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The PPG/ Street Rodder Speed 33 - Road Tour '08The Speed33 Is Done And Coming To A Town Near You From the September, 2008 issue of Street Rodder By Ron Ceridono Photography by SRM Staff
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Based on an American Speed... Based on an American Speed Company Speed33 body and a Roadster Shop chassis, the '08 PPG / STREET RODDER Road Tour car is ready to roll. That subtle color is '41 Ford Niles Blue/Green. The PPG / STREET RODDER Road Tour program has been a huge success by every standard of measurement. The concept of the program was simple enough: We would document the construction of a street rod from beginning to end using readily available aftermarket parts. Then, we'd put that car on the road and rack up miles traveling to NSRA events all over the country with Jerry Dixey behind the wheel, reporting his adventures along the way. The point that has been made repeatedly is a street rod can be roadworthy, reliable, safe, and a kick in the pants to drive. And best of all, the very same car we build can be replicated down to the last detail, used for a source of ideas, or serve as a starting point for our readers to build their interpretation of the Road Tour street rod. This year's car uses one of American Speed Company's amazing Speed33 bodies. Skillfully designed and beautifully built, it combines the best of Ford's vintage style with today's construction techniques. The result is a win-win situation-the timeless appeal of the Model 40 and a body that requires very little prep work to finish. Thanks to the production tolerances and rigid inner structure, and the dead-on chassis from the Roadster Shop, no shims were required to make the doors fit and panels align. And of course, to top it all off (no pun intended), the hidden folding top and roll-up windows make this a truly civilized hot rod. This car looks good coming... This car looks good coming or going. It rolls on Coker/Firestone 8.20x18 grooved rear tires and Coker/Firestone Deluxe Champion 5.00x16 ribbed fronts wrapped around polished Lakester wheels from Wheel Vintiques. Our Road Tour car has obviously been built in highboy fashion-something the Roadster Shop went to great pains to perfect. The pinched 'rails have been contoured to complement the bottom of the body and the shape of the hood. They haven't overlooked other building styles, though; they can supply a chassis for a Speed33 built in virtually any manner, including full-fendered. Oddly enough, it's easy to get lost in the details and the fit and finish when looking at this car. But, for all its flash, there's an equal amount of substance. Sort of like a prizefighter that's gone to finishing school-don't let the refined appearance fool you. The Heidt's independent front suspension, Flaming River steering, Strange coilovers, and Wilwood brakes all allow the '08 car to take road work in its stride, and the Boss Ford engine and Classic Motorsports Group five-speed transmission provide plenty of punch. Although this is the last installment on the construction of the '08 Road Tour car, it certainly isn't the last you'll see of it. Stay tuned for more on this year's Road Tour, or better yet, join us on the road.  The polished stainless steel...  The polished stainless steel windshield posts and frame are works of art. The design challenge here was to provide a sealing surface into the posts for the roll-up windows without making them bulky.  Nothing makes or breaks the...  Nothing makes or breaks the shape of a top like the rear bow. The traditional hot rod shape is achieved by leaning the rear bow forward to make it slightly lower than the center bow, while adding to the forward slope of the back panel. In our opinion, this is how a top is supposed to look.  The Boss is back. Providing...  The Boss is back. Providing more-than-adequate power is a 347-inch Boss Ford small-block. A new offering from Ford Racing Performance Parts, they can be built in a variety of displacements, including the legendary 302 configuration.  Only those lucky enough to...  Only those lucky enough to own a turnkey Roadster Shop creation will have one of these on the firewall of their car.  Wise Guys supplied the upholstered...  Wise Guys supplied the upholstered bench seat. The remainder of the interior is the handiwork of Twin City Upholstery. The carpet is Bentley cut pile. Custom Autosound speakers are mounted in the doors.  Stopping power up front is...  Stopping power up front is provided by Wilwood 11-inch, cross-drilled and slotted rotors squeezed by four-piston polished calipers. Coilovers are from Strange, and the rack-and-pinion steering is from Flaming River.  