at the cost differences between posi and an open rear, I was quite surprised that Jason suggested that the open rear end was a great option versus a posi. Unless I was planning on drag racing or desperately wanted to leave "twin black marks", he felt that the posi was overkill and actually might make the car less forgiving, should it break loose when jumped on. He recommended a 3.00 or 3.25 gear, so that RPMs would be in the comfotable cruising zone at highway speeds, ultimately recommending 3.25s. Having the same conversation with John, netted his recommendation to go with a 3.00 gearing so that cruising at 70 would put me in the 2000-2200 range. I was quite surprised that two such knowldgable guys would recommend freeway gears. What neither one knew is that I had a 12-bolt one-legger from a 66 Riviera at my disposal but had looked beyong it figuring I wanted both posi and steeper gearing. Wrong on both counts. We're going to go with the 12-bolt as long as its width works in our favor (It was originally purchased for my 29 roadster).

Here are the number for both gentlemen should you need some sage advice
from two guy who clearly know their rears from a proverbial hole in the ground.
Jason @ Pete & Jakes: (800) 334-7240

John's Industries: (800) 332-2450

HOT ROD FLATZ PEARLS

Sent a PM to a fellow HAMBER complimenting the paint on his car and asking what it was. Hot Rod Flatz Burgundy Pearl is the color and paint type. Single stage with flatteners mixed into the base coat.

Turns out they make a Hot Rod Flatz in Purple Pearl as well. Hmmmm.

AN UNUSUAL COLOR COMBO

  
I was looking at eggplant color references on Google when I happened upon this image of a restaurant interior in Arizona. My first thought was how much I liked the deep eggplant color. Then my eye went to the pistachio color table clothes and I realized I  had come across a truly unusual color combo and one I quite like. Seeing as how the interior of the T is quite small, I'd always assumed I'd use traditional white. But in seeing this, I realize a real light value of pistachio/sea foam would be quite interesting and a lot more unusual than white. I do believe Lily Munster would approve. Hmmm.

THE PERFECT SHEEN

I came across the perfect sheen and a color pretty close to what I have in mind for the T.

It started with a photo in the March 2010 issue of R&C (and it's still '09). Anyhow, the shot was of a '38 Plymouth owned by a guy named Shoe Nyegaard. I did a post on the HAMB asking for any info and was led to a HAMBer whose handle is FINKD. His HAMB gallery has these two shots of the very car I was loooking at in R&C. I sent a private message to him and am hoping to get the details. This is precisely the texture I want to achieve on Lily. More on this when I know more...

MORE INSPIRATION

Here's a real simple East Coast tall T I'm partial to.

This one is awesome, too. Love the color and the wheels in particular.

No tall T blog can be complete without the "Uncertain-T".

Oh, and let's not forget the Tall T that Dan Stoner is having built by Tim Condor @ Condor Custom

(Special thanks to the HAMB)

SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR HOUSEOSPEED

Imagine waiting months for a car to arrive after purchase. Well, I did and it was well worth the wait.

 Here's was the conundrum: I'd already purchased as a pair of less intact coupes, thinking I'd turn two okay bodies into one good one. Then fate intervened. My son, Drew, found a listing for a 1926 T body in April of 08. The car was a world away in Iowa but it looked nice. Really, really nice. It was owned by a long-time vintage restoration hobbyist named Marshall Daut and even though I really didn't need another body, I called on it. The car's story was intriguing. A stalled restoration of an AZ car that got shelved in 1984 after the engine's rebuild was bungled by a guy who passed away before he could make it right. The straight, fully prepped restoration-ready body was parked in frustration back in 1984 and had sat dormant until 2004, when Daut moved to Iowa. Once in Iowa, the car was stored in the Daut's carriage house, where it remained untouched until the day Marshall decided to list it. Marshall, sensing I was genuinely interested on the phone, mentioned that he had a friend who could probably move it to Texas for a "friendly" price, if I would be willing to wait until summer to take delivery.

He was also willing to keep it warm and dry until it was ready to be transported. A deal was struck and in the meantime, I was able to do some spring cleaning and find a new home for the two bodies I'd already purchased. I can't thank Marshall Daut enough by how flexible he was with me on the terms of the purchase. He was an absolute joy to deal with and I felt he was as genuinely excited for me as I was. By the time the car arrived in late August, I'd cleared space for it and it was everything Marshall described to be. And even though my plan for the car wasn't exactly Marshall's cup of tea, his only request was that I didn't "screw up the car's lines by chopping it". I was more than happy to agree to his only stipulation. BTW, if you ever need anything moved from Iowa, you should strongly consider Marshall's friend's company Steve Gripp's Service, who was also a pleasure to deal with, not only delivering the car on time and for a great deal, but helping get it rolled into its new home.

Boy, there are some good folks in Iowa.