First off, I think the frame is ruining the car, the IFS doesnt look good, but even worse is the general beefy-ness. It would be nice if you could just drop a body onto a frame thats semi ready to go, but it doesnt really work that way (ive thought of doing such a thing too). Lots of people are suggesting making a 2X3 tubing frame, but I generally disagree with that idea, just because something like a model A frame looks so much more "authentic" to me. And since you already have a spare model A frame, there you go, youve already hooked yourself up. A solid front axle is a must, to me. That V6 is a great idea! I wouldnt venture to say you are the FIRST to do it, but then again who cares. Its totally uncommon, and out of the box thinking. Dont be tempted to use that hemi you have in it. Id use that 305 or even the chevy 6 in the car before the hemi. That car body is so odd, that it needs an odd engine, and in this case (to me) a hemi would seem too common. My fairly educated guess is that the cowl is an Overland. My dad is working on a 1925 overland (T bucket styled build), and it looks quite similar (although the dash is different). The windshield posts look very similar, also. These are all just my opinions of what to do with the car. In the end you have to do what YOU want to build. Another reason why I think you should keep on building is because youve already been working on this for a year, dont throw your time away. Neat idea with the chevy front fenders. I think its a cool idea to use the MG pieces, I have no problems with that. If you finish it the right way and get it into one color, I think it would be alot cooler than a model A, and certainly one of a kind. I know building something "different" and not mainstream is something that you are into, since you expressed so much interest in using the oddball engine. I hope this honest opinion helps Briggs
The cowl on the Overland is different, but the windshield posts look EXACTLY the same! Maybe my cowl was already a mix-breed when I got it? Glad someone likes the 6, and after all this, I feel I almost have to build it. But definitely on the Model A chassis or a similar, tubing equivilant, and definitely with the I beam in place. I thought I could save myself some work by using the Chevy frame, but it's time to let go. Anyone got some good chassis building tips? I bought a book on "How to Build Hot Rod Chassis" but I'm still not real confident. I do a mean top chop on a 50's car, maybe I could swap labor with someone and chop a top to get my chassis mocked up? Interest? So current plans are to continue to work on the project, scrap the frame completely and start over fresh there, keep the 6 and build some flathead lakes style headers (3 ports per side like the flatty) to lend a bit of tradition to the oddball motor, and chop/section the grille down a bit from it's current hugeness. If anyone has some good links to some Model A chassis building tech, please post them for me.
glad to see all the good advice you got dude i agree that the frame looks odd but useing what you got is my dads motto the thing i am buildling is a model A cowl? & the back of a Model A 4 door if i cant find a coupe or bucket ass going to weld what i got then chop the roof off I am building its frame from two rails as this thing does not fit on the frames i have it will have VW front susp & 10 bolt GM rear mostly cause i got them so wont have to spend money on other parts going to rebuild a 400 SB chev & toss a PG trans or 400 turbo depending of how things fit but this is being build by me for me & its not like i give a flying fuk what others will think of it yours seems same way build for your self body looks great real one of a kind
Isn't the steering column supposed to go INSIDE the body? There's nothing 'hot' about those GMC sixers unless the radiator is boiling over.
ditto: - I like the rear section off the MG mated to the A....just not on that frame....It could be really cool....if your ready to work the sedan you got just save the body from this one and wait till you get the right chassis for it....
I agree that it could be cool with a different frame. I would use 2 x 4 steel tube then taper the front with the plasma to make it resemble a model a frame. Then use your typical Ford style straight axle and suspension components. The overall concept is pretty cool, but I agree that this execution of it resembles a train wreck. I wouldn't go dogging on the work too bad though because at least he is trying to build something instead of talking about it. I wouldn't give up on it. At least you are learning sheetmetal skills on the thing. It looks as if it may take a ton of putty to get it straight, but what the hell. Get rid of those tall ass windshield stantions!
There's an old expression,"You can't polish a turd". Time would be better spent on something else. Unless you have a burning desire to see that car to its end. Sounds like your questioning it yourself already.
but if you spray clear coat on a turd you can polish it joey hay Squablow i got a extra A? or T frame up here if you want to go with a more Hamb friendly frame not saying you should just letting you know if you want to change it
16" ford wire wheels on that thing? only way to make that cool is some sort of 60ies wild crazy show rod, and that screams chrome reverse or astros or something like that.
I'll be the dissenter and say keep the Jimmy V6. Everybody is right, they are low RPM torque monsters. But they're as reliable as hell and that motor would really catch some looks. Unless you're planning to race that roadster, I don't really see the problem. By the way, that body is cool but lose the truck frame... Jan
I'd sell it to Boyd, hey, its steel and he's such a metal wizard ,give it a try, prob turn into AMBR with some help LOL really, new frame would help.
Throw the chassis and engine away. Sell the body on e-bay for a couple hundred. Then build the Model A. Sam.
Glad you appreciate the advice. I was only being as unbiased as I could be. If you want to take anybody's advice on a strange build take Plowboy's.... I for one thought he was out of his tree when he rolled into the 100 Car Pile-up with the Spacetruck, but after he posted the up-date pics of the 'truck in paint I was thouroughly impressed. Mostly that he had the vision to "see" the completed project in his mind's eye and take it all the way to the end result. Let's face it - metal work is metal work, but taking two cars (or a car and a truck in this case) that are SO far removed in styles and smooshing them into one car has to be one of the most difficult things to do in this hobby of ours. And now he's on to another similarly zany project that he's calling the Lunar Lander (or Rover - sorry I forgot). Now if Plowboy were to walk up to someone that didn't know him and try to explain what he had in mind for these builds - he'd get reactions that would vary like the ones you are getting right now. The thing is Plowboy didn't need to get a thumbs-up from everyone to go ahead with his projects - he just did it, damn the non-believers. If you have the ability to do what you want - I say there's no question what needs to be done. Just do your home work, find a "style" - stick with it and let the sparks fly homie.....
Damn, I just found this post. It should give you an idea of what goes on in Plowboy's mind. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51860 If I was building your car I would lean toward a 50's sprint-car style. A 32 grill is too boxy for that bubble butt body. A nice fat rounded sprint-car nose would look good I bet. The car could have a neat race inspired interior. A custom home built frame to put it as close to the graound as it can be. Possibly a nice hand painted number on the door....man I'd build that fucker!!! It's not so crazy......
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