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Technical HAMB Member cruzr and His Beautiful A Coupe

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by lake_harley, Apr 3, 2020.

  1. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    I came across a photo of a coupe owned by HAMB member cruzr. It's the '30/'31 Coupe in the photo below. I copied it from a thread that is about 10 years old. I sent a PM to cruzr with some questions about the car, but haven't received a reply. I appears he hasn't been active on here since June of 2019, so I hope he's OK.

    Anyway, I have some questions about what he did to get the awesome stance of his coupe, and a few other questions about how it's built. If you know him, or are familiar with the car, I'd appreciate hearing from you.....or cruzr.

    Thanks...

    Lynn

    Here's the car.....awesome!

    009FoothillRanchCruiseNight011-vi.jpg
     
    Paul B, slim38, Stogy and 13 others like this.
  2. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    Wow, nice coupe........
     
    Lil32 likes this.
  3. choptop40
    Joined: Dec 23, 2009
    Posts: 5,114

    choptop40
    Member

    Looks like your basic dropped front axle and big and little tires..easy ..
     
    bob b. likes this.
  4. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Bitchin. Love the way the suspension (radius rods?) flow with the frame and are painted to blend in. Best looking non-32 framed A I have seen in a long time.
     

  5. slug likes this.
  6. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,407

    alchemy
    Member

    When "deconstructing" photos of finished cars to copy their stance, I always try to find a good reference point. This coupe seems to have the front end setup so the centerline of the wheel is even with the top of the frame rail. And the outside edge of the hubcap (anyone have the OD of a 48 Ford cap?) seems to be level with the top of the frame in back. Mock up your frame with those benchmarks and see how you can make the suspension work in those parameters.
     
  7. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    Thanks, everyone. One of my questions is about the front crossmember and suspension. I know from one photo he posted that the front spring is mounted off of the wishbones. I wondered if the front crossmember is set back to maintain the stock, or nearly stock wheelbase. To me, it doesn't appear to be longer....at least not 3" or more like I'd expect if the crossmember wasn't moved back. Also, just looking at the car, the hood appears to be stock length, doesn't it?
    Another set of questions would be looking for rear suspension and frame "Z" details.

    Lynn
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  8. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    1oldtimer.....thanks for the link. Great write-up. Unfortunately the details of the suspension, front and rear, weren't covered in detail. There was no mention of whether the front crossmember was moved back or if the front spring is in it's original location and mounting it off the wishbones just pushed the axle out and lengthened the wheelbase a few inches. To me it doesn't look particularly longer, but what say all of you?

    Lynn
     
  9. slug
    Joined: Sep 1, 2007
    Posts: 319

    slug
    Member

    Thanks for the link. Very interesting article. We had talked about his coupe along with him sending me a couple of pics of it several years ago when talking about his Olds.
     
  10. Randy posted threads on the mods he made to that coupe. Use the search function here. He's on FaceBook these days.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  11. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    I did some more searching through cruzr's profile to try to find answers to my questions. I found a couple front end photos that perhaps someone who is familiar with tiny details of the forward section of Model A frames can see something that I don't. The question remains, has the crossmember been moved back to maintain stock Model A wheelbase. Obviously, the frame horns have been bobbed and my gut feeling is that the crossmember was relocated when the spring was installed on the wishbones in a "spring behind" fashion. I've included a few photos that I found. Some of them are quite small, and I don't know how to re-size them. Maybe someone will see what I'm missing?

    FWIW, From cruzr's posts I suspect the hood top is a stock length Model A item, but again, I could be wrong.

    Thanks, in advance!

    Lynn

    730602-a8125af5cd579ed490d5d688989afdf5.jpg 730607-a1e811050453b1a9dae0e2c5ec71bb20.jpg IMG_1001.JPG tmpphpUfe6lh.jpg tmpphpxo9YXs.jpg tmpphpZCWcsQ.jpg
     
    akoutlaw likes this.
  12. He bought the car with that set up and did quite a few cosmetic changes. He sold it about 4 years ago and now has a nice 55 Chevrolet wagon.....PM me your number and I'll text him to call you....
     
