First time street rod project

Model A Axle?

I ***umed it was '35 because of the 35 wheels and caps.
Either one will work but how does one tell the difference?
Wp

 

You tell him slim!! Here's a link to a Ford axle id chart.

http://oregonhotrod.com/ford_axle_id.htm

They are easy to tell apart if you know what to look for. Looks like you're off to a great start. BTW, I like the idea, as suggested by someone above, of using your buddies frame as a jig. The original front cross member and trunk, not so much.

lonewolfstreetrods here on the HAMB may be able to help you out on a reasonably priced kit to put disk brakes on your A spindles. I'm not sure if he does A spindles or not but he makes them for the '36, might be worth a try. I need to get off my **** and order a set myself. If you want to go more traditional you could order a kit from Speedway Motors that will adapt '39-'48 Ford juice brakes to your A spindels. Best of luck on your project.

 

Thanks for the link.
I am starting to doubt the trunk myself, I am thinking that if I cannot find a reasonable turtle deck that we may try to build one ourselves out of sheetmetal. As for the original crossmember, I am gonna have a new true crossmember on front of the frame and mount the original one behind it just for radiator and shell support. I have never tried to build a turtle deck before but we are willing to give it a try.
Wp

 

Since my axle is a Model A I need to find out what parts I am gonna need to make it work. I plan on replacing spindles and everything but the axle itself.
What wheel cylinders, brake ***embly et al will mount to an A axle? What will fit my kingpin hole? I would like to do disk brakes if possible. Thanks
Wp

 

Been doing some heavy pondering about the trunk and standing in my freezing garage looking at it. The luggage trunk is gonna go! I have decided to go ahead and try to fabricate a turtle deck for the T, I believe we can make one that is sturdier than the $200 dollar gl*** decks I find online. Wish us luck on this one.
Wp

 

For the A axle, if you choose 39-41 backing plates and either 40-41 or 42-48 front hubs to get hydraulic old-style brakes you can buy a simle and cheap adapter kit for them and use your spindles. The steering arm jazz may bumfuzzle you since you're not familiar with the early Ford stuff SO the option is to get some 37-41 or 42-48 spindles and brakes and bolt 'em on.

I do hope you plan on straightening that radiator shell, at the least, and preferably do the good body work, primer and paint thing as well. The radiator shell is the front focus of a T so it should be as nice as you can make it. The Mustang/Falcon radiators fit the shell fairly well but the upper tank seam shows and some of the side plates do show a bit on each side. The bottom is not an issue since it can just drop beow the front crossmember and be hidden pretty well UNLESS you insist on using that original T crossmember as a radiator support rather than making simple brackets at the frame rail.

Think about using that fine trunk as a luggage trailer body. A simple frame, trailer axle, and you've got nice piece for little money. The frame can be extended to include a cooler rack and even a bicycle rack if you're into biking while traveling or camping.

 

That was some funny $hit... but what the heck is a Rot Red?

 

Thanks for the info.
Yes, I do plan on straightening the radiator shell and getting the rust off of it. I would go with another shell but that one has some sentimental value to me.
Wp

 

I like the idea of using the old Buick trunk as a trailer.

I am not as crazy about using two front crossmembers. You might be adding too much bulk up front.

I would stick with drum brakes all around. On a light rod with a 4 banger, they will work just fine and you will have an easier time of it in you put in a single circuit master cylinder.

Have you thought about how you are going to mount that rear end?

BTW good luck; this is a neat project.

 

One other question - are you going to try to make that engine look 'old'? Vintage carb/generator/????

 

I had a fellow from Georgia have the same idea you did about using the trunk as a trailer, sounds pretty cool.

As to making the 2.3 look old, I don't know if I would know how to do that. It would be neat if I could.
Wp

 

Ya know since we are gonna make a turtledeck ourselves it just occurred to me that I might be able to use the old chrome Ford doorhandle I found in the woods as a decklid handle, not actually use it to turn a lock but as a simple lift mechanism. That would be interesting.
Wp

 

Hootie is looking into that as we speak. He has been over to our buddies house who bought the Spirit kit and is taking measurements and notes from the kit ch***is. It is good to have a friend/neighbor like Hoot. Hell he owes me all this thinking for all the school lunches he stole from me in the 70's and 80's!
Wp

 

Post some pictures of that engine. I am sure that with some good choices of paint, carb, air cleaner and alternator/generator that you can acheive more of a vintage look.

