Projects 1930 Model A Roadster with 289 Ford

Nice! Looks like it fits nicely. Alternator fits good. Thank you for the picture.

 

They make a balancer that has a 3 bolt and a 4 bolt configuration on it. Its balance is also configurable with removable weights too for the older vs new 302/289. I used this balancer on my car cause I switched it from a 289 to a newer 302 and wanted to retain the 3 bolt pulley. This picture was before I changed it to a 32 grill. You can see the spacing for the radiator.

 

Progress.....

Summer has been busy, therefore the hot rod has had to wait. Here are a few latest progress pictures. The frame is done for the most part. I need to do some cleaning and grinding. Then it is time to install brake lines, fuel lines, exhaust mounts, battery box, and probably a few other things before paint happens. It is coming along. Still a lot to do.

 

Don,

That Shelby receipt is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Well, next to your roadster, anyway. Awfully cool! Any idea which car that 260 came out of? One can’t hell but wonder...

 

Brian,

Man, I really love the Deuce tank on A rails, and, what with you being a Shelby guy and all, I can appreciate the direction you are taking this build. Man, everybody is building hot rods right now. I think it’s high time to dust this one off.

 

Nice stuff....
good pic of the subfloor on an A chassis,
shows how the frame extension needs to drop lower for the body to clear a '32 tank... thanks.

 

Yes, the 260 came out of a cobra!----When the 289's came out Shelby made the switch, there were 5 260's on the floor sans all exterior equipt.----I now have over 300,000 happy miles on 2 different speedo's.

 

Thank you! It is not as nice as your project you have going, but it is a start. Yes, I need to get back on it. Life gets in the way sometimes.... Also opportunity to purchase other cars seems to slow down the money train for this project. I think I am on the full mark for cars. I need to get back on this sooner than later. I dug it out of the corner of the shop it was in a couple of days ago...time to get busy.

Thank you. I had some help with this and it is coming along nicely.
This is my vision of the finished car. Something similar to this. I like the stance, full fenders, 32 parts, wheels, and top.

 

Brian, Great project.
Here is what i am working on. Ford 289 and a close ratio top loader (HEH-T) The original builder bought this engine and trans new over the counter from Ford in 1965. Stock Model A frame and
1932 grill and radiator . I replaced the water pump because i felt the old pump needs to be rebuilt. The fire wall was removed in the 1950's when the original builder raced the car . He was running a chevy engine at the time. I am rebuilding the car.

 

I forgot to mention the original builder removed the firewall and welded a 1/4" steel plate so he could pass inspection to be able to race the car in the 50's. The engine and 32 radiator fits with the fire wall moved back some.
Ron

 

Ron,
Looks great!! Very cool car. Thank you for sharing.
- Brian

 

Finally back on the Roadster project. Life and other cars distracted me for a while.

I recently had some welding completed on the frame, so now I am assembling everything back together before paint. I need to install brake lines, fuel line, emergency brake cables, exhaust, wiring and probably several other things I don't know about yet before I can paint the frame. I am at the point that I don't know what I don't know.... These past couple of weeks have been fun figuring things out that I knew a few years ago, but time faded them away.

My goal is to get all of this installed and sorted out and have a rolling frame by next spring. We will see how I do. Some progress photos from the last few days below.













I have already realized one problem. When we initially mocked up the rear-end we used some 2"x2" tubing in place of the coil over shocks. We didn't pay close enough attention that the shocks are larger than the tubing, so now we need to redo our mounting brackets so the coil overs don't rub against the rear-end housing and can bolt on tight. Oh well, lesson learned this time.

 

Good looking project and good to see you're back on it.

It's hard to tell in the photo but the coilovers appear to be pretty close to your frame in there unloaded state. When you're redoing your rear coilover mounts, be aware that as the coilovers compress, their angle changes and they will move closer to the frame. I learned that the "hard way".

 

Thank you @anothercarguy . This is good to know. I appreciate it.

 

On 4 wheels.....finally.





Next plan is to install the engine/transmission and make sure pinion angle is good, exhaust, address rear coil overs, and brake lines. Getting it on all four wheels is not a huge deal to most, but a good milestone for me.