Hot Rods When You Can't Decide....

I recently bought a solid, but not so pretty, '31 Model A Tudor sedan. Trying to decide on a direction for building it. Lots of options going through my head and still haven't come up with a plan.

So far I've considered sticking with the original 4-banger, modifying it a bit, lowering the car, converting to hydraulic brakes and sticking with the 17" wires that are on it. They look cool but tires are very pricy.

Another option is a Flathead V8, later transmission and later rearend. Again I would go to hydraulic brakes and lower the car. Certainly traditional, and that too would make it easy to keep the 17" wire wheels.

The most involved transformation would be to rebuild and use a 241 Red Ram Hemi that I have and since I have an adapter, go with a GM automatic transmission and a 8" Ford rearend (I have two), lower the car, convert to front disc brakes, switch steering to cross-steer using a Vega steering box (which I already have) and go with 15" steel wheels (again wheels I have) with big-n-little tires. This would probably be the most driveable combination, but the biggest overall modification of the car (which I enjoy fabrication) but would probably including firewall modification to fit the Hemi.

I've also toyed with either a 2.5L Iron Duke or ChevyII 4 banger, or a 4.3L Chevy V6. They will certainly not get any "oohs" and "ahhs" with the hood sides open, even though they would be driveable, light weight and fit nicely.

Probably all of the options will get votes and criticism but just what do you do when you can't make up your mind? I like all of the directions for one reason or another and have to admit I probably fall more into the "builder" category rather than being a regular driver of the 2 hot rods I currently have.

So...my question is how do or did you sort out a direction for your car(s)?

Lynn

 

Pretty tough to beat a Baby Hemi, and they are very solid/reliable runners.

ironandsteele.com​

 

I forgot to mention, I like the idea of using things that I have accumulated and that does certainly take me in the direction of the baby hemi.

My wife and I both do like the patina of the car with its possibly original faded, worn and crackled paint. The fenders are pretty rough so I'm not sure what I'd do there but possibly just scuffing the rust and putting some rattle can black or red oxide primer on them for now. Here's a few pictures from the day I brought the car home.

Lynn

 

Let the car tell you what to do with it.
Just park it in the corner of the garage and start cleaning it late at night when everyone else is asleep.

It will talk to you if you let it.

 

The hemi option would look real good towing your FED to the line. Add a hitch receiver.

 

Car will clean up ok.
I wouldn’t paint it at all.
I vote iron Duke and a 5 speed.
Drop it and drive the crap out of it

 

Sometimes if you get a car running and driving, you'll learn from it what you want out of it. Then again, I like building but I love driving what I've built.

 

Frenchtown Flyer..... If you zoom in on the photo of the back of the car you can see it already has a very heavy duty and very crude hitch on it already.

Anthony...... I like the Iron Duke and five speed idea too but I already have an Iron Duke with a four-speed T5 look-alike in my Model A coupe. I don't know if I'd want the sedan to be that much like my coupe On a plus side I already have a T5 transmission too.

Lynn

 

Like was said above, in my experience, the car will guide you.

I also just bought a car. It's complete and running, BUT needs some major work that was unseen by the original owner and the person that looked at the car for me.
No fault of there's, I found the problem (a major one) purely by accident.

Anyway, yeah, the car has been giving me cues as to what it wants. I have a few pretty good ideas on what changes I want to make, and they came pretty quickly.

Also, don't be afraid of mid-build change ideas.

Mike

 

Your answer is, how much work do you want to do, how soon do you want it on the road, and how much time and money do you have to throw at it?

 

I am 9 years older than you, and probably the least likely individual to be offering you advice on the direction your build should take. I'm one of those people who should have bought a finished car instead of starting from scratch. While I have the skills, I don't have the time. My current Model A RPU started out to be a '27 T roadster with a frame fabricated by someone else that had an OT front end, Jag rear end, 289 Studebaker engine and really crappy wheels off an OT 'Vette. From there, it progressed to a Tardel style Model A frame, keeping the T roadster, with possibly a SBC for power, finally settling on a 59AB, F1 open drive tranny and 5 on 5 1/2 steelies. After fighting with the realities of interior space and my overly large exterior, I came to the realization that just wasn't going to work. That led to selling the T, buying an A touring front half and building a body that would work for me. All this time, I was acquiring parts that seemed like a good idea at the time. Some of them actually worked for what I was trying to accomplish, some didn't. It's been 10 years of trying to get something done while maneuvering around life's obstacles and not really much closer than when I started.

I believe that what I'm trying to get across is, I'm envious of you. You are much younger than I am, you have two drivers that you don't use much, and you seem to have an assortment of parts that will allow you to build a new car in any direction you want. I'm trying to not be judgmental, but if I were in your position, I am sure that I would spend more time driving and maintaining what I had, rather than asking someone else to make your decisions about a new build for you.

