Well its official! This is the start of my first build. After 11 months of researching and searching, i bought this 30 Tudor. i already have it titled in my name. my girlfriend is excited and already wanting a coupe. i am going to channel it by placing a 2x2 right on top of the original subrail. then do what Clark did, posted here.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62114&highlight=notch+channel I'm trying to figure out the order i should go. i am thinking about 1) weld in all patch work (spot weld new 2x2 subframe in for support) 2) fix dents 3) sand around edges and tight corners 4) sandblast 5) expoxy prime 6) get a frame 7) fit subframe 8) final body work my dad said i should sandblast first, then prime it, then the subframe and then fix the body. i also thought about cutting the rusted panels out and then sandblasting so that i can get the rust behind the panels. Can anyone help me out on how they approached their builds or would approach this? Thanks. i'll keep everyone updated. Bryan
if it was me i'd start with getting a frame, my guess is your going to build your own frame t-bucket style. i`d use 1x2 for the subframe, which is not really going to be a subframe like the 28/29 model-a's that unbolts, more like a floor built out of tubing and then closed in with sheet metal. then you have a good starting place.
First thing to do is get the body straight. Make your body lines line up, square everything, measure until you are blue in the face. Honest to god, do this first. Some of the things on your list will be a waste of time if the body isn't straight. Once it's straight, weld in some bracing to hold it together. Yes... do this before even patch panels as they can help hold the body where you want it or keep you from getting it straight later. Did I mention you should get it straight?
i suggest sand blasting your body first before you body work or weld in new sub rails etc. Sounds like your dad has the right plan...
I would get the frame first so you can afix it to the frame the way you want it. Then start planning the rought for your drive train. you can allways get it sand blasted. If you sand blast it now and prime it it will make it hard to weld paches and braces to it. But you could blast it and just prime the areas you won't be welding to keep it from rusting. Any way the project looks real fun just be sure to have fun while working on it so you don't get burnd out. The work will be worth it and it will pay off. The object is to get as much self graditude as possible and build it the way you want it. Don't let others tell you how to build it. I don't know you but You look like the kind of guy that can build an incerdible hot rod. Just by the pic of your cheese face. Have fun dude and if I can be of any help at all pm me. I know my way around the body shop.
I always attack with the basic stuff, and do finish stuff as I drive it. Frame 1st. Put the body on the frame. Put suspension on and get it to ride height. Radiator and Grille Shell and Hood. Then engine and tranny. Fix the floors and firewall around the engine and tranny. Steering and brakes next. Wiring. Seats Drive it and fix the rough stuff. Fill in Unecessary firewall holes and such. Fix the Rust repair. Chop it. Then pull all back apart and sand blast and paint. Doing this last allows you to cut and weld on it where needed w/o all the extra work.
Br the bottom line here is do what you can do when you can do it. Both time, experienc, and money wise. the frame and body are separate components so it makes no difference which you do first. But be sure like it was said earlier measure 4 times then cut once on the body work. Alignment is crucial.
Congratulations on your first build. It is so interesting how everyone would approach the same set goals from a different angle. I too am heading down a similar path as yours so I'd like to offer you the chance to check out the pictures of my build. Click on the photobucket and then if you "view all", and loook at the pictures in the reverse order, you will see where I started with a complete car, got rid of all the extra parts, then got a the frame, then the rolling chassis, then the motor and tranny, then used the frame as the basis for my subframe, which is where I am today. I chose 1"x2" 11 ga tubing so the body would be strengthened since I removed the last of the original sub floor after installing the new sub frame. Again everyone will chose to do it differently, but the pictures will kinda show you what I did. You are helping yourself so much by asking ?'s and researching as much as possible before taking out the grinder or the saw. Good luck, take your time, be OK with the fact that you will not make progress every day, and plan ahead. - Jeff
I started mine by getting the body square and bracing it up. then I welded in all patches. And this weekend is chop time. I'm tryin to get the body solid before starting on the frame so i can collect parts for the suspension and drivtrain while still making progress on the car. I now have all of the parts for the suspension and drivtrain for the most part so its mockup time after my front spring comes in. Good luck with your build, and post pics.......lots of pics
Its been awhile so i thought i'd upload some pictures since the first post. its come a long way. Since the original post i've..... <O</O installed all the patch panels<O</O fixed all the holes in the firewall put the channel subrails in and the channeled "feet" on the fire wall<O</O smoothed the weld seams and primed it<O</O bought a frame and Z it<O</O bought some surplus nascar truck arms and shortened them to 47"<O</O installed the Explorer rearend<O</O lowered the body back on the frame<O</O <O</O next:<O</O get a hood and grill so i can locate where the body goes on the frame<O</O weld in the subfloor crossmembers to the channel subrail<O</O order front end<O</O etc. etc.<O</O <O</O i'm debating on what the car will ride on (coilovers or coil spings). from what i understand i need about a 175lb spring weigh. is that right?<O</O <O</O Let me know what you think. i don't mind a scolding. I'm a FNG so i guess its expected. the model car is sort of what i want to end up with. <O</O Bryan
Just updating my build page. Its been quiet here but I've been working on it every weekend. I'm starting to prep for paint now. Hopefully by first week in August it will be painted. Then the joy of wiring. Bryan
Cool! i want to get my tudor A peiced together soon. kinda doin same deal with A frame with drop axle and kicup in rear. i like the stance of yours.oh and thats a sweet lookin carb setup on the 2.3L !i think im correct on the motor
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