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Projects '31 Model A Coupe Build: "Spooky"

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by brianf31, Aug 15, 2017.

  1. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    Scrolling by the oilpan modification pic I thought the pan's bottom was going to be a chopped '32 grill shell...
    check it out... good stuff b31...
     
    brianf31 likes this.
  2. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Lou Crouch always takes good pics. Gaoldsman whooped me by .05 seconds on this run. I knew my visor fluttered at speed but I had no idea how bad it bowed out! I need to add a gusset in the center.
    Scott vs Brian.jpg

    RWYB Brian Pass.jpg
     
    AHotRod, -Brent-, OFT and 1 other person like this.
  3. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    I think '33-'34 truck had a center brace...
    check out the COOL CARS / SQUARE ROLL BARS book,
    has some "wild" aerodynamic modifications for the w/s and visor area...
    if you are going to punch holes in the visor... plot them out so you can see the traffic lights through one...
     
    OFT likes this.
  4. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks. I'll have to check that out.
     
  5. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I upgraded the gages to New Vintage USA 1967 series. I think they fit the build theme pretty well. gages.jpg
     
  6. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    What a wonderful story and rebuild .... Hot Rods RULE!
     
  7. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The 30" tires are a bit too tall for the 3.89 gears. I swapped in a set of. 4.11 gears, which will put the engine at around 2200 rpm at 45 mph and 2900 rpm at 60 mph.

    I run 28 slicks at the strip, so 4.11s ought to spin it up pretty good.

    Ah, the smell of gear oil at 6:00 AM!

    randpswap.jpg
     
    simplestone, Randall, itsmee and 3 others like this.
  8. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The 9.7:1 motor has been having a tough time cooling in the Georgia heat. Cooling was marginal until I changed cams and raised the dynamic compression.

    My radiator is behind a 4" chopped 32 shell and the core is only 15" X 17". I was running a 6-blade rigid Derale fan, which allowed the engine to run around 190F at speed. But at a long red light, it would get up to 230F fairly quickly. I decided to try an electric fan.

    I went with the 16" Flex-A-Lite Lowboy. I wanted to set it up as a puller.
    However, the fan was thick enough to require pushing the radiator and grill 1.5" forward. It was already a little bit further forward than I like. I hate the freight train look on Model As.

    So I ditched the mechanical fan, pushed the radiator back 3/4" and mounted the electric fan as a pusher. I used Rebel Wire's electric fan harness and a Hayden #3653 adjustable thermostat switch.

    Since I have a 180F thermostat, I tuned the Hayden switch to kick on around 200F. In high 80s heat today, it kicked on and the coolant temp never climbed during extended idling.

    At speed, it still runs 190F even without the mechanical fan. Stop for a few minutes and the fan kicks on to keep the temp in check.
    Conventional wisdom says that a pusher fan isn't the best choice. In this case, it seems to be working OK.

    elec fan.jpg

    elec fan rr.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2021
    OFT, simplestone, Vic Walter and 6 others like this.
  9. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,216

    AHotRod
    Member

    Smart choices .
     
    brianf31 and dirty old man like this.
  10. brianf31
    Joined: Aug 11, 2003
    Posts: 950

    brianf31
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I decided to fix the bowing visor issue. I used an Eastwood dimple die to add speed holes to the visor. A hammer formed support under the middle of the visor should help control deflection.

    visor holes.jpg

    visor support.jpg

    visor holes 2.jpg
     
    D-Russ, 34 5W Paul, brEad and 8 others like this.
  11. 34 5W Paul
    Joined: Mar 27, 2020
    Posts: 317

    34 5W Paul
    Member
    from Fresno CA

    Good stuff, keep the updates coming. Enjoying the ride.
    Father/son x 2 - check, check
    Ferd in a Ferd - check
    Getting it on the road stat - check
    When you said you were going with slicks I thought, "Uh oh, it'll bog off the line." Even with the light car and the deep gears, it might take a 2 step rev limiter so you could leave at the right (really high) RPMs. Glad to read that the kid had the cajones to stage aggressively. My bet that's the difference in ET.
    Love the "top end" modded visor. Makes perfect sense.
    Well done all around.
     
    brianf31 and dirty old man like this.

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