The Jalopy Journal

Artiki · 09-06-2004, 04:39 PM

I finally finished the tow hitch on my A this weekend a took the teardrop out for a spin for the first time.
It took a bit of head scratching to sort out as I wanted the hitch to be completely removable when not in use, and as A chassis' finish above the rear axle, it proved to be a pain in the backside.
Still, it's done now and I like the way the 'drop looks behind the coupe.

**Crestliner** · 09-06-2004, 04:54 PM

I like it. Are you running a stock engine and drive train?

Artiki · 09-06-2004, 05:13 PM

Pretty much, just a Winfield head, 94 & a header. The teardrop is very light so the torquey little A motor pulls it along no problem.
It's going to get a mild cam over the Winter and maybe a Mallory. I'm enjoying driving it too much to take it off the road for anything longer than a few days. Great fun.

BUICKS38 · 09-06-2004, 05:44 PM

I like it. Did you make the trailer yourself? What a great way to go camping. It looks great. Jerry

manyolcars · 09-06-2004, 05:51 PM

so, are ya gonna show us a pic of the tow hitch?

manyolcars · 09-06-2004, 05:58 PM

heres one

manyolcars · 09-06-2004, 06:00 PM

heres another

**fab32** · 09-06-2004, 06:09 PM

Manyolcars, Isn't the first one you posted an accessory that was available back in the day? I've seen a few over the years, but I've never come across the second example. It could be a regional issue as it is with some other things with the automotive world.

Frank

manyolcars · 09-06-2004, 06:12 PM

another

Artiki · 09-07-2004, 03:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
so, are ya gonna show us a pic of the tow hitch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I've just got it stripped down for painting at the moment. I'll post some pics of it later.

manyolcars · 09-07-2004, 10:17 PM

Frank I think all mine were home made.

Artiki · 09-11-2004, 02:56 PM

Sorry about the delay, I was meant to post these earlier in the week, but I didn't manage to get the hitch finished until yesterday.
As I was starting off with a fully bumpered stocker, I removed the bumper itself and cut the irons just short of the rear axle and left the remains bolted to the chassis.
I then welded in a tubular x-member between the bumper irons. This has a relief cut into it with a piece of flat plate welded in it's place and holes have then been drilled straight through.

Artiki · 09-11-2004, 03:11 PM

The rest of the assembly is made of the same thick-walled pipe that I made the x-member from. A plate was welded on one end that bolts up to the relief, another plate is welded on the other end to accept the ball.

Artiki · 09-11-2004, 03:12 PM

When needed, the hitch bolts into place in just a few minutes.

Artiki · 09-11-2004, 03:15 PM

Another shot.
The only towing I will be doing with my A is the light-weight teardrop. I don't think this design would be very good with a regular size trailer, but it certainly pulls my teardrop without any problems.

manyolcars · 09-14-2004, 09:28 AM

Thanks for the pics. Good looking work! Maybe consider running braces from the center of the hitch forward and out to to the sides.

09-06-2004, 04:39 PM	#1
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Model A tow hitch I finally finished the tow hitch on my A this weekend a took the teardrop out for a spin for the first time. It took a bit of head scratching to sort out as I wanted the hitch to be completely removable when not in use, and as A chassis' finish above the rear axle, it proved to be a pain in the backside. Still, it's done now and I like the way the 'drop looks behind the coupe. Attached Thumbnails

09-06-2004, 04:54 PM	#2
Crestliner Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fort Branch,In. USA Posts: 2,791	Re: Model A tow hitch I like it. Are you running a stock engine and drive train?

09-06-2004, 05:13 PM	#3
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch Pretty much, just a Winfield head, 94 & a header. The teardrop is very light so the torquey little A motor pulls it along no problem. It's going to get a mild cam over the Winter and maybe a Mallory. I'm enjoying driving it too much to take it off the road for anything longer than a few days. Great fun.

09-06-2004, 05:44 PM	#4
BUICKS38 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: CUMBERLAND R.I. Posts: 294	Re: Model A tow hitch I like it. Did you make the trailer yourself? What a great way to go camping. It looks great. Jerry

09-06-2004, 05:51 PM	#5
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch so, are ya gonna show us a pic of the tow hitch?

09-06-2004, 05:58 PM	#6
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch heres one

09-06-2004, 06:00 PM	#7
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch heres another

09-06-2004, 06:09 PM	#8
fab32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bay City, Mi. USA Posts: 11,122	Re: Model A tow hitch Manyolcars, Isn't the first one you posted an accessory that was available back in the day? I've seen a few over the years, but I've never come across the second example. It could be a regional issue as it is with some other things with the automotive world. Frank

09-06-2004, 06:12 PM	#9
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch another

09-07-2004, 03:40 AM	#10
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch [ QUOTE ] so, are ya gonna show us a pic of the tow hitch? [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I've just got it stripped down for painting at the moment. I'll post some pics of it later.

09-07-2004, 10:17 PM	#11
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch Frank I think all mine were home made.

09-11-2004, 02:56 PM	#12
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch Sorry about the delay, I was meant to post these earlier in the week, but I didn't manage to get the hitch finished until yesterday. As I was starting off with a fully bumpered stocker, I removed the bumper itself and cut the irons just short of the rear axle and left the remains bolted to the chassis. I then welded in a tubular x-member between the bumper irons. This has a relief cut into it with a piece of flat plate welded in it's place and holes have then been drilled straight through. Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2004, 03:11 PM	#13
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch The rest of the assembly is made of the same thick-walled pipe that I made the x-member from. A plate was welded on one end that bolts up to the relief, another plate is welded on the other end to accept the ball. Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2004, 03:12 PM	#14
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch When needed, the hitch bolts into place in just a few minutes. Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2004, 03:15 PM	#15
Artiki Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brum... Posts: 1,904	Re: Model A tow hitch Another shot. The only towing I will be doing with my A is the light-weight teardrop. I don't think this design would be very good with a regular size trailer, but it certainly pulls my teardrop without any problems. Attached Thumbnails

09-14-2004, 09:28 AM	#16
manyolcars Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: ... Posts: 3,769	Re: Model A tow hitch Thanks for the pics. Good looking work! Maybe consider running braces from the center of the hitch forward and out to to the sides.

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