I am new to the H.A.M.B. but will start off with the truth...... I have a 31 Ford Coupe I bought and it is a pretty good body but that is about it. It is supposed to be a traditional rod without the fenders. I am 63 and still working (have to). I want to build it to a nice traditional hot rod sort of like the one in The Rodder's Journal that belongs to Kirby Kennedy. It has a 305 V8, 350 trans and sits on a 34 frame. I would like some suggestions. The frame seems to be OK and the car kind of sits on it OK but does not look as good as a 32 frame. It has a lot of very sloppy welding and lots of holes in the front top part of the frame. Can I make a 34 frame look OK and can anyone give me some suggestions on the frame. Is the engine worth keeping for building a traditional rod or should I think about a different engine. I would like a standard transmission but not sure what to do until I can get a suggestion on what to do for an engine and how to make the engine have the look of a 50s style traditional rod. I need a lot of direction. I spent 23 years in the Navy and I have never done a big project. I want to do this very much but I will need a lot of help to get it done. I live between Houston and Galvestion in Seabrook, TX. I this is not the way to get help on the H.A.M.B. can someone tell be the correct procedure? I want to do this the way the club wants it done.
Nice car choice by the way! Best suggestion I have is to attend the cruise nights and rod show events. Ask, and take a few photos of setups that appeal to your plans. Ask too, how the setup has worked when the person appears helpful. All the specs, and choices are up to you! So make this your canvas...as many folks here know what a cookie-cutter car looks like. Your's should have a personality, if you get it right, it will be a delight to drive...and look right too. Try a search: on brianangus and frames, to get started.
Id say its a good way to get help.. But how bout some pics.. I will tell you my opinion.. Im thinking already with out pics i dont care for the 34 frame.. 32 frame is was cool but they can look good on a stock A frame also.. Dave
Hi Mike, Welcome to the HAMB. There is an awful lot of information in the HAMB archives that you can check out with the search funtion. Most everyone on here will be more than happy to help you out. Sometimes they get a little "abrasive" but if you are a retired Navy Chief you can deal with that. With your 31, I wouldn't try to use a 33/34 frame as it is so much easier to use the A frame. Try to get the book from Verne Tardel. I think the ***le is "how to build a traditional model A hotrod" or something like that. Somebody on here will know. Good luck, "Straightpipes" MMC USN Retired.
I was just admiring the Kirby Kennedy coupe yesterday. I was trying to gain some inspiration for my own project. I think that you should probably think about a Model "A" frame or a Deuce frame for your project. I think you would be happier in the long run and probably gain more by using one of those frames as opposed to the '34. And welcome to the board! Just send your soul to Ryan like the rest of us....It's worth it!!!
The '34 frame is going to stretch your wheelbase out to 112" which might not look great. A '32 is 106" which goes a long wayto keeping things to Model A dimensions (103.5"). The '32 frame also has that ubber-***y reveal line in it which will make your A coupe look like a movie star..... see, I'm hardly biased at all.
Hi Mike, how about a little clarification on your motor. Do you mean 302 as in a '67-'69 Camaro Z/28 302? The 350 trans clues me in to it being a Chevy. Otherwise I was thinking 302 Ford. If it's a small block Chevy, it's traditional, the engines originally came out in 1955 (in 265 form) and can be dressed up with the right selection of parts to get the period 'look'. If it's a Ford and somehow adapted to a TH350 auto, those engines didn't debut until the early 60's....1963 I think? Either way, no-name finned valve covers are a good start. Exhaust manifolds too, as I've been reading here on the HAMB that custom-built headers were very expensive back then. Corvette rams horn manifolds are reproduced and very affordable (about $52/ea.) My '30 A Tudor Sedan is on original 32 rails that've been boxed and it has a 1957 283 with an original GM dual 4 barrel aluminum intake and 2 WCFB Carter carb's for a nice, late 50's look. Depending on how handy your are with a welder and the facilities you have, you could either build your own A frame or get some American Stampings 32 frame rails. It's just my opinion, but I prefer the 'Hi-Boy' look, having your A Coupe body sitting on the rails. Good luck and keep us posted!
Dave, I will get some pictures to post but not sure how you do it on postings. I know how on an email but not sure about the thread postings. Can you give me a quick set of instructions? Also I notice that some of the replies say Member and other say Alliance Member. What do these mean? Tks - Mike W.
T-Bomb - my mistake and it is a 305 Chev. I know nothing about this engine and would like to know if there could be a better way to go and still stay traditional. What would be a better engine or could this one be make to look traditional? I asked how I can add pictures to thread postings? Do I add them to the postings or to my profile and how? Not sure what to do to show the coupe. I have received a lot of suggestion already and this is a great start. Not sure who Ryan is that I owe my soul to? Also it looks like I need to start using the book on building a traditional model "A" and definitely start working on getting a 32 frame.
