Justin's 1930/1 Model A Roadster build thread

Thanks , yeah it sure is nice to be in a bit of a make shift workshop now, after starting outdoors. Gotta start somewhere I guess. Keep tuned, updates soon.

 

This morning I stumbled across This ol racer in the local wrecking yard. Nasty chassis, hack job drag race crap..Swiped the body, Maybe my buddy will want it, If not It will probably be for sale.. This is the 3rd roadster body Ive dragged home in my 59, Its literally a roadster fetcher.

 

The wheels that were on the front of the roadster, I believe are 1940 steel wheels, I grabbed those too. They will be used on my roadster, in the rear. Now I finally have the four wheels I wanted to run on the car.

 

Awesome progress and the roadster hauler rules! Let me know if you decide to sell the '29

 

Man.. I gotta have your truck. Not being a chick magnet wouldn't bother me if I had a roadster magnet.

 

Dude that's funny, roadster magnet.

 

thats coming up damn cool mate, keep it up, ill be watching this one, its got the potential to be a really cool car good job
des

 

sweet car man

 

Thanks guys

 

Subscribed. Cool project

 

For all of the A-v8 guys, can you tell me why and how I can improve this frame twist as I set my motor on it's mounts?

 

Anyone?

 

I'm no expert, but couldn't you weld a brace on a lower part of the frame rail so that when you put the engine in it won't flex? Like I said, I'm no expert, I'm just throwing out an idea. Maybe a length of round tubing across the frame bellow or behind your motor mounts on the lowest part of the inside of the frame.

 

I was thinking the same thing. Like a belly bar. Just curious how other av8 guys do it.

 

Hi, I've been enjoying your build and I hope I'm not sounding stupid here but, that's not normal. Were the rails straight before you added the motor weight? Are the rails and cross-members still adequately riveted? I've had an A-V8 on the road for about 12 years and have never seen that before. Good luck with your project and thanks for keeping the posts and updates coming.


Hollywood Flippers for the 1940 Ford 16" factory type rim.

 

that ain't right.

 

Nope, it ain't. I didn't have the lower 2 Bolts in the front crossmember yet . But even after that, it looks like the frame is still twistin a bit.

 

Both sides?

 

Hey Justin,
Great build you've got going. I love your roadster. You're doing quite well with it. A lot of good imput from the hamb brothers too. I've been with you since the start. I really enjoy the way you ask questions and you get a reply right away. I also love the "Roadster Magnet" 59 too!!
Great job, Tim

 

Post us a picture of how you attached the mounts to the frame. Is it welded at the top and bottom of the rail?

We can do some simple math on the forces causing the twist if you give us some dimensions.

I'm sure there is a simple brace that can fix the issue. Is the frame old and weak/thin from previous rust & grinding?

 

Is your front crossmember riveted or welded in on the bottom? That front motor mount is right next to the front crossmember. it seems like the bottom part of the rail is moving outward from the bottom part of the front crossmember.

I did my engine mockup on the frame without the body and was really unhappy with the amount of twist in the frame once I got the F1 crossmember in and the front motor mounts. I went with the ez weld boxing plates and it was much better. Almost impossible to twist the frame now.

With a roadster body, when that frame twists, your doors will pop open all the time since the only thing keeping the frame level are the roadster subrails. The cowl will twist opposite of the rear and one or the other door will pop open.

$145 shipped Boxing plates here







..

 

Yep both.

 

Thanks Tim, I like the feedback, it keeps me motivated. Stay tuned.

 

Thanks man, i realized I didn't have every hole in the front crossmember bolted together. I bought this frame with all the rivets taken out. It was in pieces. So everything is bolted together nicely up front now. No more twisting.

 

That car is looking good!
Great job!

Jim

 

Elrod, you speak the truth. These roadsters are so goofy. I found the answer to all of my door alignment issues at this website: abarnyard.com .. It shows how to shim your open car cowl properly to accommodate different misalignment situations. That was a bit off topic , but you reminded me of it.
I'll be keeping my frame rails un boxed for the look I'm after. But thank you for the link.

 

Just caught up on all work. Awesome work!

 

I was given these 2 piece Model A banger mounts, As I have no use for them, The block mounts were looking useful for the v8..

little trimming..

& Voila

 

So it's official! Your '59 is hereby now known as the "Roadster Magnet." That'll probably boost the value of it if you ever decide to sell it too.

Those motor mounts are trick. Someone else on here built a deuce frame but to get the strength of boxing them without actually boxing them, he cut up another set of deuce rails in half and sectioned them then put them inside the first rails and welded them in. Pretty neat but a lot of work. What if you cut a short piece of tube steel in half, 8 inches long or so and matched it to the profile of the A rail but shorter so you can slide it in and weld it in where the motor mounts are? That would make it a little more stronger without boxing them. That could take care of the twisting problem with the motor. People would have to look real close to see that you did it that way.

 

Yeah that Isn't a Bad idea at all Matt..got me thinkin' now. Which is rare..
I realize the mounts are pretty low compared to commonly seen flathead v8 mounts which are almost flush with the frame tops. But Remember, that F1 crossmember sat that tranny a little high. The engine is about level with the frame right now..