Projects Model A, Hemi and the six inch chop

looking at your project from an old guys perspective, using the torch setup stuck in the corner of the garage instead of the mig would have saved about 40 hours of grinding plus give you better welds.
Not being picky, we use what we are comfortable with.

 

Holy cow Dude, that's patience. Setting the old windshield up in front of the new opening sure gives a great perspective on how much you whacked that top! I like it!

 

Now that is patience! Well done and thanks for the in-depth pics!

 

Thanks !
A lot of the work shown on this site just blows my mind how clever people are... i'm not one of them, just an average enthusiast at home using what i have... my old mig.
I thought it would be fun to show how much work is involved, good or bad, as i've not seen as much coverage before, obviously i had plenty of time to waste... lol

 

So i've been thinking of having a drive, though i can't until i get some decent tyres. But when i do i better try and get it usable. Seeing out the windshield is always helpful !



I have a good view of the steering wheel and that's about it… lol
Plus the seat is too high, even for me !

So i guess i'll be losing the seat cushion and try and use the base. I'm thinking let my rear end hang down into the parcel tray under the seat. Bought some webbing as a test and threaded it along the base and sat in it, expecting it to collapse… and it didn't, mmm might work. After that i bought some foam to bung on top, and that felt like a good seating position.



Just right sat on a plank



Tester with some webbing



So the steering column needs dropping. First time to fiddle with the oily bits, hmmm not exactly built to be pulled apart in a hurry, took me ages just to get off the tin trays next to the engine that stop spray and dirt being chucked up… or are they aerodynamic under trays… ha ha !?





Whipped out the floor as it was going to be in the way






At last i could get to the steering box, but that won't come off till the starter is off, and that only just comes off with a lot of wiggling as the water hose is in the way !



Got the column off and filed out the mounting holes in the chassis. After a lot of filing and trial fitting eventually the column swung down enough to see out.



I've seen some spacers for sale but 1 3/4" aint going to do it, i need a 3" drop spacer. Time to make something…

Started off with a bit of plate




Looked around the garage for some round bar and couldn't find anything, then saw an old wheel brace lurking… and out came grinder. And bored out a hole.



Some long studding



And tack to taste









I meant to leave it rough looking, but got carried away



That'll do me





So now i moved the column down, the advance adjusting rod was never going to clear the top of the engine to the column. Found a piece of rod and made it longer and bent it to suit





The heart of the high powered beast. I wondered why there was a little oil around the plug holes…. not been tightened up would do it ?!!



At last, after hibernating in the garage over winter whilst being butchered and after quite some time… it eventually started. Time for a pic out side !

 

Making templates to take to my local glass cutters

Started off with some bits of card stuck together play school style



Transferred to a bit of ply



And out pops a windshield shape



And another for the rear



Mailbox is shut



And the front fits too





Meanwhile i did some more tidying on my welds





And broke out the the tub of lard to hide my sins





Funny how a small dollop spreads and spreads over a larger and larger area

 

Just noticed i’ve not posted any pictures of the end result of my little chop. First picture is what i started with… or ruined as some will say… lol









Been busy out n about, i love it !

 

Thanks for taking the time to document and share...outstanding!

 

Dang' .... how did I miss all this ? !! Nice work. Looks stellar !! Ding .... ding .... next phase please ?

 

Hell yeah! Post some interior pic's of it now. Still running the banger?

 

Thanks ! I will post some more monday. Yeah bone stock apart from the chop and 16" wires. Stock interior.
I've really enjoyed driving it with the banger motor, so much so i was in two minds weather to carry on with the Hemi plan. Too late now though as it's into it's Hemi phase... i've stuck with the plan !
The plan is to change as little as possible, yet strengthen it up and pop the Hemi in. Should be simple... lol

 

Could you post more pictures? Great job, enjoyed this thus far, looking good.

 

Certain angles make the car look like it has more of a rake than other pictures. It just looks wicked with a bit of a rake to it, just like a hotrod should. Nice work.

 

I'm loving this, great work, great Hot Rod.

 

Wow! Awesome job Man!
If you think too much you never get it stuff done!
Car looks Killer!

When's you'r "Pet Elephant" coming out to play?

Subscribed!
Aloha Tommy

 

Ha ha... sorry about the picture overload !
Yeah it does look jacked up in some pictures, i have taller tyres on the rear and the ground always seems on a slope.
Glad you enjoyed it... look out here comes an elephant...

So i had this truck i bought with the hemi in. I’ve been using it the last 6 years, although i liked it and changed loads on it, it just wasn’t quite right. Then i had a the bright idea, or stupid idea of pulling the hemi and buying a Model A coupe…



Ford in a Ford… seemed quite novel. Slapped it all together and sold it on.



I’d bought a Tremec 5 speed and a Wilcap adapter kit, so it was going to be bye bye to the GM700R4.



My Nephew came to stay for the week and helped with the motor swap. Trial fitting the Tremec



Seemed like a good idea at the time to pop it on a stand and have a look inside





Dang it, two big ends were a little wobbly





Bit of a nasty step aaaarghhh !





Out came the crank and was sent off for machining along with the heads for new valve seats and a good check over.



Like it or not… you’re having it !

 

Funny how you put up with some things. Why did i not buy some of these sooner ?

 

Reading the bible ready for the op



Deep in surgery, on the road to recovery



Alien face going home







Then the black paint came out

 

Great looking build. Thanks for all the details on what goes into a heavy chop.

 

Hot-rodding at its finest!

.

 

Thanks folks, here's a little more hemi porn:

My old valve covers



My new old valve covers. Then i just stood and stared at it !





Then it had to be done… stick the holley’s back on for a look… as you do





And there sat the happy couple waiting to be joined together

 

Originally i assumed i’d be doing all the work on the coupe, but working six days a week and looking at so much great stuff on the net i began to think if only i could get it professionally built or at least get the bulk of the most important part, chassis, suspension and motor fitted.

After enquiring about how much it may cost, i was hopeful i might actually be able to afford it. So plans were made and after waiting my turn, the big day came.

Waiting to be collected and off for a three month vacation with Buckland Automotive… Excited, me, oh yes !

http://www.bucklandautomotive.com/



Arrived at the workshop



Good bye little banger, we had fun. 70mph downhill was my best speed





Didn’t take long until i received this picture… my poor little car

 

That thing looks so wicked with the chop and the fenders! And now the hemi?! (Which looks so much better black with the stock valve cover!) Love it!

 

Thanks ! I was so pleased with how it looked after the chop, i decided it was finished on the outside

 

Frame back from being blasted



Frame getting extended ready for spring behind the axle

 

looks awesome and like it is going to be a blast to drive

 

I'm watching this one, nice work..... When I did my roadster I had to cut the floor under the seat and recess it down to the frame so I could fit in. That was about 5 inches, but pretty easy being a roadster. My hat's off to you , very nice job. I've sold it now.

 

This is just a GREAT build, I like the 94's on the Hemi.

 

I was thinking i might have to do that, sounds like a good way of getting a bit more room. Being short has its advantages, i think i've gotten away without doing floor mods.

 

Thanks, i've already seen the next few pictures and really pleased with it. Yes Holley's look great, but they are a pain at times, especially trouble shooting six of the little devils !