Ok, this is a dilemma I have. My Dad and my neighbor were partners in a farm equipment dealership. The neighbor was an old cars guy as well. He got me interested in old stuff but I tend towards period hotrods rather than restorations. He build a 31 pickup shop truck out of basically a basket case in the 70's. He was trying to get me to buy it but I already had a 32 5 window banger (recently sold) and an un modified A was not in my plans. He passed recently and his wife and daughter shocked me by giving me the pickup for all I did for Don. So I want to honor his legacy, but I need to make it more like something I want to drive. Easy part is 16" wires and big and littles, reverse the front spring eyes. I can beef up the motor or swap a B that I have and need synchronized gears. I do not want to touch the body. What can I do with the spare tire section on the front fender? I am not sure I want to widen the well for a bigger tire. Maybe swap it for a plain fender?
A buddy of mine solved that problem by picking up an old used 15" motorcycle tire/wheel for the spare tire well and covered it with a vinyl spare tire cover. The diameter matched the 15" wheels he had on his hot rod and the motorcycle wheel/tire was narrow enough to fit in the fender slot.
Congratulations on becoming a caretaker of a time capsule....with family history. I understand the want to get it to become something to drive, enjoying it in the process.... I couldn't ever get my head to accept the dual side mounts on my Cabriolet and the doors don't open all the way....and so many rattles disappeared I have big littles and when I travel long distance, I just carry a 16" tube...so far it has worked out.... I intended to load before and after photos, but I am fighting for bandwidth ...my wife has to watch her videos.....
If you are leaving the colour and not changing it into a lakester, you have done your duty. The man and now the family had enough trust in you, go ahead and make it yours. I personally would skip the fender mounts and lose the side boards, maybe make them into an art piece and give them back to the family. They had their vision with it while they were the caretakers, now you are. I try to guide the next generation, but they don’t have to like what I like.
If I had bought it from him, I would have felt more comfortable with more radical changes. I do think I want to keep the look similar. Probably the same color 16" wheels, Maybe I can get creative and mock up a skinny 32 wheel on the fender, or 32 wheel with no tire and carry tubes. At least the hubcaps would match and I keep the fender. The transmission is already a challenge. What do you guys that race these do? My B would shift pretty good when accelerating.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1930-ford-model-a-73/ An A with a set of ‘32 wires and a low stance is killer! Could even keep the spares in the fenders.
Easy fix. I run 16" wheels and use a stock 40 ford steel wheel as a spare. Tyre is a modern space saver. No body or fender mods whatsoever.
As you can see, I carry one of the original wheels for a spare. Painted it back to help it disappear.. As far as making your stock pickup drivable, A high compression head is the one thing that makes the biggest difference. The fully synchronized transmission with overdrive makes driving a pleasure. Self energizing self adjusting brakes are one hell of a lot better than the awful Lockheed brakes or the A brakes. You can look at my posts for info and pictures
Could you make some sort of cover for the wheel well and treat it as a tool box? You get the sleek profile of the original fender shape, get a fully functional door and something to talk about. The cover could be fender coloured to disappear or match the roof, or stainless or canvass or copper even. Just an idea, maybe not even a good one.
My last car was a 32 B with high compression head, hotter cam and dual 81's so I know how to get the HP, this also had the Early ford hydraulic brake kit. In fact I have a good B motor sitting in the garage. I don't want to go the full T5 route. What do I need to have to mount a 78 trans case to the A motor?
A Clings adapter. or My current project will have an A motor with a B flywheel housing, and B transmission filled with 40 gears and a 39 shift top. I’ll have to do a few little mods to the B oil pan to get it to seal at the rear main.
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