Projects RainierHooker's '28 A - Wartime Tub Build

Well, I couldn't take it any more. Before tearing into the car, I had to have a day running around town with it. Rain and cold, or not. So, we bombed down to the local bike-shop/coffee-shop/bar (yes all under one roof) where we met up with Snot275, and just ran around town and met some folks along the way...




...only ran out of gas once.

The gas tank and cowl will be coming apart after the holidays to repair a pin-hole that is the reason for the stupid lawn-mower tank mounted to the firewall. Then I start putting wood in it and get the body decent enough to go down to a buddies place in Portland for massaging and paint.

 

Sweet.....

 

Okay, now it is time for one of the first 'major' projects on this car. Getting the wiring handled. As can be seen in some of my earlier photos the car has been converted to a 12v alternator and was completely rewired, very messily. It is also negative ground. Everything motor-wise works, it starts, runs and the ammeter even seems to be working, as does the added-on alternator light mounted under the dash. The only wires run for lighting is the tail lights, which are not hooked-up.

I spent some time today going through the car and making a schematic of what is in the car...


And here's what it is supposed to look like...


I ordered a complete wiring kit from Mac's to use as a starting point for a proper re-wire. However, while I dabble in wires, I'm not an electrician by a long shot. Any ideas on how to make a stock harness work with the 12v Neg-Ground components?

 

Like the wheels. Cool seats???

 

Just be sure to tell RanierHooker what bank to to rob to finance your recommendations. Not bad recommendations, just pricey with a French block and SCAT crank.

 

Thanks, the seats that came with the car are gone. Just couldn't handle the '80s velour any more. Right now while I wait for re-pop springs to come in the mail, some old aircraft seat-cushions and an old army sleeping-bag suffie enough to drive it around in semi-comfort.

On to the current problem, I've started installing the lighting harness. I'm going to just run the two yellow wires that feed into the light switch off of the pole on the back of the alternator, and then run the rest of that part of the harness as stock.

As for the engine and cowl side of the harness, I'm going to leave what is there alone, but I'm going to try to clean it up and try to run some better wire. At least something more color co-ordinated than a whole bunch of red and a couple blue strands. We'll see what I come up with. Hopefully I don't burn the car or garage down...

 

Well we won't talk about what bank he robbed . Have you priced what it costs to make a ~60 year old 8ba block and 4 inch Merc crank decent? The SoCal French flattie blocks come ported, relieved and practically ready to assemble. The balanced SCAT crank is very nice as well. I wish somebody would tell me where I can source a brand new 50-52 OEM Buick straight 8 263 CID block... As far as the 32 frame, all he needs is a set of ASC rails, he already has the front and rear Model A crossmembers. Only thing else needed is a duece Kmember from Vern Tardel.

 

No worries John. This one is staying on the A frame. And I've decided to keep the splash aprons for good. No V8's either, if and when I decide to do a mill swap it'll be of the inline variety, but that won't be for a while. Frankly the Banger is hilariously fun right now, and can only get better after the police head an a downdraft.

 

The A frame and banger are cool as hell. I don't know if we're voting or not, but if we are, I vote fenders.

 

awesome tub!

 

Do you have any photos of inside the body,mainly of in side the rear half cheers


Wanted: 28-29 Model a Roadster Quarter Panels

 

I don't have any handy right now, and I've retreated from the garage for the night on account of cold, and thirst, but I'll try to remember to snap a few pics tomorrow. Any specific areas in particular that you need a look at?

 

Where the panels attach to the sub rails cheers

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

Here's where we stand as of the other night...


The tank is off and will be getting some repairs done to it, hopefully this weekend. Then maybe I can say goodbye to the silly lawn-mower tank.

The radiator is off. The damn neck snapped off, so its going to a radiator shop to have it soldered back on. The rad looks like its brand-new, just had a crappy, really light, soldering job on the neck.

The body lighting harness is completely in, just waiting for new tail-light pig-tails to finish that run. I'm still looking for the matching BLC headlamp (apparently there are several variations of the 902, and I can find a bunch of non-matchers). Once a package containing a few spools of cloth-wrapped wire come in the mail, I can complete the rest of the wiring.

In the meantime, I'll be tiddying up the body and frame and sorting out some issues I've found with the suspension. The new goal is to have it in paint, if not completed by my wedding this summer...

 

Congrats to you and Sara. I suspected it was coming, just didn't know how soon.

 

Thanks John.

As promissed, here's pics of the rear seating area for Crackett:










No real big progress from the other day, mostly just clean-up. I ground some bondo out of the passenger-side rear door, around where someone had poorly repaired the door-latch handle hole. Thankfully, it looks salvageable. I'll pop the door off and see what happens...

 

Cheers mate these will help heaps


Wanted: 28-29 Model a Roadster Quarter Panels

 

Progress. Got the car completely re-wired today (except for one connector, I ran out) here's some pics. The first three are before, the last three after...







After...






As you can see, I only used cloth-wrapped wire, and simplified the schematic. I moved the coil resistor under the cowl to keep it out of sight. I kept the additional ignition switch but tidy'd up the wireing since it will come into play when I do my dash swap. The zip ties are only temporary, until I can get some waxed string to bundle the wires the ol' fashoned way.

I also got my tank reinstalled and the lines to the carb plumbed. The stupid mower-tank is gone. I should have the radiator, shell and hood back on this afternoon. Then I'll fill'er up and see if anything leaks and/or catches fire!

 

x 2 !!
I will be attempting mating a tudor subrail/floor assembly to an Aussie Tub sometime soon (aussie tubs had timber subrails and floor) so these detail photos will help me heaps as well!

 

I have been soundly reproached for refering to a Model A touring as a phaeton. This by, you guessed it, a restorer type. It's your car and I support your right to call it whatever you want.
In fact if I were you I'd look for the "original is the only way" dudes and ask them how they like your phaeon just for the fun of it! Hey it's all got to be fun or why are we doing it?

 

Ford called it a Phaeton, I guess Henry was wrong too...

 

Well, she cranks, starts, and idles. Ammeter reads charging. No sparks and no fires. I'll call that a wiring and fuel-plumbing success. Now to get those headlights mounted and hooked up...

 

Neat looking car mate. If i remember correctly.. a "Phaeton" is what you Americans call them, us Aussies have always called them a "Tourer".

 

Chuggin' along.



Yup, that's grey primer. Not permanent, I just couldn't stand the car being 37 different colors any more...

 

Looking good man!

 

Thanks! I had the day off, and it was a nice (but cold) day, so after a few minutes of wrenching, I went for a little joy-ride...








...runs pretty good but a few things came up, like they do. I'm working some crap out of the tank, half a sediment bowl at a time. And I am going to need to adjust the clutch linkage. The clutch ony fully disengages when the pedal is within about 1/4" to the floor, and the pedal feels like its hitting the floor well before hitting the end of its travel, if that makes sense. All and all though, pretty good fun...

 

Looks awesome!...Mine is coming along in a very similar way

 

Very nice!

I am glad to see you moving right along!

 

Thanks guys.

The last few frozen nights have kept me out of the garage, but I have been doing this, at least a little at a time, to stay on task...


I'm wrapping the wheel in seintwine, just a little trick I picked up from when I was working on boats. Should improve grip on the wheel, traditionally.

For the long weekend, I have a laundry-list of to-do's. I'm hoping to get down to the local lumber yard to see if they have any small sheets of marine-grade plywood so I can start making my dash. But then again, I may be kept home doing chores and working on the other cars...

 

This car is awesome...