So I'm looking to get my hands on a '30 coupe that after 80 years is still a stock number matching '30 model a coupe that's been sitting well kept with a runnable four banger. And with the looks of dropping a '32 K member in with a C69A Flathead, 38-41 banjo rear and model a front axle. The frame should be in the best shape for what you can get for an 80 year old frame so I'll be alright with not boxing but welding the front, mid, rear cross members for some stiffing.
You want to build a hot rod out of a 80 year old Model A with a ORIGINAL Numbers matching engine? I know it's your car, but what a waste.....
Using a flattie means adding some serious weight, I'd be certain to box at least the front even with a K member added.
I have to side with Bluebear. Boxing not necessary or traditional. My stock frame (granted I started with a premo frame) and the 8BA I put in work perfectly under my roadster. It's driven on the highway and on the streets with no ill effects, none. I did make a custom tube steel K member. Flimsiness can result from a worn out frame with loose rivets.
it's certainly been done, if your starting from scratch the real question would be why wouldn't you? it's a fairly small task in the big picture of building a hot rod...
It was a 'scripted' put-on, for the show, playing on the never-ending controversy; to box or not to box? According to the 'Script', Bluebear was a 'customer', he had a deal with Boyd to work on his personal ride in Boyd's shop, it was Bluebear's frame. Boyd claimed it was a 'Safety' issue, if the build was going to be done in his shop boxing the frame was required. 'Bear insisted he had control, Boyd had his techs box it against Bluebear's wishes one day when Bluebear wasn't there. When 'Bear came back and found out that they had ****ed up his frame the **** hit the fan.
Yea.. the flathead needs a little more work be for it's ready to be dropped in, and the frame needs some stiffing. I'm at that horrible stage between stock and rod but by spring all the parts should be bolted in or at least mocked. With the coupe and frame numbers matching it should be easier to resister, and I really don't want to mess with Calgary police because they will drop off a ticket at your door when you went throw that green light a little fast.
A good K-Member and weld up the stock rivets and it will stiffen it up just fine to handle any stock or mild Flatty. The only real negative side to boxing the frame is that it doesn't look good on a traditional car.
Exactly. There's an article on an A V-8 in an older rodders journal built and featured in Hot rod in '54. He did a lot of things to that car to make it better but it seems as I recall that boxing wasn't one of them.
The Jalopy Journal
