A combination of both original...
A combination of both original Ford parts and reproduction pieces from Brookville Roadster, Bob’s roadster pickup is a little different than most in that it’s powered by a big-block Chevy.
Early Iron
1929 Ford roadster pickup
Bob Reuter has been a subscriber to STREET RODDER since the early ’80s, and he’s owned this pickup since that time, at least in one form or another. He also likes the Professor Hammer articles, and got to meet Ron Covell one year at the Portland Roadster Show and believes Covell to be a “down-to-earth person who seems to take interest in any project brought before him,” and we’d have to agree.
This pickup project began with a bare frame from Total Cost Involved Engineering and Bob added all the necessary mounts and brackets. It features a 454 Chevy motor, internally stock with the exception of a bigger cam and geardrive. The distributor is electronic and has been re-curved, while other features are a Weiand intake, a Holley 650 carb and fuel pump, Sanderson headers, Taylor wires, and a Moroso air cleaner and valve covers.
The ride sits on a Total Cost...
The ride sits on a Total Cost Involved Engineering chassis as well as a set of American Torq-Thrust 15x4 wheels up front and 16x8 in the rear.
Cooling is provided by a Walker radiator with an external trans cooler. The transmission is a TH400 while the rearend is a 9-inch Ford with 31-spline axles and 3.50:1 gears. The wheels are American Torq-Thrusts (15x4 up front, 16x8 in the rear) wrapped in 135R15 and 265R16 tires.
The body is made up of a combination of stock Ford and Brookville Roadster pieces. The interior has a simple vinyl bench seat, a Grant steering wheel, Stewart-Warner gauges, a Billet Specialties gauge cluster, and a modified B&M shifter. Though there is more bodywork to do, it’s currently primered in Ditzler DP74, but he hopes for it to be a glossy medium red (maybe off one of the newer VWs) in the near future.
You don’t see a lot of big-block roadster pickups running around, and Bob says the car is a lot of fun and wouldn’t be possible without his understanding wife, Jill, and inspiration from his friends Dennis and Mark Klunder.
The 454 Chevy is backed to...
The 454 Chevy is backed to a TH400 transmission that is equipped with a Holley 650 carb and fuel pump, a Weiand intake, Taylor wires, Sanderson headers, and a Moroso air cleaner and valve covers. Cooling is provided by a Walker radiator with an external trans cooler.
Though you can’t see them...
Though you can’t see them without looking directly at them, third brake lights are located under the tailgate.
The strips and wood bed planks...
The strips and wood bed planks are a nice touch. Bob added the gas filler in the bed.
The interior has a simple...
The interior has a simple vinyl bench seat, a Grant steering wheel, Stewart-Warner gauges, a Billet Specialties gauge cluster, and a modified B&M shifter.