Sorry guys for all of the questions. There is so much knowledge out there and Im sponging it all. I have tons of Ideas, but want to hear expirence before I experiment. These Pre 40's cars are so exciting to work on, Im beyond myself of what I want to accomplish first. My question to the post is, I have an "A" frame, w/ 27' roadster body. It is apparent that the roadster body is much wider than the frame. I know most "traditional" Highboy bodies sit exactly lined up on top of the frame. ( I have read earlier posts on this subject, cracking on cars that had bodies that were off alignment and looked funny.) I want to do it right, but correct. I know channeling is a quick fix to making the body look great on the ch***is, but running a Highboy, the frame apparently needs to be widend to fit. (by doing this, the rear cross member moves toward the front of the car, due to the change in shape). Has anyone done this w/ a stock A-Frame or is it actually better to build your own set of rails (as i read in the Tech-section) to get the match w/o murdering the real-original A-Frame. I am shooting for the Highboy look for space reasons more than anything, I dont want to sit in the lowboy and look as if Im sitting on the floor w/ my knees poking over the top of the body line for everyone to see. Does anyone have any picts of this done to thier cars? I am at a loss and so undecided whith what I want to do. Thanks for the help guys!!!
[ QUOTE ] I am shooting for the Highboy look for space reasons more than anything, I dont want to sit in the lowboy and look as if Im sitting on the floor w/ my knees poking over the top of the body line for everyone to see. [/ QUOTE ] why do you have ugly knees???
I have no exsperience with `27 roadsters , but I was thinking of building one many years ago. I realy like the " Mack " T , so that was the inspiration . Let`s say you pie.cut the A-frame in several places so that you can reshape the outline to follow the body.The frame would be wider , so if you made "Hair-pins" to replace the stock Ford rear-wish-bones , then you could lower your seats down between the frame and driveline-tube. If the frame ends up too short after reshaping , you could move the rear axle behind the rear x-mbr by swapping axle-housings so that the shackle-mounts points forward . A T-Ford rear spring will probably work the best ... Hope this made some sense BTW .. You would probably have to make a belly-pan so that things look right..
Just like the T frame,the stock A frame is considerably narrower than the body. The '32 frame is much wider and follows the parimeter of the body more closely. Ch***is drawings are available in the back of the Wescott catalog.
how about sitting the body on the unmodified frame and build sheet metal skirts to follow the contour of the body? like an open belly pan.. or sit akimbo. Paul
SOMEWHERE on this site: http://www.danielstrohl.com/modifieds.html there are pics of a guy making a nice parimeter frame by kerf bending some rectangle tubing.
This is an old pic of my 27 Touring. I built the frame like Unkl Ian said. (it is in final paint right now) 2x5 tubing. There is nothing wrong with an "A" Frame, You need to buy Mike Bishop and Vern Tardells book.
I didn't get a peek under the tonneau, but here's a pic of the engine. Dig the Flash Gordon radiator hoses...
...and here's the ****pit. Note the correct number of pedals, despite the somewhat cramped conditions.
Don't channel it! You will end up with a car you hate. Use as thin a piece of foam as you can stand on the back against the body and adjust the seat height until you are comfortable. It is hard to get the T/A frame low enough in the back. You can use a '32 or later rearend with the spring behind the axle and build new mounts to support it. Make sure you keep the wheel lined up in the wheel well and don't use to big a tire or you will loose the great line in stock body. Good luck!
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