Noob alert! Ok now that that's overwith. I got a ? tudor. Not sure of the year. Got just a frame and body with just the rear suspension on it. I cut the body off the frame today and then proceeded to strip the frame rails of all the unneeded bits and pieces/brackets and what not.... My question is.... Can I just box in the frame I have and use it? It's in really good shape and the steel is still really thick. A lil pitted but still thick.. SO can I just plate in the inside and fill all the holes. Z the rear section over the spring and just use it? Or do I have to go buy some 2x3 and build one from scratch like it shows in the tech section? What are the cons of just plating in the factory frame and adding a crossmember or 2 to stiffen it up? Also can I use the factory front crossmember or do I need to buy a speedway 32 crossmember to put in it? What is the difference between the 2? Sorry for all the questions.. I've been living on here for the last few weeks reading all I can and there's just some things that I can't find out by reading post after post... So please help out a new guy. Any input I can get will be greatly appreciated. Anyone have a factory front axle they wanna part with?
it's great that you have it all torn apart.........and NOW you don't know what to do what make/model car is it?
I know what to do with it I'm not a complete Dee dee dee....lol Just wanna know if it's safe to use the factory frame? It's damn near 80 years old...lol 30 Ford Tudor Sedan....... Or at least it's the best I can tell.. The headlight bar is a 30 model...
The frame will be fine, a lot of guys use the original Henry steel. What are your engine/trans combos? Most guys will say box the frame, but if you are running a 4 banger or flathead some say it's not needed. Bill
SBC for now.. Might change to an older unit later. I have a sbc sitting in a 57/58 chevy truck I have and it would be perfect for the A since it won't cost me anything... It's a 57 with a 58 front clip.. Anyone need a cab and clip off a 57/58 3100?
Assuming the frame is indeed in good shape (no cracks, no serious rust, etc.) I think a well boxed factory frame would be better than a 2x3 frame. 2x4 would be better for "beam strength" anyway. Adding a "crossmemebr or two" likely won't do much to stiffen the frame. A K or X member would go much further in adding stiffness. Triangulation is "everything" in chassis building. Back when the A was new, all of that chassis flex worked to the car's advantage. Now that we have decent roads, stiffening it up is a good thing. Again, in good shape, with no cracks, the front crossmember should be fine. Don't know the difference between the A crossmember and the Speedway '32 ............. I do know that the A crossmember has been swapped into many a '32 over the years to lower the front a bit. Hope this answers some of your questions. Tim D.
Now's the time to box the frame since you have it stripped. You may be running small power now, but who knows, you may decide to up the ante sometime in the future, and you'll already be prepped. Your factory frame should be fine. Boxing the frame is always a good call. J
Haha yeah and if you refused to box it your ass would get fired! Gotcha I think I'm just gonna box what I got, build a suicide perch on the front and like a 16"or so Z at the rear. Or a 4" Z on the front with a dropped axle and then a 16"or so Z on the rear..Not quite sure yet depends on the axle I buy.. I've got an 8.8 out of a mustang for the rear just gotta come up with one for the front.
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