Projects Old 1930 Channeled model A hot rod roadster gets a new lease on life.

that is a bad ass project you found , I would love to find an old 5 window like that .definitely gonna follow your thread. Good Luck!

 

Cool project Matt. I'm following.

 

I'm not opposed to a flathead, It will probably come down to what I find first.

Have you had a stock 32 frame and a stock A frame side by side? The differences are substantial. One is a flimsy noodle and the other is pretty stout comparatively. I do get where you are coming from about the reveal.

thanks, I feel the same.

thanks!

The top of the windshield is right in my eye line. I also want a top...

He thought that a door would make it more desirable to sell. He originally snagged the body from his dad who parted it out in the early 70's. It was rust free when it when in the shed on its side. He had the intent to build a hot rod....but 40 years later and there it sat and the mice had made a good start on the rust. He actually said he thought about scraping it a few weeks earlier, but decided to wait to see if he could find a door at the swap and then sell it.

thanks Beaner. The car was parted out around 72-73., so I would guess that the bondo was a mid to late 60's addition.

I wouldn't kick a cad out of bed either....

Thanks Man

Thanks! I said no more projects for awhile...but you know how that goes!

 

Well it is good that you are waking it from its nap. Looks like you are doing right by it.

 

Following.

 

I have the kissing cousin to your roadster. Mine also is an old channeled body that had the panel above and below the deck lid filled smooth. I scraped thick bondo off the tulip panel, but the tail has a sheet welded over it. I don’t know how I’m going to build mine. But chances are good it will be on a 32 frame with an Olds mill. I bought mine at an auction in 2012 in Eastern Nebraska.

 

you have some of the RIGHT stuff it will be COOL good luck

 

That looks interesting no matter how you build it. As far as engines go an interesting one will probably find you with your luck.
On the seating in the channeled rig. One of my club members in Waco in the 70's had a channeled 32 Cabriolet that had the seat springs setting in wells in the floor so it had full seat springs but you sat low. The car was built that way in the 50's and was reasonably comfortable if you liked sitting like you were in a go kart.

 

Having driven my 31 PU on some long road trip it is tight, you should know from driving your own truck around town. If you want a long distance runner, highboy style is the way to go. I'm doing a 31 coupe on 32 rails right now. I hit most of the swap meets so I'll say hi next time.

 

Matt, here's a thought...get a '32 frame, set your body on top of it, mark where the firewall meets the frame. Take the body off and remove the top 2" of the frame from there back to the kickup. Not easy but it will give you the best of all worlds, full hiboy interior space with the body looking like it has been channeled a couple inches. When you box the frame you will have ample strength. Stock model a frames were only 4 inches. How about a caddy flathead with a 5 speed trans...

 

Hitchhker,
Very cool score! I like 32Vipers idea for the frame. As for engine choices? My vote says early hemi ! But an early small block Buick would be cool too. 215-300-340. I've been running one in my dailey for almost 10years.

 

That's awesome. Haha so similar! are you gonna unchannel yours?

Thanks

We'll see what happens. I'm not ruling anything out yet.

Yeah that's what I am thinking. Looking forward to it.

Good idea!

don't let my friend Mopar Tom hear that.... He's already looking.... I told him it had to be a 392 or no dice

 

So last night after an adult beverage or two I grabbed the frame I have out back and set the body on it. FYI not that easy to do by yourself...

I think it may have actually been on an A frame judging by how the body fits it. Unfortunately I can't fully get the body on the frame without chopping off the stock front cowl body mounts and I just sold it last week.

I'm seriously considering ordering up a brookville subfloor and building the body back on that. I am wondering if I can get away with 30-31 rpu subrails and something like the steadfast model A to 32 frame kit for the rear half. No need to buy metal I will just cut out again for a 32 frame. Also does anyone know if there are upper quarter patches available? Like right where mine is rusted or am I looking for an original quarter with a wasted bottom? Also I need a clean firewall if anyone reading this has one. I'm almost certain that I am going to unchannel this thing. I just don't think long term I will enjoy a channeled roadster. I'm thinking I should build it exactly how I want my ultimate model A roadster to be, since I have been saving a lot of the parts for it for almost a decade. If it was a complete car I would have other thoughts. But so much is missing and it will need a floor and mounts and everything anyways. I think I can safely make it my own with no guilt.

