new owner of 53 roadster

[racer1]

Well, I think I'm nuts, But I just bought a 53 roadster. #2249. I've built many cars before. Including my pride and joy. A 64 XKE Jag. which I've had for 35 yrs. And a 1961 corvair rampside Pickup....Hows that for wild variation....?.....I just retired and And thought I was going to just relax and putz around with the cars I already had. Then I got diagnosed with Parkinsons desease. So, I thought I better build one more car while I still can.........So back to the Singer...... From what I can tell, It's been sitting since 1970. Went from ohio to florida, to Wis. I bought it from a guy who bought it over 20 yrs ago. Its In really good condition. Minor surface rust, but thats all. Orig. engine gone, but has been replaced with a mgb engine and trans. It was installed very well, but never finished. Body is pretty beat up. So lots of work to do there. BUT....All the wood looks to be ok. obviously was stored indoors..... Chrome is good except for the grill. Its very pitted. I picked it up the sunday before xmas. got it home at 3pm. by 9 pm had the body all tore apart. By next day, Had body off frame. over next few days, completly stripped frame of all parts and it's ready for blasting. Only broke 1 bolt dismantling entire car. It's a shoulder bolt that holds the mechanical rear brake assembly by the master cyl. Even the spring bushing bolts came right out.

This week I tore engine apart to check it. It's been sitting for over 20 yrs, So I wanted to make sure its ok. It's just fine. I'm putting all new seals and gaskets. Been busy researching, and looking for parts. What I found so far, Axle seals leaking. Measured up axle tubes, went to local bearing shop, they looked up sizes and found me some seals . 6 bucks each!!!. master cyl was gone. looked online found a over the counter wilwood replacement. 50 Bucks....Sent the front brake shoes to Ind. to get high friction pads installed. Custom made a bracket for mgb clutch slave cyl. for hyd. clutch. I found jeep wheel cyl kits fit the front brakes....12 Bucks.....Took radiator to local shop to get cleaned, along with fuel tank. Tank has minor rust. I should be sandblasting the frame and all the parts this week. Then I can Paint it and start putting it all together. I should have a running driving chassis in 3 weeks. Then put the body back on to do the body work..If all goes to plan, I'll be driving it by June.

What I need to find yet...

The brass name plate with Id # is gone..Does anyone still make them?
Front and rear Bumpers
I have no seats.
speedo and other gauges missing
Have to get driveshaft made up.
Steering wheel is "crap"
conv. top. I have the side cutains and top bows.
windshield is broke.
hub caps are missing.
gas cap is missing.
Trafficators are missing.....Just got an email from england....guy has 2 used ones that work..Yea!!

Those are the major things I need. I'm sure the list will grow as I rebuild the car..I'm not building an original show car. But a very nice driver to run around in and go to local shows. Just for fun..........I'm in columbus wi. If there are any cars In wi. I sure would like to see one done, just for some ideas. I have never seen one in person. I bought this one because I thought it looked cool. And, crazy enough, I like british cars.. My ancestry comes from England.

Any help finding parts would wonderful, as well as any advice. this board looks to be a great resource.

Jim In Wi.

[racer1]

I forgot to ask before....Is there some kind of master interchange list for parts.?....thanks, Jim

[ColinB]

Hello Jim, The various Singer clubs have officers who specialise in particular models and hold spares. In the UK its the Singer Owners Club and the Association of Singer Car Owners. eBay is also surprisingly good in the UK at least. This site is run by NASOC which is geographically nearer to you (possibly!).

Good luck with the project!

Regards
Colin

[Phillip]

Hey Jim,

Welcome to the board and welcome to the world of Singers. You'll find us a friendly and supportive group. The 4AD Roadster is the cornerstone of the North American Singer Owners Club as they made up the bulk of sales here. We'd be happy to include you in our numbers, so look over the site and join the club!

Parts and expertise are available, you just have to do a bit more digging and networking than with some other Marques. Dave Green is the NASOC 4AD Roadster Registrar and Paul Bouchard covers the R / A / 4A / 4AB / 4AC Roadsters.

Here are some quick responses to your questions to get things started:

The brass name plate with Id # is gone..Does anyone still make them?

People have made them in the past. They are acid etched brass. Robert Moreau here in Canada did some and I can check to see if he has any left.

Front and rear Bumpers

Repos of these have been made also, but not sure what the status is. These are very simple in design and similar units were used on other British cars. I'll check to see what I have.

I have no seats.

These are very basic and can be made up. Construction and design has been covered in various articles, so I am sure we can get you this info. The SOC UK Roadster Registrar Ashley Crossland has covered making them up. The front seat backs are sheet steel and the bases are wood with spring seat cushions. The rear seat base is a spring cushion and the back is plywood.

speedo and other gauges missing

These come up on eBay for sale. There is a speedo and a matching multi-gauge with oil pressure, amps and fuel level. I can ask around also to see if anyone has spares for you. Other dash switches, etc, are Lucas and available.

Have to get driveshaft made up.

It's a simple tube shaft with Hardy Spicer joints at each end. Let us know if you need photos.

Steering wheel is "crap"

As long as the wire frame and spokes are good and most of the covering is there, the wheel can be restored using epoxy resin. Steering wheel restoration kits are available. If it is really bad, I may have a spare.

conv. top. I have the side cutains and top bows.

Again, you need a pattern, or someone with one to use as a pattern. The original was done in a kind of tweed pattern with one of the colour flecks matching the body colour.

windshield is broke.

This is a simple flat pane of glass and most glass shops can replace it.

hub caps are missing.

Repros are available on eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SINGER-ROADS ... :rk:2:pf:0

gas cap is missing.

I know the SOC in the UK had repros available at one point. The oil filler cap and gas cap are interchangable (but not the same)

Hope that helps as a start!

[racer1]

Thanks for the reply. I just cleaned up my steering wheel. Its saveable, but will need lots of work. I have a spare xke steering wheel, but the splines are bigger than the singer. Would look cool on there if I could figure out how to mount it...... Any line on bumpers would be cool. Even if they are rusty. I am ok cleaning them up and just painting them. A new id plate would be great if anyone has one. I will get hubcaps from your link. any link to a top would be appreciated......Thanks for your help.

My relined brakes are on the way. I ordered high friction pads, Guy says they are way better than stock. Yea!!...Bad news today, my radiator is toast. guy says not worth fixing. New core put in 700 bucks!!!!. No way. found an aluminum Honda radiator, it;s 1.5 inches shorter, but is the same width.. I will just custom make brackets to mount it. Will probably cool much better anyways....AND the best Part, A friend of mine had one, AND he only wants 70 bucks for it. My lucky day....