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What the hell do I do with this?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Raddad, Apr 3, 2023.

  1. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    I recently inherited my dads 30' model A. Been in the family for almost 50 years. He never finished it. He just ran out of interest in it the last 20 years. He did have the original motor 100% rebuilt by an original Ford production line engine builder. So it will run with a bit of pre-cranking maintenance.

    Hoping some of your replies can sway me one way or the other.

    I really dont have any interest in driving the 26HP beast. Yes I will get it running to experience it, but..I want to hot rod it in the theme that some of you boys would have back in the 40's. I don't have a ton of money to put into this but thought it would be fun and keep it.

    Would you hot rod it or keep it stock?
    If stock, I will sell it to a good home.
    If you hot rod it, would you chop it?
    Would you put a V8/6 in it or hot rod the 4?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Very nice. Looks like it,s ready for paint.
     
  3. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,196

    Budget36
    Member

    Why not hop up the banger? Do some mods on it as you’re driving it around. Probably less expensive and less work than a drivetrain change and will still be a hotrod. Juice brakes, etc as well. Go wild and swap in a T5.
     
    Cooon, nunattax, clem and 10 others like this.
  4. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,467

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Budget36 has it right. Work with what you have there. Do the banger up a little bit get some good brakes on it and drive it for a bit and enjoy it. The fact it was your dads for 50 years means a lot. Don't let it go lightly.
     
  5. Lloyd's paint & glass
    Joined: Nov 16, 2019
    Posts: 10,774

    Lloyd's paint & glass
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  6. '29 Gizmo
    Joined: Nov 6, 2022
    Posts: 1,159

    '29 Gizmo
    Member
    from UK

    Depends on your budget, and your skills. Price up your options, then that may decide your route. You say limited budget but does that mean 5K, 10k or 20k?
     
    dirt t, X38 and AVater like this.
  7. A 2 B
    Joined: Dec 2, 2015
    Posts: 552

    A 2 B
    Member
    from SW Ontario

    Nice honest, complete example. Give it some time. Study the ones you like on the net, at shows and especially this site. Make notes, save pics, ask questions and compile all the attributes you like on each of them.
    There are many different paths to take and many opinions on which route to take. Asking here was a great first step. The collective knowledge here is astounding.
    After you have a definite plan set in your minds eye, you can start the search for parts needed. This is the best method for planning a build without accumulating an excess of parts that will never be used. You can stretch your limited budget by biding your time, keeping an ear to the ground and networking your needs with like minded individuals.
    In the end you will have all the parts needed at a lesser cost.
    Good luck, have fun with it and enjoy the discovery process of what your Dad has done and where he was going with it in the mean time.
     
  8. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,410

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Do you have a garage to store it in?
     
    bulletpruf likes this.
  9. X38
    Joined: Feb 27, 2005
    Posts: 17,498

    X38
    Member

    It's not a rare beast, so hot rodding it will not be like killing the last Sumatran tiger. That also means it's not particularly valuable. Having said that, we know nothing of your skill level, so if you do try to do things, including chopping it and fuck it up, it will be worth less than it is now.

    But if you do know what you are doing, I agree with Budget36. A T5 trans swap would make a huge difference.
     
  10. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 5,329

    Rand Man
    Member

    Do not start tearing it apart. Set small goals. Get it to start, run and drive as-is, while deciding what you want to change. Pick a modification that can be accomplished in a weekend or two. You will find out fairly soon if you enjoy this type of thing.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2023
  11. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,016

    jaracer
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I always thought I'd like a stock Model A. Mine had pretty fair sheet metal, but the engine and trans had been submerged at one time. I ended up hot rodding it.

    By the way, it is rated at 40 HP, not 26.
     
  12. Hop up the banger, take the guards off, put some juice brakes on, drive it.
     
  13. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    That was exactly my plan..You are a wise man.. Simple stuff reallty. Except now I need to learn how to hot rod a 100 year old 4 cylinder...
     
