Projects Well look who gets to join the Model A club, Again!

Me! I just picked up my latest project, something I've wanted now for about 2 years. I used to have a sedan project that I sold, I regretted it as soon as I sold it. Now I got my hands on one of my dream cars, a 31 Model A coupe.
The body is REALLY nice doors open and close good, the decklid is nice. Not too much to fix just a couple of patch panels that were welded in bad.
The frame is a custom job, front crossmember, and a rear 4 link that looks like it belongs on a drag car. I still do need a trans crossmember, either F1 or 32.
It came with a bunch of parts, fenders, front tube axle, two windshield frames, head lights, original radiator and shell.
My plan is to chop it 4-5 inches, no channel, and fenderless. For now a sbc is going in because I can get a good running one with trans attached for very little money. As budget allows I'd like to do an old caddy or hemi motor.
For wheels and tires I plan on going the Coker route, 15" steelies, I think the 5.5 firestone bias plys up front and the 7-7.5 Firestones in the rear. I gotta order those soon.
I'm pretty excited about this car, I plan on taking my time on the build, first I have to finish up my pickup truck.


tail paneld and decklid are nice, fenders are decent but I dont think I'll run them.



Frame is painted and in good shape, seems to be an aftermarket frame, apparently it's from Cali. Fuel tank is in really good shape but I'll probably run one in the trunk. It came with a dropped tube axle but I have a dropped I beam axle and wishbones I am going to run.


Both doors open nicely and still have gl***!



subframe is solid, I have a steering column and box (but it came with another one!) and f1 pedals already


Dig that 4 link and drive shaft loop! I want to run original style split torque rods in the back but I may stick with the 4 link and coil overs, I don't know yet.



This is some of the stuff (not the 60 chevy doors) that came with it, brackets, mouldings, headlights, hinges, spindles all kinds of stuff I have to sort.

 

I think you are too busy for that, you should give it to me to finish. NICE SCORE by the way.

 

Nice score.

I expect to see it at the Autorama

 

That looks like a real nice body to start with. Welcome to the A club. We're all trashing together. Great find.

Rod

 

great looking car, cant wait to see it finished, i also have coupe i just got from a neighbor of danimal and am going to be busy for a bit

 

That looks like a GREAT start and you have a plan. Thats 80% done in my eyes .....

 

now go post it on the banger meet

 

Nice Model A. Have some fun with the build. Glad to hear that you are going to leave it unchanneled. What color is it going to be?

 

I went and looked at that car, you've got your work cut out for you! But it's great your saving it.

Yeah I was very excited at how nice the body is and how finished the ch***is is. Now all I have to do is the fun stuff!

Haha maybe 2010, I still have to get the wagon to Autorama first!

I'm not sure on the color, I'm really torn here, I like washington blue, and of course black. I really like the grey coupes I've seen here on the hamb too. I've always dug yellow cars, but I don't want people calling it a Milner clone. So I really don't know yet.

Thanks!

Ha, not a chance, Now that I have this I'm never letting it go...

Will do!

 

Go with the 5 inch chop ....it will look bad*** like that.....

 

Yeah 5" chop is what I'm leaning towards. I'm also thinking of the 4 link with a buggy spring and shocks, I like that look more than coil overs. Does anybody have tips on that setup? I know so-cal sells the buggy spring plate to weld to the rear axle. I'm not sure on what would be the best spring to use.

 

Aaron51chevy, that is one very NICE Model ''A'' you have there!
Model ''A''s kinda just get to you in my opinion.

Nick.

 

Looks good to me too! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Nice!! Thats what I am looking for right now...

 

There are some great Model A colors. This coupe is Niagara light blue a really cool color.



http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/acl_files/ford1928.html

 

Nice A wish my 32 chevy body was in that good of shape when i bought it!

 

hey aaron im the guy that has your 1st model a glad to see you found another one looks great ,let me know when your done sifting parts , ill buy some more stuff you'll regret sellin toledo mike

 

Thanks for the link! Now I have more colors I need to pick from

Hey Mike! I plan on going through everything this weekend. With a new baby it's tought to get in the garage during the week.

