30 Model A - 32 frame Do's and Don'ts?

Ok guys so I've read tons of posts on the model a's on 32 rails. I'm so confused I don't know what to do. I love the look of the 32 rails under the a's. The metal work of the deal is no problem
Ok so some say you don't need to pinch, I've read some that say do pinch, is this more for the 28 and 9's. All I want to know is what I need to do to get that frame under my 30 without any gaps and it fitting like it was made for it. Then I'll get my rails and go to town. Thanks guys.

 

Check out this thread. Lots of good info, pictures and discussion about putting an A on deuce rails.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=440495

 

Ohhh thanks, I didn't see that one.

 

I had originally planned to pinch the frame at the cowl on my '30 and do the mini-channel like Rolf, Chris Casny, Grits and so many more of the great Model A builds on deuce rails around here. Then I read B***'s thread on Bubba's Coupe and decided that I really liked the look of the cowl sitting on top of the un-pinched frame a lot better.

 

I'll be folliwing this thread. Step one for me is to get my '30 Roadster body in one piece, and install one of those sub rail kickup kits made out in Colorado. Them buy my JW repo rails. Love the Rolling Bones frame look so there will be all kinds of firewall forward slicing & dicing, and frame features perfected by B***.

 

I do like the look of the mini chanel too myself. I've been talking to an old friend that was building hot rods back in the day (late 60's). He had a beautiful 32 5-window and helped build Gene Birklands land speed cars. When I asked what he thought about pinching the frame he said "what? what are we talking about here? Just put that model a on the duece frames and be done with it, whats this we are talking about pinching" Thought that was kind of funny

 

I too prefer pinched and channeled for a more finished look.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409232

 

Yours looks great!! I've checked out your build thread, very nice and thanks for sharing

 

Please feel free to check the progress on my model A project. It sits on a 32 frame. I have it pretty well do***ented in an album in my profile. I have plenty of pictures. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me!! Best of luck with your project!

 

Perfect timing. I've been soing research too. While I'm building on a stock A frame now. I'm fairly certain that I will build a 32 frame with a OHV for my coupe and find a different body for the A frame in a couple years.

 

Thank you very much with your offer, love your truck too!


I started on my model a frame too, but decided I like the look of the 32 rails and fell in love with them. Oh well someday I might find another body for my a frame.

 

My frame is 32 spreader bar width front and rear with the necessary pinch at the firewall.
The approach used on mine was to notch the frame at the intersection of the firewall where the subrail extension sits on the frame (aftermarket frame). The notch is about 3\8th of an inch deep. Most aftermart frame are flat under the body. The frame will be flat an additional 11 inches or so.
No channeling required and no daylight between body and frame.

 

Put another one up on the board for pinched and mini-channel...

 

Ok so heres another idea, maybe its against the law but, has anybody just narrowed up the front cross member and brought the whole frame in? It wouldn't take much, or would this mess with the rear of the frame too much? Just an idea

 

I am building a '29 on '32 rails and I needed to pinch. I also pie cut the cowls up front and removed/reworked the rear sub-frame to make the body sit flat on the '32 rails.Now, if you are going to run hood sides, you may want to consider pinching the frame, just to give it that finished look. If you are not running hood sides, then you could do a slight pinch and do a mini-channe at the front cowll over the frame and call it good.

 

That sits nice! Great tire to wheel well fit, I like the wishbone mount location, and the chop is just right. If I go for the mini channel and cut my cowl mount do I just bolt the subrails to the ch***is without the stock wooden body blocks, or do the blocks get remade thinner? I don't know why the photo came out so large, sure shows the details better. Bob

 

Thanks for the info guys, lots of good ideas and tons of info. I'm going to get my 32 rails coming and get this thing mocked up and see where it takes me. I'm really thinking the slight pinch and mini chanel is going to be what I want. I like that finished and clean look that follows the body lines and all flows together, I think it will be worth the extra work in the end. I do like the non pinched look too tough decision.

 

Pie cut cowl for me.

 

Dave - that subframe looks great, hope mine turns out that nice

Rob - Thats a great looking A - the pie cut out of the cowl sure looks good too. On the pie cut how much did you end up pulling it out and adding?

 

Rob Paul, That is one GREAT looking car! My '30 Roadster will run a 354 HEMI, looks like there is lots of room firewall to radiator. Do you have the Chevy water pump?

 

Its forward 1.5", chevy pump, and the pie cut ends up to be about 1/2" or so.

Rob

 

So there isn't much size differance between a duece and an A?

 

I'm with Dave,
I like the pinch and a little bit of a channel

 

Thank you sir. That is great info to have. The main reason I was asking is that I'm 6'2".

 

If your 6'2" and do not recess the firewall, remove the package tray, and put the seat down on the floor, the model A coupe has more than enough head and leg room as long as you don't go crazy with the chop.

 

Thank you sir.

 

Just curious, what about the pinch in the rear? Brookville and westcotts both say to pinch right before the rear wheel well in order to fit the frame up into the body - is that really necessary? Anyone know?
Thanks,
Phil

 

I used the So-Cal Av8 frame designed for the 28-29 Model A. Here is the description from S0Cal catalog; Developed specifically for the 1928-29 Ford roadster, SO-CALs A-V8 Step-Boxed™ 32 ch***is addresses all of the problems usually found when trying to reicreate the traditional look of a Model-A roadster body on 32 rails. For example, the rails of the SO-CAL ch***is are contoured in the front to fit the narrow profile of the 28-29 cowl. This in itself saves a huge amount of work. Also, the rear horns are “bobbed off” and we narrow the frame 7/8-inch on both sides in the rear (1-3/4 inches total) to enable the body to sit out over the frame.

 

With the rear of the frame narrowed the body fit over like it was made for it.

 

Thanks for that rear frame pinch info! Rearranged some stuff in my ba*****t and will get back to my Roadster project soon.