So being highly inspired after returning from the Jalopy Showdown, being that I've been wanting to build a traditional rod for about three years now, maybe longer, I decided to get the model A frame out of the rain. That's where it all started, get it out of the rain into the garage for now,...well, how much of a sweep do I want to give her when I end up going at this,...hack, grind, weld, weld,....well, maybe I'll pull out that cowl,...well, maybe I'll pull out the doors,...well,...maybe I'll,.... You get the picture....LOL! Here's where I'm at so far...(the last pic is of a 1941 Pontiac Guage cluster I'm going to be using ,...thanks Sawzall!!) Jason
I'm flyin' by the seat of my pants here, but I gave the front a sweep of about 8" from stock hight,....I'm figuring it would make up for what would have been a 4" Z and a 4" dropped axle since I'm running a straight axle. I figured taht when the engine, trans and driveline is dropped in, she should sit right. The rear,...well, she should have a 12-14" Z in the rear....maybe more,....but for now its looking like it will end up being about 12" in the rear Z. When all is said and done I want the bottom of the frame to sit about 6-8" off the ground, we have some stupid *** roads here in PA and some really retarted speedbumps and "speed humps" (yeah don't ask, it was the local bourough's idea to keep the speed down!!) around here. So I didn't want to be bangin' the oilpan off the ground here! Jason
Yeah I spotted the guages at the jalopy Showdown as I was talking with my friend Jeff (Sawzall) and I just had a vision of them set into a custom dash panel in a tudor or something,....so I asked about it and that's that. I actually haven't checked the guages to see if they're in working order, but they look good so far. Any ideas on checking guages to make sure they owrk or not? I actually just missed a few replacement guages on Ebay recently for this exact same cluster!! oh well. Jason
Nice sweep. Just on your rear Z. I was going to do 13" on mine and reversed eyes. Ended up only doing 10" and changed back to the stock A spring. The frame sits about 6-7 inches off the ground with 6.00 x 16 bias plys. Don't go too hard if you don't want it s****ing. Pete
Those gauges are the ****, I have a very similar set for my project that say gm on the back, so its probably them. Keep it up.
Yer telling me dude! I saw them and was like,.."WHOA Instant revalation!,..I need those guages!!!" Jason
Thnaks for the info, this is what I like to read,...someone giving input as to what they've done, in regards to what I'm currently doing. This kind of info is ALWAYS helpful! Now in regards to the Z in the rear, the stance of the ground and the 600x16 bias plies. I'm planning on using big tires on the rear, like either 750 - 800 15s (if they're even made??) or 700-800 16s. In looking at waht engine I will probably run, I think the gearing versus rear tire size would be best served if i went with this setup on the rear and then simple 600x16s on the front of it. I can then achieve some good highway speed by running larger rear tires. In regards to engine. Well, I was totally SET on running a GMC 270 inline. In fact I even scored a complete set of "Turbo Top" pistons (normally $500 for Venolia) for a measly $150 (and that included shipping too!!!),.....BUT,...with the fact that I just found a running olds Rocket 303 motor for $350, and the guy who's garage where its being stored is going to work on the owner for me and see if he can't talk the owner of the engine into giving me the rear along with the engine and trans!! If I end up going this way, then I'll sell the 270 Jimmy motor, get the rocket and dump the auto ****** for an early Muncie or saginaw 3 speed and still use the olds rear. We'll see what happens! Jason
Now that I'm thinking of it,....are there any Saginaw 3 speed trannies that are worth mating up with a rocket 88 and using? I had spoken to a few guys a while back about saginaw and muncie trannies,...I could have sworn that someone had said something about the three speed Saginaw ****** not being much worth using?? Any truth to this, or am I hallucinating?? Jason
We had a saggy in a dirt car that had been raced every season for years. It was the track champ for 3 or 4 years in a sportsman late model and never gave us a problem.
jason.. I had those gauges for the same reason.. as for the rear kickup.. I think 12'' is gonna be abit much.. take a look for a post by bleed about his frames.. with the adjustable rear "perch" I would bet 6 " would be a better kick.. so are you shooting for the showdown next year?
I'll do a search and see what i come across about the kick up. Yeah i took a look at it tonight (the rear kick up) and after seeing the way it is set up currently, I was planning on taking off about two to three inches from what is there, maybe more. As far as an adjustable rear perch, I was actually going to just run the stock rear spring perch as it is,...BUT,...we'll see, after I read about his adjustable perch. I know it seems a popular thing to do. As far as the Showdown next year,...Yep,...Lord willin' that's the idea so far! Jason
BUT,....if I don't run an adjustale perch,....and I run just the stock spring perch instead, should I still go with only a 6" kickup,..or 7-8-9" kickup?? Any ideas? J
Damn!!! Everyone usin' those guages. I bought mine offa Ebay 2yrs ago, damn near mint, paid sompin' ike 115$ for em, gonna put them in a 30 Desoto dash in my 31 Ford coupe.
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