Yes- 3.5 inches- didn't have to go too deep because FORD puts the distributor on the FRONT of the motor ( brilliant) plus I don't like fighting with the rear plugs. I got by the rear axle width with by getting custom off set steel rims. A friend who's a builder says a Bronco rear axle is perfect under an A for width.
i have heard that early bronco 9" fits well. i wonder about 10 or 12 bolt? anyone know who/were is the best source for a perimeter A frame? i saw ebay frame start at 700, speedway at 1200. or anyone hear who makes em?
Pick up the phone, or go visit Steve at his shop here: http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/ Industrial Chassis Inc. 3536 W. Osborn Suite 5 Phoenix, AZ 85019 You will be amazed and he will make sure you have a chassis and related items that will live behind that monster torque 427 ! Steve is a fantastic guy as well as a Top-Shelf designer and fabricator.
Pic of '82 Camaro 10 bolt on my 30 coupe with deep offset rear steel rims ( 12 years ago) gray primer coupe with an Olds Cutlass rear end ( free, so I used it- stock 15" rollers)) red primer car I'm working on now, another 80's Camaro 10 bolt ( stock 15" rollers) My green coupe has a TCI frame from Cally under it-- very well made and strong as hell. I don't know what they sell for now- that one was around 1600 bucks with SBC engine mounts, center tranny mount, and the rear set up for coilovers. I think they probably sell a bare perimeter frame too. I bought this one, new, at a swap meet for a grand. Sounds like the place in Arizona is worth calling.
My advice is if you use a Model A frame box it the entire length and don't forget access holes for body mount bolts etc. And forget the big engine. That will end up giving you nothing but grief.
Nothing wrong with a model A frame, if it's a good one. Are you the guy that can weld and fabricate? if you can't buy one! If you use strong strait across members you don't " HAVE" to put an X member in. If you put a 283 in that model A without boxing.. and let down the jack, it will bow out like a stepped on frog! Now think about a 427.... and hook it up to the ground. Another thing that hasn't come up yet, There is less room in a A pick up then a coupe. Are you a big guy? Where are you going to sit? Just say'n if you plan on a "chop" and maybe a "channel"
I have notice that trucks have less room and I wanna run full fender and hood. I think BBC is too tight. I am fore seeing header/steering issues. I have a running 85 5.0 standard that I bought a while back for a donor hot rod and after taking measurement, it looks like a better fit.
When you are measuring engines for fit, be sure to have the pulleys and fan on the front too. My little brother's A coupe with a small block Ford has quite a recess in the firewall. It might be the same depth as the BBC would require.
I like the A frame from the A pillar forward, but from there back the frame gets further away from the outside edge of the body, it does this right where the frame gets shallower, this combo lets the siderail seem to disappear as you get closer to the car... makes the car look like it's arse sits high, but that is because you can't see the framerail, the framerail making the car seem 3" to 4" lower... '32 style frames let you bolt the body down through the subrails not the crossrails like a stock A... you can run your crossmembers anywhere you want...
The Jalopy Journal
