Projects The Chris Casny Coupe, Model A build pics

Alright, I feel I’ve gotten enough done on my 30-31 Model A coupe, to show you guys some progress pictures. I have been working on it since December 2007, and slow progress has been made.

Here is a thread about how I got it:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230914

Sitting in a Burbank backyard

Aaron and Eddie pushing the car out of it's hiding place.

Back at my shop, Eddie, Jerry and myself are looking over the body.


I basically started stripping the primer off, that had been applied 6 years earlier, to keep the freshly sandblasted body from corroding. Man was I suprised to find an almost rust free body under the paint.



Some rust repair


4” chop, I’m looking a little scared after taking the roof off of the nice body




From the beginning it was clear to me that this model A would be sitting on a 32 frame, at first I was going to just buy the rails, pinch, and box the frame myself, but Duane frome Kiwi Konnection talked sense into me and said that “without the propper jig, it wasnt going to come out right”, so he did all the squaring pinching and boxing, and it was well worth it.
The old model a frame has since been sold.


Engine choice. One thing was always clear that this car deserved a good powerplant, I concidered a Hemi, Flathead, Rocket or a Nailhead, but then I got a call that there was a running 322 Nailhead just a few blocks away and I should come check it out, and drive the car, so I did and purchased the Nailhead.


Of course I cant leave anything alone, I started tearing the nailhead apart, luckally I did, since there was a cracked piston that could have bit me in the ass later.


Dash: I’m taking the easy, “less is more” approach, filled in the original gas tank, gauges and drilled holes for the Stewart Warner gauges.


The transmission.
I could not go the auto trans route and a 39 Ford 3 speed was chosen (a nice rebuilt unit) but now I’m looking for a flexplate if anybody has one.

Using a 36 rear axle and wishbones I realized upon installing the rear wishbones, that there was going to be a serious clearence issue, with the 32 frame, so I Z’d them (seperate thread).http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248001

 

Rear axle:
Opening up the 36 Banjo rear axle and counting the teeth, I found out I had 4.11 gears. So I quickly needed to find a better “freeway gear”. 3.54 was what I wanted but 3.78’s were found and installed. A quickchange will hopefully be installed down the line.



Body on the frame: The fame was pinched to accept the model a body. I set the body on the frame, and I saw a gap that was just bugging me. I took about 30 minutes and a few cuts underneath the subframe to slightly channel the body, about 1/2”.


Mounting the engine: Damn that nailhead is long.
Makin sure I could keep the Buick’s mechanical fan, I moved the engine slightly back into the firewall, checking and double checking how Rolf did his.
The wheel base is going to be stock 32, 106” I didnt move the front cross member, but the radiator will move forward about 3/4”.






Thats all for now, here are some shots from yesterday.
Things are coming along, and more progress pictures will follow.

 

Looking good...............ya gonna paint the finished car or what?

nice work on those bones !!

 

That thing is sooo rad....thats going to be a fun project...congrats...

 

Beautiful work as always Chris.....see ya in Santa Maria.

 

very nice, what a body. Bodies like that back here in the midwest are non existent.

 

Brilliant. You making it out to the show tomorrow?

 

Chris.... i HATE you, with your cool ass cars!! keep up the good work dude!!!

 

Looks excellent, coupe+nailhead=can't go wrong

 

great job dreadman!! That body was cherry!

 

GOOD JOB CHRIS .

 

The dash is brilliant. It's what it was supposed to be, yet not what it's supposed to be.
Frame is smoooooth, deserves that perfect body. Careful fitting is evident. Great posts.

 

lookin kick ass man!

 

Another one of those"I don't know what i'm doing" threads!!!!! You got more car talent then some of the "fulltime" car guys I know. I just can't believe how you make it look so easy! When I start my car,YOU are gonna be my mentor. Looks great Chris. Just make sure I will fit in the passenger seat,LOL!!!!!

 

Hey Dread the progress is good, your coming along real good. I havent seen you in a couple months maybe at back to the beach? Nice work keep it up.

 

now that's a cool car!

AB

 

Great progress pics, thanks for the inspiration, and keep us posted!

 

The dash looks so cool. I've been debating how much I want to chop mine... looking at yours it makes me wonder if I want to go more than 4. I had 4.5 set in my mind at first but there's a quality to yours I really dig. Keep up the awesome progress.

 

Wow, you've done a lot in a short amount of time. Now I feel even worse that my phaeton is still sitting in pieces in my studio!

 

great work, love it

 

Model A and a nailhead, damn nice combo and good looking work!

 

someone has the midas touch!

 

i knew i should of been a wood worker!! looks great chris!

 

Thanks for the update. Very nice work, Chris!

Malcolm

 

Very nice work mate. Please keep the pics coming.

 

awesome work-that dash is kick ass

 

Looks good, you're a craftsman

 

Looks great man. Everything is flowing nice. I dig the nailhead, but then again I'm kind of partial to them. Keep up the good work man.

 

lookin great

 

Nice...........that old ford steel has a pure quality to it that shines different to todays cars.......clear coat it and your done.