Projects The Bubba Coupe: '31 Model A Build Thread

Thought I'd share some photos of Bubba's Coupe. We started on it about a year ago, and I just spent the last 6 weeks or so getting it a little further along...so I figured it was time for a progress report.

This isn't much of a how-to post...it's more of a show and tell. I'm not going to go into great detail, so if you have any questions fire away.



Here's where we started...an all original '31 Coupe (with the exception of the '35 wire wheels). Sorry for the shitty picture.



It came to Dallas by way of Pennsylvania, so it had a little rust here and there. For the most part though, it was suprisingly straight and solid. I even managed to get it running before we tore it down.

And we tore it down pretty quick. Here's Bubba hard at work stripping the old paint after we pulled the body off the frame...



And here he is sandblasting the subrails among other things...



While Bubba was busy stripping the body, Rusty/ Dirty's Speed Shop was finishing up a '32 frame for him. Here's the thread on that:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277960&highlight=bubbaluv

And I got his wheels painted and tires mounted.



Here's the chassis with the new wheels and tires mounted up...



I dressed up the motor mounts a little with a riveted gusset.



Drilled Wilson Welding Lincoln style backing plates, Buick drums, and modified F-1 shock mounts.



Made a bracket to mount the Chevy P/U slave cylinder to the block and bellhousing.



Here's the chassis just about ready for the body to go on...

 

Here's the body sitting on the chassis for the first time.



The rear was sitting too high for my taste so after changing the rear spring it looked a lot better. I'd also started getting the body cleaned up here...





This is about the point where I had to take a break from the car for a while to get some other projects underway. Fast forward a few months, and it was time to chop the top...





Chop Chop...









Going back together...

 

Weld, hammer, grind, file, repeat...



Chop finished...



Patch panel time...before:



After...



More patchwork...



Beginning of the new subrails...



The firewall needed some work...here's what I started with.



I decided to make new feet for the firewall to give the front of the cowl a place to mount to the frame. In the process, I pie-cut the bottom of the cowl to get rid of the gap between the body and frame.

 

Here's the finished firewall...





This is the beginning of the headlight bar...I cut up an original Model A headlight bar for these pieces.



I decided to mount the headlights to the frame where the fender braces normally attach on a '32 frame. I made some plates that mimic the shape of the factory fender braces and welded them to the headlight bar sections.







And here's the finished headlight bar.



The top wood kit went in next.




I wanted to use a Chevy pickup combination master cylinder, because I felt that it fit the style of the rest of the car. I made a reinforcing plate to weld to the firewall.

 

I used a '40 Ford mast jacket to build the steering column. I had to turn down the top of the bell until it matched the '57 Mercury steering wheel.



I rebuilt the carbs with parts from the Hot Rod Company. These are Stromberg 48's...



Taking cues from an old Ansen pedal assembly, I decided to make the pedal assembly from scratch. Here are some of the pieces...



Putting it together...



The pedal stops are adjustable...



I also made the throttle pedal starting with a '40 Ford spoon.



Here are the pedals and column all mounted up...the column drop is an original '31 drop with an adapter bushing I made on a lathe.



The dash is a Brookville '32 style panel, and the gauges are Stewart Warner.



Here's the engine all painted up...

 

Motor all mounted back in place...it's a .030 over 350 backed by a Muncie 4spd.





And these last few photos are where I'm at right now.





The lakes-style pipes are made from Model T torque tubes...



I bent up the shifter handle to mimic a '39 Ford shifter...





There's still some stuff to do before it'll be running and driving, but it's getting closer. I'll try to update the post as the project moves further along.

Thanks to Bubba for letting me build his car....and thanks to you guys for reading this.

-Brian

 

Beautiful work Bass, but I would expect nothing less from you.

 

wow wow wow!!! I was following the chassis build and this car is really impressive

 

That car is amazing! Bubba has to be stoked.

 

Wow...nice work!

 

Holy f@#$ing shit man!!! That is unreal!!! Beautiful and thanx for posting all the pics...... Inspiration for all of us!! Congrats on another GREAT build!!

Ian

 

I dig the stance much better with it lower in the back...really dug it at PNP, can't wait for my Dirty's Speed shop chassis to be finished. ONE question...how do the pipes sound or have ya'll fired it yet? Nice job and congrats to Bubba on a killer ride.

 

Perfect stance .....

 

DANG...........................................nice.-Weeks

 

Nice work Bass. I like the chop. How many Inches were removed? What is the final color going to be?

 

I'd like to sweep your floors.

 

That car is absolutly awesome, well done Bass.

 

looks tops as usual Mr Bass.

 

Another fine build from Mr. Bass so pay attention everybody. It was a pleasure meeting you at the Round up, wish we could have talked a bit more. I really look forward to your build posts cuz you have a creative style that comes together in a very artistic way that impresses the shit out of me. Whew! Hope that doesn't sound too ass kissy but it's true. Keep it up and post more, will ya. Thanks man. Aman.

 

very nice

 

Damn Brian.....

Everytime I click onto one of your build threads, I leave it all the more impressed with your quality of work and your attention to detail.

You my friend are living it - your work truly reflects that you love what you do with a passion.

And for that, we are all that much priveleged to see what you do in such clarity and detail.

If I ever get my my Stateside again - Im gettin my ass over to Dallas.

Rat

 

Wow !!
Everything on that car is sooo right!
Michael

 

Very, very nice work Brian.....

 

Just awesome!! i love finding your posts...they are instantly subscribed to.

 

Bubba must be stoked!

Is there a reason for staggering the cut on the A pillars and the cut on the doors?

Dave.

 

Looks perfect. Sits right. Great workmanship. Thanks for sharing the photos. Nothing less than inspirational.

 

Awesome (as usual)

 

Wow, the stance on that coupe is perfect! The craftmanship is also amazing. Is it going to be a bare metal car?

 

Car looks great. Looks like its almost a driver.

 

Nice.