Ok, got this '29 Ford wagon that my Dad owned since early fifties. Car broke down around '59. The Old Man is gone now six years and finally was able to get it home. I've had it about year in my possession and figured I'd get the motor to run. Well I said the condition of the four banger is gonna guide my progress. Full restore or fifty era hot rod. I really like the look of a V8 flat head stuffed in an A. Well found a cracked piston skirt in cylinder number four. OK, that means stop here and have motor rebuilt or stuff that flat head between those A rails. Any advise would be great. Got the book about putting V8 into A so got some idea of what I'm in for. I don't plan on selling car because this thing has to much sentimental value. It will stay with family. I think a fully restored Woody would be nice but the sound of that flathead keeps rumbling in the back of my head.
Cool project, looks to be a Huckster conversion from a woodie wagon. No back seat or doors. A nice tribute to your father, sentimentality is priceless.
The woody is a******en car and even a better hotrod. It's not a bad swap to install the flatty and 39 trans . Did you have plans on dropping it a bit in the front end and rear? Also juice brakes or hydraulic ? I swapped in
Flatty and made it bolt in . So motor mounts bolt in trans 39 style bolt in . The 39 trans will bolt to the original torque tube with no modifications but you need to change to a V8 clam shell and bell cover .
Thanks mgtstumpy. Ya I remember climbing all over this car as kid and my Dad yelling out the back door "GET OUT OF THAT CAR!" I still don't know who removed the rear doors but the strikers are still on the B pillar. On a side note me and the Misses are going down to your part of the planet in December and was wondering if any car stuff going on at that time. Maybe like a Cars & Coffee or some type of parts swap? Or suggest any Australian auto web sites. I sure love those Holden Utes!
Contijohn, ya that's what I'm talking about. I want to run a closed drive line with the banjo. Juice is a for sure thing and 16 wires on bias tires. It's got to be in the weeds! I kinda got this idea of a mid fifties car style. Kinda like what would of been done in that time period. I want to drive this thing a lot. I don't get it when you put this amount of money and work into this type of project and only drive it once a month. I need to source these parts so I'm putting the word out on the streets with some buddies. Parts of this nature are not really just lying around in this city I live. I grew up in So. Cal and these type of parts were easily found.
Wow, that's a worn out wagon! Not much original wood left. I suggest starting over and building it like the woodie above. If you need hardware, or you want a complete wood kit, go here: http://modela-modelt.com/Pleasantville Manufacturing.html
The National Woodie Club has plans available for Model A "Woodies". 1929 Model A's have flat structural members, so if you are any kind of woodworker it's fairly simple.
Pontnaki's woodie is the stuff seen in dreams...Cartoonish stance, '50 Merc ash cans, perfect flatmotor. THIS is why you should go with the flathead...and keep the Kelseys! 7.50 X 16" rears, and 5.50 X 16" fronts. That wood repair and replacement is as easy as building old-style model planes. Just 'tool up' for it, and after the engine swap...get to sawin', gluin' and sandin'.
I like them woodys, and it's always cool to fix your daddies car!! And there is some good things going on there already! Chop it till the windows looks longer then tall. Run the Kelsey's. Flathead, 39 trans and 40s rear end, 40s front brakes. Tardel style rear kick up. Dropped I beam, Sid's or Okie Joes. Subtle paint and nice straight sheetmetal. Find a front fender without the spare wheel hole. That's how I would role! And everybody knows that counts for nothing, and they also know I feel better after saying my part. Good luck, stay cool to make that hot again.
Hell yea drive the wood off that car, it's a neat looking car. I like the white walls too. That would make a great pomona swapmeet camper parts hauler. After my roadster I'm going to look for a 40s milk truck to convert into a camper hauler whatever errrr, but I sure would built something like you got and that your dad owned since he was yelling at you not to play in it is even cooler. I can't wait to see the done car. Flathead or 4 banger is the only way I would go. Nice ride man.
I don't know Volvo, I see art there get it running driving and stopping, get the doors opening and closing good and drive it. I would chop it too though. That's how your dad drove it that's how you should too. That car has soul.
Yes and no, his dad might have changed it too, like over time he already have change stuff. Some for because he had to too stay legal, something because he wanted to and something because parts were not available. Dropped axle, and better brakes bolt in And can be reversed at any time, and in any different direction it feels like. A lot of traditional mods are bolt in, swap out and take off. Because limited tools and very "basic" shops were available. Some times only a driveway or a shed with two walls and beam. And they are reversible most of them. So it won't hurt nothing, but I will say that keeping it manual will keep most of the "spirit" of the car!
Dub, I know someone who is selling used wood for that year. His tag is Sawzall here on the HAMB. Here is a link to his site: http://www.eastcoastwoodies.com/reproductions/ford-model-a-woodie He is located in PA.
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