Projects louisb's AV8 Build

Hi All,

I started collecting parts for this build about two years ago and just started building the chassis this past summer. Most of the parts have come from HAMB, Ford Barn and Alliance vendors so you may see your parts here. I figured I would start a build thread to share my progress and have one place to ask questions.

The goal is an early to mid 50's build using as many original period correct parts as possible. There will be a couple of deviations made for either economic or safety reasons so don't expect it to be perfect. Plus all hot rods were upgraded during their life.

My other goal for this build was to K.I.S.S. To many of my projects in the past have gotten way out of control either in everything having to be perfect or having to have some rare part. Trying to break myself of that so this one gets done sooner and cheaper.

Enough chatter, how about some pics.

A few of the big parts collected. Dropped and drilled '34 axle from Okie Joe, split 34 bones, original 34 spring and one of my many F1 steering boxes. (See this thread for more on my steering box odyssey: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-steering-box-oddyssey.1000782/)



Picked up a '40 rear end with 3.78 gears. Turns out it was full of water and 50 year old grease. What a mess. I ended up scrapping everything but the center housing.



Picked up some '36 parts in great shape. Course this means the model A frame will need to be extended.



Set of original 15x4s, some NOS Kelsey Hayes 15x5s and a '36 dash.



One model A frame that needed some work.



Originally I was going to go with this '57 283.



But later decided to go with a Flatty. Its a 1950 8RT industrial engine. Following parts have been purchased for the build:

Offy Heads
Offy intake with 2 Big Logo '97s
4" Merc Crank
3 5/16 Egge pistons
French Rods
Potvin 3/8s cam and Johnson lifters by Pete1









Decided to make it look like an earlier motor



Picked up a Brooksville repo '32 shell and peaked it:



Then one night I was cruising the HAMB classifieds and impulse purchased a real deal deuce shell. Copious amounts of alcohol may have been involved. (Don't drink and HAMB.) I may still fill and peak this one too. (don't hate)



And last pickup up a full set of fenders that need work



Enough parts porn. How about some progress.

 

Hopefully there are now pictures.

--louis

 

Sent my now F100 box off to Neal for some work then mounted it to the frame:



Found this inside when I stripped it down. It was so covered in grease I couldn't tell what it was at first:



Welded on the outside bracket. This is before I took a file to in and smoothed it in:

 

Welded in the front cross member which was bolted in when I got it.



Reversed the stock front spring



And split the '34 bones.

 

When I was planning on the 283 I bought an x-member and boxing plates from Dagel. Over kill for the little flaty but I had them so decided to use them.





Fired up ye old drill press and made lots of holes. This should be worth a 10th in the quarter but more importantly it lets me access the body bolts.

 

Then I extended the rear 7 3/8 inches for the spring behind axle setup.

 

Spent several days doing this after all the welding was done.



But the results are coming out nice.

 

Finished all the grinding last Friday and started to mock up the engine location.





Everything looks good with the front edge of the mounts 3.25" from the radiator mount holes. The only issue is the lower radiator hose boss. It is about an 1" to long. Not sure if I can just cut it or if I need to get someone to reweld it.



That is where I am at today. Next weekend I hope to weld in the engine and tranny mounts.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Looking good man! Nice collection of parts. Keep the updates coming! And dont touch that grille shell!!!

 

Took a break from working on my chassis to let my back rest. I still think I am 18 and indestructible but my body likes to remind me I am not from time to time. Started last Friday with a '32 deluxe headlight bar and after lots of pondering, welding and filing ended up with this on Sunday. (I really need to paint that radiator black)



Thanks,

--louis

 

Looks perfect!

 

I am still waiting on my motor and trans mounts to show up from So Cal Sac so I decided to work on the suspension this weekend.

Spent several hours welding, grinding filing and sanding a set of F1 shock mounts.



It is a tight fit with the headlight bar but it just clears. But how often do you really take the shocks off anyway? (Famous Last Words for $200 Alex) I may adjust them with the heat wrench a little.




Then about 9 pm last night, after a couple of Old Fashioneds, I decided to mock up the front and rear suspension. I only used the main spring front and rear so it is sitting very low.



Those '34 wishbones look really long on this A chassis.



