I figure it's time to start a thread on this one... I do have to get more pics though. My middle son is 12 years old, he loves to work on things and hang around the shop. We hit swap meets and car shows and he has wanted to start on a car for awhile. I got divorced a few years ago, which was hard on my kids and my wallet. Recovering from that now and looking forward to this with him to encourage him. I have a '27 T roadster, a stock driver, handed down from my dad. He wants a hot rod. I bought the Tardel book and have been collecting parts. I am an accountant but mechanically inclined so I try to research and do as much myself as possible. The plan is to build an A sedan. Things I have: 2 59A flathead engines, mostly complete. Hope to make a good one out of those. 1939 trans, it is rebuilt and done A frame, F1 crossmember I plan to graft in F1 steering box 40 rear end, it is apart currently 40 front end, complete, but will probably use a '36 axle I have I am planning to have Whetsel's in Greenfield go through the engine. Hopefully I will finish the rear shortly so I can make it a roller. The main thing I still need is a body. Between that and the flathead I am saving my nickels still and looking for a deal. Pics (and probably dumb questions eventually) to follow... What we started with
I'm subscribing to this one. The cool thing is that the two of you can work at having a complete running and finished ch***is and even have the fenders finished out if you want before the body is really needed. That might also keep the focus on the ch***is and getting it just right before the body is found or finds you. it keeps the build moving a bit better when the build kitty is focused in one direction too.
Just subscribed. Looks like a great project to follow. Just one question; What kind of accountant has that much cool stuff? Good luck and you guys have fun.
Cool. Good luck to you guys. I'm pretty sure that he was simply saying he has a stock Model T driver, and all the stuff he's showing here is for the Model A sedan hot rod build.
Ok, been side tracked with a number of different things going on, namely closing my machine shop, but we are back on this. The kid is 13 now, and just over 6' tall. Both flatheads are at Whetsel's Automotive. We are on deck there, I think both blocks are ok so he should have the parts to make one good engine. Working on the rear. Need to engineer a crossmember and figure out what to do with the wishbone. I am debating splitting it or keeping it together. I was trying to follow the Bishop Tardel formula. I could shell out the $500 for a 32 style crossmember or I may just fab something different. I have the F1 crossmember too and could probably fab a wishbone mount onto that like Chris did. The biggest issue is that I still do not have a body. I have the cash and am on the lookout for one. Hopefully load a couple of pics here in a minutes
The banger in the A runs and sounds good. I am planning to use the body and sell the ch***is that is under it. Got some extra parts with it - firewall in excellent shape, front windshield frame/gl***, 5 new coker tires, a ton of wheels. A couple of small rust spots in the body I need to fix, nothing that would require purchase of a patch panel though, all straightforward patches. Can probably do in a weekend. Visited Rick Whetsel the other day. Both blocks I have with him are good. He picked one and I should have an engine in a couple of weeks. It will be a 59a, 0.80 over, pretty basic to start. I need to get everything mocked up so I can figure out a crossmember, pedals, burn in motor mounts, and shorten the '40 torque tube and driveshaft.
Great start to your project,good you are working on it with your lad,before you know it he will be all grown up and doing his own thing.
I was glad to help....This is such a good piece, it will help the project..big time... Nick (and Dad) will love this car when it gets rolling... Nick is learning every day... We defiantly converted a new hot rodder...