Projects Model A Tudor - My 1st Hot Rod - it's Alive!

Yeah, looking real good. Did you ever settle on a specific era that you're going for with this car?

 

Looking good from another BC boy! you suuuuure you don't want to put a SBC with say 4-500 horse in there?

 

Great buy, welcome, and best of luck with it.
First order of business; take that coil-over set up OUT!!
Get some pics off the "net" or on here about setting up coil over suspension.
To me, suspension is half the battle, if done right your car will be a joy to drive. If done wrong it will **** and could be disasterous.
Time to do the "research and development" part of the build.

 

Thanks, the coil overs are long gone. Check out the bottom of page 2, went with a transverse leaf and shock...

 

Wow, you done well with the whole deal. Shame not to keep Merc engine, but new engine sounds great.
Can't wait to see how much you wack it.

 

Def should of kept that merc and the banjo rear

 

The rear end was just a shell, completely empty. But ya, I would have liked to keep the Merc, especially after getting it running. But when building it with someone else, it's a give and take. This is my first car, not my last =)

 

Well to start with you bought a lot of car for 1600 dollars. I wish my 29 were that solid.

I think personally I would probably get it rolling and driving and see what I had before I put a 5 speed in it. Someone is going to send me hate mail about it but I just think that if you already have what is necessary for a traditional build why not use it.

Welcome aboard. There are a lot of A threads floating around so you shouldn't have any trouble finding information or ideas for your build.

I am with you here, if it goes onto be a '60s build it could use coils in the rear, but if it is staying a true '50s build a transverse spring is the real deal.

looks like the original builder just didn't know where to jump on the rear and used what he had. The A cross member won't hold up to the coil overs, it'll be OK probably for rolling around while the proper pieces are procured though.

That's a deuce grill shell, what you do for a grill shell is going to be a matter of where the build goes.

there should be plenty of build pics and as built pics of Andy's car, him and his rod were a HAMB family project back when we were still a HAMB family. Just search HAMB Andy. While you are at it find his story in the threads, he is what the core of the HAMB is really about, a lot of us really are old school rodders and lending a hand is just part of it.

 

I've got a chance to buy a running long stroke Merc for about $400.00. Is it worth it? The flatty I have runs and has low miles, I could definitely use the $400 for other things...

I understand why people like the Mercs, but for my 1st hot rod will the Merc really make a difference?

 

I would say stat focused. If you have a good engine, leave well-enough alone. The Merc might offer a little more bragging rights, but only few will be impressed with a flathead, let alone one with a little more stroke. It's not going to make the car that much faster and certainly no better. If you have a good flathead, you better stick with it.

 

Thanks, that's the way I was feeling

 

Where did the old axle go that was under the front of it?

 

From the 1st page pics? It was pretty sketchy, looks like it was hand cut and re-welded. A couple guys told me it didn't look safe...

 

I built a front end like that Those shocks and mounts were not in my blue print but I'm gonna add em now. great pics

 

Can I get some advice? I'm working on my front end and atm, the tie rod is rubbing on the bottom of the bones. Aside from bending the steering arms (which are chrome), and other options?

 

Flathead question:

Do I need 2 water temp gauges, or can the 2 thermostats be wired together and then into 1 gauge?

Will update thread with more pics soon

Thanks

 

Looking good so far.Please keep the updates coming.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

If you wire the temp senders together, it will alter the true temp reading, at least that was my experience using aftermarket guages. I ran both sender wires to a (2) position, on/on toggle switch, and on to the guage. That way you can check head temps individually, with a flip of the switch.

 

Way to not cave and buy a stupid Honda. I'm proud of ya son. Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks guys, a switch seems like a great idea. Much better than having 2 gauges.

Here's come recent progress pics:

Got the floors test fitted, all new steel supports underneath. I knew NOTHING about how to do this, but in the end, I think they worked out really well. A huge difference from the empty shell of a car we had for so long. 2nd pic, starting to make template for ****** tunnel.

 

My dad's been doing some body work, it's getting there slowly:

 

Spent some time in my school's woodshop making the top woodkit:

 

Got steering mostly worked out, and yes I know it's upside down. That's a con rod from my Dad;'s airplane

 

After a bit of a father-son battle, we settled on these cool front seats (from one of my Dad's friends airplanes). They are aircraft, but I think they have a cool 50s/60s look to them

 

Spent yesterday getting the rad and shell mounted:







Could only get the rad within an inch of the fan... Hope that's enough...

 

Time to sandblast these and get them mounted, definitely one of my favorite parts that I've found for the car"

 

Thanks, although I do drive a 370Z as my daily driver. Goes like snot and is reliable as hell

 

Nice Job so far........like it!!!

 

ya might want to change the lower shock mounts in the front, from side to side. I LIKE the seats..
we'er all watchin'
note the angle ?

 

Love the seats, can you find a matching maroon material and carry it thru the interior.

Fan, is the front pulley being used, you can modify the fan mount to gain some space if needed.