Cool project - looks good so far! I also have a Blackboard frame under my roadster. Great quality product for a fair price.
That is a good idea. I also am planning on installing a metal panel on the inside of the fire wall that is offset from the fire wall for installing things like the fuse panel so there is something to screw to with out going through the fire wall.
Got the front motor mount welded up, sandblasted, and installed. I will build the mid mounts when the body comes off next time.
If you want a more modern gauge layout, a company on eBay is making an aluminum insert for your dash. I had one in my '51 Plymouth Concord.
I went ahead and started the top chop. I have been going back and forth between 3" and 4". I don't want it to be claustrophobic. I decided to start with cutting out 3" and see what I think. The hardest part so far was getting the top door pins out.
Couldn't tell which you cut first, IMO... when I chop a model A I like to make the upper cut first as the body is a lot more rigid for making the second cut than the roof is...
How does one handle the taper in the front posts when chopping these A's? Must end up with a bump in the middle of the posts.....
I split them top to bottom, I spread the top half, squeeze the bottom half... you will have to do this on both door posts and the front and back vertical edges of the quarter window... some guys remove the top hinge and cut the "chop amount" from the A pillar...
I finished the lower cuts today and sat the top down to see what I thought of the 3" removed. After sitting in it I am going to stop at 3".
Yes it gets tedious. You have to keep telling yourself just a tack or two at a time and not get carried away with the welding. I am happy with the way it turned out but it in no way compares with what the guys that can metal finish can do.
Agreed, I am no @Flop for sure. Just finished chopping my A coupe 3 1/2. I cheated and did only two hinges as that is how my old timer friend does it. Still lots of work for one guy alone as you can attest to. I am skim coating now. Another hateful job imho.
Yes, 3" chop helps keep some shape in the 1/4 windows which I like better. Rear window in your chop looks pretty nice also. Front engine cradle is awesome...
Been working on the doors. I had a hard time getting the rest of the door hinge pins out but finally got them all out. The next struggle was getting the body mounted side of the hinges off (I have only done the passenger side so far). I ended up having to drill out the screws after trying to weld nuts on to the screws heads did not work. I ended up having to weld up the hinge screw holes so I could drill and re-tap them. Both of my doors sagged down low and had some gap issues at the front edge. I am sure the door has been over extended and bent the hinges. With a little tweaking of the hinges with my press I have gotten the passenger side to door to line up nice. Will get started on the drivers side next. Here is the passenger door bottom with the bondo ground off. I replaced the lower door skin and door frame bottom section. Door alignment after the hinges were tweaked. I messed up the middle hinge some getting the door pin out so need to weld up the hole. Here is my idea to fix it instead of welding up the entire hole. I have not tried it yet but it should work. I took some sheet copper and wrapped it around a framing nail to give a diameter just smaller then the door pin. With the door set and this copper clad pin installed I should be able to weld up the gap, drive out the copper pin and then drill out the hole to the correct size.
Nice! Who's door frame bottom piece did you use? I have to do this job soon and I need to figure out the door bottom location. Do you mind pulling a dim when you get a chance? The opening from the top edge of door bottom would work.
Love the chop good job. For door pins check out the door pins for interior doors of your house at the hardware store , worked fo me.
Now that the holidays are over I have been able to get back to work on the car. I got the drivers side door patch panel complete and the door adjusted to fit. I installed a Brookville 32 cowl vent as I love having a cowl vent on the hot days.
The Jalopy Journal
