I am new to the early ford scene but I have always been interested in it. I was fortunate enough to pick me up a 30 model a custom woodie built by a local here but unfinished. With said purchase I also scored a 8ba and an aod transmission and the adapter kit. (I am not sure how i feel about an automatic here) and all 1939 running gear. Banjo axle and spindles all around as well as split wishbones, the front axle is a good 4 inch dropped axle, king pins are already done and o have reverse eye springs all made up. And ready to go. The only problem is I have no experience with flattys (i do know this one to be a runner) and I have a 392 hemi stacked on the shelf as well that kinda begs to go in this car. Any 2 cents here? How does anyone like their flatty with an auto? Any way to get an easy read on the condition of the inside of this flatty?
Welcome to the Hamb. I like the flathead, taking it apart is the only proper way to check it out, get it running and you will get a fill if it's usable as is. I like the hemi also but they cost a arm & leg to rebuild. HRP
I have noticed that when looking at rebuild parts and mine unfortunately has one bore with a pretty nasty scar
I'm not a flathead fan, so that would be a really easy discussion for me. if it runs, it should be easy to sell. With a 392 Hemi you want to install, the flathead drive train will not hold up well. You will likely need a different drive train if you intend to use the Hemi. I'd sell the rest of the Ford drive train to the guy that buys the motor. The Hemi conjures up an entirely different version of the woody then the flathead version is. Which vision do you have? Its not my car... I also doubt the flathead guys will agree with me, and would tell you to use the flathead. Looks like a pretty cool project, we expect a build thread, which ever direction you go.
A sleeve in the one nasty bore could solve that problem, but even a run of the mill freshening up is expensive with the Hemi. Its easy to spend other people's money. The whole project looks like an expensive project to me.
Thats the thing, the body is decidedly more 60s hot rod than 50s all curvy and styled. And that opens me up to more era stuff like 9 inch ford rear ends and such that would be a much better choice behind that hemi. Plus the fun of the hemi power. But its just a stock model a frame. Not even boxed. I would at least want to do that. Probably not something I want to run the buggy style springs with either
In my opinion, from experience, the best, OVER-ALL built cars have a proper "balance". Steering, brakes, power, suspension/handling etc, should be close to matching. When a car has any one of these extremely better than the rest , it makes those other parts feel inadequate, even if braking was at the extreme. Think about it. car 1; handles and rides good, but underpowered and doesn't stop great= car2 ; lots of power, doesn't stop well and rides like shit and handles like a porch = car 3; stops on a dime, but doesn't have enough power to pull a bum out of bed and rides like a buckboard, handling doesn't matter because it has no power. car 4; has enough braking , handling and ride for the amount of power....even if they are not the best flat head, 39 running gear and all the components match well and will be more fun IMHO. I drove a roadster with a flatty and an automatic, and, despite the loss of power through the automatic, it was fun.
Your exactly right on the nose there. I did well with my 57 build and it has a truly great balance. And because of that I drive it well and often and feel safe. I am still ki kicking around options on transmissions if I run the flatty. I also have a Muncie 3 speed overdrive that I could adapt on the back as well. I honestly wish my parts shelf was smaller. Too many options makes this a headache. I also have a BBC a sbc with camel hump heads and some of a small block ford
Cool. If you modernize it past what was available in 1965, you will want to move the build over to the "off topic" section. There you can post any pictures, and talk about any drive train upgrades. You will get more input from the guys that are not locked into the restrictions of the guys here on the main board. To get to the "Off topic" section, on the red banner at the top of the page you will notice the second name on the left is "The H.A.M.B." highlight it and click your mouse over it. That pulls down a menu. Scroll down to the "Misc" section and click on the "Off Topic Hot Rod section." Its a whole new world of the HAMB that you may like a lot.
I will definitely stop in! Most of my builds fit there. I definitely want to keep this one old school though. Including as I think of it at least not using that aod.
Just so you are aware, if the forum moderators think its off topic, they will move it there on their own. Pictures of the wrong wheels (even during the build process) will send it to the off topic section.
Well its a good thing wheel choice is EXTREMELY limited with wide 5 haha. Is it a fopa to use an open driveline kit?
Rebuilding the flathead or the hemi is going to be a money pit, I've had two V8 A's with a flathead and they're good drivers. I would be inclined to go with the flathead and 39 drive line, 40 to 48 hubs and drums will fit right in the spindles and rear axles and give you 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. Never ran an automatic on a flathead but a mild flathead will probably be in the 150 to 175 Hp so performance would be better with the three speed transmission.
I did also remember I have a 3 speed with a borg warner r10 overdrive as well. I think a manual would be much more fun in all honesty. Is there a particular advantage to the later hubs? I will admit to having a growing like of the wide 5 look and I do have a few spare rims and drums here
The only advantage is that you can run the 5 on 5 1/2 wheels which gives you more choices, 39 and 40 brakes are the same other than the hubs and drums.
I was not going to say anything but I thought about it so here goes…. My advice to you is use the flathead and the early V8 stuff, axles and wishbones on the Model A frame. You need to find a proper body. I would look for a touring tub. A frame Flathead V8 Front half of touring tub with bomber seats Early V8 axles That’s a basic traditional hot rod…. You have most of the stuff to build a really simple 1940s hot rod. Vern Tardel has a series of books. ^^^ by Tom Fritz The elephant in the room for me is that woodie body. I kind of feel like I’m kicking somebody’s puppy but let’s step back a bit. I think it’s overbuilt but not in a good way. How much is that joker going to weigh skinned and glassed? How are you going to skin and glass it? (I mean glaze or put windows in) It seems overbuilt but it may not have near the structure and strength you think it would have. In other words, I question the engineering. That body looks like a nightmare to me. If you decide to use the “woodie” body, forget the flathead. You’ll need an OHV.
Well I guess I bought it for looks. It is braced well but luckily the tubing isn't super heavy. Its structured well though
Its not as heavy as it looks and its smartly braced but definitely outweighs a traditional hot rod. With some reading I have found i am definitely not building a traditional hot rod here. But more of a 60s custom.
Shouldn't weigh much more than a tudor body. The "cage Really shouldn't weigh but 50 or 60 pounds more than a tudor body. The "cage" is just 18 guage tube. Amd has no more glads than a tudor. It shouldn't be bad i dont think. But your right more custom than traditional. I am new to the hamb forum. Wasn't sure where to place this post
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