Hot Rods Model A roadster with removable body?

Makes sense for a dedicated drag car. But since ya asked. A firewall that stays attached to the body will help. Like a 32. Steering, electrical components….. can stay in place while ya remove the body.
I’m just wondering what needs serviced regularly enough to need the body removed though.
But a lightweight skin held with dzus fasteners isn’t hard to do.
If it’s an entire roadster body with braces and sub rails, just bolt it down like normal.
They ain’t hard to remove

 

Late 1959

Hello,

When my brother and I went to Riverside Raceway back in 1959, we saw plenty of different hot rod/drag race set ups. There was a Yellow Modified Roadster that could unbolt the body from the frame in a few minutes and the whole pit crew lifted off the body to set it down next to the frame/motor.

Ganzer, Palmquist and Weeks A/Hot Roadster class

But, the one roadster that stood out from all the way across the pits was the Higgenbotham Farms Modified Roadster. We knew of this roadster from the local weekly Drag News publications. But, we had never seen it in person.
May 1959
Jnaki

Upon walking up to the roadster in the pits, it was amazing that the whole body was hinged on the rear and could be lifted up in front to be able to work on the motor/transmission.
No more crawling over the top to get into the seat.
Direct access for the center seating arrangement.

1959 Riverside Raceway

 

WHY??????

 

...my back is sore just looking or even thinking of any method of this but I suppose a setback engine makes for a reason to consider how one might service it...

Credit to Photographer, Owner
​

 

Go for it. Don't listen to others reasons for not doing it.

 

I hope you weren't talking about mine.

 

No, the OP mentioned “will be a test mule as he builds an engine…”

 

Done with a T

 

beautiful...

 

32 Fords came with a firewall that mounts to the frame, and the body drops down onto it. As others have mentioned, simply make the body drop down over it, whether you tilt it or lift it off. Since you say it won't be street driven, It should be easy to place vertical alignment pins in the frame to drop the body down in perfect alignment...........final attachment should be bolted. Since its a roadster, it should also be easy to put a permanent roll bar on the frame. The dash should all just be mounted to the firewall or brackets, and then the body would just be a lightweight shell. The mid to front floor with and seat mounting would need some thought. For racing and testing, a tilt body would probably be easiest unless you always have friends around to help.

 

Isnt it pretty much what the factory did?

Off the top of my head if the firewall was coming off too..

Electrical instruments and senders.
All wiring to a single connector or multiple connectors if you must
Brakes etc under the floor if hydraulic
Fuel line disconnected
Column drop
Body bolts

Lift off