The Jalopy Journal

Malcolm · 12-23-2010, 10:58 PM

It's finally time to get moving on my '28/'29 Model A Roadster project!

I've been gathering parts for this project for over two years now. It started with a stripped down Roadster body and stock 'A' chassis and has slowly transformed into a pile of parts that will eventually be a running/driving Hot Rod.

This is my first early Hot Rod project and I've learned a TON here on the HAMB, from friends, and from others that I look up to and have talked to at numerous events, shows, races, etc...
Most of what I've built and worked on in the past has been late '50s to mid '60s Fords ---- from my old '57 Ford Custom to the '64 Ford Galaxie 500XL that I drove in high school.

Also, I only have a single-car garage, so that's where most of this work is happening. Since Model A's are rather small cars, it certainly helps to have the extra space around it to work!! Working on my old '62 Galaxie in the same garage was a challenge, to say the least.

This is barely enough to start a build thread, but I'm pretty damned excited, so here goes nothing!!!.......................

Chassis:
I was originally planning on building a chassis, starting with a pair of bare '32 rails, and adapting a '37ish X-member, along with new front/rear crossmembers. I had most of the pieces collected and was really overwhelmed with the thought of building a nice square frame from scratch.

Aftering doing a ton of research, I decided to purchase a perimeter frame from Gary Maxwell at Blackboard Hot Rods in Bakersfield, CA. http://www.blackboardhotrods.com/ (and sold/traded off the other parts I had collected)

Gary built a perimeter frame to my specifications (and also one for a good friend of mine that is building a '30/'31 Model A Coupe).
The frames arrived last week and we couldn't be more happy. Gary did a great job on the frames and did exactly as we asked him to do.

Enough rambling for now --- here are some photos of the progress so far.
I hope to have a rolling chassis within one month from now.

Front suspension is very much like the Rolling Bones guys (Ken and Keith) build. Despite all the references to the Doane Spencer Roadster, what they build really IS different. They use split wishbones instead of hairpins and do not kick up the frame up front.

Body:
As it sits today. Windshield is a Sellers/Hallock frame. I'll be installing lower quarter and wheel-well patch panels, as well as doing alot of work on the doors.

Wheels/tires:
Front - 16x4 w/ 5.50x16 tires. Rear - 16x4-1/2 w/ 7.50/16 tires.

Nick, aka 'Malcolm'

touchdowntodd · 12-23-2010, 11:00 PM

way cool man

Malcolm · 12-23-2010, 11:05 PM

A detail shot of Gary's welds.....

Will be using this '35 Ford dash with Moon gauges

Rear suspension is a '57 Ford Ranchero 9" with 4.11 gears. Parallel 4-bar with quarter-elliptical (Posie's) springs in place of the lower bar, + panhard bar.

Engine/transmission is a Ford 302/T5 5-speed.
A full hood will also be installed.

Many, many more details and photos will be posted as it progresses....

Thanks for looking!!

**cactus1** · 12-23-2010, 11:06 PM

Sweet Nickster! I was wondering when you were going to start a thread. I am looking forward to seeing this come together!

Mike

Wow! Nice chassis work!

GreenMtnBoy · 12-23-2010, 11:11 PM

Wow! You've got a great start and I love the direction your headed! Can't wait to see your progress.
B.

Malcolm · 12-23-2010, 11:59 PM

Here's a photo I took of '2deuces64' RPU rear suspension that I'm patterning mine after...

Tman · 12-24-2010, 12:03 AM

Jeebus you finally started!? Cool man!~

LabRat · 12-24-2010, 12:04 AM

Modest Malcolm .... Looking great so far !

olskool34 · 12-24-2010, 12:07 AM

Man, that is a clean body! Love the build so far.

Jigger · 12-24-2010, 12:15 AM

Looking great Nick, couldn't be more excited for you!
Won't be done in time for World of Wheels but maybe you'll be driving it by the Gretna Days show, eh?

**TexasSpeed** · 12-24-2010, 12:41 AM

Looks good! I'm building a '28-'29 Coupster and am also waiting a little bit before I start my build thread, so I definitely relate with the whole "early start" bit. You're far more ahead than I am, so I'm looking toward watching this one progress.

I'm definitely liking the rear suspension idea. Looks pretty cool to me! Are you planning on dropping the front axle, or keeping it stock?

Good luck with the build!

-Brent- · 12-24-2010, 12:43 AM

Very cool, Nick. I'd seen mentions here and there but never pics... looks like a solid body. Can't wait to see more.

McFly · 12-24-2010, 01:06 AM

I remember that body for sale...nice score Nick. Looking forward to your build.

