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

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by ironhill, Aug 1, 2011.

  1. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    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.
     
  2. Pinewood
    Joined: Sep 28, 2006
    Posts: 364

    Pinewood
    Member

  3. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    Ohhh thanks, I didn't see that one.
     
  4. chopt top kid
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 959

    chopt top kid
    Member

    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.
     
  5. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,496

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    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***.
     
  6. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    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
     
  7. billthx138
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 415

    billthx138
    Member

    Attached Files:

  8. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

  9. xlr8er
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 136

    xlr8er
    Member

    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!
     
  10. Hitchhiker
    Joined: May 1, 2008
    Posts: 8,507

    Hitchhiker
    Member

    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.
     
  11. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT


    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.
     
  12. Joe Didio
    Joined: Oct 7, 2006
    Posts: 93

    Joe Didio
    Member

    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.
     

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  13. kennedy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2004
    Posts: 700

    kennedy
    Member
    from TN

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

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  14. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    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
     
  15. bp1971
    Joined: Apr 11, 2010
    Posts: 520

    bp1971
    Member
    from Fresno, CA

    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.
     
    badandy likes this.
  16. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,496

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    [​IMG] 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
     
  17. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    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.
     
  18. Rob Paul
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,275

    Rob Paul
    Member

    Pie cut cowl for me.

    [​IMG]
     
    artificer64 likes this.
  19. ironhill
    Joined: Dec 24, 2010
    Posts: 186

    ironhill
    Member
    from Simms, MT

    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?
     
  20. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,496

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    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?
     
  21. Rob Paul
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,275

    Rob Paul
    Member

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

    Rob
     
  22. jason65
    Joined: Dec 9, 2009
    Posts: 1,083

    jason65

    So there isn't much size differance between a duece and an A?
     
  23. grits
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 3,180

    grits
    Member

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

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  24. jason65
    Joined: Dec 9, 2009
    Posts: 1,083

    jason65

    Thank you sir. That is great info to have. The main reason I was asking is that I'm 6'2".
     
  25. billthx138
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 415

    billthx138
    Member

    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.
     
  26. jason65
    Joined: Dec 9, 2009
    Posts: 1,083

    jason65

    Thank you sir.
     
  27. NoLifeTilLeather
    Joined: Jan 26, 2011
    Posts: 42

    NoLifeTilLeather
    Member

    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
     
  28. billthx138
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 415

    billthx138
    Member

    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.
     
    29EHV8 likes this.
  29. billthx138
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 415

    billthx138
    Member

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

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  30. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,496

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

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

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