Hi guys, I hate to be "that" guy that simply signs up to ask a question and you never hear from again, so I promise I will try. My name is Paul,and I am from Canada (Quebec) with a p***ion for all things cars. I likely have way too many to be considered healthy,but sometimes you simply just need to scratch an itch.......... In 2019 I went to TROG on a whim and really fell in love wit the simplicity of the cars and the period style of racing. But when I looked into it, the rules were quite strict (which is OK) but it really makes it hard to buy/build something in Canada without having to make the trek south. And we all know how 2019 ended.................so travelling was a problem as we could barely get into the good ol USA! I recently looked at the Pinetree Jamboree event in Maine (though I didnt get to go down) and looked at the rules, seemed a bit looser and perhaps an easier entry point, there is nothing wrong with that. Along came Bad Chad and his building a car for the event ,and I though ,OK I can likely get some stuff up here (keep travel and exchange costs down) and build something in the spirit of the 40s-50s. Now the question(s), ....... I found a frame off a 1941 Ford (Im told, though that is what it looks like) it is only the frame, no suspension fore and aft. but it does come with a straight axle on parallel leaf springs(pickup truck style?) that the guy says maybe came off a 1950s dodge product (dude know's nothing about this and was going to clip the front end anyways) but the original Ford front leaf spring is still in the frame. can/should I "G***er" style the front end ? (I like G***ers,) with only a Grill shell type front end? What sort of body can I make fit on the ch***is (I am not married to a Ford, it could be anything) would this be excessively frowned upon? There is no Body, running gear,rear suspension ect , it is simply a bare frame, but it looks cool with the X brace and the holes throughout ect. I have found a Flathead and gearbox for it locally as well at a decent price, so thats 3/4's of a basic build to getting it moving around. and I would likely put in a more recent rearend I could get from a yard here and simply hang it with leaf springs. Not looking to make anything street legal at all, simply something to go to events such as Pinetree for a bit of fun,and now that I have my first Grandson, I want him to know where some of this stuff comes from. I can do backyard fabrication, and I build all my own motors/gearboxes ect, on the Body I am very weak, but if I can locate something I can make fit and looks "proper" enough, Im happy with that. So the big questions is, would you start with a 41 frame?? Thanks folks Paul
No. I'd start with a complete as possible Model A, maybe. Bad Chad ploughs his own furrow. I doubt few around here are inspired by his creations. Not to be confused with his admirable resourcefulness etc. Ymmv Chris
I'm coming off the couch to say he does inspire me. Granted...you have to be open minded enough to see his different. I guess I do. Noted that his is seemingly born from a willingness to see what most miss or p*** on for not being complete enough, waiting for a better one to come along...on goes the list of excuses. He a guy who reaches a audience that doesn't fit the budget this crowd spends. I almost went with the sticky adhesive chrome on my bumpers but did paint instead. Yup, it's going to be a thing again. lol. And to our friend Paul in Quebec. I say if it fits in the plan you have laid out, the price is right, you have to start some where collecting parts. It could just as well start with a frame, That frame anyways if it fits your plan for things to come. But between you and me...life's to short. Buy a runner. That's right, play hardball and shop a deal. Be that guy, show up with a wad of cash, say this is the number in $100 bills, and don't be afraid to walk because there are more out there.
Model A's.......great point......there are running COMPLETE A ch***is for sale almost every day online. I have sold more than one over the years. 2-3K gets you the start to a speedster
He goes his own way, and builds what makes him happy. That's what rods and customs are all about. That said, I have not seen one build of his that I actually like. That's actually a good thing. The more popular something is, the less unique it is. That is the opposite of what rods and customs are all about.
Hi guys I appreciate your points, I would love to find a roller Model A Ch***is if nothing else, Sp if anyone has leads on this, let me know....... N/E of the US would be OK as well. Im not a fan of Bad Chad builds either, but I can appreciate what he does (way above my skill set) but I though putting that little drag car together there was no way he spent a ton on it....... and he was able to participate in the event, thats all I am really looking to do. The flathead I will be going to see is local to me and was supposed o be removed from a running/driving car, we take that with a grain of salt of course, but that does not worry me.................its finding a place to hang it thats tough. Paul
They ALL "came from a running, driving car" If you can NOT hear it run it is only a core. Flathead or SBC, I WILL NOT pay more than a $100 for an unknown lump of steel
Here’s something to chew on https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/folk-art-jalopy-it’s-not-a-rat-rod.1242552/ As far as Mr Chad. He builds what he or his customers like and could give 2 rats ******s less about anyone else’s issues with his builds. I dig that personally, just build whatever you like and enjoy it. The most fun I have with this hobby is dragging junk out of fields or s**** yards and building out of s****s and leftovers. Slow process but fun.
Paul, 1941 Ford frames are a one year only. I would suggest that you do not buy that frame because you don't yet have a plan as to what you want to do. It will turn into a money pit as you really have nothing to work with except a junk yard frame, no body and little else. Find a more complete car. Follow Tman's advice.
Up your buy-in price and get something you want 75-80 percent done. You'll be time and money ahead. Put the work in 'finding' not 'doing'.
There really shouldnt be rules to hot rodding but there are roads easier than others. If you wanna do the flathead event circuit and you want the car accepted to run staying in the Ford parts bin will be the easiest route. The parts are like legos and basically between 32 to 48 the world is your oyster with the most basic of fabrication. Now is that what you should do? I dunno. You got to do what scratches the itch for you. But if you wanna run TROG or Pinetree it is a little like building a car for cl*** at the track. But not nearly as restrictive. Ive run TROG once and am running this year. As far as Im concerned I'll never miss that event again if at all in my control. Ive run Pinetree twice. Another event that I won't miss barring a catastrophe. Ive run various other vintage drag events and love an all honestly haha. The days of running TROG with a basic car are over. The cars are fast. Its really fun but a stripped stock banger aint gonna cut it. Pinetree you can run anything with period parts and run alot! As far as Bad Chad at Pinetree? His car ran and won some. His work isn't always my thing but that's custom cars right? He was a real nice guy and worked on the car all weekend and was one of the guys. Pretty cool
I don't know what a Bad Chad is, but if you have a vision of what you want build towards it, even if it requires a bit more time and money. Spending time ***embling something with a frame you just happen to have, some leftover washing machine parts and the back half of a Geo Metro isn't going to get you the *****in' TROG ride you have in mind. You've discovered the best hot rod reference site on the internet. As others have said find the right stuff and go with it. My 2 cents: Start with a Model A ch***is and fill in the blanks. Ford bodies 28-31 will fit it. Research key words ***ociated with "AV8" (AV8 steering, AV8 axle, etc) and you'll find more info than you can swing a dead cat at.
on FB there is a page called model A mafia and ford model a hotrod builders. I see model a's for sale on there all the time.
If you can get these parts for a descent price buy all means by them if they are available!! Lots of early oval track/drag cars were built out of case off parts and many of them were very fast! If you wait and look for a Model A roller you may never find it and miss out on these parts and never end up with a drag car which is your ultimate goal! You can always build a car for one of the looser events get a feel for racing and built a different car latter. I am in the same boat as @adam401, many people are p***ing their own options as rules/facts and as a result the true history of racing and hot rodding is getting muddied up and lost!
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