Hot Rods 29 Model A Sedan

Hello guys, this is my first post and my first model A. I have always wanted to build a traditional Hot Rod and so when the opportunity knocked I jumped and bought this body. I just Picked it up in Tennessee. Now the planning! Do I chop it ? Do I channel it ? or Both I really hate to cut up what I think is a very nice body and being a bigger guy I don't want to loose too much room. My plans for a frame are 4 inch swept front and 8 in Z in the rear.

 

If your a big guy I suggest keeping it stock height,too radical and you wont be comfortable. HRP

 

David, if you're going to build it hiboy style, IMHO I'd go with a 32 frame, I just think they look better that way. Since you're a big guy I wouldn't go with a channel, but maybe a small top chop 2 to 3 inches. That being said, it's your ride so do as you please and most importantly have fun and enjoy it.

 

I Do like the 32 Frame also and I agree 2.5 chop is all I was looking to do, if I do it. Thanks

 

Your right, that's an Outstanding body. If your asking for Advice I'd say just slow down a bit and find some examples already done and ask if you can sit in them. 99 percent of guys will say Yes to that. Personally I think the numbers you listed above are over the edge. Also I would advise not to chop the top until you have the Body Bolted down and adjusted for door fit, then Whack it if you must. Most here that actually Channel early Iron must think they are build heavy equipment given the amount of Over Kill I see. On a Model A it's a simple project and only needs simple sheet metal work, your not building a Flag Ship. I like 32 Frames but on a Channeled Rod it may be $$$ spent for nothing.
The Wizzard

 

That's a heck of a start- that body is primo! Good luck with the build- have one of the guys on here "photoshop" some changes for you- it's pretty cool stuff. Maybe : Stock "A" frame "Z" d front and back, 3" chop , wide whites on chrome rims- bingo- nice and simple. That's about .03 cents worth. Have fun!

 

NOVEMBER

 

Look at Midwest Fabrication Bob Bleed has just frame for you.

 

Here's a photo of 5" channel and No kick in frame at all. Closed drive rear with Model A spring and a dropped front Axle. It does have a Minor amount of Voo Doo but most don't pick up on it.
The Wizzard

 

Wow Thanks Guys a lot to think about, I'm not going to do anything until I get a frame, and Make sure everything is Square. I'm sure I will have lots of questions along the way.

 

I Decided to go with Riley Automotive for the Frame. Will give me the stance Im looking for with out having to channel the body. Great service, communication and fast less than 10 days from order to ship.

 

Got the frame today, ordered the rear axle housing, I want to start on the floors does anyone have some pictures of a table or stand you built to lock the frame down so you can mount the body I need to cut the rear sub-frame for the Z

 

You are new here, but may have lurked forever, I have no way of knowing...but I'll ***ume you have not.

There are over a decade worth of Model A builds on the HAMB and the question about ch***is jigs and frame tables comes up fairly often. I know there is at least one thread dedicated to just that.

My advice is to use the search function to turn up many threads about jigs and frame tables, A bone builds etc. Lots feature re-working the rear subrails etc. All of which will be useful to study. You may also find many of you current and future questions already addressed.

Don't rush, and good luck with it.

 

Im 6'3" 300 lbs and mine is chopped 4" channeled 5"

I tailored the car for me pretty well. No cramped foot room. 4" in max chop I think unless you do a perimeter frame and put seats down in it. Its a nice body to start with for sure. If I was to do mine over again.... 3" channel, or perimeter frame, so I could go 6" chop. But that's me. Things I wouldn't change, 4 link rear suspension with coil overs, cross steering, and low stance.

You have a great start... looking forward to seeing what you come up with and do on her.

 

Personally,I love this style build. HRP

 

This is a traditional hotrod. Post 14 is a ratrod. Notice how the wheels do not fit properly in the wheel wells post 8

'Perimeter' frame? How is a 'perimeter' frame different from an ordinary frame? If there is no difference, why throw in an extra buzzword that has no meaning?

 

Define bigger guy. I mean @flamedabone is a bigger guy (compared to me) and his sedan is chopped and I think it has a mild channel as well. he puts a lot of miles on it.

First before you try and decide to chop or channel or not decide what you are going to do with it. Is a back seat in the plans for example? Engine setback? Stock transmission or later big transmission? Fenders and boards?

Then decide what you like. For example I think that Ts and As are too tall as a rule so a mild chop if what I like. I also don't want to see the ch***is unless it is something purdy like a deuce ch***is so a mild channel is something that I like as well. But if it is a fender car than the fenders take care of the ch***is showing.

As far as the body being too nice to cut on there is no body too nice to cut on. The nicer the body the better the finished product.

None of us can decide what you like so you should probably work that out for yourself. We can all tell you what we like though so maybe with our ideas you can come up with something that works for you.

 

There is so many right ways to do a Tudor. And so few wrong ways to do them!