 

"Go blow a goat if you dont like it" " I asked for opinions and advice not Elitist Snobberism"

want opinions and advice smart ***
1st thing is you need a game plan. do you know how many projects fall by the wayside because of bad planning? No game plan = bad planning = for sale before it's finish. get it ?
oh you got a game plan, let's see if I understand it. Hey guys what color do I paint my car? why are you asking anyway it's your car. how about, I went to buy a seat to day, what seat fits my body, anybody know? but it's your ride do as you please.
by the way I see you list your Occupation as
Small town politico / Pest Management
can I ask what's a Small town politico is ?
welcome to the HamB

 

Small town- A community of people smaller than a large town or city.

Politico- A person active in politics.


Thank you for the welcome, you are most kind.
Wp

 

I will get some pics of it soon. Right now it is under a tarp and still has the FI setup on it. I will have to change the intake and get it equipped with a carb before using it. It just looks like a stock Mustang four-banger right now.
Wp

 

Here's my money-pit Its a 2.3 Turbo/T5 combo from an 83 Turbocoupe

Stan

 

Now THAT is one good lookin' machine!
Is that an early A radiator shell?
Wp

 

Got started building the turtledeck today. Looking good so far but we made it a bit long at '35 inches so we will have to cut it down quite a bit in length.
The deck is being made out of plywood, 2X4's and valley tin so it should be sturdy as well as attractive. I believe everyone will get a real blessing out of it when it is done
Wp

 

Great, sounds like you're moving right along, take lots of pics so we can all benefit from your experiance. I especially would appreciate it because I'll be building a seat back section for my Dodge cowel and doors soon. Good luck.

 

Here is last night's progress.
Got started on my attempt to make a turtle deck for the roadster.
Here is how it looks now. It will sit a bit lower when done (sitting on paint cans now for a mock up) and we are also going to take a few inches off of the rear and bring the side panels back a bit so that the curvature meets the body. We still have yet to construck the top and cut a decklid and also have not covered it in metal yet. Hope to do both in the next week.
Nothing spectacular to look at but it's a start.
Wp

 

Paint cans probably make a terrible ride anyway.
Wp

 

35 inches in length LOOKS long on it but from all the measurements and plans I have saw that is the correct length. When it is lower and I have my rear end and tires mounted it will probably break the length up a bit in perception.
Wp

 

The folks opposed to rusty radiator shells on a rod will be pleased to know I sanded and primed the T shell this afternoon. Went and saw my homies Spirit T bucket today and he is Waaaaaaaaaay ahead of me on the build, already has front end and rear end mounted. of course he did get the 5000 dollar kit and I just got the 500 dollar body!
Wp

 

Finally the grill shell matches the body and all rust is GONE. Still got some straightening to do on the metal. Gonna try to do a little more fab on the turtle deck this afternoon if time allows. Also currently have the high bid on a p***enger side Victor Lamp Co. Cowl Lamp from a 1914 Ford on ebay. I already have the drivers side lamp to match it thanks to a good HAMB member.

 

Shortened the deck by 8 inches but didn't get to build a top for it or start covering it in metal yet.

 

The Model A front axle is now out of the project.


I ran across an axle from a '48 Coupe with good spindles etc and no crazy trailer type welds. I got the axle with leaf spring wishbone etc. for forty bucks.

I don't know how desirable a '48 axle is when compared to a Model A but this one will be alot easier to work with.
Anyone running a '48 style axle in your rods?
Wp

 

Here is the '48 axle I got yesterday. The wishbone has more "drop" to it than I expected.
Wp

 

I wonder if the wishbone can be cut, heated and turned into radius rods?? It MIGHT work, we shall see
Wp