Rick Findley
Kingwood, Texas
1932 Ford Roadster
Drivetrain
Nothing less than a completely aluminum 427ci Chevy small-block from Bill Mitchell would do for Rick, and he waited until the very first units were delivered so he could have one. An 870-cfm Holley carb feeds the alloy mill, and spent gasses exit via a pair if Sanderson headers and a totally stainless steel exhaust system. Mated to the Hardcore engine is a '93 GM T56 manual trans that Rick modified to work before aftermarket units were available.
Chassis
A SO-CAL chassis was the starting point, and from there a Super Bell aluminum dropped axle was attached up front with a pair of SO-CAL hairpins and fitted with a pair of Bob Wilson's Lincoln-style repop 12-inch self-energizing drum brakes. A Currie 9-inch rearend is attached to the rear of the frame with a pair of SO-CAL ladder bars and has been fitted with an aluminum 3.89:1 geared differential from Strange Engineering.
Wheels & Tires
Custom-made wheels are a distinct feature of Rick's roadster. Original artillery-style scalloped centers were fitted with new outer hoops on the 16- and 18-inch combination. Firestone 4.50x16 and 7.00x18 tires complete the package.
Body & Paint
A Brookville body required very little more than a simple scuffing before an owner-applied coat of black primer was sprayed. An original '32 Ford grille shell and rare 25-louver hood were added to the mix, along with a 2-inch-chopped windshield, '34 commercial headlights, and '39 teardrop taillights.
Interior
Nothing flashy was needed inside Rick's roadster to make it very inviting. A simple brown vinyl stitch job is complemented by an original '36 Ford banjo steering wheel and a set of vintage Stewart Warner gauges. A Hurst shifter and a third pedal on the floor mean serious business!