Everyone uses cement blocks to hold up car - but - you have weak side up. Holes up is actually strong side up. Few years back came home from work, son had car on blocks flat side up. Explained wrong way. Jacked up car, watch block fall into 3 pieces. Holes up are stronger, think about position in house wall holding up roof.
Hey, Ryan; Can sympathize... The last time I was "gifted" w/their attention, I moved out of that city & county. Next time it'll probably be out of the State, or further... idk... My next-door neighbor fought 'em, won, put them in their place, for awhile(different *****-fest). But it wasn't worth the cost to stay for me, & eventually he left too. All around, best to leave, even though it was a lot of time/work. Hope things settle down soon. Marcus...
Local government is the most intrusive. Often state & local officials can & will soften the blow of federal stupidity. Local stupidity can only be corrected if the local voters can work together to fight what is usually political and financial goals if the empowered.
Saturday provided a few wonderful distractions from the jalopy. Seven. Years. Old. It’s moving too fast… Spencer would not be stopped from progress though. One of the reasons we’re going to brush paint this car is because I want my kids to be invested in it. To DO WORK, not just hand dad a wrench. But small hands can’t control a rattle can or spray gun. But both are wonderful with a brush. Samantha is an art teacher and kids had brushes in their hands early. Spencer still gives the spray bombs his best though! Then today I managed to bush the perches. So now we’re about ready to ***emble the front end and get it under the car. Small steps…
Man, beautiful that you get your kids involved! I work with my boy a lot and it’s a struggle to keep him engaged. Ed
A lot of my work is preparing tasks he can work on. Considering his age and being on the Autism Spectrum it’s a challenge to hold his attention. He wants to WORK. So… he works.
At a very young age my oldest son (now 40) always wanted to "help". By the time he was 4 I called him a "help in the ****". I wish he were underfoot now, I need the help!
Spencer’s paint job on the wheels came out pretty well! Too bad the tires are sketchy… Now he’s on to considering body color for the Phaeton… he’s leaning dark blue or dark gray. May need to paint the closed car cowl i have as a sample…
Anyone have thoughts on setting up the rear suspension and/or thoughts on running a slightly taller rear tire? Budget keeps us with the 19” wheels.
Very cool thread. Love how your son is involved and the drawing is priceless. Not sure if this has been mentioned or your plans, but if you want to get the rear end a little lower, you can either use a T spring or cold bend your main leaf. T rear spring gets you down a 1"-2" inches. Reversing the main even more. Takes away that skyjacker look A's have when hot rodded. T spring is 2" vs. the model A 2.5", but easy to correct the extra space with the shackles with some spacers.
Thanks, friends. I’ve been looking for a T spring for quite a while but haven’t able to source one locally. I’m not sure what rear springs I have yet, but Phaeton had a 10 leaf rear spring as stock. Is going to a roadster (7 leaf) spring or pulling a few leafs a viable plan? I can only imagine what it takes to reverse the rear main eyes…
I've got 7.00-19 on my speedster. Got them NOS from a restoration shop that was going out of business. Makes the Model A first gear actually useful. It's a light car, though. They are really too wide for the stock rims, look kind of rounded like motorcycle tires, but I don't mind.
Hey, Ryan; Old formula for the (ford roadster)rear spring pack, was to jerk every other leaf, grease the flats, & try it out. Also, round the ends, taper the bottom ends up, & grind out the ridges. I'd guess a tub that doesn't carry a load would be about the same. Maybe keep the 2nd leaf if a little more is needed. FWIW. Marcus...
Guess it will depend on the spring pack I’m starting with. Someone off-forum mentioned “spring behind”, but I don’t think I’m quite up for that unless it more straightforward than I imagine. Then there’s the period correct idea that maybe the rear doesn’t need to be that low…
Makings some progress. I really want the front end under the car by tonight, but I’m learning as I go how to make this 32-36 front jive with the A. Ummm…
Funny when I think a pre war soup job I think A V8. Of course that is not considered to be a Gow Job. My dad and his cronies were playing with Tin sides and 21 stud motors as soon as they could lay their hands on one. That said cool banger build going on here.
I built a front end! Ken (62Pan) was quick on the phone with tech support. Thanks Ken! And Zach and Matt probably want this car done more than I do… they’ve been super patient and supportive. Thanks fellas. Digging Wildwood sand out of tie rods ends. Looks like it’ll be tomorrow to get this under the car.
The cup on the kingpin gets rotated when you drive the lock bolt in and the brake actuator doesn’t sit flush in the cup. I don’t like it…
I don't have any A stuff to compare but I did check mine (32) and it doesn't seat much different. Check to see how much is actually in the cup.
Pulled the pins… swapped for known A kingpins. I learned the subtle difference between A and 32-34 kingpins. Just right now. However… the spindles got really tight once I drove the lock bolts in. I can move them with some effort… how tight is too tight? Zero slop in the spindles.
Hot rodding is an exercise in perseverance. It’s Achievable only if you stay at it. Tomorrow I’ll be pulling the kingpins again. For the… eighth?… yeah, eighth time.
The Jalopy Journal
