Projects My first hot rod - 30 Model A pickup (build thread)

I'm working on my first project, it's a 1930 Model A pickup, and I couldn't be more excited! I'm about 6 weeks into it right now, I wanted to post sooner but I haven't had much for free time, I'll try to keep this updated at least once a week. I have been posting pics daily on dustyhowlett.com so you can check it out there too.
I live in MN, but I'm building the pickup in Post Falls, ID, under the tutelage of an awesome guy named Ray Hoppe who has been building hot rods for most of his life. My dad lives near Coeur d'Alene and has known Ray for a long time, so when the opportunity came up to build a hot rod with Ray, I couldn't p*** it up, so in July I cruised out to Idaho and got started. I'm learning a lot and having a blast. I've had the itch to build for a long time (I'm 29) but never made the time to jump into it until now.
About the build: the pickup was a project Ray started but decided not to finish. He had the suspension, frame, and drivetrain set up already. It has a Model A frame, 28-29 bed (shortened), 30 cab (extended 4-1/2"), 41 front and rear suspension, and a turbo 2.3l 4-cyl out of a 80s Merc Cougar. All of the fuel injection stuff has been removed and replaced with a draw-through Dellorto carburetor setup.
That's all I can think of for now, here's some pics - the first two are how the pickup sat when I started, there's a picture of Ray's Model A Woodie that he finished recently, cutting out the gas tank, putting in a Chevy cowl vent, cutting out the door for a patch panel, a shot of the dirty transmission, part of the intake manifold after I cut off some extra bits, all the parts ready for sandblasting, and a before and after shot of the banjo.

 

More pics - the hubs and backing plates before and after paint, a neat copper oil cooler that I cleaned up from the 2.3l, a picture of the turbo, the intake manifold parts after powder coating, the transmission after paint, a crack in the frame fixed and welded up, my camshaft spreader bar, Ray's 37 Chevy pickup project, the frame and some parts getting primer, and a drawing I did that shows the direction I'm headed - I'll shoot it with a satin red (I'm leaning towards 2011 Camaro Red Jewel Tintcoat) with black and copper accents, with a white and black tuck-n-roll interior; I'm not sure about the white firewall yet.
Lots more pics to come, I have to go split some wood with my Dad!

 

Awesome!! The car is great but the drawing is even better! I love it when people put pen to paper before building. It really shows you have thought out your project. Where did you learn to draw like that?!

 

good stuff!!!

 

Model A's are Great... they are simple enough and a perfect choice for the first time builder.

Yours is looking good and I like the illustration that you're working from.

 

Going to be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet......enjoy the pictures,,,, kept us posted in the future.....Big Bad John

 

I've been drawing cars since I could hold a pencil! I'm still working on my technique, all the artists here on the HAMB have been a great source of inspiration.
More pictures - here's the color I like (Red Jewel Tintcoat), but I'll be using a satin clearcoat on it; my Dellorto DHLA carb - what a piece of art! My frame and some suspension pieces after a coat of epoxy primer; some bird **** on my bone (hate it when that happens); the frame after a couple coats of ch***is black; putting the rear end together; putting the front suspension together; the frame setup with the wheels and tires in place; shortening the radiator shell to match the 2-1/2" body channel; Ray's friend Bruce has an awesome (ever-growing) collection of gas pumps and oilers; my seat out of a 2002 Plymouth Voyager (waiting for tuck-n-roll); the radiator shell being test-fit; rear shocks in place; and test-fitting my aluminum beer keg gas tank.

 

Looks like your doin it right. Keep up the good work!

 

More pictures! Grinding out the bed and the tailgate (the inside will get Rhino lining), first coat of epoxy primer on the bed; patching holes in the firewall; filling in the low spots on the radiator shell; a steel roof section that I got for $50 (I'm not sure what it's from, but it fits almost perfectly!) - it was all bent up so I was skeptical about using it, but Ray told me how to straighten it out and it was actually easy and a lot of fun! My 49 Ford taillights cut out and in place in the roll pan; test fitting the roof; another shot of the radiator shell.

 

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. Break time is over, back to chopping wood!

 

Looks awesome! Keep it up!!!

 

neat build. subscribed!

 

Ok I've got another minute so here's some more pictures - I got most of the major creases and dents smoothed out from the metal roof, it's ready for sandblasting; smoothing out the cowl vent; getting the 4-1/2" cab extensions fitted; using the torch to curve the pieces that get welded in above the doors; the roof after sandblasting; Ray standing next to the cab with a bunch of pieces in place for fitting; fixing some cracks on the doors; a before shot of the crooked rain gutter on the back of the cab; fitting some patches for the cracked corner on the rain gutter; the gutter after some m***aging and patching; patched up some holes on the door jambs I won't be using; seeing what my br*** vented motorcycle gas cap with aluminum bung will look like; getting the patch piece for the door fitted for welding; and the door patch mostly welded in place. I was worried about patching the door but I'm glad I did - it turned out pretty good and it was a great learning experience!

