Technical Adapting 38 Ford truck frame to 32 roadster body

My DMV could care less.
Wear it out and post pics

 

Also, if you decide that you actually want to do this, Brookville roadster sells the front frame horns for a 32. I talked to them last week to see if they were available and how long they are so I can use them on a 32 frame that I'm working on. They actually only have one of one side in stock for some reason and none for the other side but they expect to have more available within a month. They are 20" long and run $105 for a pair. This might make your old frame look a bit more cosher.

 

You will never get the correct "hot rod" proportions using the '35-'40 frame.

If you notice, all Ford frames up to 1934 have the radiator mounted over the front axle.

While the '35-'40 frames have the engine over the axle...leaving the radiator too far forward.

 

memory says the '35 to '40 frames are about 4" wider than the A and '32s at the firewall area......
the x member really can't be narrowed that much and still have room for the tranny...
lots of work to make the frame / x members fit the earlier body...
you might get away with just using the rails and make your own x and cross members to the new width...
draw a little print to see how what you want goes with what you have...

 

We're using 35 to 48 X members on 32 frames but we trim them on the outside before welding them in. I think that's what he would have to do too and that's a lot of work to do to accomplish a piece of junk..

I think I've tried things like this before and finally made a nice car out of it only to realize that I also still have the car that I started with and didn't use.

 

Thank you, Kevin, exactly right

 

Iron Trap put a T body on a 46 Ford chassis. Cut it into pieces to make it look half way right. Anything can be done...

 

Also, wheelbase isn't really the issue here. On the 2 pics (above), note the distance from the firewall location to the rear wheels . You would either have to shorten the frame AND torque tube, or lengthen the body a great deal.

 

I'm an optimist, but also a realist. I don't think an A or '32 roadster body would look right on a later frame unless the frame was narrowed and the body was channeled. A high boy roadster would be hard to pull off with this combo. Furthermore, using stock cross steering from your chassis can be difficult in the earlier bodies. The column must be as far forward as possible, just about where the V8 is living. The front axle is not ideal either. As far as the title goes, I'm sure there was a lot of 26-31 roadsters titled as 32 trucks, fordors, tudors, and such. Back in the day, you titled a car by the frame, engine, or transmission stamping, so who cares what's on the title. The bodies were NEVER titled in the early Fords. If you can fab the frame and body to marry them together and you like it, then do it. But this will not be a bolt together project. Lots of cutting and welding in your future. That is my two cents. If you build it, post the build thread.

 

As I've said before, the best use of that frame is to create a home-built sports car like shown in "Mechanix Illustrated".

 

Sounds like your primary motivation in this is to avoid the titling process. Have you personally investigated the titling process in Florida? Nothing against your friend who had difficulties, but I'd want to know for sure before launching into a great big engineering work-around. Maybe his was an unusual case? Maybe he's not in Florida? I don't know, I live on the other side of the country. But I will say, I've heard many horror stories about the difficulty of titling, and yet I've done it twice. And it was much less of a headache than some of the frame/body contortions described in this thread.

 

Laws are different everywhere, but here in Michigan, I can title a vehicle off the numbers on a frame, engine block, or transmission. If the roadster was titled as a 38, wouldn't it just be considered a "Special"? I have titled many of my projects from numbers and filed for lost titles. There are ways. I guess my point is, I don't think its critical if the year matches the body. Most DMVs recognize that these Hot Rods are custom built anyway. It's just numbers that mean nothing to the person driving the car.

 

I totally get it! You are not interested in building a car from scratch...you already have a running chassis and WANT TO USE IT.
My suggestion would be to find a '35-'36 Ford truck cab, hood and grill. (1-1/2 Ton would work), it should pretty much bolt on...and they look OK fendeless. Then find/build a pickup box to fit...as pickup boxes are not "wheelbase/wheelwell specific"

 

Is there a limit to the modifications to a frame beyond which the original identity is lost for legal registration purposes?

If no, start cutting and welding until the 38 frame closely resembles that of a 32.

If yes, establish what is doable and whether you'd be happy with the results.

In the UK pretty much any frame alteration (shorten, lengthen etc) results in the loss of registration and the presents the opportunity to re register after passing a difficult, some say impossible, and expensive test.

I have a cat but really would like a dog. I can't get the cat to bark.

Chris

 

Each state is different in regards to title laws. In Michigan you can alter as much as you want as long as the original VIN# is still in the factory location. No inspections are necessary after the original vehicle is titled. Some states require inspections on all new to you vehicles, especially if they are bought out of state. It is best to have a conversation with your local DMV. And some states require safety or emissions inspections. Michigan is pretty much a free for all. Cut and weld as much as you please.

 

Some States, such as mine don't really care. Law Enforcement would rather see it titled based on what it resembles; IE a 32 Ford Roadster regardless of frame. I have seen folks build a car around the chunk of frame with the Serial Number stamped n it.

 

put a 35/6 ford pickup body on it

 

Not true on the box not being wheelbase specific. 1) you don’t put an short bed on a 8 foot box frame or vice versa. 2) Model A’s as well as my ‘48 F1 have bolt holes and indentations at wheel section.

 

Agreed, some boxes are wheelbase specific. A '35-'37 Ford box would work perfectly...or, as I mentioned, just build a box. Built the box on my old '40 Ford PU in an afternoon.

 

I know you wanted to modify the frame to fit but how about pissing off the purist and cut the body up and extend it to fit the frame instead? Hopefully you are a bigger guy and that will help in the argument. Hey, I am talking legroom here, keep focus.

if bad chad can do it so can you or anybody else.

ok, enough pot stirring, felt good, haven't done that in a while.

anyways I know you wanted to build the 32 but have you thought about selling it? You might be able to build the truck for free depending how rough your 32 body is and what you get for it. I know I sold off a few things I really didn't want too but I was able to build something else without touching any other money sources.

with that said, NO, the GTO and the Pheonix are not for sale for the guys that keep sending me messages. Those are 2 of the 4 that I am almost certain the estate will have to clear up, rest might be fair game on the right day but that day is not today.

 

I will probably get sent to band camp for this recommendation, but I would look into a set of 32 reproduction rails or a complete aftermarket 32 frame before using a 35-40 frame under a 32 body.

 

His Name Escapes me right now but the owner of Circle City Hot Rods has a Model A coupe that he built years ago maybe his first hot rod that has a 35 to 41 frame underneath it I believe with the Hemi in it. It looks good but you can tell it's different

 

Except Jimmy White has talent and didn't have to ask..........................

 

Stole it off the internet. It looks to have a lot of cutting done to it to make it fit. Definitely not LEGOs.

 

Yep that's the one Jimmy White.

 

Mike

 

That sounds like a reasonable alternative. Look at the measurements on a larger car like a Lincoln or Packard or something. Then measure the frame and cut and fit until you have a "big" roadster. It won't be a 32 or a Model A, but more a custom roadster. You could mod an original steel car or fiberglass. Bet it would make folks scratch their heads...

 

I REALLY hope he pulls it off and builds a bitchin hot rod so everyone here throwing a fit has to eat crow.