Hot Rods "De-streetrodding" an A coupe

I have always wanted an "a" coupe...I can now say that is true. I traded my 55' Chevy for it 12/10...This is the progress so far. It is definitely NOT a build thread! lol This is more of a tweak thread. I don't have enough "talent" to have a build thread on this board..I don't see that as a self slam,there is just SOO many people on here with talent falling out their ***!

I am trying to ditch the "80's" theme on it.
I currently still have a chrome f.p.,solid steering column,wheel,B&M pro stick and mc to put in the spot of the stuff thats there. I am also about to re-wire it,just waiting on my Rebel Wire kit.
*please ignore the fender brackets I still need to drill them out*

As money allows itself it will get different steering and bones and ditch the HEI!!!
They are both hideous, I KNOW!..but I have run out of money! lol

Even as I know this I still see myself buying heads,cam,main hoop and lowering the front before changing those things...it IS a hotrod afterall...

before pics

 

as it sits..
Not pictured...all the chrome goodies up front on the engine and starter..It might not get ya home...but it sure looks good! hahaha

 

blackwall bias plies, black steelies, and a hood.

everything else can follow.

DANG IT!!!! posted ^^^^^^^ before the "version 2" pics were up.

 

yup,
wheel and tire change looks good!
looks like a real dropped axle and dig the front "ladder bars"

perf metal helps with the radiator
but I'd lose the velocity stack

discs can stay,
but rack and pinion?..
I guess if it works right maybe it should stay too for a while

 

I agree with moparsled, full hood, bias plies and steelies.. Maybe a little lower in front also.. Cool "A" though, body looks very good.. A's are definitely cool........

 

do it!!!!! that's got a lot of potential.

 

I kind of like the way it sits right now...looks like a mid 60s style rake.

Lots of potential to make it very old time style.

Never saw front ladder bars before, but other stuff can be tossed before those

What's up with the front frame horns? The fender tips look bent?

A good friend has a early 70s built 31 coupe full fendered, I was just asking him today about changing a few things.

 

The interior will change a little..but not for sometime..except for the seat..my big **** wants more pad!!! lol
It's full hide leather right now..headliner to the floor..

 

Thanks everybody!
Paul...done..sorta.. I a/b epoxyed the holes. I still need to putty and paint them though.
Or buy a shell thats shaved..

 

I guess diamond pleats were in then

I need to get my friend to look at how your car is changing...maybe he will take the bait

 

hahaha Good Luck!!!! hope he does! lol
I DO like diamond pleats though......

 

Have you tried the fenders after you changed the rims? I kind of dig the fender look myself. Can't say the same for the radius rods or rear end set up. Fenders would hide alot of that. This is just me. Do your thing with your car. Glad ya got your A.

 

28...I am with you..the rear end doeant bother me as much as the radius rods...
I sold them to buy other parts.. I do have rear fenders bobbed on both sides floating in my mind though....any Photoshopers?!?! lol

 

Looks great!!

 

Chrome steelies and slicks, awesome! Quite a change I'm sure going from a roomy '55 to an "A".

 

hahaha..yes and no..weird not having ANYTHING around you and wheels exposed to wackos...I just try to be going faster than everyone. lol
My 55' was bucket race seats though so this is more "roomy" in that dept.

 

I dig the wheel/tire change. Looks like it's headed in the right direction.

 

And thank you for getting rid of the "rat rod" script on the grille shell.

 

I don't know, I liked it with the fenders, looked nastier to me. It's also much harder, and more expensive to build a fendered car and get everything right, so many times you will get more respect from guys who know what it takes to build a car. JMO

 

ditto on the rat rod script......looks mo better already

 

You're headed in the right direction for sure. The booster/master cylinder has GOT to go. Front & Rear Radius Rods & brackets are a bit hokey looking, but better than independant suspension any day. Lose the velocity stack, put atleast a hood top on it, and ditch those exhaust tips and put some scavenger pipes on it. You started out with a pretty decent car, atleast it wasn't totally streetrodded out. Keep it up!

 

ditto id put the fenders back on with the new wheels. it would hide the 4bar rear and make the car look lower and clean the engine bay. looks like a good car you got there good luck with it

 

It doesn't matter to me one way or the other

but I was wondering if its gl*** or steel ?

 

Nice improvement!

 

Triple i loved your 55 but i gotta say im MOREa in love with that A. Man i think you made all the right changes.

 

fenders are cool done right...but If I kept the fenders I would have always wanted to take them off.. lol

Wetatt4u..its steel..and some bondo Im sure! lol
If it was gl*** I would have kept the 55.
********..tips are gone..
gonna run some ss pipe from the bottom of the lakes if the baffles I just ordered dont keep the sound "in order"...bought stinger baffles and some collector flanges to weld them to.

 

Mac..Thanks man.. I probably wouldnt have traded if I went all the way like you did!!!
I lost my nerve on radius'in the 1/4's. lol
Yours has always looked ***s to me though!!!

Howd that interior come out?

 

i think it looks more confused now than when you first got it. before it looked like an old hot rod trying to be a street rod, with what you've done now it looks like a street rod trying to be a hot rod or a rat in my opinion.

i'd have kept the fenders at least to hide the rear 4-bar which i think looks like **** on A's without fenders. i'd have binned the goofy mismatched accessories before i'd have lost the fenders like the flamed billet style valve covers and the 80's oil cap. just some simple parts changes like the valve covers and changing the wheels and tires probably would have done more for it than what you did. it's your car now though, do what you want.

 

looks tuff now!!!! major improvement. i like the ladder radios rods

 

A rat huh? Lol
Everyone has an opinion... But a rat?
I think not. It's not cobbled together in any way shape or form.. I see no rot, rust, or wire floors proudly displayed lol.

If you read my post im sure you saw where I am going to AND have the parts to ditch the rest of the 80's parts...
You are right about the 4-link. I would rather see bones... I think there is better looks out there. Rides and bites good for such a light car though.
It is only 3 months old to me... So stay tuned!