  14. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,818

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    ^^^^^ THIS !!!!!!!!!!

    Depending on how far he got with the mechanical part I'd think about getting it running and driving as is. Then I'd drive it for a season and take it to some of the local cruise nights, cars and coffees or shows. Just have fun with it for a bit and then decide what you want to do with it be it just finish it, modifiy it or sell it.
    The problem with inheriting a car is often you get someone's nose out of joint if you change it from the way Dad wanted it. Remembering a buddy about 40 years ago who's grandparents gave him their old 55 Chevy two door post that they had driven for years but had sat in the shed for quite a while. Grandpa and grandma both knew that he was going to take the six and powerglide out and put in a V8 and 4 speed and that he had been picking up pieces for a while. They were good with it and soon after he got it home he pulled the six and put in the 327 and 4 speed and got it running and took it down and got it repainted at a local shop in a different (complete paint job) color. then put on the Crager SS wheels and white letter tires.
    He drove it to the next family gathering and one of his grandpa's brothers went postal on him because he had "ruined that original car and destroyed it's value" . A couple of shirt tail relatives chimed in giving him a hard time until Grandma set them in their place but good from what I heard from a third party.

    Main thing still is that I wouldn't be in a big rush to make big changes. Drive it and decide or plan a solid course of action.
     
  15. 57Fury440
    Joined: Nov 2, 2020
    Posts: 506

    57Fury440
    Member

    There are quite a few guys on here that could tell you what you need to know to be able to hop up the 4 cyl.
     
  16. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    You guys are all wise and love the great chatter you have supplied. I am pretty mechanically sound and not afraid to ask for help when I am not. So here is more...

    I realize this isn't an expensive vehicle and the fact that its not particularly rare makes the decision easier. Dad wanted it original - since he was born in 1930 - but..he didnt finish it and had enough money to pay someone and still didnt.

    I have been lurking at many car shows and asking questions, getting ideas including creating an awesome Pinterest board of hot rods - probably some you guys own. I am definitely going to pull the fenders, lower it as much as I can without channeling the thing. and see how she looks.

    I really do want to chop it a bit to make it look less like a rolling box (see Ford F-150) and the brakes....you guys call em "Juice" brakes... is that a brand? I was wondering what would bolt on there without much issue and still look the part.
    The T5- I just switched my 65 Fastback (auto) to a 5 Speed manual with a T-5 so I have the that drill down pretty good. At least with this one, there is a bunch more room..

    What I was thinking was putting a flat head on it, but I had one guy tell me that that leads to a bunch of other engine and tranny mod requirements. Is that true? Are they bad?

    Finally - what do I do with all the nice fender, and spare parts from the original?
     
    chryslerfan55 and 4speed411 like this.
  17. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    Not at the moment. It is under a nice cover and I live in Arizona...so it aint rustin...
     
  18. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    I would like to throw 10k at it and see where that gets me. Brakes and Wheels a T5 Transmission and some engine mods?
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  19. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    Yeah but she runs like 26...;-)
     
    210superair and Desoto291Hemi like this.
  20. stuart in mn
    Joined: Nov 22, 2007
    Posts: 2,733

    stuart in mn
    Member

    Juice brakes is slang for hydraulic brakes, to replace the mechanical brakes on there now (although they can be made to work pretty well, if adjusted correctly - during the initial stage of getting it running with the stock drivetrain the mechanical brakes are probably OK.)
     
  21. Raddad
    Joined: Aug 22, 2020
    Posts: 7

    Raddad

    Gotcha - any suggestions on car models or brands that are easily adaptable?
     
  22. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,544

    alchemy
    Member

    Over the decades I’ve had small block Chevys, flathead Fords, and am now working on my first Ford four-banger. I may be backwards, but you can start from the right end. Build it with a hopped up four!
     