Strange coilovers feature...  Strange coilovers feature adjustable damping, as well as pre-load adjustment collars at the base of the springs. The damping adjustment knob can be seen at the top of the shock.  Wise Guys seats are available...  Wise Guys seats are available with a host of options, including a fold-down armrest, reclining lumbar supports, heaters, and 12-volt accessory outlets.  A variety of frontend options...  A variety of frontend options are available on Roadster Shop frames for Speed33 bodies. We opted for a pinched front and Heidt's IFS. This construction shot shows the extra-long A-arms to provide the proper tread width with the narrower framerails.  Wilwood discs are used on...  Wilwood discs are used on the rear, as well. Note the shoes and the parking brake assembly mounted to the backing plate. The drum for the parking brake is the inside of the rotor's hat.  We chose to install a Front...  We chose to install a Front Runner system from Vintage Air to make the packaging of the engine accessories compact and attractive. All the brackets, mounts, and pulleys are included, along with the compressor and the alternator.  A Holley 850-cfm double-pumper...  A Holley 850-cfm double-pumper tops off the engine. Aeromotive supplied the fuel log, pump, and filter.  A Classic Motorsports Group...  A Classic Motorsports Group five-speed backs up the small-block. The pressure plate, disc, shifter, and the hydraulic throwout bearing also came from Classic Motorsports Group.  A Strange rearend and centersection...  A Strange rearend and centersection holding a U.S. Gears ring-and-pinion is used.  Perfect is the only way to...  Perfect is the only way to describe the stance of the Roadster Shop chassis. The company will be offering everything from frames to turnkey versions of the Speed33.  Surprisingly little bodywork...  Surprisingly little bodywork was required to get the Speed33 body ready for paint. Here, the gap between the tonneau cover and body was massaged.  A skim coat of filler was...  A skim coat of filler was applied in a few areas, much of which was removed in the block-sanding process.  Long sanding blocks were used...  Long sanding blocks were used to get the flanks super straight. Sanding across the gaps as shown results in doors that fit perfectly.  A rotisserie makes it much...  A rotisserie makes it much easier to finish off the bottom of the body, which in fact is just as nice as the top. The perfect door alignment without being bolted to the frame is a testament to the body's strength.  After the bodywork was done,...  After the bodywork was done, PPG DP90 sealer was applied, followed by MK217 sealer, and then NCP270 final primer. The body was then block-sanded several times to make it super straight.  As in years past, PPG products...  As in years past, PPG products were used exclusively on the Road Tour car.  The Roadster Shop does virtually...  The Roadster Shop does virtually everything in house, including paint. Here, the primed body was wiped down in preparation for color application.  After an application of NCS2002...  After an application of NCS2002 Pre-Paint Sealer, the DBC base color was applied, followed by Vibrance clear.  Another feature of the pinched...  Another feature of the pinched frame is a cove built into the left side rail to accommodate the rack-and-pinion steering shaft and U-joint.  Flaming River supplied the...  Flaming River supplied the U-joints, shafts, and support bearing necessary to hook the steering column to the rack-and-pinion. Headers are Sanderson.  A block-off plate and a remote...  A block-off plate and a remote oil filter were necessary because of the pinched frame and the location of the Flaming River steering shaft.  Keeping the engine cool is...  Keeping the engine cool is a custom radiator supplied by the Roadster Shop, which is equipped with an overflow tank from Yogi's. The A/C condenser is part of the Vintage Air heat-and-cool package. Powermaster supplied the alternator and starter.  A special compressor designed...  A special compressor designed for use with the Front Runner considerably shortens the overall length of the engine.  Tucked under the dash is a...  Tucked under the dash is a Vintage Air heat-and-cool unit. The firewall, as well as the rest of the interior, was insulated with Dynamat.  The advent of AGM (absorbed...  The advent of AGM (absorbed glass mat) technology allows batteries to be mounted next to the gas tank and on their side. Our Powermaster D1200 battery is secured behind the seat with a custom retainer.  Ron Francis supplied the wiring...  Ron Francis supplied the wiring harness, and the panel was mounted so it was easily accessible. The steering column and drop are from Flaming River.  