More Focus: Sheet's Welding & Machine Co.
It's safe to say that the great majority of us, the typical gearheads (or petrolheads, if you're across the pond), have a fairly distinct vision of our "dream" garages. While it may vary by person, community, or region, there's one driving force that will always show its face, no matter the brand of bolts the wrenches are turning—the love for anything with wheels and an internal combustion heart.
While your typical internet query may be overrun with stance-this and low-that, there's a lifestyle that bleeds through even the most widespread trends; and that lifestyle will outlast them all.
Jason Sheets, the owner and builder behind the Model T Roadster (and shop) you see here, is a prime example of that lifestyle we all hold so dearly. Located in Maryland, Jason's shop is the epitome of a "dream" garage in most hotrod enthusiasts' eyes. It's exactly the type of place I remember venturing into as a child, trailing behind my pop, in search of parts for this and that, while he was building his '36 Chev Sedan.
Decorated with vintage and antique signs and placards, the innards of Jason's shop are an exact reflection of the products and builds that drive out the bay doors—period correct and badass on all levels.
The Model T is a perfect specimen of the attention to detail and age. Built as a vintage dirt track jalopy, the ex-coupé turned roadster is the definition of a traditional low-budget hotrod. Liberated from its role collecting dust in the corner of the shop, the Model T frame was fitted with bits from this and that, including parts from a '48 Ford sedan that you'll find underneath the body that was rescued from a T-specific junkyard in Kansas.
In customary fashion, a stroked and bored-out Flathead was built for the car, following suit with the desired theme. And being fitted to such a lightweight car, it's safe to say that the sought-after power plant is the source of excessive rear tire wear and general bias-ply burnout goodness.
At the time of the photoshoot a few years ago, the Model T was the main focus, but Jason also has a '56 Harley Panhead bobber, and has recently finished work on a '34 Ford three-window fitted with a '55 Cadillac 331 engine with four-barrel Stromberg carbs.
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David
June 18, 2012
This car has been in Alabama since late December 2010. Great concept, good build. I recently re-welded the pittman shaft where it had been cut; Replacing nuts/bolts as required to reduce backing out. It had a fantastic looking ‘56 Mallory Voltmaster 12V coil and resistor on it, but I think they’ve been bad from day one. A new coil for a ’57 Ford F-100 and a ballast resistor from an old Imperial did the trick. Now I have to be careful not to spin tubes out of the tires.
For a long time I ran ‘32 Ford wheels in the back and ’35 Ford wheels up front, but the rears kept bending. So I put ’36 Caddy solids up front, and I put the wires (pictured) back on the car with the Denman bias ply’s.
All considered, this has been a very enjoyable car. It’s always a big hit at the cruise-ins and shows all over Alabama and Tennessee.