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Projects 1930 Model A Roadster with 289 Ford

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by 30ARoadster, Jun 22, 2018.

  1. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    We have been building a frame for my 30 A Roadster. We started in January and it is coming along nicely. We are installing a Ford 5 bolt 1964 289 with a toploader 4 speed, 8" rearend, 4" dropped front axle and a 1932 gas tank on the back. I am also installing my 1964 small block tripower along with some open lettered Cobra valve covers. Keeping the engine assembly pre-1965. The only modern parts include a Vega box and disc brakes up front. I am planning on running full fenders and a top with side curtains for rainy days. Check out the photos of our progress so far. Still plenty to do, but it feels good to have this much progress after years of only dreaming about this. 1 January 15 2018.jpg 4 February 11 2018 2.jpg 5 February 11 2018 3.jpg 6 February 11 2018 4.jpg 8 February 27 2018 3.jpg 15 June 2018 e.jpg 15 June 2018 g.jpg 20180621_214618.jpg 20180621_214649.jpg 20180621_214718.jpg 20180621_214737.jpg r.
     
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  2. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    Nice setup! Plenty of power in the 289, for a roadster.
     
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  3. Rocky72
    Joined: Nov 22, 2008
    Posts: 207

    Rocky72
    Member
    from Pa.

    Looks good , nice to see you put a Ford in a Ford.
     
  4. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,757

    Deuces

    I wonder how that intake setup would work with a pair of gt 40 heads?????.....
     

  5. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    I am not sure. Are you talking the C6FE heads or the early 1990's heads?
     
  6. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

  7. Nice fab and shop.
     
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  8. 42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Joined: Jul 29, 2008
    Posts: 167

    42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Member

    IMHO The flange for the fan and pulley on the water pump seem to be very close to where your radiator should mount. If you would like to shorten that up a bit you can use what is known as a "Snow White kit" which is an adapter and an Opal water pump. I run this in the roadster in my avatar with a B&M blower on a 302 with no issues. In my '33 3/w I run a 2003/2004 Mustang timing cover which has no fuel pump boss and you have to remove the fuel pump eccentric so an electric fuel pump is necessary. I also have to run a serpentine belt system but it is hidden from view with a full hood. Both of these systems have been trouble free with 80,000 mile on the roadster I replaced the pump once. With 98,000 on the coupe it still going strong on the original pump. I hope this helps someone if not you. Nice project you have going. I'll be tagging along. Best of luck with the build.
     
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  9. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Thank you! Great information.
    A friend is helping me with this and he is confident the water pump will work. I am not sold on it yet. I need to buy a radiator and get in mounted to see for sure. Any recommendations on a radiator? I am going to be running a stock 32 grille too.

    I have seen the Snow White pump and I like it. I am running a 1964 5 bolt 289 engine. The motor is currently not rebuilt (probably my last step). Currently the 289 has the three bolt harmonic balancer on it and according to Snow White's website their pulley kit is for the 4 bolt harmonic balancer. This is something else to figure out if I need to.

    Thank you for sharing about the 2003-04 timing cover. What engine did it come from? Did you have to change the oil pan too?

    With the location of the Vega steering box, I am going to have to run a oil filter adapter that moves the filter out at a 90 degree angle from the block. With this adapter I can't run a normal fuel pump and I was planning on running an electric fuel pump.
     
  10. 42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Joined: Jul 29, 2008
    Posts: 167

    42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Member

    I had to go back and figure out what I did... It's a 1994-2001 Mustang/Explorer 302/5.0 timing cover. If you go this route I had to put an oversized hole in the cover for the dipstick. I did a half assed set up in a Bridgeport with an early cover and just came close enough on the new cover. You could probably get close enough with a drill press. Then turned a bushing out of alum to fit the original dipstick tube and tig welded it in to the oversized hole. When you put 4 qts in the pan be sure to mark the dipstick. No change in the oil pan. For the radiator we use a Modine 397 I think. Not real sure on the number but they are ridiculously cheap. It's for a 1962 ish Ford 6 cyl pick up. It fits a Model A shell but I never tried one in a '32 shell. I'll measure my '32 later and let you know.
     
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  11. How far back does the body mount sit now? From the looks of the firewall you didn't modify it,the one and only time I installed a 289 in a model a the engine sit so far back the rear two cylinders would have been inside the car.

    Are you planning on using a longer hood? HRP
     
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  12. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Thank you for the reply.

    The body is in the original location. We haven't modified the firewall and don't plan to significantly. We might need to provide some relief for the back of the air cleaner, but it will be small. I am hoping to use a Rootlieb Model A hood with the 32 louvers and bead such as this one ( http://www.rootlieb.com/ford-1930-31-hoods.html ).

    The water pump may need to be revised, but currently we haven't figured that step out completely (need to mount a radiator in place). Hot Rods by Dean did this to a 30 coupe a couple of years ago in Hot Rod magazine and had to make a whole new water pump. They didn't cut the firewall. Here is that car. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ford-model-a-instant-hot-rod-part-2/

    I really like keeping the original firewall and will do whatever I have to to keep it intact. I think it helps keep the car's original styling. So far everything is going relatively smoothly.
     
