Most of the people that just ram ahead guys end building it three or four time or weren't happy with the end results because they didn't think about what they were doing made a mess, put things in their own way or did things that didn't or won't work. While the people who thought about what they were doing have something a well built, well engineered, and something to be proud of.
mickeyc is correct ..........to a point. The Model A's had a number stamped on the engine at the engine ***y factory. The engines were installed in the ch***is and then the engines number was also stamped on the ch***is top surface about 6 inches behind the firewall. You have to raise the body to see it, and I doubt that happens very often when licensing. It is also a collection point for water and most of the numbers are eroded and unrecognizable. The engine number should have a "star" stamp before and after the engine number. Do not know if the frame has the same star. Numbers can be restamped easily enough if there is access to what you want to stamp, or if you replace the frame with an aftermarket frame. There are probably thousands of hot rods running restamped frames or completely different aftermarket frames. Also, there are far more hot rods running completely different motors that obviously don't have a Ford ID number corresponding to the frame number. If you have a valid ***le (which you should get in your name as soon as possible), I think you will find that no matter what you change or upgrade on the vehicle, you can probably make it match what you need. Just don't go to the license bureau and ask too many questions or say "Look what I did".........it usually just comes back to bite you. You can't "un-ask" a question at the license bureau........
Pffffttt!!! @RJP I've seen you draggin' your street rodder di@$ through so many threads...you must sit on here for hours at a time yet you're the epitome of someone who never read the rules and parameters of this site or decided they don't apply to you.....wish you'd take your own advice and
I would like to know why some are thinking we are becoming restorers by telling OP to get it drivable first,I wish my 37 was nice enough to just get drivable so I knew what I wanted to change before it got paint and have to worry about doing any damage by making any changes.
I am a hotrodder at heart. Also deep into a 40 Ford coupe project. That being what it is I also have a bone stock Model A coupe. I bought this car several years ago with full intensions to totally hot rod it. The little car is really in decent condition coming from California where I bought it and trailered it back to Louisiana. Now after all this time I find myself reconsidering the A. I have acquired a Diamond replacement motor used but in good running condition. Also the what I believe to be original paint is okay. Not perfect, but presentable with a little touch up help from a professional. I have all new tires tubes and liners. Now on to a motor change out, 12 volt conversion and a steering upgrade. Plus address a few, actually quite a few incidental details and I hope to drive the coupe as a somewhat daily driver. Should be fun. Wont have be so leery as to where it is parked or touched or worry about it to the point of distraction. Not restored, just a sympathetic redo and roll on!
I agree with all who say get it running and driving first. It takes a single minded approach and discipline to resist temptation to go after - XYZ that may not be a quick effort. I am in the later stages of getting mine back on the road but, I got mine running and driving before I cut it all apart. When the rainy season hit I ripped it apart. I set a deadline to get it back on the road and I, for the most part am resisting all diversions to knock me off that schedule. Once I hit my start ***embly time I will bolt everything back together, even if it's in primer. Why - I have to be driving it or half the fun is out the window. I've set Day 1 goals and Day 2 goals. Day 2 will be after a summer of driving and will be a blow apart next winter. Lot's of wisdom on this board. I have 2 kids who ask, Are we going to start, (insert task) and I will say, nope that's Day 2. I have sold 2 cars that did not get to the finish line. Return on investment for them was $.60 on the dollar.
SBallman45 I don't know how deep your pockets are. If I were you, I would write down my plan and put dollar amounts next to them. Then double or triple it, because that's what it's going to actually cost. That's your budget..
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