Thanks for the response. I'm guessing reading comprehension wasn't your strong subject in school. First off, he asked for advice, not opinions. And all those 'leave it stock, drive it stock, keep it stock' responses managed to hide from you too. Sure there was some good advice given, but it was lost in the sea of resto-mod opinions disguised as hotrodding. It's seems the HAMB has forgotten what hotrodding is about in it's shift to a resto-mod site and has developed a "Do as we say, not as we did" at***ude. Hotrodding requires a huge learning curve, and mistakes are going to be part of it. Advice will help with the mistakes . Opinions won't. Seems the HAMB wants to give the man a fish(opinions), rather than teach him how to fish(advice).
Welp..........I did it this way......I drove what I had while I built the engine! (mine is off-topic but the same rules apply IMO) Maybe a Pinto 4 banger or another pretty common 4 cylinder engine....coupled with a T-5 for decent gas mileage when you DO get it running. As far as "welding on rear suspension while laying on your back".....remove the bed and put it on high jack stands!!! Welds don't have to be pretty to be strong....think gorrilla ! Save your money (while driving it) who knows....your hot rodding it idea may change several times!! Welcome! 6sally6
May be worth hopping up the motor man. You can have some cheap fun with the banger. Pull the fenders and enjoy early hot rodding. The orig motor in mine was worn out, we re ringed it, cleaned it and drove it till it toasted a Babbitt bearing. Then swapped to a really hopped up B motor pushing about 95 hp High compression head will be a good start, Downdraft Intake with a stromberg or holley carb Its a night and day difference from stock driving. Pulling the extra weight off makes a difference also. Look at GOW job cars and trucks, and Ill say this, I was an avid v8 guy with 500 to 800 hp all the time, I have more fun with these banger and flathead cars than anything to date so far. Personally since your not a fab guy yet, I would build some experience, get a welder, play around and practice on s**** first. Find some guys well versed in hotrodding and then maybe look at swapping out to something else. The SBC is the pumpkin ****e of the hotrod world man. Flatheads or Nailheads or Rocket Motors are the ticket. But thats my opinion.... Please note that motor swaps can get expensive if your not doing it yourself. The hopped up banger route man is a easy way to enjoy it right now and still keep on the legacy.
Did you fully read all the responses, or did you get to something you didn't like in them and stop reading??? Almost all of the advice to get it running and drive it as it is was to allow time to acquire some knowledge, and to formulate an overall picture as to what the OP wants to achieve with the build. Some thought and research, and a plan of attack, is definitely what the guy needs. To be talking a V8 engine swap, seemingly without much idea of what is actually involved, and what else will need to be done to accompany the power increase, is a good indication that the guy needs to slow down and get some help and guidance. This is not a criticism of him in any way. I hope he achieves his goals, and hot rods the hell out of it. I don't see where anyone was forcefully pushing the restoration path over and above the hot rod path. You may see that, but you seem to have that predisposed mindset and an opposition to a lot of what this forum is about.... Advice is people's opinions on how they would do things.......... or is that wrong too??? Of course, the above is just my opinion. Don't take it to heart...........
To @sballmann45 Hot rodding a '30 Model A pickup, and one with a family connection, and with the blessing of your Grandfather. The start of a wonderful journey. Here is my advice, if you want it. Firstly, you are at the 'right place'. Yes, you will get a wide range of opinions here, but follow your idea of what you want your finished ride to be. By the 'right place', I mean that there is a wealth of knowledge and experience at your disposal here. Use the search function and read, read, read. Ask many questions and learn from those that are more than willing to ***ist. Most are. Also, learn to sift through the information to get the correct answers that suit the direction you want your build to take. Building a good hot rod is not an easy task, but it is definitely a worthwhile journey. As for your question on a SBC V8 swap, that's a direction many have taken. It is about the best fit for a V8 in a Model A length-wise. Find some that are already done and ask to sit in them. Space can be limited after recessing the firewall. Also talk to others who have done this conversion. There are a lot of other considerations that go hand in hand with more power, such as frame strength, brakes, suspension, etc. Ask, talk, read ,look. Learn what you need to make it happen for you. And welcome to what may be a life-long obsession. It's a hell of a ride..........