NTAPHSE · 12-24-2010, 01:24 AM

Nice! Diggin the dash.

Nick32vic · 12-24-2010, 01:58 AM

Awesome Malcolm! Cant wait to see this one go together.

sololobo · 12-24-2010, 06:10 AM

Nick, I love it man. Nice work by Gary on the rails,those are some slick beads he laid down, nice choice. This is going to be a genny ass kicker bro. Keep us posted. Best wishes, ~sololobo~

kisam · 12-24-2010, 06:38 AM

Nick, I was wondering if we were going to see a build thread. Looks like your off to a good start, I'll be watching!

povertyflats · 12-24-2010, 07:11 AM

I like it!

**HotRodMicky** · 12-24-2010, 07:14 AM

Looks good so far!

Why do you coose that kind of rear suspension?
Gary makes really a cool ladder bar setup.

Will be Interesting to see how the 5.5s will look on the front end.

Dan Hay · 12-24-2010, 07:49 AM

Great start! Can't wait to see this one progress.

12-23-2010, 10:58 PM	#1
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,105	**The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build (Updated 02/07/11) It's finally time to get moving on my '28/'29 Model A Roadster project! I've been gathering parts for this project for over two years now. It started with a stripped down Roadster body and stock 'A' chassis and has slowly transformed into a pile of parts that will eventually be a running/driving Hot Rod. This is my first early Hot Rod project and I've learned a TON here on the HAMB, from friends, and from others that I look up to and have talked to at numerous events, shows, races, etc... Most of what I've built and worked on in the past has been late '50s to mid '60s Fords ---- from my old '57 Ford Custom to the '64 Ford Galaxie 500XL that I drove in high school. Also, I only have a single-car garage, so that's where most of this work is happening. Since Model A's are rather small cars, it certainly helps to have the extra space around it to work!! Working on my old '62 Galaxie in the same garage was a challenge, to say the least. This is barely enough to start a build thread, but I'm pretty damned excited, so here goes nothing!!!....................... Chassis: I was originally planning on building a chassis, starting with a pair of bare '32 rails, and adapting a '37ish X-member, along with new front/rear crossmembers. I had most of the pieces collected and was really overwhelmed with the thought of building a nice square frame from scratch. Aftering doing a ton of research, I decided to purchase a perimeter frame from Gary Maxwell at Blackboard Hot Rods in Bakersfield, CA. http://www.blackboardhotrods.com/ (and sold/traded off the other parts I had collected) Gary built a perimeter frame to my specifications (and also one for a good friend of mine that is building a '30/'31 Model A Coupe). The frames arrived last week and we couldn't be more happy. Gary did a great job on the frames and did exactly as we asked him to do. Enough rambling for now --- here are some photos of the progress so far. I hope to have a rolling chassis within one month from now. Front suspension is very much like the Rolling Bones guys (Ken and Keith) build. Despite all the references to the Doane Spencer Roadster, what they build really IS different. They use split wishbones instead of hairpins and do not kick up the frame up front. Body: As it sits today. Windshield is a Sellers/Hallock frame. I'll be installing lower quarter and wheel-well patch panels, as well as doing alot of work on the doors. Wheels/tires: Front - 16x4 w/ 5.50x16 tires. Rear - 16x4-1/2 w/ 7.50/16 tires. Nick, aka 'Malcolm' __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing Last edited by Malcolm; 02-07-2011 at 12:07 AM.

12-23-2010, 11:00 PM	#2
touchdowntodd Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: milwaukee WIIIIII Posts: 4,042	Re: The 'Malcolm' Model A Roadster Build way cool man __________________ WTB - vintage aircraft hydraulics, pesco pumps, EQs, adels, etc STYLISTICS INC. LA Chapter

12-23-2010, 11:05 PM	#3
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,105	Re: The 'Malcolm' Model A Roadster Build A detail shot of Gary's welds..... Will be using this '35 Ford dash with Moon gauges Rear suspension is a '57 Ford Ranchero 9" with 4.11 gears. Parallel 4-bar with quarter-elliptical (Posie's) springs in place of the lower bar, + panhard bar. Engine/transmission is a Ford 302/T5 5-speed. A full hood will also be installed. Many, many more details and photos will be posted as it progresses.... Thanks for looking!! __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing

12-23-2010, 11:06 PM	#4
cactus1 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beautiful Kansas City! (And beyond!!) Posts: 5,787	Re: The 'Malcolm' Model A Roadster Build Sweet Nickster! I was wondering when you were going to start a thread. I am looking forward to seeing this come together! Mike Wow! Nice chassis work! __________________ M to the i to the k to the e Check out my '34 Chevy truck build thread here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=371802

