Projects 1931 Ford Model A

First thing I might do is to swap out what was used for gauges.

Brand must include 2 1/16 gauges, and I have six spots to fill.
1. Oil Pressure
2. Water Temperature
3. Tach
4. Vacuum
5. Voltage
6. Clock

Does anyone have any recommendations on what brand to look at?

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so you have a plan for mounting more gauges? is it more traditional looking than this?



or what?

 

Plan on relocating the toggle switch that is used for dome light where the original ignition switch would have been and putting a gauge in there and then I have one of these that will add another two gauges.



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Since there's no need for a vacuum gauge, volt meter, or clock, it might look cleaner without them?

 

Good point, but I might at least need to get rid of that toggle switch and replace it with a gauge.



This is where the ignition switch is currently along with a pull for headlights and a toggle for the electrical fan on the radiator. (Fan will need to be changed to come on when a pre-determined temperature is reached)

 

I like where your minds at but to get that multi guage hot roddy look is typically a long list of manuevers, cutting the bottom of the tank out, welding or bolting in a dash etc.... very doable but a big project. Perhaps "the aristocrat" would work for your wishes?

 

Is the stock fuel tank being used?

 

Yes, stock fuel tank is being used.

 

That looks nice but not looking to do any cutting.

 

That doesnt require cutting. The aristocrat is a bolt in option for you...

 

Interesting...

if it were my car, I'd probably put an oil pressure gauge and temp gauge in the main cluster, and make one of those lights near the ignition switch an idiot light for the charging system. I'd also do whatever it takes to get rid of the electric fan.

But it's not my car, and I'm weird, so....

 

With the cowl tank there is very little room behind the gauge bezel. The original gauges were not very deep, front to back.

If you use the two hole gauge hanger, that is less an issue.

 

Sorry but it still seems I would have to cut out the current panel to put gauges in those locations that the aristocrat has?

Or does the whole panel from left to right get replaced?

 

It bolts into the same holes as your other stock guage panel. I've never run one personally so besides the lead on a cut free idea, I am not going to be of much help. I believe the angle of the bezel allows for the additional guages

 

The Aristocrat bezel installs over the original bezel.
Unfortunately, it appears the reproduction Aristocrat is not longer available, and old originals have become pretty pricey.

 

What's really amazing is that any original Model As survived 95 years without all those extra gauges!

 

Oh cmon! This is a hot rodding forum! Ive seen more useless guages on build threads on the hamb than anywhere else haha

 

The smoothed and painted backside of the firewall and trans hump sure look nice, but after a small amount of driving they are going to be HOT. I personally would either upholster or carpet (with backing) those areas.

I myself don't like Aristocrat covers. They look too JC Whitney to me. I'm sure you can come up with some other arrangement that will look good.

 

It looks so nice I would hate to have to cover it up but I suspect you are right, and living in SWFL currently and then back to Arizona in a few years I don’t need any extra heat.

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I Love your coupe! If your coupe, and mine got married? They could make some COOL little Hot Rods togther! Thanks for the pictures. We Love Pictures!

 

Great score for the $.
I must admit I was watching the sale on BaT.
I see you’ve already changed up the steering wheel, but if I were the winning bidder my list of changes would be:
A) Squirrel is on the nuts (pun intended) with the fan change. I’d have a zips unit in there asap.
B) then I’d swap out the front axle, from a tube unit to an Ibeam unit. Think it would look better and address the safety issue of using a tube axle with hairpins (many pooh-pooh the need, but I’d do it).
C) then I’d probably sell the Torq Thrust IIs and either do TTO’s or probably powder coated steel wheels.
D) then a dropped headlight bar and plug wires.
Then I’d drive the nuts off that thing.

 

I end up just getting liability insurance on them, and drive the s*** out of them. No limits on what I can do with the cars (within the confines of the law, of course)

your financial situation might make you cringe at the idea, though

 

Yes, currently have a 68 Camaro that I swapped the inline 6 for a LS3 and is often my daily diver to work (as long as there is no rain in the forecast)

With that being said I’ll most likely get basic insurance on it.

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Here is a picture for today, guess window goes done so you can communicate with some one in the rumble seat. Do non-rumble seat cars have this option?



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Information here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...wn-window-whats-the-story-rare-option.230517/

 

X2 on the tube and clevis. Cheapest fix might be batwing that take uethene bushes, and urethene bushes. I ran a tube like that for many years and miles without a problem.

Tidy car nonetheless!

Chris

 

heh....to fit in here, you'd want to have it about your journey to un-Street Rod a Model A.

 

Change Street to Hot then your okay. lol

 

Plus get an different looking headlight knob and mount the switch in the column drop. Ignition switch (on/off), starter push button on stock dash also (switch where the toggle is now) and water temp gauge. Then make a small nice looking panel for the jeweled warning lights under the dash lip (oil, charge and high beam).

 

Those are good ideas, thanks.

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