  13. Your going to have to lose a lot of inches up front; if you don't want to be cutting into the firewall.
    In progress shot of a '31 A we worked on, 302, deuce shell and stockish hood, pretty much had to put the back of it inside the firewall, like HRP experienced.
    302-A.jpg
     
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  14. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Rich B
    Thank you for the photo! Looks great! What radiator are you using?

    We have a few other things to finish up first, but the water pump will be next. I have been looking at Snow White pumps, Ford Motorsport shortened pumps and making something similar to what Hot Rods by Dean did in my post above. Once we figure it out, I will share it here.
     
  15. 42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Joined: Jul 29, 2008
    Posts: 167

    42˚18'N 83˚09'W
    Member

    The Modine radiator I used in the '31 shell is 26"from bottom of the tank to the top of the cap. The core is 18 1/2" wide and the flange is 3/4" wide each side and can be trimmed as needed. Top radiator hose is center, bottom is on pass side. There are no transmission cooling provisions. It will just fit in my '32 shell with some trimming but my shell is a repop so measure your shell before you commit. Let me know if I can help with anything else. Carry on.
     
  16. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Thank you! I appreciate the information.
     
  17. Mr T body
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 2,228

    Mr T body
    Alliance Vendor
    from BHC AZ

    This was a 4-1/2" recess and short pump on stock frame.
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. 2. With new mounts fabricated and an extension to the TCI Engineering trans cradle, the engine cleared the firewall and the body could be dropped into place. But now the water pump interfered with the radiator!

    [​IMG]

    3. With the stock water pump housing removed (and the engine now painted green!) a fresh gasket was installed …

    [​IMG]

    4. … and this fabricated blanking plate and tube system bolted in place. Note the tube has been fabricated to clear all the stock mounting bolts.

    [​IMG]

    5. Not finished but well on the way, this tube will feed water from the electric pump to the new tubing leading to each side of the block.

    This is what he is planning,new to me. HRP
     
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  19. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Mr T,

    Nice car! Looks great. Thank you for the photo.
     
  20. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Yes, I have seen this. I like it. I am thinking of going this route. Here is a photo of the finished product that they did. Looks nice.
     

    Attached Files:

  21. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Had to cut a small recess in my '32,-----When all bolted up, you could just get your finger between the radiator & water pump button. 32 pix water pump fan tech 003.jpg 32 pix water pump fan tech 003.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  22. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Thank you. Those are great photos. Looks like a tight fit, but works! Did you mount the alternator on the left side of the motor? My motor is also an early 5 bolt motor, which looks like what you have in your 32. A friend from Redmond, you may know him ( without saying names, he has a yellow '32 pickup for 40+ years, been in Redmond forever....) , has told me about a 32 in Bend with a Cobra motor, I assume that is you? :)
     
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  23. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,322

    dwollam
    Member

    I know him well. Good friend of mine. Now if we could get him to take that SBC out of the '32 pickup and put a Ford in it he could quit getting harassed about it! Same with the silver metal flake '39 coupe.

    Dave
     
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  24. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Haha, yeah, that is what the 29 Roadster was for. He sold the silver metal flake 39 last year. I have known him my entire 34 years of life. My father has known him since the early 70's.
     
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  25. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,322

    dwollam
    Member

    I've known him since 1968. Know the fella he got the '39 from nearly that long too. Didn't realize he sold it. Remember when the '29 was in his living room? LOL! I would like to see that one done. Like me he has MANY projects.

    Dave
     
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  26. 30ARoadster
    Joined: Jan 3, 2011
    Posts: 77

    30ARoadster
    Member
    from Salem, OR

    Waiting for some parts to arrive. I was playing with ideas about tire sizes and ride height. I am looking at going with 195/65R15 in the front and 255/70R15 in the back. The photos do not have the correct tire, but it was just something I had that was handy to play with. Fender was also just something I had, I am not going with the bobbed fenders.

    Still plenty to do and figure out.

    33243622_10103354823144518_4182755009034715136_n.jpg 33397323_10103354823249308_5818398049931624448_n.jpg 33423429_10103354823194418_6810315313809195008_n.jpg
     
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  27. One of the best things about building a hot rod is that some where along the line some one has had a problem and solved it. Contact Snow White LTD. They make a water pump kit that shortens the front of the motor by 2.5 inches. It uses an Opal Kadet water pump. Had on on my Roadster for 15 years.
     
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  28. Mr T body
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 2,228

    Mr T body
    Alliance Vendor
    from BHC AZ

    Instead of going with a filter adapter I use a Wix 51348 "shorty" filter.
     
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  29. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, that would be me! DSC02191.JPG DSC02191.JPG Copy of DSC02203.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

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  30. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    brEad and dwollam like this.

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