Hot Rods The Hitchhikers Guide:The Hot Rod Ford Model A or AV8 Coupe. Post war 40's build.

I fell for that one, great looking build!

 

Thanks for the Guide

 

looks good keep up the work!

 

Man that looks great! I have a '31 A truck that i'm still getting parts for but getting close to starting. I'm down in Vancouver. Mike

 

So......I just want to record this for all to take note....


My goal for 2011 is to get the Model A driving around. Not finished but in shake down mode. I want to get some miles under the chassis before I blow everything apart for finishing. Ideally I'd like to have it on the road by summer. that is all.

 

Sounds do-able to me...theres REALLY not a whole lot to the type of car your building. So get on it. I did get some work done out in the shop today despite the 12 degree high temp today

 

Nice,It was a "warm" 35 degrees here today. I'll get to play out in the shop tomorrow. You're right about them being pretty simple cars. Makes me wish I had got into them years ago....

The biggest project is going to be getting the body back together. I'm going to tear it all down soon and start the subframe rebuild, mount the wood and rebuild the body back from there.... the only thing that is going to hold me up is getting a decklid. but I figure I've got enough work getting a motor and trans fitted and everything else up to the point of needing a one that I can just keep on keepin on.

 

Don't let the lack of a decklid hold you up... Just remember to leave a hole for it...
P.S. My coupe's gettin' '39 taillights... otherwise I'd seriously consider a single '34 taillight in the middle...

 

Just read this whole thread as I had seen it many times and didn't take the time to read. You've made some great progress and doing an av8 is about the best learning tool there is to get your feet wet in traditional hot rodding. When you get this thing on the road you'll have more fun than should be allowed and if you typical you'll be itching to build another one.

Frank

 

A declaration of intent:

I've seen a lot of talk of "budget builds" lately. While I never intended to build a car with a "Budget".....Being cheap it just comes naturally. With that said. I'm going to try and keep this in the $5000-$7000 range including paint and interior. Lofty goals. I've already spent about $3500 including gas to pick up parts. I'll get a for real total soon. wish me luck.



thanks for all the comments everyone. I should have some major progress to post soon.....

 

Well that would be rad to come in at 5-7k range...my wife would be ecstatic!!!! I think your timeline is a good goal as well as long as you can get out there a couple times a week you should have no trouble getting on the road and shaking it down by fall.

Of course if you wanted to save some more money Flat black...or better yet no paint job with just a huge iron cross shouldn't be expensive at all.

 

i have not really poked around here too much lately. glad to see some progress. i just read the whole thread backwards. is it just me, or do other people do that too?

 

I just picked a case of Krylon Ultra Flat Black.

 

All the time.

 

Looking great, Man!! Just the right amount of chop and I think it sits perfect!!

 

I'm trying to keep mine under $5k, but we'll see.

Yes--lets see some progress!

 

Well the free "top loader" I got today helps keep the budget within reason.... I got a bunch of other early Ford stuff too. I'm not going to post pictures here. but if you want to see them. check them out here

I'm working on the body and want to have some visible progress before I post. I can tell you that after careful examination I figured out how it got messed up. When the PO chopped the top off he left the parts to be removed on the top. When he went to remove the chop pieces from the roof piece all the different angles he cut at and the flimsy top screwed him from the beginning. But I also did a bunch of measuring and the body really isn't that far off. Which is awesome.

 

I finally scored a decklid! This is super important for me, so I can get the rear quarters square. I still need to find a decent flatty......Or I could use the 4 cylinder and t5 out of the s-10 I was given for free this week....Just kidding. kinda.


Major picture update coming soon.

 

Don't kid like that dude...just remeber 2.2 Chevs ARE NOT allowed on the flathead run

 

Haha No worries Chris. Just stirring the pot.

I'm actually hoping to sell the s-10 and buy a flathead with the money.

 

Matt, Looks like you are making some good progress. I am kind of like you. I love to collect parts. Have some neat part for my "A" Coupe build and the "A" Modified.

Dave

 

Hey Hitchhiker

I came in under 7 grand including paint but I am the cheapest guy you will ever meet.

 

Is this thing done yet?

 

That's a nice car for not a lot of money!

I suppose I should update this thing. I do have progress to show.....So no, it's not done yet, but way further along than my thread shows. Basically I haven't worked on it since March as I was converting a van to 4x4,manual trans, and disk brakes for someone. I just finished that last week. So I will get to start working on the coupe again. I'll write an update after work tonight so we can all catch up to speed.

 

So last time we left off the car looked like this.....



Unfortunately, this is a little unrealistic. I only have the main leaf installed in the rear. I hadn't even reversed the eyes. So I went ahead and reversed the front and rear main leafs along with installing more leafs in the rear. I also put the motor and trans in resting on some temp crossmembers.....

that got me this.....





Check out that decklid....a little dented, but no rust....Got it cheap too.

One problem....the rear is a little high ain't it.....I think a little step is in order...But first I wanted to get the body solid. So I started bracing things up. I ran two long pieces the length of the body welded to the subframe crossmembers. I then ran x braces from them to the top pieces I had installed. The body feels really solid now. I think I might hide a X in the body behind the seat.



After I had everything where I wanted it I started to remove the rivets from the passenger side subframe. I like to grind the head off and drive them threw with a punch and hammer.



after I removed all the rivets, I cut right behind the b pillar. Basically everything came out really easy. Here it is removed.



after I cleaned up the little stray bits. the new rail slid right in.




Somewhere along the lines I picked up a y-block tri power. It came with 3 holley 94's and 5 stromberg 97's. basically bought the manifold and got the 97's free. Go ahead and hate me....





those are going to look great on this not stuck flathead. Thanks Marty!



well, I gotta go eat dinner....that's all you get for now.

 

Time to rock and roll!!

 

Hitchhiker, I see you have one of Seattle's finest keeping tabs on you in that one picture. Hopefully you are on the west side of that No Parking sign. Looking good.

 

You don't have to step it...run a T spring with a leaf removed. Thats how my old coupe and roadster is, as well as my Brother's coupe. It will drop it 3 or so inches.

 

Real inspiration brother. Gonna be a beautiful car. I hope mine follows in your tracks.

 

Lookin' good!