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Hot Rods New '31 Coupe going together! How many Model As have "Three on the tree"?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by mctim64, May 28, 2020.

  1. I acquired this '31 A body about four years ago, found it in the back of a pickup at speed week. Had several different ideas for it but finally decided on full fenders and no chop with a very comfy interior. Something to take the wife out on a date with. I just picked it up from Derrek at Boling Brothers Early Iron where I had a new chassis built along with a steel floor and best of all a column shift. The last detail is best as it allows my girl to sit right next to me and I've yet to come across an A with the set up, although I'm thinking it must have been done before.
    Here's a few pictures of what it is so far, give me a year or two and it will be on the highway.
    20200523_090659.jpg 20200523_090709.jpg 20200523_090716.jpg 20200523_090727.jpg 20200523_110248.jpg
    20200523_155859.jpg



    20200523_125738.jpg 20200523_155853.jpg
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2020
    Tim, AHotRod, greasemonkey54 and 12 others like this.
  2. Rex_A_Lott
    Joined: Feb 5, 2007
    Posts: 1,148

    Rex_A_Lott
    Member

    I've never seen a Model A on the column. Looks like you have an overdrive too. Nice stance, cool old flat bed too.Good luck.
     
    kidcampbell71 and mctim64 like this.
  3. That stance is perfect
     
    kidcampbell71 and mctim64 like this.
  4. Never2old
    Joined: Oct 14, 2010
    Posts: 737

    Never2old
    Member
    from so cal

    Nothing but “X” pictures.


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
    bchctybob likes this.

  5. mlagusis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2009
    Posts: 1,126

    mlagusis
    Member

    3 speed overdrives are the way to go. I like how there is no transmission hump on the floor too. Plenty of leg room for the wife.

    I put a Muncie 319 behind a 283 in my 31 Chevy sedan and was considering column shift...have not decided yet.
     
  6. olscrounger
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,770

    olscrounger
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    very nice!! Stance is right on! Helped a guy put a 40 column in an A maybe 45 years ago--took a bit but worked fine. May still be around Fresno somewhere
     
  7. Canuck
    Joined: Jan 4, 2002
    Posts: 1,104

    Canuck
    Member

    Column shift looks great and is a good idea in a small Model A coupe. Must of been a fun job to engineer all the linkage.

    I know I had a fun time doing a column shift for a automatic in my A coupe. Space wise it was a good idea.
    upload_2020-5-28_10-23-51.png upload_2020-5-28_10-23-51.png
     
    mctim64 likes this.
  8. Jethro
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 1,908

    Jethro
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Love 3 in the tree! Nice work!
     
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  9. Automotive Stud
    Joined: Sep 26, 2004
    Posts: 4,304

    Automotive Stud
    Member

    I'm running the same setup in my '31. 49 Merc three speed with overdrive on the column.
    20200511_182415.jpg
     
  10. Looks good! I would like to see the rest of the car.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  11. Automotive Stud
    Joined: Sep 26, 2004
    Posts: 4,304

    Automotive Stud
    Member

    Sure here you go. I just finished it a few years ago, came out of a barn in 2016.
    20190518_125110.jpg 20190924_163328.jpg
     
    Tim, clunker, lothiandon1940 and 8 others like this.
  12. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 1,879

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    Nice work, thank you for the pics. Back when I started to pick up the small rodding mags for a quarter, every now and then they would feature a rod with a column shift. We all understood why it was done and loved the result. Congratulations on choosing no chop,,, I personally detest any hammer job more than 3" , but best for my taste is a 13 inch window.

    Today in my garage I have a '48 side shifter and a '40 column and box with shifter waiting for me to marry them to my '30 coupe. Right on!
     
    mctim64 likes this.
  13. jclars
    Joined: Jan 30, 2011
    Posts: 44

    jclars
    Member
    from Lynden, WA

    I did a 3 on the tree on my 1929 Model A coupe (Special converted to Std - Whew - another topic for sure!!)

    Wanted to do it the old hot rodder way and use what I had in my shop. So ended up with a steering column with 3 speed shift from the F100 in my avatar. Found a cheap shoebox 3 speed with OD, so we have that in common. Mocked it up in 2018 and drove it through last summer until October 2019. Pretty smooth after a great deal of fitting challenges. I had to move my front cross member three times to finally get the clearance needed past the flathead V8, but am glad I stuck with it. It is real entertaining to explain the concept to the younger generation!

    It has been quite awhile since I have posted, and attaching images have changed. If someone can coach me as to how to attach a pic, I can show you the set-up. I just painted the body and am going from mock-up to final phase in 2020.

    Timmy, can you post a pic of your steering box arrangement? I had to mount mine on top of the frame to make it work with the flathead.

    John
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  14. AndersF
    Joined: Feb 16, 2013
    Posts: 884

    AndersF
    Member

    Three on the tree in hotrods was the hot thing in mid 50:s in the magazines.
     
  15. Only just noticed the Xs, I think I fixed it.
     
  16. @crminal has a very cool 32 Cabrio That was built as a Hot Rod back in the 50s with a column shift. Kinda what made me start thinking about doing this.
    DSC06770.JPG DSC06764.JPG
     
  17. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Tree-shifting-Rules!
     
    mctim64 likes this.
  18. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,095

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Yeah I’ve seen lots of them. @flatout51 A has a column shift right now.

    I was going to run one in our A but I couldn’t find a way that it wasn’t hitting my knee so it went to floor shift.

    Very cool project looking forward to seeing what you do with this one
     
    mctim64 likes this.

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