Projects Planning stages of a traditional hot rod

I own a 30 Model A coupe, it's all stock and wouldn't dream of chopping it up. But I do dream of a 30-31 coupe/tudor/pickup hot rod. I am looking into cost/benefits of fibergl*** vs Henry steel body. What should it cost to have a stock 30 coupe body chopped? I'm well versed in SBC's, and not opposed to it, but a flathead V8 is what's calling to me. The late 8BA seems like the way to go, but with all the problems with cracked blocks, it kinda scares me off somewhat. Been reading a bunch, watching craigslist and etc for a car/body. I'm no welder, so I'm thinking a TCI or equivalent ch***is is probably the route I'd go.

 

Use the A body you have. In the long run easier than gl***. As far as the flathead, I am running two one in my coupe and another r in my roadster. I have always been a 327 Chevy guy but now that I am near 70 that power is not as important. And I like the nostalgia. TCI makes some good stuff. It all depends on the look and stance you want. Good luck and have fun!

 

Keep looking for some steel.Where are you located?

 

you always hear it too nice to cut up but I say B.S. it is easier than trying fix a rust bucket, plus there are plenty of restored one left. as far as engines go that is strictly personal choice. I know which way I would go, but that's from memories as teenage of carrying water Tom

 

Nope, not that I'm opposed to rodding a stock car, I like the Model A experience in it's stock form, it's fun to chug around and keep running/driving well. I live outside of the city so I have plenty of roads to drive on. I like 327's too, was my favorite back in my '56 chevy days.

 

Bellingham, WA

 

It's easy to stick with what you know... but it's also fun to try something new. Even a 283 would be fun in a light car like a Model A, and I want to drive it. A lot! I'm thinking if I buy another stock car, I could have lots of left-over parts to save for my stock coupe, and maybe even build a speedster with the leftovers.

 

You could build a early 60's style car using a 283 with the factory quads & Duntov cam, maybe some chrome reversed wheels too and some tuck & roll on the inside

That would be pretty cool in todays world

DND

 

The next coupe Ido - I'm starting with a complete restored car. Relatively cheap and usually way more into it than you'll pay.
All the little parts complete. I'll remove the body and sell off everything from the fenders down. That's going to offset losses and cost.

Chop the top, modify headliner & paint the roof . Done in short order. Drop it down on a 32 ch***is and it will be a finished hot rod in 2 weeks not 2 years. The traditional way.

 

I would have a frame built and Extend the frame 2-3"... Make a longer hood and longer running boards , transverse spings , no TCI or 4 bar stuff

 

This car is available locally, I think a 3 inch chop is just right. Sad part is it's just a Model A with no fenders, 16 inch (35 Ford maybe) wires with very old, worn-out WW's. Yes it has a downdraft Weber with some kind fancy exhaust manifold... hot-rod? Not really... more of a Jalopy in my book, and he wants $17500 for it. I think he's dreamin'. Heck since my coupe still has 19 inch rubber, it's probably faster! I like the open wheel look, but around this country it rains a lot. I drive my stock A in the rain, I'd like to drive my hot-rod in the rain too. D.N.D., I'm thinking TRI-Power!

 

Oh yeah. But it would be a good start for a Hot Rod if you could get him down on the price.

 

He said he spent $6K for the chop??? Seems like a lot.

 

A better way to start a hot rod.
You could pay 3500 for a rusty *** shell that needs a deck lid and the bottom 8" replaced.
You could probably get that work done for less than the 5000.00 different here but you can't paint it or find all the missing pieces to complete it. Oh and there's no residuals to sell back into the restorers hand for cash to get your new ch***is.

 

I was in a similar boat as you, I had an old rusty sedan stocker that I drove and wanted to keep stock so I bought a coupe to hot rod. I picked up the Tardel book like everyone recommends, bought a welder and spent a ton of time reading threads and watching YouTube. Taught myself how to weld and had a functional hot rod in 6 months or so. I've been tinkering on it for another year or so dialing it in and adding or rebuilding stuff I slapped together out of haste to have something driveable. I'm by no means a great fabricator or builder but I've been learning a LOT!

I started with this-



Was here in about 9 months or so-

 

If you want a traditional car you don't want a TCI frame. You want a Model A frame.

 

This would be a good start. I've seen cherry ones like this for around $6 or $7k when the drivetrain ****s out and the owner can't afford to fix it (on rare occasion, but I've never been able to take advantage sadly). ***les are a must here in MA.

 

All good advice given. I'm 4 years into my build and have ac***ulated a lot of "parts" but no drive able car. Originally I wanted to import (I'm in Australia) a completed car, but with tight import restrictions, I started on this loooong journey. If I was doing it again, or in your situation, buying a driving complete car would be the best way to go. It wouldn't take much to take one of the cars pictured above and turn it into a driving Hot Rod.

Although I have a flathead for my project, if I were doing it again, I'm not sure if I would do the same. You have a huge choice of engines available that would go great in a Model A, I would use whatever I could get cheap, sbc, nailhead, olds ??

No get out there and buy that '30 that 31Vicky posted !!

 

Thanks a bunch for all the input. I always say that nothing beats "been there done that!" The americandreamcars.com looks like a great resource. I see cars there for $25K that would be just what I'm looking for. I think my best-case scenario would be a car that's already chopped, SBC with auto, and fenders and take it from there, and make it my own. It's easy to get carried away after watching some of the awesome build threads.