Try looking at; Fritz slow Tudor build. Or a guy named bull, try searching survivor Tudor

Great stuff, he has a full fendered and a fenderless.

Edit.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/my-survivor-30-ford-tudor.371150/

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-builds-a-model-a-build-thread.429076/page-11

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/pea-green-the-29-tudor-build.943048/page-4

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...wrapped-up-in-30-model-a-tudor.667198/page-25

 

Yes Love this style,
My son has just sold his ,

 

To my understanding, a "perimeter frame" is a set of frame rails with front and rear crossmembers, and a center crossmember being optional ( meaning you don't have to order it).No brackets, nada, just the " rectangle" that forms the outside dimension of the actual frame. ( a rectangle is a box with 2 opposing sides longer ( or shorter, depends on how you look at it) than the other two sides. These frames are fairly simple, and allow the purchaser to set the frame up however he, or she, wishes. Considerations would range from motor mounts , shock mounts, ****** crossmember, brackets for panhard bars, "split bones", traction bars, torsion bars, steering box, etc. Some people prefer to set a frame up personally, which eliminates cutting things off your new frame that you have no use for (e.g. SBC mounts) , and throwing them away. This can be time consuming , and is also pretty expensive. Also borders on stupidity. To each his ( or her) own. Nice car, enjoy.
Any satire used in this post is purely coincidental.

 

Beautiful,this is hard to beat! HRP

 

Thanks for all the input guys, great stuff here. I have been learning a lot and reading as much as I can.

I'm 6 foot and 250 , I meet someone that has a finished Sedan and I was able to sit in it and try it out. It had a 3 in Chop and no channel and I was very comfortable. I do like a chop but not a lot 3-4 in would be the max I would want to go, I agree with you on not seeing the ch***is. the more I look and learn I'm leaning towards a 3 in chop and 2 in channel to just set it over the frame nothing to drastic. I am going fenderless the frame has a 3 in stretch and is set up for small block Chevy and turbo 350 trans. Thanks for the input all is appreciated.

 

Made some Progress today got the Axle housing hung and mocked up, hopefully next month I can get the front end done and make it a roller:

 

You need at least one more car in there- way too much room! All kidding aside, looks good, nice clean shop you run there.

 

Wow, a rusty body now cons***utes a "R-R" ? hmmmmm...
Hold on... hold on..... This guy said ratrod..... Where is the Hamb Police?

A perimeter frame goes where the subrails normally would for a channeled car, puts your seat down inside the frame rails making a heavily channeled car be like the old 80s corvettes. Here is an example, not my work but will show you what I am talking about.

Some of you guys obviously do not build your own frames I see.

 

"29s rock!

 

Its odd how people see different things in different in a picture.

But to me there is a lot of different cars around some I like, some I don't like.
I feel no hate.

To me this is an traditional hot rod, one I like to look at.

Then there is a RR, to me at least, a rusted out POS put together with shock and or I mind.

A street rod is a well engineered car on a modern frame with and old looking body. Put together to look like a road going show car, and handle like a newer corvette, with a roadster on top. Again this is my opinion!



And with all do respect, I don't know what this is!

A well engineers new frame, with over chopped+channeled body, with old parts put together in orderly fashion made to look like a RR. Skin deep POS, on masterpiece?
But I don't hate it, I just don't want one.

No disrespect towards owner or builder!!!

 

The only reason to build or buy a custom frame is because you don't have an original frame. there are advantages to both setups. I like the idea of an original frame because it has numbers and numbers means original ***le.

@manyolcars
Getting back to the post about an R.R. and throwing out perimeter frame is that it would imply simple as opposed to something radical like a bird cage frame or a full on tube ch***is I guess. I am not sure if that was what the original poster meant but that is what it would mean to me.

@david buczynski

Looks like you got a handle on it. I like 'em chopped and once in a while it is nice to see one with mail slots but at this stage of the game at least for me it has gotten old. Mild chop and channel is a good idea especially if you are a larger framed dude like yourself. I like a highboy on a deuce type of ch***is but with a ch***is like you are building and no fenders you are right on track with the channel, hide it under the body.

Nice ch***is build you got going on by the way that rocks.

 

@david buczynski

Looks like you got a handle on it. I like 'em chopped and once in a while it is nice to see one with mail slots but at this stage of the game at least for me it has gotten old. Mild chop and channel is a good idea especially if you are a larger framed dude like yourself. I like a highboy on a deuce type of ch***is but with a ch***is like you are building and no fenders you are right on track with the channel, hide it under the body.

Nice ch***is build you got going on by the way that rocks.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, a 3 inch chop and 2 inch channel is what in leaning towards, my plan is the get the ch***is done then get the body on the frame to see what I have then decide where I want to go from there.

 

3 chop and 2 on the channel sounds good, mine, '30 tudor, is chopped 4 and 2.5 channel. It fits me fine, I'm 6 foot and 230lbs.