Hot Rods Model A body on ‘32 chassis WITH FENDERS- Help!

I think those are magnesium kidney bean small windows... not chrome slots. There is a ridge around each kidney hole.

 

I think you're a worry wart. Here's a 51 Ford PU chassis a guy brought to our shop that did have a 455 Olds engine (torque monster) that he wanted replaced with an LS3. He said he thought the LS engine was more powerful maybe we should touch up the welds he'd done on the front clip and cross members. He said he had driven it 6 years with the 455

 

"Either learn to weld good, or alot!"

 

Your close up pics reveal a 46 front axle that seems to have had the early (maybe Model A) perches welded directly to the axle. This was probably done because the 46 axle has a wider spacing between perches and the A spring wouldn't spread far enough.

Make sure to have this area cleaned up and checked very carefully for cracks and other odd wear. This construction is not common at all, and actually looks a little dangerous if the builder used poor talent. But, it has been driven many miles and years, and not fallen off yet. It might last another lifetime if the welds are solid.

If somebody (a good rod shop, not a 1-800 street rod shop) recommends replacing it due to poor technique, I'd say a slightly dropped A axle with stock perches would probably fit in the exact same space and give the same stance. I'm guessing the 46 axle was used because it has a slight drop over a stock A axle.

 

Yes they look almost identical. Big deuce thinks they may be mag?


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Correct, The picture by stogy is halibrands mag., Your original wheels are chrome, not magnesium, get your wheels re-chromed! If you absolutely can't live with a lil'Original surface rust... Which No one would complain about

 

Sorry they looked pretty close...maybe these are...era similar to yours by the way...this Hotrod graced the earth in 1956 but those wheels and tires are later middle 60s upgrades I think.

Riff definately try the clean up methods there is threads on doing that I think. The rims on this one look great but aren't spot on either.

Personally I like the driven look myself...aged doesn't bother me others can't stand it...its a personal thing I guess.

 

Both look very similar.


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Trust me the Hambers here are very sharp...there are differences, close in look yes but different......hope your having fun.

 

Having a ball-can’t wait to get the project started and document the entire build on the H.A.M.B.!


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From the extra photos, it's definitely a 57 block. There are not any bolt holes around the front freeze plug. That's where the side mount motor mounts bolt up. Not side bolt holes = no side mounts.

The heads have the Power Pack markings. However, those markings were used up through at least 1964. Did you notice if the valve cover bolts lined up, from top to bottom? If they line up, the heads are mid-59 or newer. If they are staggered, they are mid 59 or older. Here's a photo of valve covers with staggered bolt holes





The Carter carb is 1960's. The date code on the original intake looks to be B 2 5. That would be February 2 1965. This is the day that the intake was cast at the foundry. The aluminum intake that is on the engine could be either factory Chevrolet, or aftermarket, (for example Edelbrock, Weiand, Offenhauser, etc.) Is there a name such as these, cast into the aluminum intake? The original cast iron intake and Carter carb. probably came off of a 327.

From the close up photos of the steering wheel, the distributor is either a 55 - 56 Chevy, or a 57 dual point. This was figured out, by the clips that hold the cap onto the distributor. Chevrolet brought out the "Window" distributor in 1957. The "Window" style caps are attached differently than the 55 - 56 distributor caps. The higher horse power 1957 283's that had dual point ignitions, still used clips to hold the dist. cap on, however.

As has been mentioned, the rear axel is a Chevy. There is not a drain plug that is visible in the photos. The 55 and 56 rear axle housings did not have drain plugs. 57 to 64 housings did have a drain plug. 55 and 56 housings are the same, and use one type of wheel bearings. 57 through 64 housings all use the same bearings, but these bearings are different from the 55 - 56 wheel bearings.

 

I was gonna mention that too. I'd probably think about replacing that axle as well. Definitely a little sketchy.

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Those are not really handles for the rumbleseat, but rather supports so that the top doesn't rest on the body in the down position, i believe.

 

The 3731548 is a highly desirable block. The Tri-5 boys would kill for that.

