model A on deuce rails

is it really necesary to pinch the rails when putting a 30-31 model A on top of a 32 frame? how many of the early hotrodders went to the effort to squeeze the rails together to make the body fit perfect? does it really look like *** when it's not done properly?
it seems like in todays world, we're all after the perfect ridler or gnrs fitment. i'm sure the perfectionist back then took the extra steps, but what did the average backyard hotrodder do?
and of course, pics would help alot in the discussion.

 

The rails are about 1/4 inch wider on either side of the cowl at the front. I didnt pinch mine coz I wanted it to look like an A on a 32 ch***is.

 

It can be fixed with out pinching the rails, some folks just stretch the cowl a little to get it past the top of the rails just enough to hide the gap.

 

pinch if your fenderless...

 

I pinched mine an its going to be fenderless. Didn't like the way it looked not pinched.

 

I pinched mine as well, it sits about 3/4" over the rails.

 

Mine aren't pinched, but the rails were ***embled with a '36 "X" member & model "A" F & R cross members trimmed to suit the width of the body.
Cheers Dago.

 

IMO, The majority of 30-31's build in the old days were not pinched. Guy's were more conserned with getting their cars built than perfect alignment between body and frame. Also most of those older builds were using stock crossmembers unless the front got replaced because it was broken or the rear was replaced for a QC. I have only owned one and it wasn't.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but does the same apply to 28-29s?

 

Pinch pinch pinch pinch! Take pride in you're fabrication!

 

Mine's not pinched, I just gave it the .5" mini-channel in the front, trimmed the bottom of the cowl band area, and pulled the cowl apart slightly. I wanted my car to look like an old build and very rarely do I see (maybe never that I can remember!) an A on a 32 ch***is in any old books that has been pinched. I'm running the original K-member and front crossmember and didn't want to disturb the relationship between them either. Of course, I also recontoured my cowl patches to follow the 32 frame, which obviously wasn't done much either, but that's another story...

 

If we are voting, I vote not to pinch. As for the 28-9 it needs to be pinched and the wooden spacer placed under the body. In todays world the spacer is not required because you can get rails without the dip. IMHO

 

Cool roadster!!!!! Neat trick!

James

 

Rick you don't have to pinch them and it's just a look folks go after. Some call it cleaner lines but with all the overhangs of the Model A body on a 32 ch***ie pinching the rails is just the tip of the iceberg for smoothing the lines up. A big plus for not pinching is if you do have or decide to go with a 32 body and choose to swap bodies out it will drop right on.

 

That was another thought aI had when I started mine. However, at this point, I'd probably just start over with another ch***is. These two are married for good, I'm afraid.

 

Depending on the look your going for,stance is what i looked at on mine without the pintch it was a littel to high in the frount so i did the pintch and got the stance i was looking for.Look at some pics with or with out that sould help you out,but good luck with your build.I can send you some pics of mine if you like PM me.

 

SR,
The fact that you're concerned enough to start this thread tells me you're gonna 'pinch.'

 

me no pinch our 30 on 32

 

A someday build for me is a 28/29 on a duece frame with no pinch. Yeah pinching the frame cleans it up but no it's not necessary.
Several months back in Rod & Custom Jeff Norwell ( I think it was Jeff) had a dream car rendering called the Golden Nugget which is a model A roadster on a duece frame with no pinch. Incredible artwork and spot on for a build.

 

Mr. Fords coupe is not pinched and looks killer. He slightly spread the cowl to fit over..

 

Thats it then, that's what I'm going to do. Spread the cowl some. Even an inch gained is good for my size 15 boots

 

I have never heard of it being done but instead of pinching the frame can the frame be slightly notched at the top outer edge of the frame to allow the body to come down? Asking because it only has to move down just a bit.

 

I prefer pinched, however, unpinched gives it a more nostalgic appearance because of the building skills and goals of the early rodder. Anyway, keep your options open and build it your way.

Check out my A on deuce rails, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409232

 

The reason for the pinch is so the rails fit under the front edges of the cowl, not to adjust body height. That can be achieved but t******* the very front sections of the subrails away. But in order for it to drop down, you either need to pinch the frame in on either side, or pull the cowl sides out slightly. So, yes, you could, but you would still see the frame rails on either side of the cowl a bit and now you would also see the beautiful notch you just cut in your virgin 32 rails...

It's hard to tell from the pic, but if you look at mine above, even pulling the cowl out slightly, the very front of the cowl band rests on top of and about 1/4" in from the oustide edge of the framerail.

 

Here's some pictures of a coupe that didn't have pinched rails. The other thing that happens when you don't pinch and channel is you can get a little bit of a gap about between the body and the rails right under the quarter windows. You can fill it with blocking and its hard to see unless you crouch down and look directly at the side of the car. Most people never notice it unless they look for it.

I ordered my rails pinched when I bought them from Jim Weimer Rod Garage. Personally either way I think it looks good but just a little better pinched and channeled. Of course channeling the body down creates other issues like the grille shell then needing to be lowered to match the firewall/cowl height. That may equal a custom radiator depending on what shell and engine you're using. All the more reason to have 90% of your parts before you start to build.

 

thanks for all the replies. i think a 28/29 looks better on pinched rails. i'm thinking i want the build to look like it was done in the 40's. i have a set of kelseys and a flathead with edmunds heads and intake. i just picked up a very nice set of 36 rear bones. i might be looking to trade my 40 split fronts for a nice unsplit wishbone.
just collecting parts at this time. i was offered an aftermarket 32 frame with K member for 800 bucks. if it were easy to find a 32 ***le, then that would be the way i'd go. decisions, decisions.

 

Sorry I cant help you ,Just showing a trick for 29's on 32 rails ,Followed the body and pinched the front cross member an inch ,That was to close the gap at the corner of the bottom of shell.

 

Some of this stuff drives me crazy! Back in the day tools,welders etc. made it impossible to do as nice of fit and finish as we have available to us today.To make a frame not fit as good as it can makes no sense to me. Its like we made a 180 degree turn sometime back. A lot of Hotrod builders today remind me of the restorers we had to put up with always bashing us for not building our cars the way they came out from the factory.Who cares how they used to do it if we have a better way now?I guess everybody has the right to copy old ways down to the letter.I just will never understand it.I will always pinch the rails.

 

Hardly anybody copies the old ways down to the letter anymore. That's what makes it special when they do. Pinch the rails and have fun doing it, I will always appriciate the old ways.