Sold my '53 Customline last weekend and a new project is already in the works, this time a Model A coupe. Thinking unchopped, full fendered, dropped axle, juice brakes and steel wheels. Hop up the banger a bit. Should arrive here in Sweden in a few months, car is being shipped from California. Plan is to drive the car as is during the end of summer/fall and carefully modify it during the winter.
My Coupe runs well with a 6:1 head and Mitchell OD, otherwise stock. You do need to listen to the motor to adjust the manual spark advance.
Scored a set of 17 inch wire wheels, might use these instead of steel wheels as I was thinking first?
I just scored almost the same thing here in Northern California!!! I’m excited to see your build progress, we can have some friendly competition. I want to do a similar build and keep it simple. My parts hord I have a 4” drop axle and drilled hairpins that’s going on next week. I’ll start a build thread and cc you, good luck and have a blast
Wow, I bet you are counting the days until it arrives. Will it have to go through any kind of inspection process to get it legal to drive on the roads in Sweden? I'd probably let my '53 Ford go for a nice Model A coupe as well.
My initial plan was to use a drop axle too, now I'm thinking that I'll maybe start with just a reverse eye spring for a milder drop? Time will tell. Thanks and I'm gonna check out your build thread. Counting the days is a must, bummer the shipping got delayed so I will probably have to wait until late july/early august before it arrives. Yes, it needs to go through 2 inspections: First inspections is to get a Swedish title and license plate number. Here they weigh the car, measure it etc. Basically just checking that it is a Model A and not something else. Second inspection is a safety inspection where they check the lights, horn, brakes and so on.
Mikko before mine shipped I bought an Oki Joe drilled 34 axle (not dropped), 32 Spring perches and a T spring. Also some 750/550 Firestone tires and had them thrown in the same container. Yet to fit the axle and spring but they are there when I want to. Perhaps some food for thought.
Was thinking about that but I'm far from sure which direction I want to take this car so I decided to get it home and drive it as a stocker first to get a feel for the car. But it's a good idea, I appreciate it.
Nice car, you'll no doubt have a lot of fun with it! Did a similar build on a '30 coupe. Here's what a 5-inch dropped axle, standard eye spring up front and a reversed eye, 7-spring rear pack on 16-inch wires (6.00-16s & 7.00x16s) combination will get you.
Well, one of the 17 inch wheels I bought ended up being to bad to use after sand blasting. Luckily there was an Early Ford swap meet/car show here in Sweden today so I went to have a look. And I found a replacement 17 inch wheel. Also bought a set of BLC 682-J headlights, I think they are gonna look great on the coupe along with a dropped headlight bar I still need to find. And some of the cars that attended the car show.
along with those lights i like to run a stock model A emergency brake cross shaft as a front spreader bar... bought an extra one this am... check your local swapmeets ! save that accuator bracket and remount as a driving light stand of horn/blinker/marker light bracket... also the brake rods with the eye on the end are great for mounting anything...
Wheels came out nice after blasting and powder coating. Still a bit torn though if I'm gonna use these or go with a set of '40 Ford steelies instead along with juice brakes.
some of the guys may have some old pix showing Ford wires out front and 15" centers with reversed Buick outer rims out back, on early drag cars...
Found an old picture of a '29 coupe that has a great look IMO. Maybe something to aim for with my car...
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