Deuce Frame Question

Speaking hypothetically, if one was to put together a Deuce frame (from new rails, Model A front crossmember, etc.) and went ahead and placed things like a motor, tranny, master cylinder, exhaust. radiator, front and rear suspension, would the placement be the same for things, like the firewall and wheelbase, for a Model A as a Deuce body?
Clear as mud?
r

 

the 32 firewall will bolt right onto the frame, its seperate from the body
but its close to where an A firewall would fall (28/9 atleast)

the wheelbase could be the same, unless you change it!
you can put a 28 roadster body on a stock 32 running driving frame without much problem

im not really sure what your asking

you wana build a frame to fit whatever body you might find later???
if thats the case....i think you'd be better just collecting and figure exactly what you want before you nail anything in place

......does that help?

 

I always figured you set the rear axle in place, and go forward from there. I'm having a '32 frame built for my '29 sedan. I'm still learning as I go.

I got a lot of info reading and printing Rolf's build.

 

the 32 firewall will bolt right onto the frame, its seperate from the body
but its close to where an A firewall would fall (28/9 atleast)
How close?
the wheelbase could be the same, unless you change it!
I know.
you can put a 28 roadster body on a stock 32 running driving frame without much problem
What changes need to take place? What do I plan for or look for?
you wana build a frame to fit whatever body you might find later???
Yes. Either a Deuce or an A.
Just wanting to know if I can 'place' things so that they are compatible in placement between the two.
r

 

if you follow the stock 32 dimensions and locate your motor with a stock 32 K-member your body will clear the motor with either body
the rear axle location "stock" will work with either body but its such a finicky measurement and a decent job to cut the torque tube
its probably best to leave that till you get the body on there unless your using a stock 32 rear...in that case...the wheels will be too far front ....look at a stocker...they look "off"

locating the front end with a stock 32 wishbone will work with either body and look perfect

the steering column may need to be layed back some for the A body and the radiator will need to be shortened

the A body will need shims under it or pie cut to match the contour of the 32 frame....and it will stick out the sides of the A body a little bit....but thats how they did it in the old days

if you have to do it this way I'd say just stick with all stock 32 dimensions and you'll be safe in either case except the rear which i personally would move back a little (im not sure exactly how much...3/4" maybe?)

Zach

 

I think rear wheels need to be a bit forward of the visual center of wheel arch, highboy or fendered...dead center looks too static to me, like the car was dropped and just went splat on the ground. This static feel is compounded with lowering...wheel a bit ahead of the visual center of body wheel arch or fender opening makes car look like it's moving. Kinda like motion is indicated in a cartoon...

 

think thats why henry did it?

 

Dunno...maybe everybody was so busy flogging th block casting problems they never checked their arithmetic. Need to look at lots of factory pictures of A's and '32's. Can't really look at resto's, they oft have screwed up ride heights.

 

Hood or no hood may also make a difference down the line. With-out a hood you can move the body back and forth ever so slightly to get the rear axle where you like it. If you're running a hood you wont be able to do this.

 

I'm thinking a Deuce Grille, dropped axle, vintage 283 with front (Hurst) mount, Ford nine inch rear end hung by a '40 Ford spring behind the axle (maybe something different if it runs into the rear Duece gas tank).
I'd like to put it all together and get the engine running and maybe the brakes plumbed and working. The steering would hinge on a lot of different things, I know. Maybe just go with a Vega cross steer and be done with it.
Make sense now?
r

 

I think if you've got a frame and are wanting to start putting things together NOW, you've got to decide on what body you want. That way you don't have to go back and re-do a bunch of work when you built the frame for a '29, and now you've got a '32.

 

It's hard enough to do with a body. I think there would be too many variables......trust me I am doing one for my kids car right now.

 

Moving the rearend back 3/4" to 1" usually puts it in a much nicer place visually. It depends somewhat on the outside dia. of the rear tire your using and if you have fenders or not. Only way to make it right for "you" is to mock it up and stand back. If you put it where the factory did your NOT going to be happy, especially if your one of those people who are bothered by things that "just don't look right"

Frank

 

I don't want to hijack this, but I have a question...

Is it that big of a difference putting a 30/31 A body on a Deuce frame instead of a 28/29? I know the differences in the bodies, but not in putting them on a deuce frame. Did that make sense?
Thanks

 

I wouldn't mount anything until you mocked it up (body, frame, grill, engine, tires...) and looked at it. Change what doesn't work for you visually, then start locking things in. On the last Model A on 32 rails I did, I started at the grile and worked my way back. Nothing lined up (32 vs Model A) except the holes for the radiator. Hood lines, tire size and ride height all effect how the car looks when it's done, if you are starting from a blank canvas, make it work for you.

 

This is a thread I started about mine. This is not a tell all thread but there are some helpful links on there.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255373

 

this is a very good question,
I'm in a similar boat now

I'm building a stock '32 frame to accept a '30 Roadster body I have

but it would be great if I knew that a '32 body would fit it someday

didn't someone recently say they did this?

vaphead maybe?

 

If it's a 32 chassis why wouldn't a 32 fit?

 

I agree. It's a fine line though, for sure.

 

I think he meant he built the 32 frame to fit a 30 body, but was wondering if a 32 would still fit on it. Right?

That's kinda what I want to do. 30 on a 32 frame. And was just curious.

 

because I want it to fit the body I have first

I don't want to hijack this thread either
but I was thinking of using an A front cross member pushed forward an inch or two and moving the stock K member back to be able to fit an Olds motor, Lasalle transmission with Ford closed output
and an A rear cross member to take the A spring over a quickchange rear....

would be neat if someday a '32 Roadster body replaced the A body it's being built for now.

without too much re-engineering..

 

Now why would ya wanna do that???

Model A bodies have much better proportions.....

 

aren't you the guy that wondered why anybody would put a '32 frame under an A?

so no '32 frame and now no '32 body?

dag.

 

Hahahaha........yeah.....unless it's a '28/9 roadster body....otherwise I prefer A's channeled....

I actually dig SOME A's ON '32 rails......if the LOOK is there with everything else....ya know???

Say, you still got that bare metal coupe body????

 

i stretched mine one rivet hole in the front....and used the A crossmember
seemed to work out nice proportionately
although you have to extend the k-member to still work with the wishbone so moving that back also would really make for one long wishbone or some big addition to make it work

or split the wishbone

 

There are a fewsimple changes you can do to while putting togather a 32 frame to make a 30/31 body fit nicely. The 30/31 coupe bodys are a bit shorter than the 32 coupes. This allows a builder to use most if not all the stock A firewall on a stock 32 chassis.

I suggest for what you want to do........build the frame to 32 specs, snug the motor up to the radiator. Now you can run a 32 body or a model A body with the best fit for a 32 body and OK fit for a model A 30/31 body. The A body will need to be cut at the front cowl mount so the body will drop down on the 32 frame. Also you will need to cut most of the A subrails out where the frame rises to axle arch. The A body will protrude outside the stock 32 frame about 1 1/4 inches at cowl and about 1/2 inch at front of rear wheel opening. The 32 body will hang over about 1 1/4 inches all the way front to back.

As allready said best to have everything for mock up first, but can be done many different ways though if one wants to experiment. Steve