Hot Rods Anyone recognize this '29 RPU?...Hamb'r?

For the Model A builders out there here are a couple more details about components on my RPU. The early Ford master cylinder bolts to a bracket that is integrated with a battery box I made. The back side of the battery box bolts up to the front side of the center crossmember in the A frame. The side of the box parallel to the frame stiffens up the Master cylinder bracket and hides the battery so it isn't hanging out in plain sight. The brake pedal was modified by moving the lever for the brake rod from the top to the bottom of the pedal so it pushes instead of pulls when the brake is applied. I used part of a clutch pedal to make an arm that was welded to the original Model A e-brake cross-shaft to operate the cable on the V8 rear brakes. Use the 42-48 cable, it is shorter than the earlier ones (39-41).



The headlights were a swap meet find, including the old, rusty sealed-beam conversions. I built the headlight bar by cutting off the ends of a stock '28-29 headlight bar and using the ends mounted to the top of the frame rail as stands for what was left of the bar. Two original holes were drilled out for the mounting bolts and two new holes were needed. I wanted to use hood shelves to fill the gap between the frame and the hood so they needed to be tweaked to work with the headlight bar. I cut and rounded off the ends and added a piece to blend with the sides.



I'm cheap so when I saw a mirror head in a supplier's catalog for under 8 bucks I decided to make my own rear view mirror mounted to the windshield stanchion. The mount is a piece of 3/8 rod threaded for the stanchion and heated and hammered flat on the mirror end. The hex nut has a taper ground on it to secure the stanchion once the mirror post is threaded in to the body.

Don't flame me for the screw heads, they have slots!

 

good stuff Miles.

 

What kind of cardboard did you use to make those door panels, where did you get it? I need the same stuff for my '26 roadster.

 

"Shut The Garage Door!"...75!!! and then some!
I've had my Sedan up at 57! once, and that was kinda hairy!
No wonder you're doing all the suspension upgrades and ditched the brake rods!

This IS a true HOT ROD!
Tommy

 

The cardboard panels I used were made up from upholstery panel board I bought at Little Dearborn in Minneapolis. It came in a sheet I would guess was four by five feet that cost less than 12 bucks. I think they stock black and tan as well as the brown I used. The panels can be cut out with a sharp utility knife, and I used a leather punch to make the holes I needed for fasteners. If you go, ask for Roger or Terry. The fasteners I used were plastic push rivets I bought at NAPA. You simply drill a 3/16 hole where you want your fastener, push in the female half of the rivet, and use the male pin to fasten through the panel. I painted my rivets with a satin brown rustoleum made for plastic that turned out to be a pretty good match.

 

Excellent info on the panels, I'll be doing the same, thanks for the reply! Cool build as well.

 

Nice.

 

Great Photos! Thanks for sharing such nice details from your build.