Many gave advice. Or did you skip over that? I think you did. Did you read the first post, something along the lines of no experience, have a welder, quick learner. Hence the advice many gave about setting up another frame, etc. you did read that, right? You understood it (I ***ume because you have good reading comprehension skills). Or is your advice for one that has never done this type of thing “jump in, do it like it was done 70 years ago”. We have learned a lot over the years, the appeal of **** work that can cause serious issues is not what many should strive for. Edit: I never got your Christmas card? I will say RJP does know his ****, but when you know it, you get some too.
I never expected this many responses. I think I'll keep it simple for now. Lower it, remove fenders, hydraulic brakes, and steelies. I've always liked muscle cars so V8 swap seemed like an obvious choice. I will be taking my time for sure.
Also I am 6'4" but I really dont feel too cramped. Only issue is the shift knob sitting against my leg. I think I could bend it out of the way? If I got a thinner seat I think that would help too.
There are things that can be done to make it a little more comfortable for us bigger guys, but Model A pickups are notoriously lacking in the leg room department. A friend of mine built his Ford '29 pickup with a 351 Ford V8 and C6 auto transmission. Because of the 5" recess of the firewall, I couldn't even get into it in a proper driving position. Turns out neither could he. He sold it with only a couple of thousand miles on it. Really well built piece of gear, but not what you would look forward to getting into on the weekend.........! Small block Chevy engine will be a better fit, but still, be careful at 6'4". Just a couple of inches makes all the differences...........
"No experience, have a welder, and quick learner" sounds like a future hotrodder. Why push him towards 1-800 resto-modding? "jump in, do it like it was done 70 years ago" Isn't this considered 'traditional'? And about that Christmas card. Probably got lost in the mail... As for taking ****, my hip waders keep it off my big boy pants....
Why if he wants to hotrod it should he throw his time and money at getting it running in stock form? Advice and opinions are two different things. Explaining how to box and weld a fame is advice. Telling him to buy a frame cons***utes an opinion. And I never take anyone's opinion to heart..........
Check post 36. However, after reading the OP's latest posts it seems he has already drank the resto-mod koolaid.
Drive it, keep your eyes peeled for a model a after market model a v/8 ch***is from somebody’s stalled project. Turns your project into a giant model car.
Hey 45...one of your posts said, "my grandfather doesn't care what I do with it". I will bet there were many times he thought about what he would do with it. I would start with asking him about his ideas. Gene.
Yeah, but can you help him out with how to actually get the sbc engine, and everything else that will be required, fitted safely and properly into the Model A. After all, that is what he asked for......... I have not done this myself, but it has been done many times. Hopefully those 'in the know' will chime in soon with stuff that will be helpful to the OP. I'm sure he would like that. This could be a start: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...sion-thread-of-threads.1197440/#post-13657753
Note, if you want to put the later steel wheels on you will need to change all of the hubs, the steelies will not mount correctly to a hub intended for wire wheels.
Also I was in the same position as you, and I didn't start with a pick up as nice as yours. It took 4 years to get it on the road initially and another 3 years to redo it for paint. I do like the recommendations to get it going as is for now and then change things as you go along.
Excellent! A banger hotrod. Go forth young man. Heaps of info around to achieve those goals! Once again check out the Iron Trap gargae youtube channels, all you mention are covered there and here. Google search the Betty Hunter, Chris has built an awesome simple A coupe you can take a lot from.
You are an acquired taste We could go on, but you’ll win so I’ll defer. FWIW I’d like to see the young man get his hands dirty and have fun soon, not tear a vehicles apart and get overwhelmed. You have to admit taking a stock A and making SBC out of it isn’t a weekend thing.
Keep your V8 plans, you'll never be happy in the slow lane, build only what will accommodate your future outcome, don't waste your time building things twice. Some guys when faced with crossing a creek will drop a log, get across and continue on their way, other guys will think about it, go to engineering school, construct the golden gate bridge and finally cross the creek 10 yrs later.
