Did a quick search on here and didn't see anything on the subject. I thought I remembered seeing it done on here , Rolf maybe? Has anyone flattened out the cowl feet on a 30-31 Model A on deuce rails to give the front of the cowl a slight mini channel? I think it also helps with the gap you get when you put a model A on a 32 frame. If I flatten it where I have the red line drawn in the pic the bottom of the body will slightly hang over the frame.
Are your rails pinched? If not you may have to pie cut the firewall to gain the width to be able to set the body down over the rail. Usually 1/2 inch or so but it helps get rid of the shadow line along the body as you look toward the rear wheels.
It’s not technically pinched but when I built the frame I made the rails an inch narrower so the cowl should hang over the sides
That’s what you ya have to do to get the body to sit down flat. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I think you guys are fishing for Kudos when saying mini Channel at one mount point. I'd say it's just an adjustment to make 2 parts that didn't fit well to start with fit like it should. That's probably why you couldn't find anything when you searched for it. The Wizzard
I too am in the middle of putting a 31 body on a 32 frame, like Pist said, modifying the cowl to sit correctly on standard 32 rails isn't a mini channel. Its just modifying one part to fit another, I will also cut my firewall in order to widen it just as my Dad did back in 1950. When I'm done, the body line will more that likely be 1/4" to 3/8" below the top of the frame.
I did mine straight across as you show, worked perfect. I can post pictures tonight Sent from my SGH-T399 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Mini channel, not mini channel, frame pinch whatever. I'm not going to get in a pissing match about what it's called. I just want to know the best way to go about it.
The way you show it in your picture is how I'm doing mine, from research on the HAMB most guys do it that way, that's the easy part. The hard part, for me anyway, is modifying the rear sub-rails to flow with the frame and tie it all back into the body. I refuse to purchase high dollar, fancy sub-rail kits, instead, I'm fabbing my own parts out of heavy gage sheet metal using common everyday hand tools, just the way everybody did it before weld in or bolt on parts existed. I think have some saved threads at home on the tablet regarding your question as well as mounting an A body on 32 rails, if you want I can post the links later today, there is some good info there.
My car (A Vicky) has a 3/4 inch mini channel that goes from the cowl to the back of the body. I reinforced the body and removed all of the original wood subrails. Then I built 1x2 square tubing subrails using the frame as a jig, lowered the body over the frame/new subrail assembly and welded the body to the new subrails. I'm not looking for kudos, I'm just trying to help the OP.
Here are two great threads I use for information. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/fitting-a-model-a-coupe-on-a-32-frame-my-way.996002/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/clark-coupe-build.1044199/page-4#post-12389087
I also made my own rear subrails. Used 14ga, bent it between some heavy angle and a big hammer, then alot of cutting, shaping and welding.
See page two of my build thread (Clark Coupe Build) showing how I flattened the cowl feet to fit my 32 frame.
Looks good...I'm facing the same issue...did you pie cut your firewall to spread it so the cowl sides clear the outside of the frame rail? My rails are slightly pinched at the firewall (I'm using a frame that was already like that) but I've set my body back 3" (lengthened the frame at the rear over the kickup 3") so the pinch is ahead of where the body will actually sit. I've done the mini channel bit like you did with the feet but its the cowl sides on my car that interfere. I havent welded them back to the firewall yet so I have some room there to play with if needed. Thanks for any input you care to share.
My frame is pinched, I didn’t need the modify the firewall. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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