Projects Gray's 29 RPU

Finally starting today after a few months of gathering parts. My goal in a clean, full fendered truck in the late 50s/early 60s style. Just a simple, clean driver.

It will run a dropped and drilled A front axle (from okie Joe), 46 spindles with F1 brakes, a 57 heavy 9 inch locker, and a basic SBC with an auto overdrive 700R4. I am also going with original split wishbones up front and a ladder bar rear.

Body and chassis are new Brookville. The bed is from Last Refuge - it is for sale and I am looking for a good original or Brookville replacement.

Rusty is handling the chassis assembly for me and I am loaded up for the run to his shop this am.

I have all the bare metal parts in black primer now and the wheels are powder coated gloss black. *The truck is going to be a dark blue with black fenders and aprons.

 

On the ground at Dirty's

 

Nice to see there are still people building Model A's with full fenders. You've got a good start on a great project. We can't have too many RPU's!

 

Dean - your red truck is one of the reasons I went the RPU route. It's my screensaver image now.

My original plan was for a roadster. I spent hours looking at the old Photos of yours (and riding in my friend Cal's) and went with a truck instead. It's just a little more unusual and I like the lines of the 28/29 cab.

 

I'm doing my `28 A Roadster as a full fendered car with big motor(Hemi). I'll be keeping an eye on your build.

Doug.

 

Cant wait to see more. Full fenders rock on pick ups. Im keeping them on my 30 truck.

 

Was up at my Dads shop a few months ago and pulled some parts out of his scrap pile. He had scrapped out a dozen or so cars and these parts were left over. I pulled out a 56 truck front axle and a 57 9" rear. There is 5 other 56 truck axles and a handful of 9" rears left - so I have some spares. Getting parts from west Texas is great - surface rust only and no pitting. They will clean up very nicely.

Yesterday I stripped apart the brakes and started the rebuild. The brakes are shot - but the backing plates and hubs are good. Going to blast and powder coat the backing plates and go back with all new parts.

 

Nice start I often wonder why I moved back to the land of rust and more rust.Spent afew years in texas .As the saying goes hindsight is 20 20.

 

Some Chassis updates from Dirtys Speed Shop

What we started with
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Time to get rid of the Coil Over rear crossmember

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Adding the rear small Z and the rear new Buggy Spring Crossmember

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Making the rear Crossmember

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Getting the rear ready for the Spring to set up ladder bars

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And the rear crossmember going in and setting up the ladder bars

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Your welds look great - this is going to be a fine chassis for the RPU. I am glad that you did away with the rear coil over set-up.

Looks like I better start busting on the T-Bird to make room in my garage.

 

Nice work on the frame. I'm anxious to see how it sits when it's on the ground with the fenders on.

 

Should be a sweet ride! Keep us posted on the progress!

 

Rusty does great work

 

Yep, kind of fond of full fendered A RPU's too

 

Yes, he does. Here are a few more photos that he has sent - Work in progress.

Wishbone mounts under construction:



Finished wishbone mounts:



Split Wishbone End:



Transmission Mount under construction:



Fitting Engine/Transmission in order to fabricate mounts:



Another View of the Transmission Mount:

 

Nice work work man.

 

A few updated photos - chassis is about done.

Front Shock Mount



Brake pedal and booster Mount



Front End



Master cylinder mount

 

why didn't you mount the shock in double shear?

 

I always thought that I liked a 28/29 RPU on 32 rails until I started on this project. Now I'm wishing that I could keep this one.

 

No need for double shear on a front shock, coil over yes, normal gas shock no, these are a Pete and Jakes mount with probably over million proven miles on them with single shear

 

First class build. Nice work

 

Agreed - Rusty is doing great work on the chassis.


Some more photos:


Steering





Rear Spring Mount: (40 Ford Spring on a Cross Member Rusty Made)



Rear Frame reinforcement Plate

 

Making the rear upper shock mounts, the start



All welded up



And installed

 

More shots

 

Ya'll doing a Fantastic Job on this RPU!! Super clean work!!This is going to be one sweet ride!!Subscribed!!

 

That chassis looks great from every angle. Looking forward to having it back in my garage next week to start the mock up of the drivetrain and body.

 

Very nice work. Looks good.