Hot Rods 29 Model A project. Where to start?

I have a decent Tudor to hot rod. I know what I want to do to it but not the order in which to do it if that makes sense. If I can drive it while getting it to where I want it that would be great. On a budget.
I know I want it lowered. Not sure how much or which method(s) to achieve that. Drop axle, frame z’ing, channeling.
I want to run skinny tires with wide white walls. I only have stock wheels. I have an s10 rear differential I could use. Stock diff in the car. Would like to use a 283 Chevy motor I have around. Four banger is frozen. I have no transmission. Not sure of the transmission condition that’s in the car. I have a Vega steering box. My car is basically stock model a.
I want to chop the top but not crazy because I like comfort.
What order should I do this in? What decisions do I need to make first?

 

Let’s see, build plan, check, vehicle, check, engine, pending, transmission, pending, front axle, pending, rear axle, pending, exhaust, pending, mufflers, pending, badges? You don’ need no stinking badges, tires, pending, wheels, pending. Carry on.

 

how low do you want to go? maybe post some pics of cars you’d like to emulate. frame z’s are the extreme end of lowering when combined with a dropped axle.

 

Looks very solid, so you're way ahead of the game, do you have paperwork? I'd pull the body, engine/trans and start buying a drop axle, hairpins, mounts

 

Driving while modifying isn’t going to work out with your list, but finalize your build plan and stick with it or you’ll spend twice as much money otherwise.

 

Have the front axle stretched. Maybe add drop springs and open drive conversion on the rear
Add juice brakes
Install the 283 with trans of choice. Paint the ch***is
Drive the **** out of it
Work on the body when ya can

 

im shooting for something like this. Could this be accomplished with a dropped axle only?

 

I have paperwork and a good solid body. Thank you for the advice.

 

Cruising while ya build is traditional

 

Many books have been written on the various mods. Snag a couple and get some idea on which methods you want to use. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/how-t...aMhoCcfgQAvD_BwE#idiq=2010289&edition=8067983

 

First, evaluate what you've got, a 1928-29 tudor with a later model A grill shell and early-mid-30s wheels, mechanical brakes, stock front and rear axles, etc. You take off the body, sandblast the frame, axles and springs, then consider where you want to go, how fast and how quick you want to stop. Committed to that 283? What transmission? Juice brakes? 1939+ or beyond? Lowered stance? Traditional dropped axle, reversed eye springs? What holes in the frame stay, which get welded closed? Vega steering box that you have? Cross steering? Split front wishbones or four-bar?

And that's just the frame. You got to figure motor mounts and location, radiator location, rear suspension, crossmembers and routing of everything from brake lines to wiring. You're still not putting the body on. Don't be discouraged. Hotrodding is making choices, committing to them and patiently enduring whatever it takes to build your vision, whatever it is.
Keep us updated at every turn. We live for stuff like this.

 

I know you are on a budget, I s****ed up money and bought a Pete and Jakes ch***is.

 

Have a vision and stick to it, know what you want the final version to look like and do what it necessary to get there. When you start making unneeded compromises just to check things off of the to-do list, the build strays farther and farther from the end goal you initially set for yourself, and the car ends up looking like no thought was put into its construction.

First step is really to make a plan and budget, don't even pick up any tools before this step is done. The second thing is get the Bishop/Tardel book and read it cover to cover many many times. I used it as a general guide rather than a step by step how to, it really helped me understand the processes involved. There is a reason "How to Build a Ford Hot Rod" has been the standard go to literature for damn near 30 years. Keep in mind it is not a perfect book, there are known errors in dimensions and such which can catch you off guard so verifying every step is on you to make sure your car is right.

If you are not planning on heavy mods to the subrails in the body then I would start with setting up the ch***is first. Have your Ford axle dropped and run a reverse eye spring up front which are the most common ways of getting lower, a simple frame step in the rear with a reverse eye A spring is usually all that is needed to get a nice rake overall with minimal invasion into the body structure.

 

Sometimes the best choice - for many reasons. Current ch***is junk, no time, insufficient skills, lack of equipment.
Don't forget if this is your first project you'll be buying many tools and a lot of big ticket items to build your dream car. Will they be used again or gather dust? If it's a one shot deal you'll need to add those costs to your build.