A couple weeks ago I realized the Big 3 swap is coming up, so decided to throw something together. This would help sort through my junk, and maybe generate a little mulah. The worst would be having a roller to continue to build. It looks like a mess, and it is. Somehow I've got a mental inventory of almost everything. One of the reasons cleaning may also help clear my head. So this was about 2 weeks ago, the kids and I dug out the base of the project. Here's part of the chocolate, one of the longest and heaviest things I own. An early ford AA truck frame. I gave the kids some eye protection and a water hose, and they were amazed at the power of the gas torch. I've been lugging this frame around for about 6-7 years now, and not sure why I hadn't cut this years ago. Later on I cut all the unnecessary brackets, and pieced it back together. A quick mock-up to see if I was on the right track. Yeah, that will work. Here's the cheese. I took this in as a trade from my brother some time ago. Doesn't everyone have one of these lying around? Unfortunately it's a luxury I really shouldn't have, so it's a perfect capper for this project. Of course it's up in the loft. I had built that with the intent to build a car up there! A couple of my strongest friends came by, so I wouldn't destroy Ken's Hurtlocker truck. Much easier to visualize a car using the body, versus a cardboard template. The height of the frame is 6", the same as a 32 frame, but with straight rails. I like the look of a '27 on A rails so this was a gamble. I had to continue on. TP
Figured you'd like this one AJ! It's gonna be down there, at least as a roller. ***** The idea of this roadster, is to build a prewar style car that a guy could have built, with limited tools, junkyard parts, and unlimited time, even though I only have a couple weeks. I had a '37 frontend lying around, and figured this would be a huge timesaver, as it was already together. I love the rolling bones look with the spring behind, but I also like frame horns, and you don't see many of that style in the Don Montgomery books. There is an issue with the spring in front, so the crossmember would need to be bumped forward a bit. Did a quick spring removal to compensate for the lighter car. The rearend came out of the same car. Again the rear crossmember would need to be pushed back a bit. Now the spring location could be figured out. This is going to be a tall one! TP
The first plan of attack was the front crossmember. I dug out this old heavily repaired A. The later spring was 1/4" wider so it had to be widened a bit. Than it was easy to raise the spring up an inch or so, a quick way to lower the suspension. Yeah it's ugly and crude but it'll work. Now time for the rear. I had the perfect scrap piece of rectangular tubing. after some cut and paste it would fit the spring, but not the frame. Part of the AA crossmember donated itself to that, helping out on the drop as well. It was going to work. There will be a ton of gusseting going on with that rear crossmember, but it was stiff enough to square up the frame. A frame jig would be nice, however some jackstands, a measuring tape and a degree wheel, should get this frame pretty damn square. TP
Thanks guys for all the comments! Here's a quick dinner update... With the flathead mated to a 39 truck box, I could figure out the center crossmember. The old AA crossmember was too bitchin to not use. If you look at the pic of the rearend, you may recognize that piece of pipe. This was all simple grinder, torch and stick welder type work. Since there is a huge possibility the tranny could be swapped out for a later model unit, there was enough "just in case" clearance. After finding a conveniently orange '32 truck shell, I did a quick mock-up. Channel? Z? It needed something. TP
Travis, The roadster is coming along great. Does need to come down in the front and rear. Seems to be a great use of a collection of some old parts. Wishing you all the best in making it a roller for Big 3 ! Dave
It's gonna bite you in the ass. You won't want to sell it when it is all together. Just as well, I'd watch you finish it up !
Thanks for all the positive comments guys! Okay, the crossmember was done on friday. This was Saturday, and this is where it gets a little cheesy. I really needed to lower it. Also the frame was mocked up with a 108-9" wheelbase, which is about 4-5" longer than a stock model A. It just didn't look right. Than I found out a stock model T is 99". So I beat my brain how to do this, and ended up kicking up the front end, while sectioning out 3" out of the length. I figured the doane spencer roadster had it! Obviously this isn't the doane spencer roadster... Most importantly it dropped it 4". So time to do the back. I used the same angles and measurements. Than cut the rear floor out... The rear of the frame is alot thinner, so the kickup has a better flow. of course it's hidden! I could handle this stance. So this took the majority of Saturday, but I had to finish up with some front motormounts, cut out one of the original AA crossmembers. At least the front engine was set. Should I have done the broke frame look and kicked it up farther back? Maybe, but I'm stuck with it now and I like the ride height. TP
Travis, Way to go ! Now it sits right. Not too bad a look. Wonder how it will ride ? Good to see the flattie powerplant in the mock-up. Still kicking myselffor getting rid of all my flathead stuff. Just because I felt I didn't have the coin to do a flattie correctly . . . . . Dave
Travis, Just went over this post again. No, I was not looking forward to another update (I'll get it when you have time to post). I think the sweep you used on the frame is perfect. It put the rear tire in a perfect location. Side profile should be about perfect when you get all the pieces in place. In this case the "Zibo Sweep" is right on ! May have to try this on my "Heinz Special". It is simple and a great way to lower a Hot Rod. Dave
Hey Koolkemp, It still needs a little flow work, but it does look a bit like an early chevy frame with the sweep. Hey Dave, measuring about 12-14 degrees over one foot drops about 4" or so. ______________________________________________________ So sunday I was a little tired, and got a late start. What better way to get motivated, than to start whittling big chunks of rusty ford steel. This took about as long as it looks like it did. Longer than I thought it was going too. A couple ledges welded on and the engine and tranny were fully supported. To wrap the night up, I fixed the firewall/body corner, which had been smacked in. (obvious in earlier photos) You can still see it not symmetrical, I had to do this twice. Lotsa hammering. Than the nightly mock-up TP
I got to say travis you build the coolest chit. That being said im glad/releived im to far away to make tjat swap or id try to come home with this lil beast.
Travis, Sounds like you are making some great progress. To bad that I can't check out the latest pictures. What's this badwidth you exceeded ? Is it like the speed limit you will be breaking in the "Chocolate and Chesse Special" ? Dave
Yeah I'm on the basic plan Dave. Okay so now that photobucket has my $3!! Here's the monday update... I've split these 37 wishbones before by heating the spring perch part, and angling the arm by cutting the tubing part. Didn't like it. This time I cut the actual forged piece that holds the axle, and pied it there. I feel much more comfortable with the strength of the welded thick steel, than a butt welded tubing section with a fish plate. Don't worry, it's strong. Looking at this picture, it was obvious that kicked up part of the frame was too sharp. So did a quick cut and bang to soften it up. Looks alot better in person. For the first time the front suspension held the weight of the car. A friend SPinner had came by and we got the mechanical brakes and wide 5 lug hubs off, and put some hydraulic backing plates on and hubs to fit some 40 rollers. Now it was on wheels at a true ride height. This was all a mock up, but it made it more of a reality to see it like this. So the next day it was a great motivator to see it like this. TP
So yesterday (tuesday) the metal supply store was open, although I didn't want to put any new steel on this thing! I really wanted to finish the frame, and the gussets were missing on the rear crossmember. Fortunately Spinner had the day off, so he came by and welded everything up. Meanwhile I made some temporary spacers... and swapped to a closed shaft 40 transmission. Than dug out some bungs to put on the front radius rods. With the bungs and tie rods welded up, the locater hole could be measured properly. With the Big 3 swap on friday, time was getting tight. TP
The Jalopy Journal
