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Building an AV8 with my son

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Meyer, Mar 20, 2013.

  1. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    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

    [​IMG]
     
    dwollam and kidcampbell71 like this.
  2. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    Here is junior :D

    Frame is stripped down, working on getting it rolling

    [​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  3. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    He can't weld yet, but he will get there

    [​IMG]

    Rear torn down

    [​IMG]
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  4. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    Trans

    [​IMG]

    Front end

    [​IMG]
     
  5. steves29
    Joined: Jan 19, 2010
    Posts: 194

    steves29
    Member

    I have seen 2dr sedan bodys a few times at swap meets. There were lots of them built.
     
  6. critchdizzle
    Joined: Feb 22, 2011
    Posts: 590

    critchdizzle
    Member
    from Owasso, OK

    Looks like you've got a good start and a great helper! I'll be watching this one.
     
  7. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 33,207

    lothiandon1940
    Member

    Great start and great story. Look forward to watching this one progress.
     
  8. tierod
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,547

    tierod
    Member

    Way to go, get that youngin' started early....
    I'll be watching this build,,,
     
  9. chevy54man
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,683

    chevy54man
    Member
    from NC

    This is a great build and thread. Best to you and your kids and looking forward to more on this car!
     
  10. rob lee
    Joined: Jul 30, 2006
    Posts: 1,331

    rob lee
    Member
    from omaha,ne

    Great project!
     
  11. OLDTGUY
    Joined: Jan 16, 2013
    Posts: 88

    OLDTGUY
    Member

    This is going to be a great project for you and your son, congratulations!
    JJ
     
  12. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 36,519

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    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.
     
  13. 30modelacoupe
    Joined: Nov 1, 2006
    Posts: 359

    30modelacoupe
    Member

    I'm in, subscribed. Good luck, should be a great father son experience.
     
  14. bobadame
    Joined: Jan 20, 2009
    Posts: 174

    bobadame
    Member

    I'm pretty sure you have a Model A there.
     
  15. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,137

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Best of luck, great time spent with your son.
     
  16. jlhelm
    Joined: Sep 21, 2006
    Posts: 58

    jlhelm
    Member
    from Minnesota

    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.
     
  17. 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.
     
  18. 29ToyA
    Joined: Oct 29, 2010
    Posts: 413

    29ToyA
    Member

  19. T&A Flathead
    Joined: Apr 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,986

    T&A Flathead
    Member

    That's awesome. I plan on doing the same with my boy. But , I have a while, he is only 4.
     
  20. Woob
    Joined: May 11, 2004
    Posts: 353

    Woob
    Member
    from Falcon, CO

    ' looking forward to watching the progress. I, too, work with an 11 & a 12 year old in the shop.
     
  21. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    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
     
  22. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    Hopefully this loads... IMG_0514.JPG
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  23. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    One more. Waiting on a steering arm and then will bolt the drivers side together. IMG_0516.JPG
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  24. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    Found a donor body. Nick is happy DSC_2243.JPG
     
    sko_ford likes this.
  25. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    Big thanks to Bill (tierod on here) for his help. DSC_2264.JPG
     
  26. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    DSC_2282.JPG kid has to do some work.
     
  27. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    My T has company now

    DSC_2285.JPG
    DSC_2289.JPG
    DSC_2291.JPG
     
  28. Meyer
    Joined: Sep 9, 2007
    Posts: 379

    Meyer
    Member

    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.
     
  29. 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.
     
  30. tierod
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,547

    tierod
    Member

    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...
     

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