I bought a Model A Ford hot rod a while back, lots of fun driving it around with only minor input from me. The more I looked around the car, the more details I wanted to change until I had to get out to the shed and build another one from scratch.I've been chipping away at this new project for a while now so I thought I'd start a build thread. Using the Tardel book and SamIyam's post on hot rod suspension as a guide I set off to find a stock car as a starting point. This (as usual) took a little longer than anticipated but I found a pretty solid and very complete Model A coupe just up the road from me Looks pretty good at 10 feet but needs a lot of help up close. Over the winter I built up a stash of parts and had Hot Rod Works weld new bearing carriers onto my 1948 banjo rear axle. They did a great job and were very helpful. While that was going on I got started on building a frame. I had a complete spare frame so I left the coupe intact so I could move it around over the winter. I got the frame sand blasted which resulted in finding a lot of holes and the frame sagging under its own weight. Bugger. The cross members were fine so I replaced the rails and got an X member. I didn't box the rails as they are3/16" and I think the X member will add a lot of stiffness too I notched the frame 3" using some channel I had to keep the number of joints to a minimum . Then (Very) slowly welded up the rest of the Chassis. The rails needed a little tweaking but so far I'm really pleased with how straight it came out. I got the X member from Dagel's which is a good kit, unfortunately my trans mount wasn't quite the right shape. The Guys at Dagel's made up a new one for me, soon as that gets here I can mock up the motor. I started mocking up the front and rear axle. I'm planning on doing something like what SamIyam did for the rear using the front wishbone pivot and the '48 radius arms and a torque tube. Now I more or less have a rolling chassis.
Thanks for the support guys. Got a little more done this week on the rear axle. Using the thread that SamIyam did I used the left over wishbone pivot from my front bones, and grafted that onto the 48 radius rods. I needed to add about 4" of tube to make all the angles work. 006 by dentisaurus posted Jul 6, 2015 at 9:17 AM 5 by dentisaurus posted Jul 6, 2015 at 9:17 AM 012 by dentisaurus posted Jul 6, 2015 at 9:18 AM 008 by dentisaurus posted Jul 6, 2015 at 9:17 AM 010 by dentisaurus posted Jul 6, 2015 at 9:17 AM I mocked up a torque arm using a spare radius rod, need to modify one of the bolt mount points and then weld it up. Next up will be making a mount for the pivot.
Got a bit distracted after reading blowby's supercharger posting. Found an Eaton M112 off a '90's Jag and got a bit carried away. Once I get my flathead run in I think this may be going into the coupe. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Bobol, its a repop Edelbrock 3x2, my plan is to machine the top off and add a 6x14" 3/8" plate for the blower to mount to. I'm planning to run V belts so I shouldn't need a pop off valve (at least I don't think so from the reading on the web I've done) poboyross, I found those wishbone mounts on Ebay. They say Vintage Speed on them. they pop up pretty regularly.
Started putting my flathead and Trans together. I had a truck bell housing and a big bit of scrap Aluminium so I spent a day whittling out an adaptor. Now I need to trim the edges to match the transmission case but that can wait. I want to mock up the motor so I can locate the transmission mount. I modified the transmission mount to also take the rear wishbone pivot. Looks like it should work OK. Need to add some additional braces to tie it to the chassis rails as well as the cross member. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thanks for the encouragement guys. I got the flathead mocked up in the chassis. Pretty happy with the spacing to the radiator and where (I think) the firewall will be. Not so happy with the motor mounts. Seem to be much softer than the mounts on my other A. I'm going to order a set of the Bob Drake style mounts as they have a lip on the lower washer which should help stop the deforming I'm seeing. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Acquired a pair of Armstrong lever shocks for the A. Looks like they should do the job once I've heated and bent the arms out a little. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Got a new set of engine mounts ( thanks to Joe's antique auto, great service) these look much more up to the task. Now I have to work out how to spread this reverse eye rear spring. Bit of a challenge Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Lol, I just spread mine on my thread! I just spread the main leaf by itself. I had a 2x4 running from the banjo to the perch, and make sure to strap that down. I then wrapped a ratcheting tie down from the right side of the banjo to the top left of the spring, and then another from the left side of the banjo to the right top of the spring. It will look like an x. I had the tiedown hook side come over the spring, so the ratcheting part needed to be at the top so that you had a lot of tiedown to tighten. Once the shackle works, put it in there! Mine was tight, so I took a 2x4 that fit in between the grease fittings and slammed it gently thru with a bfh. Good luck; it was a handful with just the main!
Finally home long enough to work on my car. Found out my rear spring is too short for my perch width. Arse. Oh well it doesn't owe me anything. Replacement is on its way. I got the lever shocks mocked up. Once the motor is back in I will drill the mounting holes but looks promising Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
