Hot Rods 1930 Model A HotRod build questions and advice

Just got me a 30 Model A 5 window bone stock , mostly in pieces .

My goal to build a traditional old school hotrod on a budget . Not worried about body being real pretty , just want to get the drivetrain in order and engine/trans . May go small block / 4 speed with ford 9" .

Frame work ????????????????? I know i need to box it but what else ?????

Motor/tranny mounts ???????

Wiring harness ?


I havent bought anything yet , wanted to ask questions 1st

Just looking for ideas and suggestions as im just getting into this one as of july 10 2013 . Got car and 90% of original parts . But plan on upgrading the drive train of course .

Thanks for the inputs and reccomendations .

 

Congrats! I'm close to starting mine up for the first time! 31 pickup. Check out my build thread. Might be something you can use.

 

Speed way motors sells the mounts cheap, as far as a harness goes I'm using a tilt column from a Chevy car and I pulled the fuse panel with it so I'm using that to wire it up by

 

Get the Mike Bishop/Vern Tardel book. It's a good guide. I wired mine myself, don't like chevy columns or Speedway Motors.

I put a 48-53 (i think) F1 truck trans crossmember in my frame. F1 steering box and column.

 

A "model A five window".....

could be a Tudor...
could be a sport coupe with the oval quarter windows...
could be a coupe....

Yup I see the photos, it's a coupe !!

Nice car, good luck with the build.

 

The title reads sedan ? Its a 1973 title, and all hand written imfo . Could have been mistake ? Or maybe the wrong title to this car ? I have no clue . But as far as i can tell just looked today (bought car yesterday). The #s do not match the frame or the engine #s

 

Looks like you made a good choise and bought a good solid body. If you really like the look of a 30-31 on a '32 chassis I recommend you sell off the unwanted stuff and buy a pair of rails and start building. Bob

 

That COULD be a problem.

 

Hand written? From what state?

 

Its a Illinois title , yes i found stamped # on drivers side when i took body off . Also the # on the drivers side of block . Neither #s match title . The aluminum ID plate on firewall isnt legable but is there .

It may be a problem i dont know just yet , going to DMV soon to try and get in my name . Ya it may not match, but imj thinking it had to be with this car for sometime . Th guy seemed to be very legit , ya i know i know ...........................

 

Does the title say 1931 ford?

 

The body is late 1931, meaning May 31 or later due to the indented firewall.

 

Sell all the stuff you don't use. Don't take this wrong but everyone goes chevy.. I have a flathead people always ask about it.. There not bad priced but not a power house..maybe nailhead would be good to. Wire it yourself its a cake walk. Good luck im sure it will be bitchin!

 

Yes i agree , i would be open to a older type build like that as well . Dont wanna be like everyone else . Not going to do the 350/350 setup if i can help it . Money wise that is , i could have that setup tomorrow dirt cheap .

 

The title says ,
Year model (1930)
But the Vehicle Identification # is A3431320.

Hope some can chime in and tell me what the vin actually is for ?

This is a old title from 1973, seller signed back then but did not date time of sale

Hell its so old they even have his social security # on it lol

 

So maybe the title is correct for the car ? The titles vin 3rd and 4th #s are 31

 

I have outstanding news for you!! Look at your awesome firewall!!! What you have there is a LATE 1931 Ford Model A Coupe with the INDENTED FIREWALL....YOU LUCKY BASTARD!!!!

 

Ya i have alot to research and learn about this ol ride . Yes i do feel lucky , even if it was a 30 as i thought . Its just cool !

 

Kool49 my brother, you made one hell of a GREAT SCORE!!! I am jealous as you have (in many people's eyes) the most desirable Model A Coupe. You see the upside down teardrop indentation on the right side of the firewall? That's the one to have.

Up until MID 1931 Model A's had part of the fuel line and shut off inside the passanger compartment under the dash. In 1931 the commonwealth of pennsylvania told the Ford Motor Company this was a safety issue and demanded they move that equipment into the engine bay. So, in mid 1931 Edsel Ford re-designed the firewall, adding the indentation, and moved that part of the fuel system to the engine compartment. I LOVE those firewalls. They are somewhat rare and they are desirable. Please use that firewall!!!!....or send it to me!!!

 

Thanks Speedon , i plan on using it though sorry .

 

If someone has not changed that firewall, your coupe was made in the second half of 1931. (You indeed have a 1931) My point is....your firewall is kind of a big deal!! If you dont want the body I WILL BUY IT!! Model A production declined in 1931. There was 2 reasons for this.
1) The Model A was in it's 4th year of production and many people owned one, or they were still driving their Model T's (which obvisously production ended in 1927)
Also, consumers were purchasing Chevrolets and Dodge Brothers products.

2) Ford was preparing production for the new 1932's.

Understand, you have a Model A (over 3 million were made) but you have a LATE 1931 with the indented firewall....which means your car is BAD ASS!!!!!!
I have a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe and I think they're one of the greatest looking cars around...personal preferance of course.

 

OK A3431320 was built in May 1930. Check the top of the left frame about where the cowl mounts. The chassis number is stamped in there. The body is indeed a late 31.

 

That's what I wanted to hear. Good answer

As far as a wire harness this is the one I used:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Economy-12-Circuit-Wiring-Harness,2352.html

By virtue of it being a Model A and the fact that you're building a traditional style hot rod you probably won't have a lot of accessories. This harness will do the trick. Yeah yeah, a lot of people on here gripe about Speedway but I know many guys on the HAMB are using this harness. So far so good for me.

 

Not really a VIN as we know it today. The engines were numbered (production #) when built then shipped out to various assembly plants. As that engine was lowered into a frame, the number was stamped on the frame rail. The chassis then went down the line and got a body. From that number the only thing you can determine is the date of build. There is no way of telling what body it originally had.

 

Just learned this is a title from May of 1930 , so i guess it doesnt go with htis car ?

 

As far as engine mounts...of course that all depends on which engine you choose. We hand fabricated mine. It's a plate that wraps under the harmonic balancer. Take a look if you have a PC (for some reason MAC products have a problem playing this)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX879jmsdzs
(not hijaking your thread, just trying to show you what we did)

I wanted a flathead but we went with a small bock. If I had to do it again I would run a Ford power plant...maybe like a 302.

Anyway Kool49, I love your car, it's awesome!!!!

 

It sounds like the Title is for your frame. Seems like at some point someone put that 31 body on the 30 frame. I know that may sound weird, but it happened more often than you would think. Over the course of 82 years a lot of shit can happen.

 

Wow! Cool to learn about the firewall, turns out I've got a late 31 as well! Not bad for a first hot rod project!

 

Thanks everyone for all the knowledge and pointers . Ill try to get the frame # tonight as well as the engine # just so we have all 3 #s to go off.

 

Ford and Briggs both built Coupe bodies for Ford, if you have a firewall tag, it was most likely a Briggs built body and the tag would of had a body number which doesn't tie in to the serial number. Also you coupe doesn't have holes for Cowl lights so it would have been a standard 31 coupe.