Projects The "All Business Coop" 1930 Model A

Putting tape at finished chop height is a good idea. Heavy chops look great, but many have written about the practicality and comfort of a heavy chop.

 

Well I figured out with the stock seat thickness, which is huge!, it will be a complete bitch to get in and out of and probably impossible to drive. The wood header bows will be hitting the crown of my noggin. Only need a couple of inches though. I want to sit relatively high inside the car and don't want to have to rotate the steering gear down.

 

Less is more IMHO... 3 inch chop for me

 

With how "straight down" an A chop is (relatively speaking) you can experiment as you go. Try 3" 1st and get in and out if you can. Want more? Go 1/2" at a time until you nail it both visually and practically. They don't all have to be ready for El Mirage, do they? For breaking bolts, try a little heat and candle wax. The other thing that creeps and loosens real fast is 50/50 acetone and straight trans fluid (synthetic doesn't work). Nice car, nice plan.

 

I'm sure that's how we'll go with it. I'm not taking any chances on screwing it up.

 

Couple more tear down pics. Gonna need some floor panels.

 

Starting to look like a hot rod


I think I'll pull the firewall and fill all the holes and paint it semi flat black and detail the motor so when the hoods open peeps can tell it's not a RR. Those are really popular around here and this will get lumped in with them because the paint won't be very nice.

And I think we'll make the interior all nice shiny paint and baseball glove leather seat and interior panels.

 

Found a seat that will work perfect with the chop

 

I think the perfect A coupe chop is when the quarter window becomes square. I think that is around 4 inches.

 

We're gonna start at 3-1/2 or 4 and see how we like it. I'm pretty set on 5" thought. With this seat it looks totally doable.

I decided I'm not going to pull the firewall. I didn't realize it is riveted on to the cowl. It's nice and tight so I'm not gonna screw with it. I'll get it cleaned and painted on the car.

 

Damn look at all those holes. I think the last owner might have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

And what was this for?
yu

 

Of course, after I move out of Amarillo, all the traditional hot rodders start posting up their rides..

Next time I'm in town, I would love to drop by and see this old girl. Keep at it!

 

Ha ha. I think the same thing when I'm reading your thread. The car is at my shop in pampa while I'm building it but if you ever happen through during the day holler and come check it out. I'll pm you my number.

 

Not sure but that hole may have been for heater- that was the heat off exhaust manifold-

 

I had a feeling it had to do with heat.

 

Pampa, eh? Have you run into Vic Laramore yet? He's quite older than the two of us but loves As as well and toots around town in a green stock '28-'29 A PU. He's a good guy.

 

Hell yes. Vic helped raise me at the lake riding dirt bikes with my parents. His son and I, dave went to high school together. I was jaw jacking with Vic and Yale at the orielys the other day. He just picked a 48 or 49 ford he owned way back and is about to get started restoring it.

 

Yes, an accessory heater.

 

Cool thanks for the info. I'm gonna weld it all up then cut just the holes I need in hidden places if possible.

Next question. Looking at the windshield pillars, the stands for the windshield levers to fold it out. They are just about right in the middle of the post. When I chop 5" out it will delete these. Should I take 2.5" out on top of it and 2.5" out below it and recenter it, or all 5" above or below it? I'd like the windshield to pivot out after the chop.

Thanks

 

Another reason for a conservative chop, the windshield. You have all that material around the glass as it is, taking out a bunch just aggravates it that much more. As to keeping it functional, try to remove the material above the screw mount. See how much you have there. The length of the swivel bracket dictates how far it will open and I don't think it cares how tall the glass is. That might mean remove it above on the body, below on the windshield frame. I'd have to measure mine next time I'm near it to give accurate advice, but the only thing on your coupe that's mine is my opinion

 

Yea the glass will be 6"s tall. Im Pretty set on 5". Looks mean as hell. Got some wheels and tires ordered and a few odds n ends from snyders and a header and ansen single intake from reds. Should be running next weekend. Then we'll chop it and start ironing out the bugs. Got a flat head teds floater kit for the brakes. They do stop it now but I'll re adjust everything, clean it all up and make em work good.

 

You know Yale Poland as well? Small world.. Next time you see them, tell them Matt said hi! (If they're unsure which Matt.. Just tell them the deaf guy)

Can't wait to see where you go with this one. I might have missed it, but are you keeping the fenders?

 

Yep. Known Yale my whole life too. I was born and raised in Pampa. Are you from there? We may know each other. I'm 36. Graduated Pampa in 98. Living in amarillo now. Like most of us do.

Going fenderless salt flats/drag car with this one.

 

I was born and raised in Canyon/Amarillo, but Vic, Yale, and my dad were good friends and fellow club members in the Krankers. My dad was Nelson Bridges.

I'm 27 now, but back then, I mostly just tagged along with dad and that is how I came to meet everyone.. Vic, Yale, Jim Colwell, James Underwood, etc. I graduated from Caprock in '06. I also drive an OT flat black '68 C10 that you may have seen around Amarillo. That was my dad's graduation gift to me.

According to Yale, I am somehow responsible for his son, Tim, meeting his wife, Katie. Sort of a funny story..

Not to be arrogant, but you would know for sure if you had met me. There aren't a lot of young deaf people in on the street rodding/hot rodding scene. I'll gladly drop by and meet you next time I'm in town.

 

Oh.. And if you aren't using those fenders/splash aprons.. I'd be interested. Let me know. I want a set for my T RPU project.

 

Yea your right I think I'd remember you. Crazy how small of a world hot rodding is.

The fenders are rough. I'll snap some pics and PM you later today and see what you think. They have been welded together unfortunately but I think will be easily separated.

 

Before you take out 5 inches....cut a 5 inch piece of card board and tape it across the top of your windshield...then sit in your car..

 

That's a good idea. I'm gonna tape it off today. I'll do that a get an idea of what it will feel like.

Thanks

 

The view with 5" out.

I like it!

 

So I had this laying around and thought I would see if I could make it fit. Bolted up with no problems. I know. I know. An alternator on a traditional build. But I will be running a hood and it lets me switch to 12v without buying an $800 alternator that looks like a genny. I will eventually go that route but this gets it going without killing the budget.