Here you can see the frame extensions for the spring behind '36 axle. With just the main spring it is sitting on the axle tubes which has me a little worried.



One problem I did run into is the front spring shackles. The urethane bushings fit fine in the '32 spring perches but are very loose in the spring. Either I am missing a part or I have the wrong bushings. Any ideas on what the problem could be? Spring is an original '34 spring.

Thanks,

--louis

 

32-34 springs have 7/8" eyes. The perches are 3/4".
I used some 16ga steel to make a bush.

Mart.

 

Thanks Mart, after more research that is what I figured was the issue. I ordered some stock style shackles from Macs today.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Didn't have much time to work on the hot rod this weekend. I did get a front nerf bar done made from a Model A brake cross bar. Also finally painted the radiator black.



--louis

 

Great work, love the engine choice, keep the updates coming.

 

Progress is slowing down with the holiday season here but I managed to spend a few hours this Sunday and get the motor mounts welded in. I ended up at 6" on center from the radiator hole to the motor mount hole. That puts the '39 fan 3/4" from the radiator. It also means I will have to modify the headers I bought from Red's since it won't clear the F100 box. Such is life when building a hot rod.





I am waiting on the big brown van to drop off a '39 transmission mount I picked up. I plan to cut it down and make it work with the x-member. I also ended up ordering new front and rear springs. I started stripping mine down and found some heavy pitting in the leaves. They might work but I decided to get new ones just to be safe.

Thanks,

--louis

 

OK I may may have missed this one at the start but you have me hooked.
1 question, Is the radiator in the stock for an A radiator position or is it moved forward a tad to clear the engine? I've pondered radiator/engine mount placement for mine and still can't quite get it nailed down.

 

The radiator is in the stock location since I want to run a stock hood. I may end up having to clearance the firewall a little bit, not sure until I get a body. I spent a lot of time just measuring and pondering until I was okay with the placement. One thing I am learning is every time you do something it effects 15 other things.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Great Build. Just curious as to how you are planning on addressing the misalignment on the lower radiator hoses? It might not be as much as it looks in the picture.

 

This is how i made the connection on mine. Bought these hoses from @AULIZ here on the hamb. Worked perfect. Might want to look into them

 

Flathead Jack makes some pretty trick offset radiator hoses that look like they were made for just this issue...

 

Might not be enough room for AULIZ's hoses to fit, but they are of high quality if you go that route...

 

@krylon32 Yeah I have not figured that out yet. I like @lodaddyo 's idea though since we have the same radiator. My other thought would be to angle the outlets down about 45 degs for an easier transition. The radiator outlet is one of the reasons I set the engine back some from the Bishop/Tardel book. My first hot rod build so I am making this up as I go.

--louis

 

Thanks @trey32 , I will check that out.

--louis

 

Worked on the rear chassis this weekend to solve the axle clearance issue. After initial mock up I figured I had -1.5" of clearance between the rear axle and bottom of the frame. I played around with a few different ideas including this one I stole from HAMB editor Paul's T roadster build:




But after a bit of pondering though I decided to KISS and go with the following:





This should give 3.5" inches of clearance for the axle and '36 radius rods. The curved section is from Paul Horton's Welders Series (@WelderSeries). Great products and service, plus they give Alliance discounts.

Course after a hard day in the garage there is nothing like having a drink and admiring your progress. .75 oz fresh squeezed lime, 1 oz triple sec and and generous 1.5 oz tequila fit the bill today.



Thanks,

--louis

 

Looking good !! Like the way you kick up is going. Hope you show the end result. Thanks for taking the time to show your build.

 

And now I know of a good use for my brake cross bar. Thanks!

 

Glad folks are enjoying the build. It wouldn't be possible without the HAMB members since I learned so much here. Just trying to give a little back by sharing my build.

I picked up a '36-'40 trans cross member to use with the '39 trans. (Thanks to @onekoolkat1950 for the idea. Love his build: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/my-28-roadster-build.610538/)

When I went to mock it up last night it looks a little low. The chassis is level and the motor is @ 3 deg from the intake deck. What do you guys think?





I know the F1 cross member puts the mounts just above the bottom frame rail on other builds I have seen.

Thanks,

--louis

 

To give credit where it is due I stole that idea from: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=24214

Thanks,

--louis