It can be either a 265 or a 283 [they used the same casting] and the 265 can be bored to 283 without sonic testing
The 265's were painted Charteuse Yellow/green and 283's painted Orange.
It is the only year 283 made without bosses on the side for engine mounts [it used front mounts]
The other 2 years without bosses were 55 & 56 but they were 265" only

The 57 SBC was the year that GM made an improvement modification to the rear cam bearing for constant flow to the lifter gallery [previous years had pulsed flow and required a special cam]

The only bug with rebuilding early 283's, is you need a special freeze plug in the rear cam, and they have a rope rear main seal [a conversion is available and recommended]



A word of advice from somebody that follows vintage road racing and appreciates art.
History is Everything ,so don't fuck with the history!

It is a lot easier to restore a car, than to build a car............In your case you are restoring a Hot Rod.

You would be surprised how much a strip-down, sand blast, repair welds, repaint, and re-assemble will achieve.
The vintage car crowds have been restoring cars using that method for years. [yours is a vintage hot rod]

If you want to use it regularly , then upgrade to modern radials and modern shocks.
You don't need modern brakes [discs etc] but a simple upgrade to modern ceramic matrix brake shoes. [they're aren't parts store cheap, but certainly cheaper than re-engineering the whole system]
And your car will have great stopping power.

Remember "History is everything" [even family history]

edit: Your car is a "Photograph in time" please choose the era carefully.

 

Kerrynzl-great comments! Thanks. If you’ve read the entire thread, I’ve revised my original (uninformed) plan for the car to do pretty much what you are recommending.



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@RiffRaffRoadster this is not to convince you to ditch the fenders but this is a very nice Model A roadster 32 framed with a Top very nicely done...now add fenders, remove hood, Either black wall, www, or duplicates of your dads tires...on your rims.

This has a mild chop I believe...





https://www.hotrod.com/articles/tra...-model-a-roadster-was-45-years-in-the-making/

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Nice Stogy-thanks. Several folks have suggested I lower headlight bar (like the car in your pic). Is that a desired customization and is it period correct?


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Don't fall into the trap of trying to do everything that people suggest, they are expressing their opinion on it, but stay true to your vision of keeping it close to what it was when your Dad had it with some possible safety related upgrades when they are advisable!

 

I believe it is if you look at the Shorter Roadster on page 3 it dropped and it was in 1956.

 

Not to get off subject either, but my favorite "A" on 32 frame in the shop is this poster.

 

Dick keep in mind here Riff is also getting an heck of a briefing on what history of a Hotrod is in particular his Hotrod. I am not forcing this I am sharing what he has.

If you read what I posted I did also did suggest imagining this vehicle with the additional features from his added. I also did say if he changes things change with new and keep and store the old for example the windshield...IF he should decide to mildly chop and adding a top is not a negative and as long as anything he decided to change is period to as he said early to mid sixties.

 

Are you ever going to get Kieth out there to look at it?
r


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Yes that I can't wait for...it's kind of like watching ketchup come out of a bottle...

 

Riff heres another story on the page 3 Shorter Roadster owned by one Lorne Kerr...and a really cool story...another awesome profile to study.

Gotta say unchopped is pretty awesome as well...by the way your grille shell is filled and that's a nice detail.

Humorous quote below from the story regarding the owner Lorne Kerr...

"Nearly 30 years later Kerr, retired as principal of Eric Hamber secondary"




https://www.nsnews.com/lifestyle/north-van-hot-rodder-honoured-1.372099

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I am not suggesting that you are trying to influence him, I'm just saying, he is being inundated with so many suggestions that he may make some changes he will regret later and that would be sad if that happens! I know that most, if not all, of these suggestions are being offered with good intentions but still could have an effect on his thinking.

 

Stock windshield I see-no chop no angle


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I sent his shop manager an email over the weekend just checking in. No response, but previously he said he and Keith are busy prepping for the Grand National Roadster Show in Cali. I’m not going to press him, but I see this year’s Lone Star Roundup slipping away...


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Thanks for sticking up for me Dick-appreciate it. Stogy is one of the good ones on here. He has been very supportive and mentoring to me during this process. I trust his advice, but when he pushes too hard ( like going back to Hi-Boy or putting the taillights back on the body), I push back!


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I read up on this guy last week. Someone posted a pic of his car at a SoCal show a couple of years back I think. He had several articles written about his car. He’s out of Vancouver I think.


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Hamber secondary school-that’s funny right there...


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