 

Mike VV..... I understand what you're saying about mid-build changes but I went through about three or four of them on my Model A coupe. I'm pleased with the finished product but it sure took a lot of messing around to get it finished.... well, as finished as I'll ever get it anyway.

alanp561.... That has certainly been a complicated road your build has taken you. I have to say I think I enjoy the shop time as much as I do the driving time. Several years ago I built a airplane that was only flown by a friend of mine, not me. But, I still got to check the box "build an airplane" and I'm fine with that. I'm not so much asking for anyone to tell me what to do as to offer thoughts and ideas of my potential directions to take with the Tudor.

So far this conversation really has me leaning in the direction of 241 Red Ram scheme. I'm still listening so keep the thoughts and comments coming.

Lynn

 

I'm on my 5th Model A, two flathead V8, my avatar and 30 Sport Coupe; 30 pickup with a warmed up 4 banger; a stock 29 coupe and starting on a 29 Roadster Pickup. The RP will be a 4Banger with a high compression head, down draft intake with a Holley 94, modern distributor and a dropped axle. The bangers are fun but about a 50-55 mph car unless you change the trans and rearend for better gearing.

 

I would say that's your clue to use that engine...but I'm on my fourth different engine choice in less than a year, so maybe not the best person's advice to heed.

I would fix the hole in the roof first. You need to do that to drive and enjoy it, so get that squared away first. I agree there doesn't need to be much of any painting done as it sits. I don't see any huge rust holes nor major dents, so if you the the mostly stock body as is, put your time and money to use elsewhere. Upgrading to a better stopping, safer braking system would be high on my list. If you can't stop in time, the party's gonna be over very quickly, and all of your time and effort (mostly) wasted-- nobody wants to see that happen.

If you are willing to be fluid as the project progresses, you'll be fine. Don't get hung up on money you've already spent or parts you've already acquired and may not end up using. Things change, and you're allowed to change your mind and the project's direction as you desire.

 

1) whats your budget?
2) how soon do you want to drive it?

Restoring it with a stock driveline will be much cheaper and much quicker.

You can still lower it, swap out the wheels and a custom interior. And you get to drive it next year.

A well prepped and tuned 4 banger will get you a lot of respect from the folks that know what they are looking at.

 

Why would you use what criteria (opinions) the rest of us might use?
I know what I would do but it would not be well recieved.

 

K.I.S.S. start driving it. and fix the top. enjoy it!

 

What ever engine you decide to use ??? Put a good starter on it !!! “ onlyYou will know what I mean “

 

It all depends on what is most important to you: building or driving/enjoying. determine that and your decisions will come easier...

 

Denny, I have a strong suspicion that your ideas for Lynn’s Model A and mine are probably identical. We would probably locked in the stocks and stoned for voicing them. Let’s just say the engine would be a V-8 not mentioned in the above posts.

 

If you're more of a builder than a driver, do whatever takes the most building!

 

hemi / automatic , , vega cross steer......you collected these parts...put them to good use now,,,

 

- you seem to have a good starting point for this option……..
if you go in another direction, all these parts will still be sitting there……..

 

I built and own both a blown Flathead and an early Hemi powered hot rod. Considering coolness with the hood open, build cost, horsepower, and that ever so important need to set yourself apart from the hoi polloi, it's the HEMI. Hands down. (mic drop)

 

I'm with the let it tell you what it wants. I stare at my projects and things start to make sense to me after a while.
I would make it pull the fed personally.

 

For some reason I just can't get Jack Chrisman's sedan out of my head when I look at this car...

 

I usually agree with Mike VV, but in this case I won't. Design changes mid stream are a death sentence for most projects. Too much flip-flopping around just eats time and money. Get a plan and lock into it! I spend a LOT of time developing a solid, detailed plan in my head FIRST, then execute the build to match the plan. Example; in the past, I have had a couple different cars basically done, but the stance/rake was off just a bit. They didn't match my vision. (one was actually too low!). At that point, I could've just got them going on down the road and fixed it later, or worse, just live with it, but nope, had to stop and pull the springs out and "fix" them...They didn't match the vision! And I'm done wasting any time on any car for me that I'm not totally into. Good luck!

 

Of the options you listed I like the Hemi. You already have most of the parts but the engine build is pricey.

 

Of course, I'm hoping you will pick the Iron Duke since that is what I plan on using for my Model A build.
BTW, thanks for the pics and info on your coupe Iron Duke install - they will be most helpful when I get started!

Whichever direction you decide, good luck with the sedan. It looks like a great start!

 

Hey @lake_harley I vote for use what you have on hand and stick to the plan.
If you fail to plan you plan to fail.
Good luck and have fun