Opinions on my hot rod please

I haven't worked on my Model A Tudor in a year and a half because I've been working on my Mercury. Well, the Merc. is nearly done and I should get back to the Model A full go by early summer. With the time away it got me thinking a little bit.

I am wondering if some changes to my original plan are in order. Something doesn't look right in the front end area. Does the engine sit too high? I originally mounted it extra high so it would be the focal point of the car. It's a 331 Caddy and I think it rules. Should I lower it a bit? I was originally going to run a TH350 tranny, but pretty sure I am switching to a late 30's LaSalle tranny that I have. I need to shift gears. So I am going to have to mess with engine/tranny mounts anyway. Also, there's a lot of space between the engine and the ground.

Is the grille shell too low/chopped too much? Maybe the tires are too tall? I wanted the lines of the top of the cowl to flow down to the top of the grille shell....and feel I may have gone too far. I didn't want the grille shell to sit higher than the cowl. Lately, I've been digging Model A grille shell's. Should I go with a 30/31 Model A shell with less chop and channel?

I was also thinking of swithing from hairpins to split wishbones. Just for an older look and it may better fill the area. Maybe add a crossbar between the front framehorns?

I am happy with the direction the car is going. With a little time away I noticed that some changes could be made to better refine the overall look and improve the flow. Stance is very important. Here are a few pics to get an idea. The rear view is the best. I think it's dead on. However, like I said....something seems off in the front end area.

I think it'll be satin black with dark red/oxblood interior, '40 Ford steering wheel, maybe some hubcaps.

Let me know what you guys think. Maybe I''m just too anal. Be honest...it won't hurt my feelings. I am early enough in the build to still be able to make changes. Thanks in advance for your help!!!!

 

Looks perfect so far,your doing good.

 

You're on your way to a good lookin' rod.............keep doin what yer doin..........I like it!

 

Raise it up in the rear.....looks like a dog with worms....
And the current color is WAY better than satin black.....

 

From the front I think the headlights are too bulbous looking and the shock angle is too straight up and down.
Personally I think it is too low in the back as well.

 

I think the overall look is spot on, I like it. The one thing that stands out to me, the water outlet on the intake, it is so high in relationship to the rad, that something is gonna have to give to get a hose on there that doesnt stand out like a soar thumb.

 

Since you asked for opinions i'll venture mine..

I like how this car sits alot. I hope you plan on this same color or similar! I Like the grill shell height. I would keep it as is. The engine does sit a little high I think. Your radiator hose is gonna look funny way up there making a turn for its life back down to the radiator. Maybe drop the mounts 2-3". The hairpins are cool and they fit the period your car looks so I wouldn't worry too much about it, though from the front the shocks look sorta funny, how are they mounted on top? If you could bring those down and in a tad you'll be money. Everything else is pretty neat, chop is perfect height I think.

 

Raise the back of the body an inch or inch n a half and post another pic.

 

Raise the rear, lower the engine. Nice lookin car!

 

I'd like the engine lower. That Caddy will still stand out

 

Don't change anything,it looks GREATTTTTT !!!! LOL

 

I don't think it would hurt to lower the motor a bit.

my personal preference would be a bit higher all around, so many people go to excess with these types of builds. I think yours looks good as it sits.

what does junior think?

 

I think you've done great with this car! The only opinion I can offer, is I think the engine is a couple inches too tall

 

I don't care for Z'ing the frame fore of the firewall, but the headers and anchoring the hairpins where you did kinda pulls my eye away from that. I would keep the hairpins.

 

Lower engine, higher body in the rear
and for goodsake not another satinblack car
is my opinion

 

For reference if you care here's a side shot of my coupe. The engine frame mounts are even with the top of the frame. I think our cars have about the same stance...as in almost perfectly flat maybe a hair higher in the back..

 

I was really diging that color too. dont know why, but its a cool color that you dont see at all.

Overall I think it looks pretty good. I would agree too with up in the back a little bit. 1" - 2" max

 

I honestly like it. Maybe blackwall tires?

 

I like the way dreddybear's coupe sits - yours would look good with that stance and a lower engine location. I also like your idea of using a Model A grill shell. Satin black is overdone; keep the color it is now. Just one reporter's opinion, of course.

 

I'd have go agree that the engine needs to sit a bit lower like Dreddybear showed with his. Not a big fan of rods that look like they are dragging a load of crap around in their diaper with the back end so low but to each his own.

Since the car might have been pretty close to baby doll blue to begin with I'd go with some shade of light blue and keep it close to the same color so it stands out a bit in a sea of flat black chopped and channeled Model A sedans.

 

looks awesome. If it was mine id lift the rear a little and raise the grille shell so its all at the same angle that way u can leave the motor raised a bit.

 

Looks perfect,dont change a thing.

 

Definately lower the motor. I can go either way on the stance. Paint it the color it is and maybe get some caps for those wheels. Packard caps? Then post some pictures of your Merc I see in the background...

 

Lower the moter, raise the rear and maybee different headers. Love the colour on it now.

 

Here here!

 

something like this or more raise??

 

That was same what I think too. If you want little more work, I've would move the front frame Z'd behind firewall, maybe then you need wishbones.

 

An added benefit of lowering the motor would be a lower center of gravity for improved handling.
Nice car!

 

I agree with what guys are saying...

a. lower the motor.
b. raise the back of the car.
c. fix those shocks so they're mounted more inboard on the frame.
d. possibly going with a less bulgy looking headlight.
e. don't paint it satin black.

But I also think you're right about the front tires....they look too "heavy" for the front. The whitewall adds visual "weight" and bulkiness too. What size are they? I don't like fenderless cars with bigs and bigs tire combos...gotta be bigs n littles or nothing...in my opinion. I'd leave the grill shell the way it is, I think it's perfectly proportionate with the car and at a good allignment height with the top of the cowl.

Another thing that stands out to me is that the frame horns look too wide apart up there. I donno how you'd bring them closer together now without doing any major hacking and reworking...but the gap between the edge of the grill shell and the horns looks off to me.

Overall its not terribly off...lowering the motor will suck, but if it makes you feel any better...I moved my motor 3 times before I was happy with it. Even when shit is just tacked it's still a major pain in the ass. It'll be worth it though when its all done.

Good luck, looking forward to seeing it finished.
Steve

 

asdfasdf