Projects T on A : Fjant the complete novice builds a hot rod

Big thank you!

 

I found a cheap -65 or so Mustang radiator that I will try to modify to fit the -30 shell and banger. The radiator sitts better upside down in the shell, and then also get the lower inlet on the correct side. So without any experience I will try to solder a filler in the bottom and cover the old filler neck hole.
Not a must do to get it running, but I really don’t like the grillshell sticking up so far above the bodyline.

 

Almost finished the mounting for the radiator today but my welding gas got empty . So I have a little welding and grinding to do, but the design i done. Turned out better than I thought.

 

Today I started soldering A little on the radiator. Just a plate (made from an old waterpipe) to cover the old filler neck, thats now in the botom. That went fine and was easier than I thaught, but I’ll guess we will have to see if it’s good enough when I test it under presasure.

I also got the idea to heat up just a little around the water outlet in the bottom to change the angle a little. It turned out to not be the original work. It was just a complete mess, so I’ll guess I have to redo it all together.

 

I have been doing som side projects and what not. But slowly att the same time working on and of on the radiator. Today I did the last soldering, I hope, I haven’t pressaure tested it yet. I think it turned out quite good for beeing first time doing it. Also it went better and better. So the last part is obious the best. The modifications I’ve done.
-charged the lower outlet to a diameter fit for model A. And moved it to clear the generator.
- covered up some holes on the upper part.
- added a new filler neck to fit the cap in the stock location.
- fitted the top of a stock filler neck so the stock cap would work.
-added mountings for rodds to the firewall.
-added a fitting for overflow.
-added a ring of copper to the upper inlet to better mach the diameter of the model A engine outlet.

it looks better in real life than on pictures and will look quite good after som paint. Aspecially considering time beeing a total beginner and the radiator not beeing in that good shape to begin with.

 

that filler neck was tricky!

 

Yeah that one took most of the time spent to get right and fit tight all around. But looks and fits right!

 

Thanks for sharing your story and pictures with us. Looks great!

 

Kind words!

 

Nice work! And you have learned a new, useful skill.

 

I have spent a cuple of nights with cleaning, moving stuff and getting some semi-propper organisation in the garage and with all the tools. Also made made space for a workstation for the kids.
Well it all about stacking all the small victorys and the baby steps. And in the end you have made good progress.
Last two nights I have made a small mounting baracket for the -65 Saab generator. I also put some paint on the radiator frame and started to rebuild the rod (that I made for the previous stock radiator ) between the radiator and firewall.

 

Hey Fjant, turns out I ordered the wrong aluminum radiator for mine so now I just have to take a crack at copying your homework. I have two Mustang radiators. On one the core is trashed, so it will be my first victim/test subject. What kind of solder did you use?

 

best to find the old style 50-50 if possible....

 

Okey. Cool! It will be nice to have someone to share exerience with. I started out with just tin solder but then found some tin/lead (60/40 I think) wich I found to be easier to work with (lead solder is not promitted so sell to privet prrsons in sweden). Took some practice to get good, but not that hard. Just take it realy easy and slow with the heat and make sure its propperly clean. I watched all youtube clips I could find on the subject first

i have not preasure tested mine yet. I had some things come in between, but will post here when I got that done.

 

yeah, but its hard to find one with good measurements.

 

tin to lead proportion..

 

haha! I did a little tumble in my head and thought you meant 50s style radiator. sorry

 

Well, have hade some other projects to take care of and have also been sick a cupple of times the last month or so. So things have been moving very slow on the car. But I finaly got around to preasuretest the radiator and fix the leaks I found a cupple of weeks ago, and now this weekend got it degreased, cleaned and acidbath (there were started some corrotion that needed to be sorted). And yesterday I put some paint on it. well, it does not look like a newly recored pice exactly, but good enought for a jalopy. I’m very glad that this sideproject is coming to an end, since it have taken waaaay longer than I thought. But in the end it will look way better with the grill in a better position for the T-body.

 

Nice job on the radiator, & I love how this car is coming together.

 

Tank you so much!

 

Hi!
I have been very busy with other things lately and haven’t got much time int the garage. I’m hoping to get at least a cupple of nights in the near future, and I think that will get me to where I can try to test start the engine.
I have picked up a hour here and fifteen minutes there but mostly togheter with my four year old kid. Whish means not much welding, grinding and such. But I picked up two old leather sofas for free a bit back, that I have started to convert into the interior of the car. I havent come to far with it, but I have the concept clear now.
I also got the fuel system hooked up. I hope it will be free of leaks.

 

Looks good! Great reuse/recycling of those free sofas, too!

 

Tank you!

 

Hello dear hamb diary…

Long time since any update. The summer hollyday is not the time of the year I spent in the garage. To much els to do.

but I have been tinkering a bit since last time. I tried to fire the engine up in the start of the summer but had some isues. Both with ignition and then with leaking carburator and fuel valve.
I figured if I was about to but time and money I could just the same make it better whit the same effort and dough.
Since I had a modified intake and some 97 carbs laying around I used these, and made a little adapter to make them mate. I also baught an old Volvo distriburator since these are very easy to adapt to the model A.
I also have installed an eletric fuel pump, ”hidden” behind the firewall.

most (maybe all) downdraft carburator setups I have seen och model a bangers use the throttle linkage all stock and use a leverage that sits on and swings around an axle on the intake. I dont really like the look of it and I would have to be very long because of the hight of the intake. Instead I turned the throttle arm uppside down to get it swing in the right direction. Since I don’t need to det the timing advance during drivning anymore I took the rod the little leverage that it hooks on to on the steering column (they fit without ANY modifications) and used on the carburator. With this setup I could use the throttle leverage on the backside of the carburator and get everything to line up perfect.

the stock throttle rod I used for the choke.

I planing to try to fire it up this weekend.

 

This is a great build.
The recycled interior is perfect for that car. It already has good lines, which can be tricky with a touring body.

 

Thank you!
I’m doing my best with limited time, resourses and exerience.

 

Neat idea with the Bosch distributor. Does this have internal centrifugal advance for the timing? Or are you planning to make some sort of mechanical linkage to advance timing?

 

I have to admit if I ever build a prewar car it’ll be a sedan or touring: I love this build.

 

hi! It has internal advance so no need for a linkage. This conversion is very common here in sweden.

 

Wow! Thank you! I did not like the body to much when I first got it. But its growing on me as the build evolves and the pices comes togheter.