Does my butt look fat with no Z- progress pics

Exactly what Roadstar said !

If it were me I'd be looking at Zing the frame the width of the frame and using a 40 style spring behind which gets rid of that big hump for the stock A spring. With the modern foams available for uphostery you should be able to make a pretty comfortable rumble seat for your little midget shown.
Ted H
Ps: while you're at it get rid of that heated and bent spring ! Would hate to turn on the computer some morning and read one of those "Pray for us, daughter injured when spring broke..." type posts.
TH

 

My eye would like the whole car lowered a few inches front and back to keep the same rake. That still will be tall in the saddle by todays standards.

I love Pauls A. A great looking 40's style hotrod stance.

In the old days lots of A rear springs were bent to a 90% angle a few inches from the eyes lowering the rear. Right or wrong that is the way it was done.

 

I like 'em to sit up a bit (not a big fan of belly draggin' lot lizards) but I think yours needs to come down a little. It's just a bit too high for my tastes.

JH

 

pics of your new ride??

 

Personally, I would lower it a tad.
Maybe use a '40 Ford front spring.
I ran into a simliar problem building my T roadster.
The original frame was boxed and Z'd three inches in the rear. When I put it under my body with a spring over the axle, it sat way too high. I cut the frame just before the Z and then added a back-half with a five inch Z and a '40 Ford rear spring. (I never thought to use the '40 Ford front spring I had laying around)

Thas is how it sits now. It actually looks lower in this pic than it really is.
r

 

IMHO. It appears a little higher than stock. Could it be lowered a little closer to the top of the fender wells without Z'ing the frame? ie: reversed spring eyes. dearched springs, different springs. If the frame isn't z'd I wouldnt think you'd lose the rumble seat. ------------Bob

 

A "Photoshop" treatment would come in handy about now.

 

I think a couple inches down front and back and then a more noticeable rubber rake would make a big difference in the look of the car. I like the car, I just think I would like it even more with a minor adjustment. Do you have a buddy with a different set of wheel/tire combo you could put on for a comparison to give you a visual?

At the end of the day you have to be happy with it yourself.

 

i dont have photoshop...just paint...but heres what i was playing with

lowered all around a little bit...grill lowered bigger rear tires but all with the same rake
then i made an attempt at drawing a hood and eliminating the straight windsheild

i would chop and lay back the windsheild myself but i can't rotate things in paint so i just got rid of it...also TREID to even out the colors

thats something else i learned when working my car...spray everything the same color...when you have doors, gas tank, grill all different its hard to get a complete visual perception of the entire car as a whole

time to get to work now
zach

note the oh so amazine "spray can" fade job!

 

Yes, it would look great if you left it the way it is, but in a late thirties, low budget kinda way.

Yes, it would look more like a serious hot rod if the rear was a couple of inches lower. You know the look that you are after.

While we're talking about dropping a couple of inches, what are you're plans for that windshield

 

The roadster is looking really great, "butt" I agree it could come down a little in the back. Like you I'm not sure about the best way to do that though, by Z'ing or going to a spring behind axle. Take notes when you do it though, I'm making plans for my 29 Coupe


I also agree with taking a few inches out of the windshield, or at least leaning it back some.

 

wow, that does change everything...thanks! # looks cool too....thanks man!!!

I'll eventually take some of out the winshield and probably rake it back a little....

 

I say Z it also.



Slight windshield work...

 

Bump

 

I'll have to look when I go home.......our system has them blocked...

 

This help?

 

You suck but your car rules.

 

I don't like you anymore.....give me my self-esteem back, fag!

 

This has been an interesting discussion. I'd like to ask one question. How many of you ACTUALLY use your rumble seat? During the first resto-rod era (70's) a lot of guys here were converting their trunks to rumble seats. Everything from A's to 34's. The local rod shop. sold quite a few rumble lid conversions and seat springs. After only a couple of uses 100% (of the ones I knew) never used them again and continually bitched about the lack of trunk space amd waste of money to put them in. About 1/3 of them actually removed them and went back to a trunk or took the cushions out so they could carry a cooler and suitcases.

I think a lot of you would so yourself a favor by getting into one and actually riding down the road at speed. All of the charm goes away the first time a june bug comes over the top and hits you in the face or dust and dirt gettininto your mouth and eyes at anythign over 20 MPH. Even the kids won't like it for anything other than real slow driving after they have to shrink down in the hole to get away from flying debris. And forget talking to the front passengers through the back window or over the top when it's put down. I'll almost guarentee your wife will ride back there ONE time and never again.
Lets hear some comments, maybe our experience was not mainstream.

Frank

 

i grew up riding to parades, car shows, and several out of state model a nationals in the rumble seat of my grandfathers 31 roadster. i have spent more time there than up front. plus its easier for me to get in the rumble seat than my grandmother. i am running one.

i went and measured my 29's ride height. the car is sitting on a 31 frame with 4.75x19's and a stock suspension. the rear lower frame corners are 20 1/2" off the ground. the center of the front crossmember is 16" off the ground.

the frame ith my 16" wheels on it sits 15" of the ground in the front and 19 1/2" off the ground in the back. there are 6x16's on all four corners of it. that is with stock 31 suspension also.

 

Got a rumble in my 32, don't use it, don't like it.
The 31's got a trunk, way moh bettah.

Very few people actually use them.
Most folks who build a roadster for the first time envision cruising the fairgrounds or the main drag on a Saturday night with the kids or another couple, but it doesn't happen for the most part.
And you're stuck with a space consuming seat, an awkward to get into trunk area, no room for taillights unless you shorten the taillight body etc. ....

 

Got one of those nose-bleeder Model A roadsters. Has rumble seat as well. Not done in the true Rolling bones style.

 

you're right it's just one of those things you have to learn yourself.....I my body came with the cushions so in order to feel as though I got a spectacular deal, I HAVE to use them....

yes, as picky as my wife is, she'll hate it.......it'll be a blast to get her uncoridinated butt in there!! However, I'm gonna put a bit larger tires on it, and go with it.....for this summer.......I've GOT to drive it!!! Then, after I see that you are right, I'll pull the body next winter and Z it like it should be....

onward with the build!

 

I think it looks ausome but I would drop the front end a bit and use taller tires on the rear but other than that its cool!!

 

I think that one gets it and still keeps the spirit of what you are going for, maybe some 7.50s in back to get a little more rake