Of the several dashboard options,...  Of the several dashboard options, we chose Auto Meter instruments in a Lokar panel.  With the Dynamat insulation...  With the Dynamat insulation and carpet installed, Lonnie King and Kent Biedenharn slid the seat in place.  To ensure the interior panels...  To ensure the interior panels all matched the seat, Wise Guys supplied the additional leather necessary to complete the interior.  Dwain Haskins holds one of...  Dwain Haskins holds one of the panels. Mahogany or ABS is used to provide the basic shape, and 1/4-inch-thick foam was used to make the 2-inch-wide pleats.  The trunk is finished in the...  The trunk is finished in the same leather and carpeting found in the passenger compartment. Behind the pleated panel is the gas tank, and the filler is at the upper left.  There's a laundry list of...  There's a laundry list of Lokar products on the Road Tour car-throttle and parking brake cables, handbrake, interior door handles, pedal pads, and the spoon throttle.  We used a Custom Autosound...  We used a Custom Autosound stereo system based on the Secret Audio, which provides a CD multi-disc changer (typically hidden in the trunk) and a head unit that is hardwired and rests (again! hidden if you wish) in the passenger compartment. A wireless remote control is also part of the system.  The exhaust system is a combination...  The exhaust system is a combination of Sanderson headers, Hushpower mufflers, and pipes. Heat transfer to the passenger compartment is virtually eliminated, thanks to the mufflers' Cool-Case design.  This construction shot shows...  This construction shot shows the Aeromotive fuel pump and filter. Note the bracket that holds the pump (left) and the clamps (right) that allow the fuel pump to be changed quickly and easily.  Amsoil synthetic products...  Amsoil synthetic products protect everything on the Road Tour car that relies on lubrication, such as the engine, transmission, and rearend. We also used the company's brake fluid and oil filter.
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AMSOIL
Superior
WI
7-15/-392-7101
Amsoil.com
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Vintage Air
10305 I.H. 35 North
San Antonio
TX
78233
800-862-6658
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Wheel Vintiques
5-59/-251-6957
wheelvintiques.com
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Ron Francis Wiring
167 Keystone Rd.
Chester
PA
19013
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PPG Industries
410-572-6131
www.ppg.com
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Coker Tire
8-00/-251-6336
coker.com
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Dynamat
3042 Symmes Rd.
Hamilton
OH
45015
513-860-5094
www.dynamat.com
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Sanderson Headers
517 Railroad Ave.
South San Francisco
CA
94080
800-669-2430
www.sandersonheaders.com
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Hushpower
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Strange Engineering
Morton Grove
IL
8-47/-663-1701
Strangeengineering.net
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Aeromotive
Lenexa
KS
9-13/-647-7300
aeromotiveinc.com
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Lokar Performance Products
10924 Murdock Dr.
Knoxville
TN
37932
8-65/-966-2269
www.lokar.com
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Auto Meter
667 West 100 North
Box 717
Ephraim
UT
84627
435-283-4142
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Flaming River
800 Poertner Dr.
Berea
OH
44017
N/A
4-40/-826-4488
www.flaming-river.com
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Custom Autosound Manufacturing
808 W. Vermont Ave.
Anaheim
CA
92805
800-888-8637
www.customautosound.com
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Heidt's Hot Rod Shop
111 Kerry Ln.
Wauconda
IL
60084
8-00/-841-8188
www.heidts.com
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Roadster Shop
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Classic Motorsports Group
N/A
cms-grp.com
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Twin City Upholstery
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Wise Guys Seats& Accessories
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American Speed Company
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Ford Racing Performance Parts
44050 N. Groesbeck Hwy.
Clinton Township
MI
48036
5-86/-468-1356
www.fordracingparts.com
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Yogi's
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Wilwood
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