A 1932 Ford Pickup that goes by Twincam

I’ve always had a serious love of ’32 Fords. They are by far the most popular Hot Rod in the USA and this is episode 3 of my love of a 1932 Ford Pickup.

I have a black chopped ’32 Fordor sedan that was purchased a couple of years ago, to which I did minor changes to the dash and spruced up the interior. I always wanted a Roadster as well as a Pickup of that particular year, as I just love the boxy, straight-up grill and super smooth look of this quintessential model.

Part 2 and part 3 of these projects started when I bought a partially completed ’32 Roadster project from Shaun Sale in Cape Town. Shaun had visions of building the Roadster in traditional style. The parcel included a Pete & Jakes, Super Bell front suspension and proper Currie (not Ford), 9-inch diff as well as some other fine groceries including the engine and gearbox. I again had visions of building a ’33 Pick-up in a traditional style and my own partially started ’32 Roadster project, in a Boyd smooth billet style.

After a broken promise from an unscrupulous acquaintance to sell me a 1933 Ford cab and bin, I managed to source a cab from Ettiene (Street Rod Factory) in Pretoria and I decided to morph these two half builds.

Even though some of the Rats I’ve seen in the USA have innovative and great ideas, I did not want the derelict look. I understand the ethos and affordability behind the current trend where younger Rodders are anti-billet and pro-rust. Therefore I say it’s great, the more Rodders in the world, so much the better!! I wanted this Pickup built in a traditional style with a slight element of the dreaded Rat in it.

We completed the orange Roadster (part 2) in August 2012. We pushed hard to finish this current Pickup project for the Street Rod Nationals in Kimberley this year. As it was my wife’s and my dream to drive both cars to the Nationals. The pickup was finished literally two days before the Nationals, but I was not willing to ride all the way without a little bit of pre-testing, even though we were very keen to risk it!

This baby’s engine is a 350 Chevy with late model centre bolt heads (HO), custom aluminium fin-style valve covers, and oil filler caps. The matching air filter housing sits atop a Holley 600cfm carb, sourced from O’Brien Truckers. The intake manifold is black Edelbrock. Furthermore, I changed the stock cam to a  Comp Cams Thumpyr to give the motor the loopy, rough idle. Then, it’s got an extra tall Lokar shifter on a 700R 4-speed Chevy auto gearbox. The exhaust gases are routed via Hedman headers and stainless pipes and the tips are wrapped in Thermo-tec heat wrap.  Finally, the aluminium radiator, gas tank and oil cooler were made by Barry from Dezzo customs in Walkerville

The Build

Exterior mods include: 

• The ’33 Ford cab was returned to stock and un-channelled (except the 3” chop) and all pre-drilled holes were filled. The cab is now the exact dimension of the original. Believe me, they came out small! The whole interior of the cab has an extensive square tube metal frame/cage built inside for strength and safety as well as body flex. This was superbly done by Eddie Finch.
• The doors close on the outside of the cab just like in 1933. The handles are 1934 Ford Roadster.
• The sun visor was drilled with 7 holes for good luck!!!
• Eddie designed and built a load bin that is in proportion to the small ’33 Ford cab. We bead-rolled the side panels of the bin with the kind help of Rian Emerich. The tailgate is a 1940 Ford and the bed is lightweight aluminium riffled sheets. The taillights are 1950 Pontiac. 
• The club, ‘Rod Benders’, a plaque was also bought from O’Brien Truckers.
• The headlights with turn signals on top are Guides, sourced from Speedway and mounted on stalks from Southern Rods
• The rails, grill and grill surround are genuine ’32 Brookville reproductions.
• The black grill Ford logo in enamel is from Bob’s.
• The suspension is a traditional Super Bell style dropped axle with 4 links from Pete & Jakes.
• The master cylinder is mounted under the cab to keep the firewall super smooth.
• Discs up front with drums back. All the braided brake lines were also done by Eddie.
• The Wheel Vintique wheels were de-chromed and powder coated red with mini Moons hubcaps. The Big ‘n Little tyre combo really gives this Hot Rod the right rake and stance.
• The stock front spreader bar was not used and was replaced with an old Chevy cam given to me by Fred Corbett.
• The paint is a base coat of black with 4 coats of gloss.
• Wiring was again superbly done by Sparky with braided wire throughout.
• Ace Glass provided the custom-cut glass in Germiston.

Interior features are: 

• A Ford Bantam bench seat was made narrower and tweaked and is covered in black calf leather, done by Doors Bezuidenhout and Manny from Alberton.
• Custom-made inside door panels are covered in the same leather. Door handles and mechanisms from a 1936 Chevy.
• The complete interior, including the roof, was pre-covered in Dynamat and Triple crown, thick pile carpet. Black home carpet was used for the floor. The roof and back interior were done by Paul’s Upholstery from Alberton
• Dash changed from the flat Pickup type to a ’32 Roadster dash and angled the same as a Roadster.
• Stewart-Warner bubble gauges mounted in an engine-turned, auburn-styled surround to give it that authentic 40’s post-war period look.
• Ignition and all switches/knobs are mounted under the dash to give a smooth, uncluttered look.
• The windscreen motor was mounted inside above the windscreen and a cover was made to hide all wires.
• The windscreen flip-up mechanism was the brainchild of Bern van Gas. This gives the Pickup a real vintage look as well as provides the real and necessary air conditioning on a hot day!
• VW Golf 3 electric window mechanisms were used for the side windows.
• The steering wheel is an aluminium quick release with perfectly symmetrical holes for extra lightness and salt-flats style. This is mounted on a Lime Works vintage steering column, integrating the turn signal and hooter buttons. Ah-hooga hooter mounted under the cab.
• A So-Cal, Bonneville flats, racing-style brake pedal was used as well as a spoon accelerator pedal.
• The Interior mirror is Valley and the 2 exterior mirrors are 1934 Ford Roadster.

My friend George Hunt, a well-known Gauteng airbrush artist, designed the angry and speedy Roth-like potato monster on the doors, which is in keeping with my day job! I thought that if my daily driver breaks down, I can always use ‘Monty’s Speedy Spuds’ for deliveries!

People ask me why I called my little grocery-getter Twincam? It’s obvious – the little Monster has a cam as a spreader bar as well as the other… Well, you know where!

All I can say is that this little demon is lightning fast…..thanks to its twincam of course.