Looking to Get Started...

In my opinion, as mentioned above, the best start is....books, books and more books! Not only the Tardel, et. al. type, but original (repop) Model A Owners Manual, repair manuals, restoration books, anything that will give you insight and education of what your raw material is all about As you pointed out, books are not cheap, but knowledge is invaluable, and the more knowledge you have about the pile of parts in front of you will help you more than you realize. Also, get whatever literature you can about non-Model A stuff you are going to use (flathead V-8, early Ford hydraulic brakes, etc.). Study them closely and the advice you get here will make more sense to you, and also give you a basis to make your own decisions without having to follow 'herd mentality', after all, that's what hotrodding is all about.

 

Lots of brake parts in the classifieds it seems lately. Talk to @thunderbirdesq up in Williamsport, PA as he can drop your axle or exchange yours for one he has. He may be the closest to your location.

 

Thanks Anthony!

 

28phonebooth - Thanks I have been reading a lot - books and online. I have more books on the way. I’m sure I will still have a lot of questions for you guys as I develop an understanding of what my options are and I’ll look for your experience to provide recommended ways forward.

 

vtwhead - Thanks! I’m on it!

 

I really like this look and will be looking to you guys to help me get there.

 

37-41 Ford spindles and 53-56 F-100 brakes. Speedway makes an adapter bearing kit. Send Your axle to Okie Joe at Joe's Speed Shop. He can drop your spindles and fit your kingpins also. Great guy and fair prices.

 

He truly is a great guy to drop your axle and relatively close to you.

 

Tman/vtwhead - Thanks! I sent thunderbirdesq a message. Waiting to hear back.

 

He has been spending most of his time on IG and I don't think he has posted here in ages. Might want to just try his website in his profile

 

Thanks. I’ll try to find him.


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I've had Andy Koehler drop two axles for me, and I live half way across the country! He makes a nice looking axle. And, since he is close to you and you'll probably want to hand deliver to him, I suggest asking if you can poke around his shop and pick his brain for tips and ideas. He knows his way around old Fords.

 

Great advice.

 

......He has been posting in the classifieds, looking to sell this sweet '41.

 

3 hr ride to Williamsport, no brain'r.

 

This car is not lowered.
This car still has it's mechanical brakes.
This car is basically a stock Model A with later V8 wheels and a souped up mill.
I love it....
This route would be perfect for you!

You can get there easy.

You don't have to drop the axle.
You don't have to get juice brakes.
This car is true traditional Hot Rodding! True traditional hot Rodding is taking a platform ; like this Model A, and making it perform better.

Don't get confused. Don't get distracted by bullshit. You don't have to have dropped axles and juice brakes on a early A Banger Gow Job!

Bangers are expensive to soup up. Where you save on a Banger car is not having to do all the axle and chassis changes required for the V8. So the advantage to building a A Banger Jalopy Rod is not having to do all the crap you have to do to accommodate a V8.

As I said above, it's true Traditional Hot Rodding. While I have to give credit to the engineering required in stuffing a big engine into a car....There's just something special about souping up a old car with it's original engine or original type engine. Thus you keep the soul of the car intact....
Example.....
A 1941 Plymouth is more interesting to me with it's original flat 6 hopped up than one with a SBC or even a Hemi stuffed into it.
It is what it is, and making what it is better is quite an accomplishment.

 

Thanks F-ONE - I really like that Model A. I think 3 carbs is a bit much. Ha! Maybe I should start with this as a plan and eventually do juice brakes and drop axle? What would be some good bolt on banger mods? Which wheels would be good?


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https://earlyfordstore.com/model_a_b_speed_equipment.php
look up model a banger hop up
Lots of info here.
Traditional wheels for the era you mention would be Ford 16 inch wires from 1936/36 Fords or steel wheels and caps
Like 40 -48 ford 16 inch steel wheels
16 inch f1 or 15 inch mercury and f100 wheels.

 

Read this thread by my good friend @drdave
He accidentally bought a completely stock Model A at an auction and started a thread about it. Banger power, dropped axle, lowered, '35 wheels, big 'n littles, etc. Fun car.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/drdave-accidentally-buys-a-model-a-now-what.1111340/

 

there is a typo in Anthony's post. He meant 1935 wheels. 1936 wheels are wide 5; totally different.

 

1935 wheels. Will that work with stock and also down the road if I do juice brakes? Where is the best place to find 4 (straight ones ?

Let's talk about banger bolt on's. 97 carb? Intake manifold? High compression head? 6:1? Winfield? What about exhaust manifold? Header?

Looking for my first mods to be bolt on's. Not looking to put a new cam in right away.

 

35 wheels will work fine until you convert to juice brakes. The early drums have supports for the wheels that the later drums do not have. You can make or buy support rings, see the Tardell/Bishop book

 

Thanks Tman!

 

Read through this thread. Fun stuff! Cool how drdave just fell into the model a thing. Thanks arkiehotrods!

 

Thanks anthony! I am making my list. I am not seeing much out there as far as headers or exhaust manifolds go. What's up with that? Am I just not looking in the right spots?

 

Reds headers used to have an A and B 4cyl header.
There may also be a weld up kit out there.
I have never made one for an A but they look simple

 

TM, classifieds are your best friend:
Search Results for Query: wire wheels | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
Search Results for Query: Model A 4 cylinder | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)
word of caution though, check who you are buying from. Lots of scammers floating around so be careful or ask us for input before sending any $$$$$.

 

I learned this a long time ago. Ask for a fresh photo of the part from some strange angle or of the Back side of it. If they can't give you a fresh photo other than what's posted just pass. This Scam stuff is out of control.

 

Thanks. I was starting to feel like I could trust all the info here on H.A.M.B. I guess there are scammers everywhere. Too bad.


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There's a lot of us on here you can trust. It's fairly easy to know the ones to careful of. All avitars will show you the join date just by setting your curser on there Name, up it pops. Then you can also review there listings. If they actually participate on the boards your fairly safe. If they are new and very low counts as well as just pimp the classifieds you should be seeing a flashing yellow light. Just be smart and don't assume anything. Ask questions.