So towards the end of this year and after nearly 10 years of ownership I decided it was time for a change and I sold my bitchin little 32 pick up. It was a hell of a wrench to watch it go but I'm happy it has found a good home. Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr The need for something quicker, I compete in various racing events, and also something I could fit the kids in prompted the change and following the sale I started looking for a suitable replacement. I really wanted a 32 sedan but the money they command these days meant that a model A would have to do. That's when I found an advert on here for a cool A sedan fitted with a 32 header panel. A sham 32 sedan. The more I read the more I liked... 401 nailhead with tri power 8 inch with posi Guide headlights Shroeder steering Buick drums 36 dash etc Nailed together by fellow HAMBER and all round cool dude Jay Gordan (blackout78666) it ticked a lot of boxes for me so after numerous emails and a phone call we struck a deal and the shipping was arranged to bring back here to the UK. A couple of weeks ago I got to finally pick it up and have my first proper look and drive of it. It kicks ass! Here are a few pics and a vid of my first squirts in it. Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr IMG_7483 by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Plans for the car are to fine tune the sprint steering as it is very heavy when not moving then head towards an early 60's street/strip look. White diamond pleat roof insert, along with white grill insert and rear wheel wells. I'll get the rims chromed at some point too. I can't wait!
Happy New Year @ukgav...with what you created with that pickup I can just imagine what your gonna do with that sedan...Wow please keep us in the loop.
Very sharp. Is this the car that blackout78666 was selling? Sure looks like it, I would have been very happy to have your new car in my garage. Enjoy it sir! -Dave
Cool sedan.. I like "A" visors but I must say your "A" sedan with the 32 windshield looks pretty dam good...
Quick update... The first stage of work has been completed down at a good friend Kelvin's place, Flying A Speedshop, here in the UK. This focused mainly on getting the steering sorted as it was very heavy with the 8:1 sprint box. We took cues from the rolling bones cars and remounted the box further down in the cowl whilst fabricating a raised steering hoop at the spindle so that the drag link is now parallel. This in turn meant Kelvin had to adjust the headers down to clear it. Along with this he also fitted up some new seats and did some remedial welding to the rear shock mounts and crossmember. I picked it up and had my first real drive of it a couple of weeks ago where I took it to the VHRA Vintage Nationals which is a little like the Antique Nationals you have over there. An all traditional hot rod drag event. In all I drove over 200 miles there and back with no real issues and ran a best of 13.7secs which surprised me. The motor is under carbed with the 3 94's and I left the trans in D for my runs. I have a 3 Rochester on an Eelco manifold set up to go on and will probably put a shift kit in the trans so that time should come down some. That was on crossplys too. The steering is much improved and I actally quite like the fast ratio but in honesty it is still heavy through the turns and suffers a little bump steer so I'm a little undecided if it will stay. I may try a 2:1 ratio steering quickener mounted backwards to see if it helps steering effort or maybe look at another box like a reversed late 70's F150. Dare I say it but the word 'vega' has been mentioned too! Anyway here are a few pictures of where I'm at with it. Next up is a roof insert, bonnet top and windows. Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr
you may want to read that thread posted by Pete Eastwood about bump steer and steering box mounting. Try not to limit yourself to just those two steering box choices, there are many different boxes that will work, I have a '57 Chevy pick-up box in my '30 tudor. Like sloppy said above, very nice car.
47INT, where is the P Eastwood thread thread you mention? Did a search using those terms and nada came up.
Yeah man I read that a couple of weeks ago along with just about every other thread on here about cowl steering. Pete sure isn't a fan is he I can see his point though, the whole geometry of this kind of set up can only result in some amount of bump steer although done right it looks like you can limit it. My bump steer isn't vicious and doesn't pitch you all over the road but you know it's there. I haven't ruled any steering box out of the equation yet but I'm slightly limited as the nailhead starter motor is in the way of any straight column to box mounted on the frame rail configuration. Couple more action shots Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr
The seats were an eBay purchase. Believe they are from a 70’s British triumph. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I see how you have lowered the steering box to get it closer to the radius rod pivot, guess anything will help. I have a Y block in my A and as you know that motor takes up a lot of room between the frame rails so I mounted the box on top of the frame. I run exhaust just like yours on your nailhead but it is a little higher. Maybe you could mount a box on top of frame and angle up the headers some to clear. I'm sure it will work out whatever you end up doing.
Great looking sedan! I really like the '32 header on your car. Sure looks like you're having some fun with it -- keep it going!
Have you played with the alignment or tire pressure to see if it changes the “heavy” spot your finding?
I see it "bump steered" right into the backside of your headlight. That would make for an interesting left turn. Add that to the list of adjustments. Otherwise, cool car.
Tire pressures seem happy around 28psi, castor is good at 6 degrees but yeah I'm going to play with the toe in a little and see if it helps. Thanks. I know man. We thought we had enough clearance but on full left lock and hitting a pot hole it wasn't quite enough. Everything is a little trial and error at the moment. The amount I drive and race my cars they need to handle well. We are getting there.
Next stop was the Beaters reliability run that again saw the car run like a champ. As it was on Kelvins doorstep I left the car with him to carry on with the other work we had planned. A roof insert and bonnet top were needed along with the mounting of a slim ally fuel tank that will sit up against the rear panel and allow the fitting of a rear seat. Insert and hood were completed as well as a blister covering the hole from the repositioned steering box and the tank has its holes and associated brackets ready for me to mount when I get chance. I picked it up just before Pendine, gave it a check over, and set off for darkest Wales. Oh I also painted the headers and rear wheel wells white to match the insert vinyl covering and to continue my slightly 60's theme. Again the car performed faultlessly and also got me into the 100mph club! I was quietly confident given the performance on the strip but man is that sand a great leveller! It never seemed an issue in the truck but having over twice the horsepower on that surface was a totally different experience. Still loads to do on it and some issues to sort but I can't be too unhappy with the start we have had! I think we are beginning to bond. Pictures courtesy of Gary Denham, Tony Bruce and myself. Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr Untitled by Gavin Meanley, on Flickr
The Jalopy Journal
