Hot Rods Model A coupe build with inline Jimmy 302

just another model a build from a novice. Don't expect anything too nice, but please feel free to let me know if the frame and suspension mods look to be up to snuff. I'm putting a 302 gmc in this car and its turning out to be a tight squeeze in places.


It started as an abandoned project from the 60's or 70's.
quite a nosebleed car. Needs to come back down. I set a 270 gmc in the frame rails to see how it would fit in there.

 

The mockup looks pretty good with that 6cyl in there.

 

Here is the way too wide, ugly, coil spring rear end I ripped out of there so I could replace it with a 9" from a 66-77 bronco. I also picked up some cheater slicks and got to work. After researching on here I set the rear spring perch width at 44" and it seems to be the perfect width for the medium arch speedway T spring.

 

My buddy Jason (oneyellowtub on here) came by on sat so we could mount the rear spring and give the frame the old bishop/ tardell rear kick up. Big thanks to Jason. He can be seen working the hacksaw. After little debate we decided it was the most accurate way to lop the frame in two. With all the power tools at our disposal it was just what felt right for this traditional treatment. I supplied the beer and pizza and he supplied the knowledge. Thanks again Jason.

 

Here was try number one. I have to mount the ladder bars to a crossmember that is also going to be the trans mount but I still wanted to be able to remove the trans for clutch servicing. This was my first try but it looks awful and way to massive. Jason called it the winch mount so before you criticize I ripped it out.

 

I decided that the center could unbolt if I made it stout enough. You guys let me know what you think on this one. I think it should be plenty overbuilt but I'm just a novice.

 

Im very pleased with how the crossmember worked out but feel free to make insults, suggestions, or just come remake one for me.

 

have not put the body back on yet but this is where it should sit after the kick up. this was mock up before we mounted the rear. That's all I have for now.

 

I'm always a fan of the brick sh*thouse treatment. Beefy beefy!! I like where it's headed.

 

I'd like to offer you a 'g'. That way you can complete your signature line and no longer live in shame.

 

I know

 

I'm figuring he'd say,"Naw, no thanks"!. FWIW, God being Henry Ford, I think he'd want a Ford in there. The Devil drives a Chevy in a Ford (and so do I).

 

Looks great, keep going!

 

I know. I saw it a couple months ago and have been meaning to fix it

 

I dig it!

Great progress so far.

 

I think if you must go with a liner that the Gimmy is a good choice. You may end up putting the rad and shell in front of the cross member before all is said and done unless you are short legged and can stuff the engine back into the firewall.

You are going back with the fenders?

 

No fenders on this one. Sold them to help fund it. I have pushed the engine back in the firewall some. It's tough to fit 3 pedals in there too though.

 

The raven only has two peddles in his 27 and still has to put his throttle foot on the hump.

I was jyst curious about the fenders. I like them both ways, I was talking to a friend about it the other day and we both said that they look real sweet with the fenders and then said that niether one of us would go to the expense to buy some if we didn't have them.

I have seen a lot of 6 cylinder rods over the heays with the grill mounted forward, I like that look as well. Looks like the balancer cleared the cross member so you should be on good shape.

Like the build by the way, there are a lot of builds that I don't like, not that my opinion will buy you much.

 

Nice job...
I've alway wanted to build a model A with a 6banger for power.

Underrated engines that are still fairly cheap to find and build.

 

The GMC sixes were a tough engine and really produced some phenomenal low end torque. If the twelve port head was used correctly the engine became a starting line monster. While the big horsepower cars spun rubber on the line the GMC was gone. It wasn't about who was the fastest. It was about who reached the Finish Line first. A lot of GMC cars showed us that for years and still do on occassion.
Normbc9

 

Interesting.
Sixes come from lots of sources, but inlines are pretty long.
Unlike beaner, I'm not a big fan of moving the radiator forward relative to the front axle line - you could always move the whole cross-member along with the radiator, axle, steering, etc to gain a few inches - it'd be a bit of work but........
At least then you may have a bit of foot room.
Other than that, it's looking good and I'm keen to see your progress.
Cheers.

 

The engine mounts are already built and it is in its final resting place. The frame is standard wheel base and I will not extend it. The radiator and shell are inched forward just 2 inches to help clear the fan. You should not even be able to see it. Now the firewall will have a good bit of recess to it but that is what I wanted. I think it gives it a mean salt flat look. Thanks for all the positive comments. I know a sbc would have been easier but these gmc are becoming a real passion of mine.

 

You could always run a spring behind front and gain a few inches in the wheelbase for proportion sake.

 

I followed some info I found in the tech archives and modified a s-10 t5 trans to fit. I shortened the input about half an inch and then made the throw out collar around the input the same length as the one on the 4 speed that was behind the gmc. I also lengthened the splines on the input about an inch. I used a die grinder. I have not ever seen any pictures of this before, so here you go.

 

I priced a disk for an astro van that everyone says to use and it was way too high. Oreillys is the only place that would even order it without the pressure plate and just the disk was $120. I found a local shop in Nashville that built one while I waited for just $50 with all US parts. I love buying local.

You can see the custom disk on the left, the s10 in the middle, and the stock gmc inline on the right. The custom is a combo of the two.

 

The clutch fork needed some work to help it clear the pedals etc. I put some heat to it and massaged it into place.

 

I made my own sholder bolt since I could not find one to work with what I was using. Just took a bolt and added a bead and a washer on each side, then ground round. It is a D shape with a flat on one side so it does not turn in the clutch fork.

 

Here we are with everything jammed into one tight space. I am using a pull type slave from speedway, a CJ7 clutch master and a 68 mustang brake master.

 

Whit, you are the man! I had fun watching Whit do all the work and handing him tools. We had a few good laughs working on the A-Bone, last week. This is a really cool car built by a go-after-it-kind-of-rodder.

Keep it up buddy!

 

i like your build keeping it simple!