Not exactly the same problem, but similar. Friend of mine has a 31 Ford coupe with a chopped top. He's shorter than me, but I'm only 6 ft. Anyway, I could not sit upright in his car, and I like chopped tops. Last summer he told me he had changed his seats and had a lot more head room. I sat in it again, and had no problem.....so there are ways to allevite "fitment" issues up to a point. Some people extend the cabs and doors slightly but thats a big job. I would make any changes such as adding a different engine revolve around having foot space. Don't make any change that cuts down of your footspace because of your height. That would be my #1 requirement for any future change. Also consider head room if you should decide to chop it. Remember the type of seats you employ will affect both things. Something like Fiero seats are very compact but comfortable. As for the engine you might be better served with a smallblock Ford rather than a Chevy as I believe they are slightly more compact. Also the aluminum Buick/Olds/Pontiac 215 V8s are pretty compact and some even came with a factory turbo setup. Get a newer version of the 215 made by Rover in the 90s and you can get a 4.2 or 4.6 (about 280 cu in) and add an old 215 turbo set up or a small newer turbo. Unique, light, and powerful and still nostalgic to a point. I rode in a little sedan rat rod with a turbo 4 cyl (can't mention the brand name). Let me just say that I was impressed with its performance and the guy didn't even have 2nd gear. There are lots of ways to get some performance without moving the firewall back to accomodate an engine. If you run fenderless, you can extend the frame forward. Like I said before, I think its best to upgrade some things while you continue driving. I guarantee that by the time you finish it, your idea of what you want it to be/do will evolve from what you thought in the beginning. Just make all the upgrades with the idea that they must work with what you want it to be when completed.
Welcome to the Hamb. I recommend that you do drive it a little, if no other reason, than to figure out what part of the truck do you like the least and would change first. I ***ume you have a job and so also have a Daily Driver. If, you have a place to work and some tools you could start making changes. Many people on this board and the hobby in general started with modifying thier only means of transportation and, even if they were still in school, had a part time job to get to. My point is knowledge is expensive; either by spending your time or by spending money on stuff that someone else did. I'm not advising that you restore it before you modify it; like others have suggested, figure out what you need to change .... first, second, third etc.
What a nice A - you are a lucky guy. A friend from f mine has several Mod As and in everyone be save for one flattie powered, they are all 4.3 V6s plenty of power for the A and you can usually find them pretty cheap as a motor and ****** combo. Parts are out there to make it fairly simple for the novice, no firewall mods, juice brakes, stay with the stock frame for now, install a later 37-40 rear and you are done. Whatever you do, research everything and collect all the parts you need before tearing it apart. Drive it now, have fun, and continue planning. For the novice, you can’t get any simpler than an A - they are great cars to hot rod. Good luck!
If you do a frame swap consider the aspect of identification numbers. On Model A Fords they are covered by the body or in your case the cab. Just another item to be aware of when dealing with vintage or any vehicle. If the motor and ch***is are original to one another the existing number should match. If not the ch***is should match the ***le numbers. If not you may already have problem. Something to be aware of.
Welcome to the world of Traditional hot rods. Drive it and a whole world of opinions and options will open up, oh, and a whole lot of friendships will happen too
sballman, the Model A engine can run with modern traffic. my avatar has a high compression head, easy to install, just bolts on, high performance cam, a little more work but you can do it, electronic ignition, very easy to install, 12v alternator, very easy to bolt on, you can give and receive a 12v boost to start your A or another car, Bendix self adjusting, self energizing hydraulic brakes, they take work but you can do it, and other improvements including the very best thing you can do for your A, the fully synchronized 3 speed with overdrive transmission. The 7:1 high compression head makes the A peppy, you can run with every day traffic and the transmission makes it a pleasure to drive. You can message me anytime for information. I learned a lot on Fordbarns Model A forum
This is a great plan. When I bought my 1953 Chevy, my plan was to drive it, latter do a V8 swap, and sell it to fund my flathead A pick-up project. The more I drove it the more I liked the six and kept the 53 and sold my flathead parts and the truck cab (and start collecting Chev 6 speed parts). I knew the 216 had been replace with a latter Chev. 6 and discovered it was a 261 the two ton truck engine based on the 235. I began modifying the engine and drive line in the 53. First modification I made was Fentons headers and dual exhaust, latter a vintage Edelbrock dual intake and dual points. These were weekend projects that kept the car drivable. The first major project was an engine build machine work, Isky Cam, pistons etc...this was a winter project that didn't go to plan the car was down for close to a year because life got in the way. The last (for now project) was going open drive line late 50s Corvette floor shift and a 57 Chevy rear. I took a few years to get the car to this point, and I was without a vintage car for one summer, but a full build can several years to complete and you will be without a vintage that whole time. Trust me it's more fun to drive a work in progress to a show/cruise night then to drive an everyday car and look longingly at everyone else's cars.
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