Anyways here is it on the frame with no clutter. the stock forward, after the center crossmember and rear mount holes on the frame line up with the "body mounts" on the body. I think its safe to say this was on a A frame. I called and asked gary about it and he said he honestly didn't know. just that he thought that a 32 was under it.


Also here is a some of the stuff for it.

 

"Also I need a clean firewall if anyone reading this has one." Oh the irony of this!

For the rest of you--last year Matt sold me a ratted out old '31 cowl so my brother and I could set it up in our stall at the Portland Swap Meet. The idea was, it would scream: "We have Model A parts!" I put a STUPID price on it, figuring I'd use it as a marketing attractor for may years. Damn if it didn't sell on the first day for the full-on stupid price. (I love Portland).

Anyway, the thing was a POS...EXCEPT for the firewall, which was damn near perfect. Sorry Matt. I'll ask around.

 

you're seriously not helping my hoarding tendencies ; )

 

I think the smartest sentence I have read on here in a while was

" I am thinking I should build it exactly how I want my ultimate model a to be"

There are way to many ideas on here, some good some not so good, but build it how you want. Given the direction you are headed it should turn out pretty damn cool.

 

392s are getting tough to come by. Red rams and Desoto firedomes are not as hard. AND still a HEMI!!

 

Point taken. I probably could/should have worded my post differently. They just look so damn good, I hate to see them covered up. Still, it's not like there aren't thousands of A's running around on A frames, and have been for many decades.

 

I drive a stock framed model A banger powered pickup almost everyday. It's acceptable. If I do a 32 frame on this one it wont be channeled.

 

Yeah, I've followed your thread on your truck. Love it! Very inspirational.

 

At this point in time, after looking at interior pictures of channeled roadsters, I am gonna repair the body to mostly stock except for the gas filler and filled cowl. Use the 36 Ford Dash. Get a 32 frame. Use the 32 grill I have. 100 percent it will get the windscreen chopped. And a chopped roof if I can find all the stuff. side curtains if I do. 36 desoto taillights. I've got 5.50 firestone ribbed tires for the front and 7.50x16 firestones for the rear. I've got the dropped 33-36 axle it came with(bent) and a nice 36 axle I had dropped a number of years ago and have been saving a 3:54 juice brake banjo, 36 rear bones. 33-34 front bones. I have a bunch of different headlights I can use. I'm thinking since I have a 3:54 I can just run a old toploader. No need for a fancy T5. I'm either gonna just run a flathead or if I can find everything for the swap. A 303 olds. I'll probably run it around in primer after I get it on the road, but plans call for either a similar blue or a emerald green. or maybe black. I almost want to build kinda a "midnight special" very little chrome. All black everything. While I'm still dreaming a 471 huffer would be pretty sweet as well.

So basically another boring highboy.

at this point I will probably order up a brookville subframe and get to building the body back while I look for a frame

 

All.Black.Everything. Yes! This is basically my plan...a little shiny trim around the grille shell & on the dash, the rest (sans hubcaps) black. Deep, dark, steal your soul black.

Muhahahahahahahaha

(except for the motor & head...that crap took too long to paint and I ain't doing it over again, lol)

 

Sounds like a good plan. Stock firewalls come up pretty frequently, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

Yes, I'm on board with ya. Use what ya have and get it done. What's Boaring about seeing a Guy driving his Roadster with minimal Bling? Less time Polishing means more time Driving. I'm likeing the way your thinking.
The Wizzard

 

Or new plan.... even more boring. I have absolutely everything for a stock A chassis. I have the winfield engine. Front end , rear end. Everything. I could have an entire rolling chassis painted and assembled without much work. That leaves me a subframe and quarter panel replacement, and a firewall away from a running and driving car. Which would make it easy to get a A title for thru state patrol inspection and I would be set in a little beater pretty easy.

 

And a door and frame...

 

Oh man, don't take that bitchin old hotrod and make an old man car out of it

 

Hmmm....Later model Stude mills use Chevy speed equipment! ('way later ones)

 

Build an AV8 not a stocker, if it is high like this below so be it.