 

Here's the last of the pictures up to yesterday - I got the first part of the door patch folded over the edge; then a few pictures of the larger bottom lip folded over. My plan is to get as much done as possible in September (hopefully everything but the interior, but time will tell how it goes) then trailer the pickup and my motorcycle back to MN and finish it over the winter. I'll keep this thread updated, for even more pictures check out my site in my signature. Feedback, advice, and comments are always appreciated, thanks for looking!

 

I've been working on patching the lower portion of the cab, it's time-consuming but I'm learning a lot, here's a couple pictures

 

Today I made the patches for the missing portion of the reveals on the cab extension panels. I didn't think the patches would turn out that great, as I've never shaped metal like this before, but it was actually easier than I thought it would be and the pieces turned out pretty good! Here's some pics -

 

I got quite a bit done on the cab on Friday, but I still have lots of work to do. I did some grinding on my welds, adjusting on the doors, and some work on the roof ribs. I saw this chiropractor sign in Coeur d'Alene; apparently Satan is a chiropractor! "Got a sore back? Let Satan take a crack."

 

I had my first motorcycle accident on the 12th (my 30th birthday haha), so that slowed me down a bit on the hot rod. Luckily I didn't break anything, but my hip and ribs are still quite sore. I have made some good progress though; I hope to have the cab in primer by the end of next week.

I made a few rear supports for the inside of the cab; I made the rear part of the floor; I made a curved support piece for the front lip of the roof where a patch piece will bridge the gap between the roof and the visor; I adjusted the driver's door so it closes nicely; I made more support pieces for both sides of the roof; some filler pieces for the brace above the doors; installed the door latches and inside and outside handles; and welded some floating nut retainers to the inside of the visor/windshield support piece.

 

I finally got my cab in primer! What a great feeling. I just have to do a bit more on the outside of the doors and some small parts on Monday. I still have lots of dent removal and body work to do, but I will save that for over the winter after I get back to MN.

 

Looks like an awesome first build

 

My project is finally starting to look like a pickup! I'm trying to get as much done as possible because I will be loading my Model A up on my car trailer and driving back home to MN where I will hopefully finish it up over the winter.

I got the engine and transmission mounted in the frame, and bolted the cab and bed in place. It's an awesome feeling to see all the parts together like this for the first time.

 

i like it, but that motor isnt traditional at all.. good thing though they make adapters for t5s to everything. so if you wanted to go super traditional with the motor later it wont be very hard to do at all.

 

might i suggest a louvered hood?

 

Great looking, well thought out and executed build here.
Hope the move goes well and you can get more done.

People have been fitting later 4 bangers in Model A for ages. Many are running around with Pinto motors so your turbo 4 is following a kind of tradition.
Mart.

 

Thanks for the input guys. It is a turbo Pinto motor, actually, just a later one out of a Mercury Cougar. I would love to have a flathead in there, but I am on a tight budget so this motor met my requirements:

1) It's cheap
2) It's a little different (I didn't want to be one of the 350 in a Ford guys)
3) It has plenty of power
4) It will get good gas mileage if I stay out of the boost

I had a line on a hood with louvered sides but I missed out on that one, so it will be hoodless for now. That's what I love about hot rods, you can always change whatever you want!

 

I finished everything I'm going to finish on the hot rod in Idaho, it's loaded up on my trailer and ready to head back to Minnesota. I'll really miss working in Ray's shop under his guidance, it's been an incredible learning experience. I am amazed by how simple he makes everything! I have immeasurable respect for Ray and for all the other old school hot rodders out there. I can only hope that one day I have 1/10 the skills and knowledge Ray has.

Here's some pictures, I finished up the carb mount and radiator mounts, and made part of the floor and mounted my Caravan bench seat. It felt great to sit in the actual seating position for the first time, it's a perfect fit!

 

Just FYI, that hose you have going to the carbs isn't going to work, unless it is solid. That hose will see vacuum, and collapse. But, I still love it, show us more!

 

The top you're using looks like the one from a '31 Chebby truck cab I'm working on. I have 2 others here also. one will be the belly pan under my rendision of an early '30's dirt track car.

Ron

 

TurboShadow - Thanks, I will be either replacing the rubber part with something solid or put a piece of tubing inside the rubber, as I like the look of the rubber hose.

youngster - I have no idea what the top came from, thanks for the tip. I'd love to see some pictures of your dirt track car.

 

Man i like it!