30 Model A P/U

Being new to this if I am going about this all wrong, well, you can hand my **** on a platter.

I aquired a 30 Closed Cab P/U and in the process of building it into a Rod.
The original frame has been pretty chewed up and patched in various spots which tells me I need to purchase a new Ch***is.

Heres my question and also looking for advise. From all the research I can see on various manufactures selling everything from Perimeter, Complete or Rolling Ch***is, who has the best product out there? It's not only cost but reputation, quality, fit, warranty?

Any and all adice would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

If you've built ch***is before then you should be able to tackle a ladder frame style such as a Model A, you just have to be aware of the angles involved, engine, trans, rear, pinion, front cross member. All those being correct makes a big difference in the way she drives down the road. Mine was so hacked that I bought one from Honest Charlies, they set it up with my choice of drive line, I saved what I could from the ch***is I had, you may not be fabbing the frame, you are still building the hot rod you want, hitting the swaps, setting up the drive train and rear end, mocking it up, tearing it apart, doing it again. have fun, there's plenty of help here, and good advice.

 

i am building my frame for the first time and its for a 45 ford truck. its simple ladder frame style and z on front and back. it should not be hard to do. as long as you can do framing work on a house or porch like that it would be of the same way.

 

Speedway Motors, Lincoln, Neb.

 

Sounds like a neat ride.

If Speedway doesn't have what you want, check the HAMB Alliance vendor list.

There are several that offer ch***is, from more or less stock replacment all the way to doubble Zed R word look alikes and everywhere in between.

My father and I swapped an A onto a Total Cost Involved Ch***is in 47 days, I don't reccomend trying that (takes ALL the fun out of it) but the ch***is was decent, and the kit was complete. My only gripe was the left front body mount was ****ed in the frame, wouldn't take a bolt and finally came out of the frame, one of these days I've gotta fix that (several other things I want to do while I have it down for that, one of them is pull the body back off and put the Dagels' X member in there, but I tend to drive it like a stolen rally car).

A side note, if you decide to go with independant front, read El Pollaco's warning thread on M II based suspensions without strut rods (like my TCI, found that thread after the car was already ***embled so now I keep a REAL close eye on those welds, and the brace tabs are on the list to do while the body is off along with an engine mount crossmember to take the biscut mounts, the SBF mounts **** in that car).

Good luck, sounds like a *****in ride, post some pics if you will.

 

If you have the money go with a rolling ch***is

 

Thanks for the great imput. Found out that both So Cal and TCI is only 15 minutes from the house. Planning on hitting them up today and check out their product lines and quality. I also have been having some great conversations with Rick Barakat and thru Rick getting advice from Pete Eastwood. I don't believe I will be going with IFS that much I'm sure.

As a side note I had my original ch***is looked at by a couple of Rod builders and as one stated "Dude your ch***is is about as messed up as a soup sandwhich"

Any more advice from you guys will always be welcomed.

 

TCI ch***is are OK, pricey but OK. Pete n Jakes makes a bare bones ch***is that is pretty slick. I have worked on cars with them and haven't seen any problems with them.

If you want to go cheap you can usually find an A ch***is cheap. Granted they are a 70 year old ch***is but a lot of fells use them with no problems.

I guess your ch***is choice depends a lot on what you plan on throwing at it. If you are building a blown 392 then maybe a new ch***is is your best bet but if you decide that 100 Hp of flathead is a good idea then an old ch***is will suit you just fine.

Does any of that make any sense to ya?

 

Thanks porkn******, ya it does make sense especially since I'm stuufing a 383 stroker in it at about 420 hp. Funny thing I went to both places today and the first was like a well shall we say like the looks I got was very welcome.

The second place was rather cool to talk with in fact they took me on a tour so I can see how they do what they do. In fact they are offering a 10% discount thru October on Ch***is. What I came away with is that the second outfit really had a complete beginning to end in house process. I asked about the materials used and they showed me their vendor that supplies all the steel which is domestic not overseas ****.

I don't know how true it is but I was told that the second MFG sells to Pete and Jakes all their ch***is.