Bought this Model A rolling chassis because it was a great deal and I've always wanted to build a roadster even though I have no experience with this kind of car. I know from looking at other frames (this one is Brookville) that this one has a lot of stuff added on to the back.. My friends that know early Fords don't know what those arches welded on to the back are really for. They do lengthen the wheelbase quite a bit. I plan to cut them off and move the rear end back under the rear cross brace so an original body will fit. As I said, I'm a novice with this, but do any of you know what might have been the plan here? Maybe a flat bed truck? Just wondering before I cut it up.
Have you measured the wheelbase yet? That kick is for the coil over suspension. The crossmember in front of the rear is for the short 4 bar links Don't just assume that is where the rear should be, (under that crossmember)
If you're a novice (as you acknowledge), then perhaps you should send these pictures to Brookville and ask THEM the purpose before cutting them off, and leaving the next owner of your frame with the task of reinventing the wheel. What is the wheelbase of the frame as it sits now, and how does that number compare to what you intend to build?
It is a little strange but the arches are there for a place to mount the upper coil over bracket. The rear of the body would probably sit on the cross member. It might be an attempt to be a Zipper style roadster with a tub against the upward sweep of the arch. You don't usually see a triangulated 4-link on that style but to each their own. Good luck with your project.
It looks like they were using a mid 60s chev rear end. Still has the cups for the coil springs on it. I really think some guys sat around the garage and got High which was followed by "hey yall lets do this"
I did. Brookville said none of that on the back is theirs and that it was added on and that they can't imagine why. Very nice folks, by the way, they even sent a picture of what the frame looked like before. Their original frame ended with the rear cross brace and looks mostly like a stock frame. Don't remember right off what the wheel base was, it's in my shop across town, just that it was longer than stock, which is what I'm looking for.
Yep, you're right, it's an all Chevy set up and your assessment is probably right. With the wheelbase being longer now and the coilovers moved outside, it sure looks to me like no original body will ever fit. It's a functional suspension, but I don't know what the plan was.
I would say the diff tubes should be under the cross member with the gussets. Someone has added the kick-up and butchered up the world's shortest top suspension links. That is woeful. In an incredibly limited sense. Yep.
Wow, you may be right. I looked up some pics of zipper style roadsters and that just might have been the plan. I think I'll just go back to stock and build a roadster, but I thank you for your response. I think the mystery is solved.
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