And now it looks like an actual car, got some exciting times coming ahead of me. Just a rough mockup though but feels good to see the cowl and radiator in place.
My new tires arrived at work today so I just had to try one of the rear tires on for size, they sure are tall Rears are 7.00x18 STA's and fronts will be 5.50x18 Firestones.
those rears will be like adding overdrive... think you will like that. unlike the used tires yours won't have permanent flat spots...
I put 7.50x16 rear tires on my ‘29 banger. They look awesome and give it a nice rubber rake. 30.5” tall vs. the 26.5” tall 6.00s that were there. They raised the gear ratio so high that it killed the performance. I don’t even think I get any overdrive benefits, due to my hopped up banger doesn’t have the power to pull them. I have a set of 4.56 gears for the rear end that’ll help, when I install them.
Spotted that red Alfa GTV in one of your pics. One of my favorite cars. Glad to see that someone is preserving one. They are a real experience to drive. One of the few cars you could buy off the showroom floor and go race that weekend and be competitive.
I have a softspot for european cars (weird if I didn't since I own an Opel stationwagon from '77) from the 60's and 70's and Alfas are no exception, very nice cars. Unfortunately it doesn't belong to me.
No major updates to report except that I've got all the wheels done and ready for the car, hopefully some more progress will be made during the holidays. If not I'll take the opportunity to wish all HAMB'ers a Merry christmas.
I like to think the rake will turn out good too. The boattail is a French Amilcar from the 20's that's getting a new body. (Not mine though) You can Google "Amilcar CGS" or something like that to see pictures of finished cars.
The project is a bit stalled at the moment but today I tore the steering box apart for some much needed cleaning. Going with a newer 30-31 box instead of the stock 1928 box. The housing will get a fresh coat of paint before assembling with new gaskets and doing the proper adjustments to it. Now I'll have to do some reading on what lubricant to use in these things.
Enjoying your build, great project! Regarding the steering box, the specified lubricant is 600W, available from Model A suppliers. Same stuff as used in the diff. (600W is essentially a brand name. Some mistakenly assume this means the product 600 weight, which is wrong--it is roughly 240 wt). That said, a lot of guys prefer to use John Deere Cornhead Grease. Including me. Cornhead Grease is considerably thicker thatn 600W, which reduces the seemingly inevitable A-box leaks. But it's still plenty viscous, so it won't allow a void or "pocket" to form around the worm gear, which is what can happen with typical grease. I also use it in the universal joint, for the same reasons.
Thank you, I'm glad to here that even if the progress and updates are a bit on the slow side. Did some reading on the corn grease and it seems like it should be available here in Sweden. I have a friend who likes to tinker with tractors and that kind of stuff so I'll ask him if he has some. Really like the idea of reducing the risk of leaking.
I can also add to the users of cornhead grease. It has worked fine for a season since I rebuilt my steering box. No leaks.
Got the steering box and column painted and everything is back together. Couldn't find a source for corn head grease nearby but I did get a hold of another brand of grease that has the same viscosity, time will tell if it works out. But in the new gasket set there was a rubber O-ring that I can't figure out where it goes, didn't remove anything like it when I took everything apart.
Progress is a bit on the slow side but got the front end pretty much together today. New cotter pins everywhere of course, and the N.O.S. perches was a nice bonus. Also bought myself a -37 V8 trans for future projects last week. Sadly not a 78-series case but couldn't resist when it was available only 1 mile from my home.
Thank you. I'm very excited myself since this is my first pre war-car and I can't wait 'til I get to drive it the first time.
And she is a roller, sort of Front end will come down a bit more when engine and tranny goes in, and the heavy duty pickup spring in the rear will be replaced. Feels really good to have a rolling and steering Model A now.
Had a soft spot for Tubs since i was a teenager. Ill go hit the watch button, keen to see your progress.
Lookin' sweet. Im on the cusp of getting a phaeton body as well. Chassis is nearly ready for the banger to go in. Im watching yours with great interest
Thank you, will look even better with the correct ride height. My goal is to have it driveable next year.
Today I hooked up the trailer and brought the rolling chassis home to my garage while my friend and mentor kept the body at his place to finish it up for me. The plan for me now is pretty much to put together a complete driving chassis during the summer and then we are gonna put the finished body on top of it.
Lately I've been moving to a new to me garage, closer to home and cheaper rent. But some small stuff have been done to the chassis, like installing brake actuators and main brake axle. Also made some spacers to put under the front spring since it has fewer leafs than original. And just for fun I had to mock up the headlights and do some daydreaming about the finished car. Looks like my draglink is bent, I'll better check that up too.
What is your plan to correct the ride height? I have a 29 Phaeton also, and am concerned about the rear tire to fender well gap.
In the front I'm using an undropped stock axle. Front spring has reversed eyes and has a few leaves removed (it has a total of 6 leaves left). This is already installed but it will drop some more when engine and tranny goes in. Rear will just be a stock Model A spring with some leaves removed. Me and my build mentor are thinking a total of 5 or 6 leaves will do the trick. This isn't installed yet, right now it has a heavy duty pickup spring with like 12 leaves that we just put on to be able to roll it around.
The Jalopy Journal
