Projects Hotrob's fiasco of a "Model A Coupe" build thread

THats what I mean when I say I do alot of grinding! I will take it down a ways and make another pass when it worries me too much.
Oh and I take your response as good advise, no worries.

 

Hey Rob,
looks like you're coming along real good there, great job.
And about your welder, got one like it but changed to a better ground clamp and it made a big differents. The one that's on there is like the clamps on a cheep set of booster cables, give it a try, I promise you'll like it much better.

 

Build is lookin good so far man! That body looks like it'll be great. If you're worried about those bones, just V that joint out and burn it in. I had my heat turned way up for that, it sounded like 20 elephants farting.



EDIT: Just saw scooter is way ahead of me.

 

Cool man! To me doing it yourself is what it's all about! Build that thing!

 

I bet that would stink too!

 

Great thread Rob. KEEP IT UP FOR US.

 

Looking forward to the build,Rob.Keep us updated.

 

Looking forward to updates... I've been subscribed since this thread had its first title

 

Had a great weekend. Drove from DFW to a small township near Red Oak Iowa.
Cal the guy I bought the Coupe from has a little shop there out in the middle of no freaking where! (see the first two pics)
The last few miles were down a dirt road though a corn field.

Picked up the coupe, it was rougher than I had hoped but are'nt they always, and headed south to Kansas City.
Stopped at the Westin downtown KC where the valet let me leave the rig up front in the drive between the Limos. It was a hoot to see that heap parked with all the bling.

They hooked us up with a killer corner suite because I am Military. We went out on the down and had a great nite.
The next day we headed home to Texas. (third pic)

Today I started building a body cart so I can get it off the trailer. Still not sure how to mount it but I think I can manage something. (last few pics)

How about showing me what kind of things you guys have come up with to move these bodies around the shop.

 

looking good,rob!! what branch are you in?

 

Hey Matt. I am Texas Army National Guard now. I teach combat Medicine down at Camp Mabry in Austin.
We actually have met before. I bought a 29 sport coupe from you a few years back.

 

i remember, was a few years back!... i drill in austin at the airport. sneak over to the px at mabry every now and then!!

 

The first dolly is made out of some salvage "red iron" metal building purlins. It is 4' x 6' and about 12" tall. Casters came off a Chinese tool chest that fell out of a friends pickup. Everything except the plywood was free. It is level with the dove tail on the trailer I use and bodies can slide from one to the other with out lifting. Relatively heavy.

The second is also 4' x 6' and about 20" high. It is made out of 1" rectangular tubing and has four full swivel casters. Light and easy to move around.

These things are always difficult to store. I can put them on their side up against a wall. But they always seem to get pushed outside when they are not in use. And that is hard on the swivel casters and plywood.

You want swivel casters on all four corners if possible.

You also want rubber or composition wheels. The cast iron casters carry heavy loads but they do not roll worth a $#!T.

Appreciate your service!

Check out the link in my signature to see my Model A build.

 

Your doing great man!

 

Awesome build thread Rob. You're using nearly all the same parts I've been collecting. Bought my frame from Riley a few years ago. Eric's a stand up guy. He brought the frame to the Pile Up in Morris, IL for me. Sadly, it still sits in the garage. I suck. Life gets in the way sometimes.

I've got the same brake set up, will be using the same rear suspension and even have the same welder. I'm using a 29 Tudor Sedan body and hairpins though. Don't think I'll have as much body work to do as you will, but hey that's part of it, right?

I'll be watching this thread for some much needed inspiration. Keep up the good work!

 

Very nice build. I appreciate your telling us not only what things you are doing, but why you are doing them as well. Keep up the excellent work!

 

A worthy occupation ,Rob.
The body looks great.
Mark(R.A.F. retired)

 

Wow, I have been busy. There is not a whole lot of visible stuff going on, but I am getting PM's asking for an update so here ya go.

I have been working a ton lately and when I got a weekend to myself I used it at the Day of the drags.

Here are a couple of noteworthy inspirational pics from that weekend.

 

The next week I managed to get the coupe off of the trailer and into the garage. Not an easy task with only my wife on the other end, but we managed.

Here it is in its new spot until Brian has a spot open up.
Basskustom.com

The doors were welded to the body to keep it structurally sound, at least thats what Cal told me when I picked it up. The hinges had been cut off with a torch and welded to what was left of the door hinges.
I spent an evening getting the door cut back off the body, drilling the hinges from the cowl and drilling the pins out of the door half of the hinges.

 

The coupe is a 30/31, but had a 28/29 panel under the deck lid so I had Howell sheetmetal send one to me. It fit like a champ and tightened up the rear section nicely.
www.fordor.com

Then I drilled out what was left of the subrails up front to make way for the replacements I ordered from Brookville.

Then I spent a couple evenings with the wire brush on the grinder cleaning up the deck lid and the left side of the car.

I also worked on the rough welds on the left side of the chop. They are a litle wavy but should straighten out with some more hammer and dolly work.

The last pic is the untouched right side of the car.

 

Finally for those that are interested in the Falcon:
The right side front floor and toeboard finally came off back order from www.northcoastmusclecar.com

They fit a little better than the left side which was the whole side.

I will put it in the right side next week unless the subs for the coupe come in.

 

Great progress on the body,it's coming on nice.
Thanks for the update.

 

I'm enjoying your progress and thanks for posting it. I hope a lot of the younger guys are following along. This is the kind of build that a guy can sink his teeth into and learn a lot of valuable things that apply to everything from a basic project to a really involved one down the road. Keep the pictures and comentary coming.

Frank

 

Wow, my lil Sis is training to be a combat medic in Texas. Not sure of which base though.Just got back from Fort Jackson SC watching her graduate the boot. Good deal

 

lookin' good,rob...you comin to pistons and paint?

 

this looks nice

 

I am really gonna try to make it. Hammi should have a piece ready for me to pick up there. I am psyched to see it.
Who's playing the show this year.

 

Cars really coming along!!! Lookin real good!

 

Same story, lots of work but not alot of obvious changes, at least for the better! More on that later. My wife has been out of the country for the past 3 wks so my 6 y/o Madeline has been taking up alot of my time, but I managed to get some stuff done.

I ordered subrails and patch panels from Brookville Roadster. The subs were pretty decent, but I have to say I am dissapointed with the rear quarter patches. This is because the bead or body line does not match the body line on the car. It is much wider. I will try and find a panel from Howell to see if it is any better.

Check out the pics.

 

Looking nice! Thought you wanted to drop by... lemme know...