Hot Rods New Member - Model A Questions

Howdy y'all,

Been on this forum many times over the years to hunt down answers as I was resto-rodding my '55 Chevy. I'm mostly finished with it and getting close to retirement (2-3 years) and have been looking for a new project. A friend of mine has his (late) father's old '29 Model A in a barn, and I have been interested in buying it to build my next rod. It's almost completely original, although not running. I've offered him $5K for it and he's thinking about it. I want to chop it and maybe z-frame it (or buy pre-built ch***is) or just lower it, but I'd like to build one like the last pic. What do y'all think?

Thanks,
Joe

 

4 or 5 years of work to make the one look like the other. Buy one already done.

 

Welcome. It looks like you did a fine job on your 55. Good looking car. Just fyi the car in the photo is a 30 or 31 on a 32 style ch***is so although you can do the 29 in that style the bodies are different in the cowl area. The 29 cowl is recessed at the A pillar and the 30/31 are smooth sided in that area.

 

First,welcome and add a little more info to your profile seems you are in Texas.The A frame will work fine.What are your engine/trans plans?

 

I am sure you noticed the one in the last picture is a '30-'31 style body and the car is riding on deuce (1932) rails. You might be better off finding just a body, maybe one that is already chopped. Have you rode in a chopped coupe for any distance, might be a valuable experience relative to your decision? Cramped cars are not as much fun as they were when we were in our twenties. Having said that, figure out how much you will have in it when you finish and compare that with what you could buy a completed (or nearly completed) one .

Your '55 came out great. Best of luck on whatever you decide and welcome to HAM.

Charlie Stephens

 

Yes, I believe the black car is a '30 (found on Google), but I was unaware of the cowl difference.

 

That probably goes for most builds, but I was looking for a good project to keep me busy.

 

An 'S' in the frame is a lot better looking than a raw Z. I have a coupe chopped in 1954 that is very comfortable but drove another chopped Model A coupe that required you to be a contortionist to get in and out---and to reach the brake pedal. I p***ed on that one

 

Copy that. I was thinking about just a 302 to keep the costs down and use original frame, but who wouldn't like a blown 429? Just can't justify that much $$$.

 

Good point. I'm fairly agile, but still old.

 

Thanks, I'm brand new to the Model A world, and so I didn't notice the deuce rails.

 

Kind of touched on above but i will suggest this. Find some guys with '28 & '29 Model A's. Ask if you can get in them and sit. I have been fooling with Model A's for 60 years now and find that '28 & '29's are hard for me to get in UNCHOPPED. Roadsters are cool because I can just stand up and step in. So think about that before going radical chop.
BTW the '55 is gorgeous!

 

I had a friend with a blown 429 roadster. Lots of chrome. Looked great. Great conversation starter. He didn't drive it much, too squirrelly and used to much gas. Trouble controlling it in the parking lot and used too much gas for a rod run.

Charlie Stephens

 

Buy it. Go with a light chop, ~3", and ditch the fenders/running boards. Stick with the original A ch***is, Z it and box it, and drop the front axle 4". Forget the 302 plans, much harder build, about the worst engine for a Model A. Go Ford flathead or Y-block if you want to stick with a Ford power plant. If going non-Ford is not a problem for you your best bet is a small journal SBC, 283 is about perfect, or 327 if you find a nice one for a good price. Or if you are up to more of a challenge find an old Cadillac, Olds, or Buick OHV V8. Pair up a drive line to match. Traditionally mating them up to a 39 trans and banjo rear end would be the coolest way to go, though lots of guys go with open drive line and 8" or 9" or 8.8" rear, though late 50's Olds, Pontiac, or Chevy rears are also traditional.

A good plan of attack may be to just getting it running, add some juice brakes and hop up the banger and enjoy it like that for awhile. Stick around here and get some ideas of which way you want to go, then start collecting your parts. Between that and enjoying your 55 will be a grad way to spend some retirement years.

 

You should add your general location to your profile. If people know where you are they will tell you about "bodies" that show up, events that are good, cars that look like what you are trying to build (maybe even ones for sale), sources of parts and fabrication etc.

Charlie Stephens

 

Thanks, and good info. Maybe I should just get it running for him and let him drive it or sell it. It would probably save me lots of money in the long run, and do my friend a favor.

 

Great info - thanks a ton for the ideas!

 

I went back to my profile, but I can't find where it lets you enter a location. From Ft Worth, btw.

 

TxWolfman, there are a few other engines with "fatal flaws" as well as some that are just better than others. Post what you decide on for an engine and other components.

Charlie Stephens

 

Went to the search function and looked for "update profile". The " " marks mean you are looking for a phrase. This is what came up on one of the posts:

"In the upper right of the screen (using a computer, not a mobile device), there are 3 icons: A person, an envelope, and a lightning bolt. If you hover your cursor over the person icon, you can select "Personal Details" and make changes. There are other options there too like "Signature", "Contact Details", etc."

Charlie Stephens

 

Done - thanks!

 

Welcome. I’m building a 31 coupe on 32 repo ch***is. Try to find a thread called Helmuth Brothers Coupe. Will answer a lot of your questions. SBC are easier than SBF, they are very small cars. Good luck ask questions, I think it’s worth the money. You’ll enjoy your retirement

 

Thanks Dino!

 

Here’s the link
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-helmuth-brothers-coupe.846654/page-7

You need to decide whether you want it on a 32 ch***is or stock one. Two totally different looks.

 

If chopping and adding a V8, I would suggest doing it on a deuce frame for better leg room. A couple inches makes a lot of difference.

You can have a ton of fun with a lowered, full fendered Model A, with just a hopped up four banger motor. ...at much less cost.

But get it and have fun. I’ve been retired for 22 years, and have been building and rebuilding the same three cars almost continuously. Two 1929 Model A’s and a 51 Ford coupe.

 

I like that.

Ben

 

There are a lot of cars on here that look like that car.
Look around a while and you might find a less common style.
Just my 2 cents.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

I love Blues4U's truck.....but have to disagree with his..advice to disregard a SBF .....I have Ford or Lincoln motors in all my Model A's and 3 are SBF, not that hard when you put your mind to it.

 

I've been messing with Model A's for 30+ years and even though the chop on the black coupe looks good it would be a pain to get in and out of and to drive. I'm 6'3" and I couldn't get into a chopped coupe like that, even with a stock height top you have to look out from under the sun visor to see a stop light. Sit in the car and see how much room you have, Model A's are small but great cars. My avatar is a 28 with a flathead that I sold years ago, I also have a 30 pickup daily driver with a banger in it, a stock 29 Special Coupe and I'm building a 30 Sport Coupe with a flathead but none are chopped. I agree with Russ B, I've had a ton of fun with my A's and drive the pickup year around.

 

Lot's of great advice here, and some stuff that I would have never thought of. I knew I came to the right place!