Projects Just Another Model A Build

My father collected pieces to build a Model A hot rod for about 25 years. He passed away in 2008 without having fulfilled the dream. I collected all the pieces and started the process of building the Model A hot rod that he would have wanted to build about two years ago.
The body is a 31 I believe and it was pretty rough in the beginning. It was crushed slightly on the passengers side, the doors wouldn't close, and it had about 100 lbs. of dirt inside, lol! Furthermore, someone had attempted to braze some sheets of galvanized steel to the top which was an absolute nightmare to remove without causing any further damage to the top!

 

There's been a lot cars here that were definately built with less than you are starting with. Good Luck.

 

The Ford Banjo rear suspension is from about a 36 wide 5 car.

 

Coupes make awesome hotrods. Thats a awesome that you're gonna build it

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Hey thanks flatford39! I think with a lot of elbow grease it will end up being a really good rod

 

Here's a photo with the galvanized steel removed and some of the dents pounded out.

 

Here I started mocking up some of the pieces. The gearbox is a Muncie 3 speed from a GM pickup.

 

Using the old man's 401 nailhead. It's already been sent to machine shop but I found a crack in the block AFTER machining

 

More mock-up. The front axle is from so-cal. The chassis is almost completely boxed in by this point.

 

I like this photo. roughly shows what the rolling chassis will end up looking like.

 

OK you look like you know what you are doing. Interested to see how you fix that split in the lower bead under the quarter window. That body actually looks better in these pics than your initial pics.

 

You cut off the very desirable 35/36 rear trailing arms? If so,,,why? Those are hardcore old school.

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Well I thought it would be cool to flip the spring mounts so that they are on top of the axle tubes instead of underneath. I'll fab up some latter bars like the ones that so cal makes. Photos to come...

 

Oh man. That is probably the toughest thing that I am up against as far as the body is concerned. The passenger side is even worse! I think I am going to have to find some patch panels for both sides.

 

First and foremost make your dad proud. Taking over where he started is for sure the best thing you could do. Ive had less to work with and managed to do a fairly nice hot rod. Take your time and do it right.

 

Usually a machine shop will suggest that you magneflux an old block and give you a call before proceeding with any machine work on a cracked block. Sorry to hear about the cracked block, maybe the machine shop will suggest a cure for the crack, possibly furnace welding it.

 

Somewhere on here there is a tech showing that specific repair. I think someone with a pullmax was making patches..and I've run across them in one of the main catalogs recently. I have the same issue in both sides of mine too.

 

More mock-up. I think I want to try and turn the fire wall around backwards to open up some room in for the engine. Anyone ever attempted that?

 

Yeah that was a real bummer. There's a company in California called lock n stitch that I was thinking about using. Apparently they have been fixing cast iron for decades. So what I was thinking was lock n stitch and then a shallow pour of hard block to stiffen the block up a little. Thoughts?

 

Man, I've looked all over the internet and I haven't been able to find that particular patch panel anywhere. I will see if I can find that thread though. Seems like that is a pretty common place for the body to crack.

 

Notice the subframe on the passengers side is bent upwards. How the heck are you supposed to fix that???

 

I must be getting senile, I forgot all about Lock-N-Stitch. Good stuff and it holds tight. I've used their products to repair cracks between water passages and valve pockets on flat head blocks. You should be good to go with just the Lock-N-Stitch system on your nail head block.

 

Also finally found a dual quad intake for the nailhead! Cast iron factory unit from a Super Wildcat.

 

Glad to hear that you have used them with success. I would have it baked and welded but since its been machined already it would need to be re-machined and I would really like to avoid that since I already have the rods/pistons/crank/cam, etc. ready to go.

 

Thanks Oldsman41. As much as I'm looking forward to cruising this thing, at the same time I'm doing it right even if it takes the rest of my life

 

I've been working on the front end a little bit. Picked up the steering arms from so cal. The steering box is a Corvair unit. I think these are usually used on bucket T's but I want to try and make it work with cross steering. BTW I had to destroy the pitman arm to get it off. Seriously, I could not pound that thing off!

 

looking good

 

I'm also going to completely remove what's left of that center cross member. I want to build an x-frame and that cross member just doesn't fit in.

 

Thanks rcavaliers! Would appreciate any comments and/or suggestions from you.

 

Thanks Jalopy Joker.