 

Sorry I missed this, AA. Glad you've got it. Looks much better than the first coupe but now maybe Dave can get some measurements from you for his!

I think you need to push that '49 out in the street. I'll be there waiting with my trailer!!

 

Looks like a great start! If you ever need a hand PM me, I think I am right down the street from you.

Mike

 

Heres my Brother's- 5" chop. Looks MEAN!!

 

Yeah I'm really happy with this car. Much better to start with. No I'll not be pushing the truck anywhere, hopefully I'll be driving it this summer.

Thanks Mike, I will. I just bought wheels and tires from Coker, and a bunch of stuff from speedway for the suspension. I'll post some pictures once I get it all and start working on it.

 

cool cant wait to see this one done

 

I'm going to use this thread as my build thread, below is a link to some issues I had with getting the front axle mounted correctly.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416240

As soon as I have that nailed I post some more pictures and show the progress. This is the winter project for me. THe wagon and the 49 are in the drive way under cover so this is all I have to work on. FOCUS!

 

Finally got some progress done on this project and shot some pictures to update this build thread. I bet most people forgot about it! Ha!

Engine and trans are finally in solid. I actually got it in right and the carb level! B*** I'm not



I had to do quite a bit of custom work on the engine mounts to get them to fit the model a frame, and to be high enough for the steering and the exhaust. I like the height of the engine now, and it allows for a cross steer. Below is a shot of the rear engine/trans mount, again the mount I bought didn't fit so I had to scrounge some steel to make it work. Not bad for my first time putting in an engine. I'll clean it all up after I get all the mock up done.


Next came the seat, I kept this old bench seat out of my 51 chevy and decided to cut it down to use it. Ended up taking 14-15" out of it and a ton of mouse nests! I kept the center arm rest, it's tight but I fit with the arm rest down, don't know if I'll keep it, not really traditional but we'll see how it looks in the end. I have to do a lot more work to it but it fits and I fit in it. With the seat in I can get the final position of the steering wheel and how much chop I can do.


this is a shot through the rear window, shows the steering wheel I got from Chris about a year ago. I like the placement with the seat so that is the next thing to get mounted. Sorry for the ****ty pic...



this show the current mock up of the steering gear. I think I'm set on the position but any positive advice I'll take. I want to do a cross steer to the p***enger side wheel end, and I'm pretty sure I've got clearance from the oil pan. I have to do some more reading on it though before I finialze the spot.



this is a side shot showing the steering gear. It's a tight fit between the headers, and the position of the steering wheel. I've got it in a place where I can remove the headers. I also need a pitman arm for this gear.


Anybody know what this gear is??? It's a ford, but I don't know what year etc. I need a pitman arm and I'm not sure what will fit it. I need a draglink to go from this gear/pitman to the p***enger steerarm. If anybody knows what it is or what pitman will fit it please let me know!




Well that is it for now. Hopefully the next update wont be another year from now haha!
This is my main project and focus now, so I'm hoping to get a bunch done on it. Hopefully it won't be so DAMN cold anymore and I can get motivated to get in the shop.

 

" Hopefully it won't be so DAMN cold anymore and I can get motivated to get in the shop." <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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Dam...I know thats right!

sure is getting there..This weather has really slowed me down..back giving me fits and just too brutal to get motivated even if it didnt hurt..

Dont know how you did it, but than again today was like a heat wave 34 degrees..wooohoo

 

You are quite punctual - yesterday or the day before a build thread re-appeared after a three year absence.

 

Yeah Randy it's hard to get going in this weather my knees sure dont like it!
Yeah I'm like a clock or a calendar for punctuality at least I'm working on it....
Actually I have 8 cars and in the warm months I have plenty of other things to occupy my time

 

"Yeah Randy it's hard to get going in this weather my knees sure dont like it!"

I know what you mean..
is that a recent picture of your boys?
they sure look like they have grown a lot

 

Actually it's about 6 months old and yeah they are growing up fast my oldest already has a list of cars he wants!