  23. silent rick
    Joined: Nov 7, 2002
    Posts: 5,624

    silent rick
    Member

  24. X38
    Joined: Feb 27, 2005
    Posts: 17,498

    X38
    Member

    First up, everything you are wanting to do or may be wanting to do has been done. Which is good, because you can draw on others knowledge. (you need to develop a filter for what knowledge is good though)

    To access a lot of this done and asked about before stuff, including driveline and brakes, you can seach the HAMB using the search button at the top of the page, or search the same question adding HAMB in google.

    Like I say, it's all been asked and covered before, a little looking will find plenty to study!
     
    chryslerfan55 and XXL__ like this.
  25. panhead_pete
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 3,713

    panhead_pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Here`s my relatively stock A Coupe when I was turning into a highboy which is cheap and easy to do at home. Dropped headlight bar is about the only thing you need to make/source. If you chop up your own one park the car on a flat surface and measure the angle of the headlight mount and replicate that when chopping it.

    279016157_396649865649040_8936914292114254262_n.jpg


    You have a couple routes, if you drive it sensibly and the mechanical brakes work fine you could staty by doing the following.

    1935 Ford 16 inch wire wheels or buy steel wheels and the mounting adaptor to run them.
    750-16 and 550-16 Firestone bias tires
    Remove fenders etc

    You can do all this in less than a day and be having fun.
    279317508_967193680660262_253468580422617676_n.jpg

    Start driving it.

    Over the next year collect all the hydraulic brake parts you need. You want approx 40 Ford etc. @RICH B sells reconnditioned bendix setups which would be the way to go. Old Yankee sells bolt in brackets for a master cylinder.

    Then its up to you what to do next. There is a big following for the banger (4 cyl) and I really enjoyed driving mine although it did have a couple cool hop up parts.

    For further inspiration have a look at @stubbsrodandcustom Model A coupe. Unchopped and cool as hell. It ceratinly inspired me.

    Also jump on insta and have a look at the Chris`s heavy chop but almsot stock A

    https://www.instagram.com/thebettyhunter/



    Some of the best money you will spend is the Les Andrews books. Buy all 3.

    These are relatively simple cars, keep your approach to match that.

    278993217_684781232801335_1545297286111805283_n.jpg
     
  26. Flathead v8
    Dropped axle
    Reverse springs
    Juice brakes
    16 inch 40 ford wheels
    Done
     
  27. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,457

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The Model A I'm building was rough, needed a lot of sheet metal and frame repair, and quite a few parts were missing so I decided to make a hot rod out of it. If' I had one like yours it would retain the banger, and I'd concentrate on making it a good close to stock driver with some performance improvements.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  28. Rand Man
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 5,329

    Rand Man
    Member

    Why throw out good fenders? Fendersless does not make it a hot rod. I always say: most of the rods that are built with no fenders, had no good fenders available.
     
  29. 38Chevy454
    Joined: Oct 19, 2001
    Posts: 6,761

    38Chevy454
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I think it depends on what you want for the final product. If a slightly modified stocker then keep your Dad's car and add the engine hop-up pieces, the dropped axle and springs, the hydraulic brakes, and different wheels. It will be a nice fun driver, but not a real fast car. You will get lots of attention at shows, make friends, and have a good time with something that is more than just the parts - it is a connection from your father.

    If you want a chopped top, modernish V8, modernish transmission, open drive conversion, and more, then it is probably best to sell what you have as a stock restored car and just buy something close to what you want to end up with. It will save you time and money. But you lose the sentimental aspect of it being the same car your father was building. Only you can answer that question.
     
    chryslerfan55, WC145 and X38 like this.
  30. indyjps
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 5,393

    indyjps
    Member

    It was your Dad's car. Do whatever makes you happy with it to keep it. Don't sell it.

    I like the hopped up 4 idea, totally agree with small changes - get it driving and keep it in the road.
     
    chryslerfan55, mrspeedyt and WC145 like this.

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