  13. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    PM sent with phone #'s and e-mail address. Thanks for your help!

    Lynn
     
  14. Sent him a text.....
     
  15. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 20,407

    alchemy
    Member

    Sure looks like stock wheelbase to me.
     
  16. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Basically a Rolling Bones type front end set up, only using a Model A frame instead of a Deuce frame.
    One of the slicker Model A Hot Rods on here.
    Using a Model A frame instead of doing the usual Deuce frame swap to achieve a low stance.....should be done way more often, IMHO.

    The rear probably has a modest Z in the frame for lowering it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2020
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  17. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Found some pics. Always save LOTS of pics of Hot Rods I really like!
    86425CC9-EBAF-410B-865A-A98B9D2BFE63.png B182D4C9-73C3-40DD-98DE-439EF2F80486.png D19871A2-2EBC-4974-96A7-5458079BE1F1.png 5170C7C1-EA60-4F4B-97F7-F7CE17A20666.png F13E14C4-773B-4B5D-B0AF-4458B9AE04CE.png
     
  18. sliceddeuce
    Joined: Aug 15, 2017
    Posts: 2,981

    sliceddeuce
    Member

  19. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    That is just capital “S” Sweet .
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  20. @lake_harley Lynn....Got ahold of Randy using his new number...I had an old number so the text was for nothing.... He said he was going to call you....
     
    lothiandon1940 and Desoto291Hemi like this.
  21. Found another picture.
    IMG_2628.JPG
     
  22. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    Irish Mike.....I got a call from Randy yesterday afternoon. Thank you for making that contact possible!

    Randy was very willing to share information and construction details about the car. He followed up with more photos and a copy of the write-up from one of the magazines it appeared in. Some of the photos he sent were some I had found searching, but a couple were unique.

    One thing I found out is that the front crossmember, which he thought was a fabricated piece, was setback to maintain the wheelbase even though the spring is mounted off of the wishbones. Also sent a drawing that showed a 7" kick in the rear which on the drawing appeared to be measure from the bottom of the frame rail to the top of the new frame extension which was needed for a spring-behind rearend mounting.

    I plan to really study the photos I've accumulated to store the details in the old grey matter. I have a tentative plan to pick up another 30/31 Coupe body and frame. I sold a project car yesterday that I had for sale for some time, so maybe it's time for another project. I'd be a happy fellow if I had a Coupe in my garage that came close to the look and stance of Randy's.

    Lynn
     
    A Boner and Irish Mike like this.
  23. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

    motor-shot-of-31.jpg View attachment 4686784
    Lynn,
    When you visited with Randy, did he mention the purpose of the external beehive oil filter - in addition to the stock spin on filter?
    Thanks,
    Joe
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2020
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  24. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,160

    lake_harley
    Member

    No, no mention of the beehive filter housing and although I noticed it I didn't even think about asking.

    I've wondered too about the engine placement. It looks to me to be mounted a bit higher than SBC engines are typically located in Model A chassis. Looking at a good, straight-on side view of the car, it appears the pan rail is about even with the top of the frame. The front of the pan rail might even be above the frame level by a bit. Isn't that higher than a lot of Model As?

    Lynn
     
  25. Joe Blow
    Joined: Oct 29, 2016
    Posts: 1,480

    Joe Blow
    Member

    Thanks, assume it has some function but can't imagine what....washer fluid in an A??;)
    I'm assuming he used taller mounts to use the stock fan and avoid using an electric.
     
  26. A Boner
    Joined: Dec 25, 2004
    Posts: 7,419

    A Boner
    Member

    Nice pic.
    BFCE6AE0-B82A-47C5-8F62-B1FB6BC7E8EF.png
     
    akoutlaw likes this.

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