who all has shortened the wheel base on an A coupe sitting on 32 rails?

any and all pictures would be certainly appreciated!

This one is flthd31's coupe, he said he shortened it 2.5" so it has a stock Model A wheel base of 103.5

I think this is brilliant, any one else out there done this?

 

Looks like it's on '32 rails, so it should be about a 106" wheelbase. Maybe he lengthened it 2.5", and you mis heard him?



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Looks like to me the axle line is behind the grille shell.. it's possible!

 

Never seen it done, but based on the car above, I can dig it


.

 

Ive seen people leave things a little spaced out on firewall/motor clearances so i could see it being done, i like everthing fitting nicely together.

jeff

 

I had a 31 sedan on a 32 frame that had been shortened to use the stock model A hood with a 32 shell. Hope that makes sense. I only have a few pictures of it during mock up and the grill shell is too short and in the wrong place.

 

Bttt

 

Short of using the stock model A hood...Why? The extra length will help you fit the V8 right???

 

What is the advantage, aside from the aforementioned hood fitment ? The beauty of a Deuce frame is that extra 2.5 inches, allowing for more engine room and better ride. To me the one in the first picture just looks a little snub nosed.

Don

 

My wheel base is 104" - Totally do it! Short and stout.

 

Kevin - Where did you get that hood?? That looks an awfull lot like the one off of my old sedan.

 

Just my opion but a 29 roadster on 32 rails when used with a 32 grille has bad proportions. I really like a 29 with a stock hood and unchopped windshield but without a 32 frame the body isn't tall enough and too much is hanging down between the ground and the bottom of the body. If I were to build myself another roadster it would be 29 body, hood and grille on shortened 32 rails. as for engine room since when has any engine been too big for any car on the HAMB?

 

Mine is 104" wheelbase...

 

I thought I would respond to Don’s question of “why do it” since that’s my car pictured at the top of this tread.
IMHO, the deuce frame’s beauty is not in its length, but in it’s width out to the body sides and that purdy reveal line. Sure, the extra length makes it a tad easier to fit an engine, but there are some of us that think a Model A with a lengthened hood on a ’32 wheel base is somewhat “nosey” looking and badly proportioned.
I planned this build to have a “stock hood” from the get-go. The “Green Grenade” was very inspirational with its stock hood. The proportions of this car are very popular with most hot-rodder’s… not just me. (the hood was eventually dumped, but I loved it!)




There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. The rear wheel wells have to be centered over the rear axle… so; with the model A body being shorter that the ’32, you either lengthen the body (GG style) or you move the front cross member back to shorten the frame.
I’m pretty sure the Green Grenade was lengthened with sedan doors and a little filler up top by the visor. This car should look even more “snub nosed” as Don would say, but it doesn’t because of other body mods (approx 2” added to body height and 8” chop).




I chose to move the crossmember back 2 ½ inches and use a stock model A hood. The frame horns were bobbed 3” and narrowed a little for better proportions. My A hood was pretty rough and I had a ‘32 hood on the shelf so I trimmed it to fit instead.
Here’s the thread I posted on that subject:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=625121


Here's another example of stock hood on 32 rails that caught my eye:





So, there you have it.
I thought I’d give you some idea of the thought process I used for the unusual frame shortening chosen and, as is said redundantly here on the HAMB, “build it the way YOU want”...which I did.
Proportions don’t seem too important here on the HAMB anymore. Political correctness has made god awful ugly just fine.
Here’s a few more pics of the coupe…front tires are just rollers but the right height.
Not really that “snub nosed” is it Don?

 

"Proportions don’t seem too important here on the HAMB anymore. Political correctness has made god awful ugly just fine."

<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->I love it! So true.

 

Now that's what perfect proportions looks like...nice!

 

Thanks for your in depth reply flthd31!!!

I agree with you 100% and I think your coupe has one of the nicest stances of any model A on deuce rails out there!!!

I am willing to bet that the people that negative things to say would never notice that it had been shortend if it wasn't called to their attention.

and Tudor, that totally explains why Can-O-Worms stance is the bees knees!!!

 

:d:d:d

 

I dont know if this one has been shortened but it certainly looks like it!




does any one know who built this or have any other pics of it?

 

Here's another great example of a shortened deuce frame. OP says it's about 102" wheel base.

And here's a link to the build thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=761821

Love it!

 

I do wish I had made my wheelbase and hood shorter.

 

Thought I'd add this awesome coupe to this thread.
The op says it's a spec 32 frame with a shortened wheelbase to accommodate the stock size model A hood. Here's the link:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=649293&page=2

Very tasty!

 

any other ones out there?

 

Mine is 104.5", I extended my original hood about 1.5"

The body is channeled 1.5", hood sides are original height, but I made the hood top shorter on the sides, and moved the hinges up.....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799003

 

I don't know who built this but it is amazing.

 

I've been mulling over the same stuff. But first, is the question about actually shortening the 32 frame or just moving the rear axle forward a few inches to get back to the A's 103.5" - in order to keep the front end parts the same relative to the body and front axle?