I have been hung-up on finding a suitable Model-A coupe body for sometime now, and I have not found anything that suits my needs. This is frustrating me as I find myself spending too much time perousing ebay, craigslist, the HAMB cl***ifieds, swap-meets and country back-roads in search of my starting point, instead of spending valuable time in my shop. I have decided that I am going to take a different approach. I am going to make the ch***is the starting point of my project and worry about the body later. My first thought would be to determine the frame dimensions, as this would seem to be the most base information and and obvious starting point. I am looking for any advice, tips, information, measurements, schematics, bluprints, plans or otherwise for a Model A frame that will get me started. All info. is appreciated.
You probably don't want to here this but...wwwoooo nellie! I think, in my humble opinion, I would get the body first. You're getting the cart before the horse and it's going to cost you down the road.
Not the way to do it. Really helps to visualize the whole thing...without the body you are missing a really big piece of the puzzle.
Alot of bodies will not be square......so starting with a frame is not a bad idea. Start by using the dimensions in the link above.....if you plan on running a SBC or an engine that is longer than "stock" A, you may want to add a few inches of frame length ahead of the cowl......I didn't and had to recess my firewall instead..... You can always Z the front or rear later to suit your needs once a body is found......
Things to have. Wheels your going to run Front Axle, Spring, and at least spindles with drums. Body (For Sure) and rear end. Then you could attempt to build the frame.. I would definatly get the body first. Patience is a big part of building Hot Rods.
it depends...are you building a full fendered car with a stock dimension frame..or a stretched wheelbase and Z-d frame? a little more info
I am a bit leary of this as well. My thought though is that I know what a Model- A body looks like, the body dimensions are going to change, so I have a the concept of the body taken care of, I just don't have it actualized. I don't know though, I have only build muscl cars and '50's cars where the body and frame were always together. I am a making a big mistake by thinking that I can build the ch***is without the body?
Streched wheel base, with a kicked-up rear. I understand that this will make it more complex, but I figure there are enough people who have build A's that I can steal some of their dimensions for a rough idea and then fine-tune when the body arrives.
Sometimes even if you have the body you build the frame more than once. I would hold off. You may find a T or B body you like. My pennies.
...and some GREAT stuff here from brianangus...the stuff on suspension/spring loading etc is gold...may help you out a lot. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150434&showall=1
I say build your frame. What's the difference in him building a frame, or finding a stock Model A frame and buying it? Body or no body, you are going to have a Model A frame to start from. He said he wants a Model A coupe. Well, they don't come in different sizes when the frame is concerned. At least you'll have a frame to set the body on when a body comes along. A lot of this hot rod stuff is like finding a good woman. They come along when you aren't looking for it! (bad ones do, too!) My only caviat would be that if you currently don't have enough cash to buy a nice Model A body at their going rate, tying up your money in a frame build may leave you with empty pockets if a Model A came along that you wanted to buy. Go ahead and start on your dream, and stop tossing and turning over not having anything in the garage at all!
I built my custom frame next to an old stock model A frame that i had lying around. This was my first frame build and i wanted to cross reference all my measurements to the stock frame. I even used the stock frame horns as a template for the new ones. I never measured or checked any dimensions from the body so i dont think you need a body right away. at times i even thought that i could have decided not to buy the body to free up funds for the ch***is build. you'll eventually find the body your looking for. wouldnt it be nice for it to have a nice rolling ch***is waiting for it when the body arrives?
Its funny to see this post because i am in the same boat...i am setting up my frame and suspension first because i know it is going to be a long build so i am in no rush...I have the picture in my head on how my car will sit...so when i do get it i will be able to "toss" it on the frame and move on withthe build...there are enough specs of the bodys and frame to build it from nothing...or just a frame
Looked at Westcott's drawings when I was building the frame for my A and found they were missing some of the info I was looking for. Managed to obtain a 1928/9 frame and took the measurments off it and generated a CAD drawing of the frame. Was a help designing the modified version of a A frame that I am using. The attached is a JPEG of the drawing I created from the original A frame. Note: it also identifies some differences between Canadian and American frames as well as some of the differences between 1928/9 and 1930/1 frames. Hope it is of some help. DWG format is available if that is any help, but too big to attach. A series of pics of the frame I built were on the HAMB a year of so ago. Canuck
I guess the only thing I'd make sure to consider in setting up the ride height is to remember to set it high to compensate for the weight the body will add. I don't know what an A body weighs - not a hell of a lot - you could probably put a piece of plywood with a sandbag or two on it, across the frame in 3 or 4 places, and get yourself close.
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