The way everything is setup now I only lost 3" of floor hight and the toe board is almost right where it was stock.
If those major things ( The rad being too high and the distributor sitting above the cowl ) don't bother you enough to take the appropriate action to fix it, your car will never have" the look". Everyone will look at it and anyone who knows anything at all about what they are looking at will know right away what's off. Your car and you will either be the center of attention of the kind you don't want, or other car guys will walk by shaking their heads.
Dustan, we are all trying to help you build a hot rod you can be proud of when it is done. Sometimes we have to make compromises when building, doesn't mean you won't love it as much when it is done. In fact you are more likely to love it more if you make it the best you can, rather than being out of proportion.
I get that. I'm going to try to space the body up a little bit tonight and see how it looks. If I can at least get the distributor level with the cowl the radiator will be only a couple inches too high and probably won't look near as bad as it does now. I have a game plan now.
I hate to agree with a criticism, but in this case I do. The car will be easier to build and drive if you raise the body back up another 3" or so. I don't think you should rebuild the frame at all. Just get the body back up where the distributor is not riding above the cowl. You will be able to run a larger / better proportioned radiator and shell too. I think it solves a lot of your problems and would look better to boot. I hope you know this is intended to be constructive. Spend one evening with a tape measure and a beer instead of a welder and a cutoff wheel.
Yeah I'm a little stubborn sometimes and when everyone nags something I usually keep it that way just because it's mine and not theirs. But in this case I also agree. Haha I'm just going to make some steel blocks with rubber cushion to get the cowl high enough where the distributor isn't sitting over it. At that hight the rad might be 2" too tall but shouldn't be too noticeable.
Trust us old F--Ks it will be the FIRST THING WE NOTICE, and we quit looking at the rest. !! We ARE stubborn also. Radiator even when level, look taller than cowl, and looks like poo... should be only slightly lower... Old guys, and ROY BRIZIO, and others know...
nice build thread............ your doing some great custom work. it take guts to post your stuff on here for everyone to point out issues, but it's also how we learn. I like folks trying a different approach, I've lost count how many times I had to change things. That's Hot Rodding to me; modifying and brain storming with friends about how to solving problems.
wouldn't you rather learn here, than where someone holds court, and has a audience..? Short Story: A few years ago, a check book street rodder was sitting near his sign that told ALL about his '27 Model T. Big Problem IT WAS A METAL '23. Built like a Fad T, we all had to let him know about it. Next car show he made sure he ran around showing EVERYONE who would look at the title . It indicated it was a 1927. I told him Put That Title away and accept that its a '23, and quiet down the laughter. He hasn't been to the shows where I've been. Don't know if he stills owns it or not.. I do kinda feel for him, but Gosh he was so wrong and so stubborn... Its ALWAYS the little things ..........
Okay so it's blocked up 2" and I feel like it has more ground clearance then a monster truck lol. But the distributor isn't sticking over the cowl so that looks better. The radiator is still about 2" higher but imo isn't too terrible.
Now, if you raise it up about 2 1/2" further, it will look good, instead of 'not in your opinion, too terrible'
This is already a compromise haha. I do not want to raise the car anymore then it is now. I honestly don't think many people will notice. And if they do so what it's not in their garage. They can do what they want with their own cars... Next car will be better not going to z the damn front. I really want to do a A Tudor sedan next but another T maybe a highboy coupe would be cool too. I will know what problems to avoid next time. Haha
I will raise it a little bit more because I'm going to make 2x3 blocks then sandwich them with hard rubber so I would imagine it will be another 1/2" higher then this
Well, it is entirely up to you, you can either make it good or, in your opinion, not too terrible. Yes it is your choice and I guarantee almost every if not every hot rodder will notice what is wrong, even if they won't say anything.
Is there anyway possible you could "roll " it outside, sit down,and look at the profile, and really study what looks good, and quit rapping about "THE NEXT ONE" and get this one to have the look.? You have the shop and obvious TALENT, Move Radiator ahead of cross member and drop that mother !!!! try not to have tooo much space between fan and radiator, that also looks like shit..... I might not be able to build a oak desk, but by golly, I can TELL you if its a good one, just by feel and LOOKS !! hot rods would not take so long to finish, if you didn't have to do everything over and over..
That's why it isn't moved in front of the crossmember... That huge gap looks way more fucked up then it being about 1 1/2" too high.it doesn't bother me it's a tad high. I would rather have it 1 1/2" high then 3" in front of the axel center line. I can't get it outside because there is a slight hill in front of my shop and there's no way I will get it back in by myself. Haha. The thing is I don't really care what people think I do take everyone's opinions and think about it though. I suppose I could spend like $800 and have the local radiator shop make me a radiator 2" shorter then this one but then come the cooling issues I bet. Haha im already in this car more then I need to be and have about 4k to go to finish the way I want.
sell the FUCKER< and do the next one right,, Use this for parts, next one it'll be perfect !!! NOT !!! it will have issues also.. O well on to the next, and on, and on........ Or, find a short radiator, must be a hundred that will work, put on a marine water pump, run the coolant down part of the inside of the frame . put in a 190 thermostat. and drive. Does PNW mean Pac.North West? If it does go to Puyallop GG and look at the Yellow tudor your darn near copying, and probably don't even know it.. I lived in SWW for 50 years, it ain't that hot that long.
Lol yeah Oregon. I know the next one will have issues but not the same issues as this. I know exactly what not to do next time. Havent saw a yellow Tudor. I have researched a lot and this was the shortest radiator I could find. I understand if you don't like it though thanks for your input.
Dustan< Everybody that looks in on this LOVES TUDOR T's , we stare because we care... my last Tudor T, Really Dude !! we are here cause we care..
I understand that but how would you like if I told you your wheels look terrible and that's the worst color for a car and why did you fill the cowl and put the filler cap in the running board.... I would imagine you do things because you wanted to and thought it looked fine right? Btw I'm just using that for refrence. The car looks pretty cool full fendered. I have another in the barn with glass fenders and seeing that makes me want to do it full fendered.
I would and have readily accepted those very critiques, and am Ok with them. BUT MY radiator isn't above the cowl, wheels can be changed the cowl was rusted beyond repair, only 1% of the population like yello on a car,, I have had 7 yelo cars, gas tanks/ fillers are always an issue. don't like them in side the car.. and on it goes. GOOGLE: 1927 ford tudors>> and look for the bitching yellow one, SSSSMMMAAALLLLL radiator, cruises all over SW wash. we all are your friends and we will be here, pickin' and grin'in
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6164/6206544156_19717e3db0.jpg tps://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtq4kOMPbNAYpCVIFuksc81PszJhr_2E7YpT_LbPrSgiU9iqFn you like ? me too !!!!!!
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/...OMPbNAYpCVIFuksc81PszJhr_2E7YpT_LbPrSgiU9iqFn I really don't know what I am doin' Turn em blue, then observe.. remember; there is more than one way to skin a cat, no matter how, that cat ain't goin' like it......HAVE FUN OR GO FISH....
I found that one. I really want to know what the radiator size is. I could have one made but cooling was a concern.
My buddys model A sedan is channeled with a zed frame. is there anyway you could move the crossmember foward and drop the radiator behind it? I know that would be alot of work but its somethin to think about
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