Projects I bought the worst hot rod project in the country. Model A ’28 homemade Coupe

The trunk lid looks so much cleaner now. Great to see this progress. Should be a great base to do bodywork on, if you decide to.

 

My dad made these super nice roof bows of oak wood.
I was able to screw the frame in place. Still needs to figure out how to attach the middle cross bows. Looking good. They will get varnished later.

 

Man, I can't believe you cut up such a good car

 

Looks great! How did he curve the bows? I’ve thought about steaming them or just cutting the arc into them

 

Yes, steaming would have been one option. However, he cut the wood in strips and glued the strips together on top of a self-made jig to make the same arc on them.

 

Maybe lower the front instead. That really low look is cool

 

Brass, copper, aluminum all works

 

Something again. Found a 32 grill frame on internet from old buddy for a half price. Also built a wooden floor in my small trunk. Then continued welding on the drivers side. Quick and dirty bodywork and black paint.

 

Mika, what are you doing with those Washington plates on your wall?

 

On the '32 5w I had eons('75->'77) ago, the factory wood joints for the cross bars were notched into the side pieces(similar to timber-frame houses, but no diagonal wedge cuts), just straight cuts & iirc, a small machine screw w/a thin washer under the head + a "T-nut" was used to hold it in place. The cut-away on side piece was about 25%, w/the "finger" end on the cross bar sitting down into the top of the side piece. Whole mess was screwed into(under) the top sheetmetal thru the slots, which also are for the top material to be nailed into/thru. IIRC. No pics, eons ago. Hth.
Marcus...

 

Hi Keith. They are just for the decoration, I found them locally when I was living there, and one of them is from my '59 Impala which I had during that time. Keeping the good memories on the wall.

 

Yes, thank you for the explanation. I think we are going to try something similar with my dad who is a woodworking specialist. I don't have skills to get joints matching to each other. Welding is so much easier when you can fill the voids or grind it down.

 

You can Kregg jig pocket screw the bows in to the frame they make stainless screws for it can leave them exposed too. Like the screws under your dining room table is put together with. Your dad looks to be a good carpenter. That's what I do too.

 

Yes, woodwork is a skill, your dad does nice work.
One of my biggest issues learning to weld, was I could never weld wood, no matter which method nor how hard I tried, so it wasn't my favorite medium. . Gluing is cheating, , so that's what I go with... .

Marcus...

 

The Kregg pocket hole screws hold strong !
I think HF sells a knockoff jig now too.

 

Isnt there anything the chyneses don't steal?

 

Not to really defend the Chinese, but they build what ever you want. Often it is a company from another country, not necessarily the U.S, that hires them to build stuff. They have the capability to build any amount of quality into anything they produce, but they also have the capability to build just about anything more economically than about anyone else and that is what you're seeing because nobody wants to pay the price for high quality.

 

And by the way @additudor that is a serious badass coupe you' ll to be very proud of ! it rocks ! drive the bejesus out of when your done.

 

Good progress with the floor. I hope both the seat and cardan shaft will fit somehow.

 

I'm absolutely blown away by the amount of tenacity, perseverance, skill, passion, desire...
... and welding rod.

 

Your garage reminds me of the Worlds Fastest Indian story! I'm 62 this year and went to high school for Auto body and one of my favorite teachers recently past 2 things he left with me the abilities to paint and ,work with lead for filling that is very fun to do!And rewarding I did some on my father's '29 Model A business coupe. I hope my mother will give it to me since his passing last year ,not my b-i-law,since I helped pop restore it, and found it, in a customers garage in 1999 it had been off road since 1978. Sorry I'm rambling lol

 

I like how you repurposed the factory 4 bar rear suspension to the step in the frame. Very cool! I will definitely be following this build.

 

After one night I’m ready to fix my mistake and make more room. Now it looks OK.

 

Fiat 600 tank fastened with VW Bug body mounts. Hot rodding 101: Use what you have.

 

After weekend rush we have a floor! Also seat in place. Made some space for the tunnel.

 

Brilliant. Its one thing to build a car from a pristine donor car but a whole different challenge to rescue the worst basket case and while you at it, morph it into a different body shape and have it turn out as one bad ass hot rod .
Great build more determination that cash , Loving it I thouth mine was rough but at least it was coupe shaped to begin with

 

Some shots of the stock top bow to side rail joints. The underside of the top bows are rounded so they don't effect the headliner. Bob

 

what a cool build and a great save of that A...super job you've done!

 

One of my absolute favorite things is when folks brute-force a hot rod into existence. It's a need not a want.

Kudos!

 

Brute-force! Well said, that’s really the case here.
Thank you.