ROG will be here before we know it. The Torrnados are building a few cars to compete this year. I sold last years Model T and am now building this years car which is underway and hopefully won't be a last minute nail biting build... This particular late Model A coupe turned up in the local craigslist over the winter. Pics were super shitty as was the description, not much info and the fella selling it wasn't a model A guy. Turns out his father in law lived in Nevada and purchased the Model A in the late 80's from California. the car was brought to Nevada where it sat in his garage for a few years before any work began. the motor was pulled and given a complete make over with over sized Pistons, cut crank and new cam. The owners health turned and his family decided to bring him and the coupe back home to Beverly mass where it was promptly put up for sale. I purchased the car from the son in law along with every receipt and a suitcase full of manuals and articles. It being a west coast car = no rot! But dents here and there? In weird places.. Plans are a healthy chop, F-1 steering, flathead V8, '32 shell, '34 axle.... Etc.
First pics of the car. I removed the trashed fenders.... They were the worst I've ever seen! Loads of brazen cracks and wrinkles everywhere.
Fenders removed. At first I tried to carefully remove every nut and bolt, but that got tired quick so I employed my little friend "Mr. Torchy".....so much faster.
At first i was trying to save nuts and bolts by using sockets and wrenches......after fighting with every single one I just used the torch and nipped them off. The car came with 5 brand new 19" Firestone tires with freshly painted rims..
Next was the steering box, Model A boxes suck big time! I had a decent F1 box, so I moved it back, filled the original steering box hole. I trimmed the F1 flange and re-drilled the lower mounting hole.
The front horns were damaged years ago...this was someones remedy? Overlap and bolt another pair on....old school back yard shit.
The entire front end was pretty tired. Every leaf on the front spring was broken in half, when I unbolted the U-bolt pad the front end came crashing down......almost lost a finger! Shackles were worn right thru the perches!
Scored a '34 axle that was under a trailer, had something welded to each end at some point but had perfect perch and king pin bosses. I cleaned up the booger welds and smoothed out the areas that needed it.
Did some horse trading for the front spring, installed a pair of '39 spindles and new perches. With the new set up the front end dropped about 3-1/2 inches. Had some time today. Cleaned up the '41 front bones, chopped off the spring in front mounts, blended and sanded. I had a bent tie rod in the pile so I cut 6" off each end and used them to split the bones. Everything is squared and tacked in place. I had a nice long pitman arm that was on a Correct Kraft wood boat....I heated and bent it to clear the bones, made a drag link and the front end is almost finished.
how much space between the steering wheel and the dash? might just be the photo, but looks to be a knuckle skinner
Watching all these ROG builds and thinking damn you guys work too quick! I have come to the realization I just work too damn slooooow!
LOL they used to think you couldn't weld a frame. So bolt on pieces and bolted on fish plates were common. Looks like you got it all under control.
Ordered a few more key parts for the front end, should be here tomorrow. Hopefully by the weekend I'll have the rear T spring mounted and some type of brake and clutch set up.
Had some time tonight to play in the garage. I wanted a larger/ wider column drop so I could mount some switches and maybe a gauge, so I made one tonight. I used a '56 drop as a pattern but extended it to reach under the dash rail. The '34 front end is done, steering is also done.