Stock model A frames can be had for a few hundred bucks even if you are real choosy about finding a good one that hasn't been hacked up in it's past. There's also a few guys here making repro frames of top quality. I'd say for your project an A frame would be the way to go. Get yourself a copy of a book written by a H.A.M.B.er known as "AV8", Mike Bishop. It details his own traditional Model A build in conjunction with Vern Tardel. "How to build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod" The book covers all the little details you will encounter and how to keep with the idea of staying 95% Ford and esentially late 40's early 50's style of build. He builds a roadster but the theory's still the same for your coupe. The book ***umes using a Ford flathead with a '39 trans as well as banjo rear and torque tube driveshaft. Should you decide to opt for different powerplant and rear end there's days and days worth of reading tech posts here on how to set those things up as well. Just one example would be to do a search for posts here by Brian Angus and you'll get educated. Good luck, ask questions, read the post about how to post pics here and keep us posted.
Hey Mike, there are several builds in the tech archive that should help you out. God knows they have helped me. Do a boatlod of research and studying and REALLY find out what you want to do with the car before you start blowing cash. This is advice I should have follwed but didn't, so heed my warning. Take any chances you get to check out other cars you like up close, to really see how it was done. Offer to help any buddies do **** that you need to learn, etc.......
There are basically two ways to post pictures ... this thread here explains BOTH ways ... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65684 Photo hosted elsewhere and attachments ... .
ryan is the man, he is the one who created this site, i think goin with 32 rails is the right thing, im doing the same with my 30 coupe. here is a link to my build thread so far http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228673 feel free to ask any questions.ill have some better pics soon of what the car looks like on the ground, and an alliance member is some one who has paid 50 bucks, and you get discounts from all of these people http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?page_id=176 good luck and keep us posted!
This is REALLY good advice! Good luck with everything. I love seeing you young kids get into the hobby...
Just a thought. If there's a bunch of holes, and sloppy welding in the front part of the ch***is, why not purchase the front rails from American Stamping Co, and replace the rotten section of yours. This will do 2 things for you - firstly, it'll shorten the wheelbase, and secondly, it'll remove the extra kickup from the 34 rails forward of the cowl. As you have some rodders journal, I suggest you revisit the "Cop Shop Coupe" as it has 32 front rails. Brizio also did one too, this one has a blown Hemi. As an aside - you could sell the reminants to an Aussie, to recoupe the expense of purchasing the 32 front rails. We need some portion of an original ch***is.
Pick a motor that fits you. SBC fit the traditional catagory and are about a cheap as it gets. I am more into the flatheads. Then there are the hemi's, nailheads, etc. Build what you like and have interest in. Any 60 year old motor will be traditional, take your pick. I cannot help you much with pictures. When you make a post, scroll down and there is a spot for attachments. The picture has to be reduced in size because there is a limit to the size. But that is about all that I know about that. I am sure someone will help you with that. Ryan is the one that owns and runs the place. The book that has been mentioned is very good. A must read. The 32 frames are a good way to go but I also like the looks of a 30/31 Model A channeled over a Model A frame. There has been a posting by someone here that has a pretty sharp 30/31 Model A, it is light blue in color. It is on a Model A frame. Good luck. Neal
is this the car? http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc16/dropaxle/mycar011.jpg either way you go definitely stick with A or 32 rails also, you could pick up a frame from this guy, it is z'ed just right to get the right stance http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226692&highlight=double+frame
Not the one I was thinking of but similar. The one that I had in mind was channeled the depth of the frame, has a aluminum tank in front of the 32 grill. I has it as my desktop picture for awhile. But their are several out there that are set up like that. Can not argue with the look of the black one on '32 rails either. Neal
Mike this is Jr you were interested in my old coupe. Your car is alright from what I remember just needed a few things done to have a traditional look. Send me the pictures again and I'll post them for you. How was the trip to Hawaii? Good to see you posting.
Mike, Your 305 Chevy will look traditional if you use an intake with the breather/oil fill tube, finned valve covers, a small body distributor, and cast iron "rams horn" exhaust manifolds. I really like the look of a 30/31 coupe on 32 rails. I have seen the Kennedy couple several times now, and it just keeps on looking better. The treads on Rolf's build are something you need to research. Lots of info and easy to follow. You don't say what the rest of your ch***is is composed of. But, ***uming it is Ford based, you should be able to recyle most of it. There are several Texas ased guys here that can help you set up a 32 frame. Dirty 31 for one. P***ing a few bucks to someone with a frame jig and a little experence will pay bid dividends. There are a TH-350 transmissions hiding under the floor boards of many a hot rod. And the reason is they are easy to set up and reliable. Since this is your first build it might be smart to keep what you have.
Mike, Welcome to the HAMB. I did 20 years in the Navy. 1. Get a copy of the Vern Tardell/Mike Bishop book "How to Build a Traditional Hot Rod". 2. A 305 Chevy is perfectly acceptable as a hotrod powerplant. Lots of used speed parts can get you 1HP/cubic inch easily and cheaply. Bib Overalls' advice is spot-on. Go to the tech archives section of the HAMB and take a look at ROLF's A on deuce rails. It's also a centerfold in a recent issue of R&C magazine.
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