Karma threw me a punch with this one. It's one of those Argentinien built Model-A speedsters which came in the shop to be lowered 2" all round and get a flathead V8 fitted. Seemed like an easy project, but I kept finding "interesting" engineering everywhere. I'm surprised it ever drove anywhere under it's own power. This is the frame after removing the body and banger engine. Seems to be a modified AA chassis or maybe a more recent remanufactured one. It has a set back engine and riveted in kick ups at the rear. The body has huge hidden compartments under the floor. They'll be cut out, as the current owner isn't a drug smuggler. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I would think those deep foot wells would greatly add to driver comfort if your seats were low on the floor. Or are they behind the cross member? Just guessing. Gary
@edwardlloyd I did a post on some of those maybe some useful links and pics...look forward to your next adventure... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-47#post-12400833
Maybe @Clark will see this and chime in. He has built one of the nicest speedsters I have seen. Chappy
Here's the mock up so far. I repositioned the rear axle 3" behind the rear spring and made weld on hangers to lower it 5" at the rear. With a new reversed eye spring it came down 7" in total. I replaced the Model-A torque tube with one from 1932 which is 2.5" longer. This meant the motor only came back 1/2". I also unsplit the rear wishbones. Due to the car being lowered so much I couldn't do the K-member the Tardel way. I'll post pictures of that later. The whole front end was junk. I threw literally everything away except the perches. Even the kingpins were oversized so the axle and spindles were junk. Hand made front hubs with no provision for a seal. The new front is made out of Model A spindles, a dropped 1941 I beam, split 1937 bones and a new reverse eye spring. I'll be fitting a new steering rack from an Opel Corsa B. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Think maybe those pockets were structural? There isn't any diagonals in that frame and it would've scared you silly the first offcamber turn you hit at speed, those pockets might have been an attempt to add ridgedity to the frame?
I'd have thought that a flat floor would do much more to triangulate the frame in plan. And neither triangulation in plan nor open-topped boxes like these would do much for torsional stiffness. I'd guess that the boxes were about discreet storage space in a visually minimal open car. How will the rack and pinion be set up?
That pic I posted with 18 and 19 is an Argentinean racing pic...the link has links to more info... they were quite big into it and it was very dangerous and competitive and alot of American iron was used. To this day they still roadrace vintage American Iron down there...
This is also Argentina based and more fitting to your original starting base...that boxing looks added perhaps very recently perhaps as the 70s... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-47#post-12400833 Credit to Photographer, Owner
That's really coming together @edwardlloyd what's the plan for the nose 29 rad and shell or track nose?
This is what it looked like when it came in. The body is hand made out of aluminium. The radiator shell looks original but is actually hand made. I won't be changing the body at all. It's a mechanical rebuild with V8 running gear, and lowering as far as possible. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The pockets are almost gone now due to reverting to unsplit rear bones. Rack and pinion isn't really correct on a solid axle car. (Toe in becomes variable). However I've learnt from those who have installed it, that in practice, it works very well. I guess front suspension travel of max 2", does really affect the toe in settings that much. I'm looking for a very direct one finger steering like modern cars have. It'll be low, with limited suspension travel. Stiff shocks all round and Lincoln 2" brakes all round. Looking for a sporty ride on this one. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Progress is being made on the Model-A speedster. I fitted some sports seats I bought in England. Also pictured is the Opel Corsa D steering rack fitted. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I didn't know the era that cars like the original version were raced but, keep in mind for many people from Argentina, in the late fifties and sixties, racing was serious business. One of them, of Italian descent, made a name for himself in Europe, racing in Formula One. Of course, I am talking about.Jaun Manuel Fangio, who won five Driver's World Championships. Much of his later success he claimed was due to his participation in road racing in his home country as a young man. I won't get into the details of his life, or career. Anyone interested can do his homework and make themselves acquainted with this awe inspiring man on their own. My point is that the history of building race cars and racing them goes back many years down there. Perhaps that is why cars like this speedster are not anomalies but were used in serious competition. If this was the case, the compartments may have had a more utilitarian use. Then again, I may be talking about a different type of car built as a toy. One thing I am sure of, its in good hands, now. And, i will be curious to see how it turns out. Good Luck, and surprise us again.
First trial fit of the flathead V8. It's a 1960 G29 German built flathead. They're basically an 8BA but still have the 59AB half bellhousing cast in. It has a rear mounted Bosch distributor. Unfortunately the Stromberg 97 sits at an angle. I'll probably fit a 59AB intake to level it out. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Front metal work refitted and new V8 radiator fitted. I used F1 front shock mounts and the typical accessory lower mounts mounted on top of the wishbone. This calls for a short shock which I found at So-Cal. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yes it does, but the customer just fitted these tires so we will have to live with these until they're worn out. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I bet not many of you have ever seen one of these. It's a German flathead generator stand. It's got the "FK" for Ford Köln (Cologne) cast in underneath it. I wanted to use this neat piece so I mounted an alternator on it. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
So here it is, nearly finished. The seat is currently being upholstered in real leather. The hood and front valance will be fitted after I've tuned the engine. I set the rear axle 2.5" back, spring in front of axle, with the help of a 32 torque tube. It has Boling Brothers Lincoln Bendix brakes, 1935 Ford wire wheels powdered coated black. The entire chassis and running gear are powder coated black. It has a German Truck Flathead V8 from 1960, and 1939 Transmission and a Model A rear axle. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I was fed up with vague steering boxes so I decided to fit this one with rack and pinion steering. I utilized the Model-A steering box as a lower column mount but the shaft goes on thru the box and has a DD end welded on. I found that a Vespa motor scooter crankshaft seal fitted perfectly to seal the bottom of the box. A GM 2009 Opel Corsa manual steering rack give a direct 3 turns lock to lock with no play at all. I used the GM because even though it's a European car, it uses the standard GM spline, so I could use aftermarket UJs from Speedway. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I've got to post a video sometime. I built this one with no muffler at all. It sounds awesome but I can still balance a coin on top of the engine while it's running. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I took the speedster out for a test run yesterday. Snake like road you'll never find in America but smooth as a billiard table. Sent from my SM-G935F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app