I've had a chance to work on my '29 Sedan a lot since switching jobs and you should see the first bit of that next week when the new R&C comes out. First part was a dropped axle and juice brakes. Just installed the rear juice brakes yesterday. I used a Chassis Engineering I-beam up front because I really like the way it looks like a nicely dropped heavy Deuce axle, but is a freshly forged piece- not a heated and stretched 73-year old piece of well-worn iron. I tried to use as many of the original components as possible to keep from making it look too street rod. I used the unsplit original wishbone, forged A perches and shackles and the original tie rod and draglink connected to a vintage hairpin steering arm. The part that made it all really cool was a juice brake conversion and lever shocks (early sprint car style) from Dave Wilton (Paradise, CA). Dave is an old time wrench who has developed a bunch of really trick parts to bolt hot rod type Early Ford components to Model A Fords. Yes BOLT as in no fabrication required. He has bitchin' new hubs and all the pieces to mount Lincoln brakes with either Ford or Buick drums. He also makes a battery box that's a piece of art which mounts the master cylinder and works off the stock A pedals with NO modifications. Same goes for the rear brake conversion that's TOTALLY slick and even has a working E-brake using all the stock A mechanism. The front axle, reversed eye-main leaf and reworked spring pack dropped the fron 9-inches!!! It was a total 4x4 stock, now it's truly in the weeds. The back will be coming down next. The tires are 5.50 Motorcycle Firestone fronts and 7.00 Firestone Deluxe Champs on the rear. Wheels are 16x4 40-spole Kelseys.
Jim, That's already a really nice looking "A" ya got there. It'll look even better when ya get the rear dropped a bit. Bringing it anywhere in the midwest this summer? C.F.
It's a 30-year old restoration of a total stocker. It has a nice running Banger (great for around town) but I plan on replacing it with a '57 Power Pak 283 conected to a t-5 and a '36 rearend so I can make it on the highway pushin' all 40hp to more than a blistering 52 MPH at 4,000 RPM.
Actually he doesn't (he's a great parts guy in his 70s, not a web guy)- but hopefully we will be posting the articles I did with his stuff on the R&C website so you can take a look (after you buy the magazine!).
Sorry, not really. Threw out the original axle afte bending the crap out of it pressing the perches out of the wishbone and have some perfect original mechanical brakes destined for a restorer. The stock driveline will hopefully find its way to a restorer as well.
Jim, I like the A! Seeing the rear up reminds me of the good ole days. Now add some chrome wires and ...... NAH! Miss Tina, Samuel and I made our hotel reservations for Columbus, Sunday. Hope to see you there! I'll save you a lawn chair.
That's my other car before- and it will be a lot nicer than the black one someday. But that splash apron will end up on the black sedan- and the rusty cowl went to the guy that bought my closed cab pickup.
Hey JimA .. Good to have you back !! Your `29 Looks like it could have made it to the Cover of R&C back in `74 ....... Waaay Coool
Hmmm??? '74 wasn't really the window I was shooting for. Don't remember seeing too many cars like mine then without a Jag rearend, tufted Velour interior and ribbon panel graphics in multi metallic colors. Also the white letter tires on Cragar rims stuck WAYYY out of the rear fenders and the frontend sat much higher. Other than that I guess it being a full fendered Model A that isn't knee high, rusted out and full of bullet holes (sorry Sam) does kinda make it look like a '70s car.
...Guess I should have said `77 , but, by then R&C was history .. AYK.. BTW ..it was meant in a good way .....
Jim, Good looking ride. I cant wait to see it in person in a few weeks.. I really need to see how some of the factory stuff goes together and is sealed.. take a look at my rear post again and tell me what you think if the red sedans rear set up.... I appreciate your comments from earlier.. i value your opinion on styling..
I know, I was a huge magazine junkie in the 70's and I don't remember seeing any cars like mine (16-inch bias plys weren't too popular). Tires sticking out in the rear was manditory and front tires weren't tucked in the fenders very often before they made narrowed axles. It will look less resto rod once I pur on my dropped light bar, BLC headlights and scrap the AHOOGA horn. The back spare with a '35 tire cover will stay.
And to be 70's era perfect dont forget that OILY looking elk grain brown vinyl diamond tufted interior! I have to say buyin a resto and makin a rod from that good start is a DAMN SMART MOVE!
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