12-23-2010, 11:11 PM	#5
GreenMtnBoy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Marietta Ga. Posts: 2,214	Re: The 'Malcolm' Model A Roadster Build Wow! You've got a great start and I love the direction your headed! Can't wait to see your progress. B. __________________ "The problem is not that the world is full of fools...it's that lightning is not distributed properly" Samuel Clemens Member- SOCK FUCKERS Car Club....We can do it ourselves. (Vermonters use WOOL Socks) [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

12-23-2010, 11:59 PM	#6
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,105	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Here's a photo I took of '2deuces64' RPU rear suspension that I'm patterning mine after... __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing

12-24-2010, 12:03 AM	#7
Tman Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beautifull Black Hills of South Dakota Posts: 28,182	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Jeebus you finally started!? Cool man!~ __________________ Open for business, website in developement www.compulsionrodandcustom.com

12-24-2010, 12:04 AM	#8
LabRat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth,Western Australia Posts: 1,560	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Modest Malcolm .... Looking great so far ! __________________ " Its so damn traditional , I could just shit a barris emblem.." hombres ruin.

12-24-2010, 12:07 AM	#9
olskool34 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Waterford, Mich. Posts: 1,507	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Man, that is a clean body! Love the build so far. __________________ Saving model A Ford's one at a time, ok maybe two at a time.

12-24-2010, 12:15 AM	#10
Jigger Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Neligh Nebraska Posts: 3,069	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Looking great Nick, couldn't be more excited for you! Won't be done in time for World of Wheels but maybe you'll be driving it by the Gretna Days show, eh? __________________ *Stand on the Rock; don't crawl under it.* http://markervin327.wix.com/art-n-moti0n#!

12-24-2010, 12:41 AM	#11
TexasSpeed Alliance Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 4,047	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Looks good! I'm building a '28-'29 Coupster and am also waiting a little bit before I start my build thread, so I definitely relate with the whole "early start" bit. You're far more ahead than I am, so I'm looking toward watching this one progress. I'm definitely liking the rear suspension idea. Looks pretty cool to me! Are you planning on dropping the front axle, or keeping it stock? Good luck with the build!

12-24-2010, 12:43 AM	#12
-Brent- Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 4,086	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Very cool, Nick. I'd seen mentions here and there but never pics... looks like a solid body. Can't wait to see more. __________________ Pre-war 1920 Model T build Reassembly has begun! WANTED: - 1933/34 Drive Shaft and Torque Tube

12-24-2010, 01:06 AM	#13
McFly Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: LA Posts: 1,101	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* I remember that body for sale...nice score Nick. Looking forward to your build.

12-24-2010, 01:24 AM	#14
NTAPHSE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,024	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Nice! Diggin the dash. __________________ Charvonia Design Top notch chrome Kaiser Drag'n Build Thread Kaiser on Jay Leno's Garage

12-24-2010, 01:58 AM	#15
Nick32vic Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bethalto, IL Posts: 2,901	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Awesome Malcolm! Cant wait to see this one go together. __________________ WANTED: Weiand Buick Nailhead Valve Covers. http://c4-scene.blogspot.com/

12-24-2010, 06:10 AM	#16
sololobo Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Omaha, NE Posts: 6,638	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Nick, I love it man. Nice work by Gary on the rails,those are some slick beads he laid down, nice choice. This is going to be a genny ass kicker bro. Keep us posted. Best wishes, ~sololobo~ __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

12-24-2010, 06:38 AM	#17
kisam Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: South of Houston Posts: 1,848	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Nick, I was wondering if we were going to see a build thread. Looks like your off to a good start, I'll be watching! __________________ Tuffy 32 3W Build http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420970 60's FED http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ighlight=kisam

12-24-2010, 07:11 AM	#18
povertyflats Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: near Salina Kansas Posts: 8,118	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* I like it! __________________ I like old engines and stuff-- Facebook-- Paul Kruse www.gopovertyflats.blogspot.com

12-24-2010, 07:14 AM	#19
HotRodMicky Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Buende , Germany Posts: 1,384	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Looks good so far! Why do you coose that kind of rear suspension? Gary makes really a cool ladder bar setup. Will be Interesting to see how the 5.5s will look on the front end.

12-24-2010, 07:49 AM	#20
Dan Hay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Worth TEXAS Posts: 2,080	Re: *The "Malcolm" Model A Roadster Build* Great start! Can't wait to see this one progress.

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