Well a quick update. Submitted my paperwork to get it registered and they have come back with a few requests, including the need for fenders. This is contrary to all my previous advice and we see HEAPS of highboys over here. Looks like I'll need a shop a couple hundred miles away to try and get it sorted. Kinda bummed as wanted to be driving it next week to a really cool informal dirt track race with rods and early bikes.
...that sucks...I guess the ones that are running fenderless had them on for safety then off they came and are also taking the risk of a ticket I suppose...is that indeed the case?...or are different regions governed by different rules... In Australia I understand it's illegal to run fenderless but some do after safety I understand...I'm pretty lucky here as it wasn't an issue...
Thanks Stogy. Many cars here have gone through as high boys and we have been told its actually completly subjective apparently based on the inspector and how they feel on the day. We chatted with a shop that specialises in highboys, particularly bangers, and he said some go through easy, some not. To be honest I was pretty deflated the last 2 days after putting the time in to get this done and was happy to focus on the 34 or the pan but today am feeling a little better and will go and see what it will take to bolt the front and rear fenders on for the inspection and have them fall off when I get home.
i used a harley/ aftermarket front fender marker light, mounted backwards at the rear of the roof... get one that has access from the outside, no access holes in the headliner... i use DY-KEM RED brushed on the inside of the lens... turns orange to red... this lets a car 2 or 3 back in the line know you are slowing down...
Thanks fellas, have been toying with the idea of a 3rd brake light too, this will make me think a little harder. Well yesterday started bolting fenders etc back on, reluctantly and it sure didnt make me feel too good but must be done. Rear was pretty simple but I was lucky I used black silicon to seal up the wheel well to fender mount holes and didnt weld them up, well all but one that I had to redrill. Mounted up some logo lite turn signals to the taillight stalks as wanted to be able to remove them with the fenders after inspection and it gave me a use for yhe stalks. Looks as good as you can imagine but serves the purpose. The front is a little more problematic. To help fit and remove these after inspection and knowing removing the body mount bolts completly was just extra work I came up with the idea of effectively slotting out the holes and being able to slide the fenders in by just loosening the 1st 4 body mount bolts each side and lifting the body a little with my floor jack. I took a little extra materail and kept the parts in case someone wants to weld them back together at some stage. That worked a treat and was perhaps the way some of the dry lakes guys could drop fenders etc so fast back in the day but what didnt work well was the relocated horn which was in the way. Removed that and then found my headlights stopped the fender seating as my dropped bar was too wide. Removed headlights and then found the bar too was too wide. Grabbed a beer, cleaned up and walked home. Sometimes simple jobs that seem to take a long time. All I really need now to sort this is a headlight bar here in Japan and finish the turn signals, some simple wiring. The only headlight bar I have found so far is $300 Hopefully I can find another somewhere over the weekend.
Quick update. Was unable to find a headlight bar here in Japan so bought a couple moto headlights and mounted them. To do so and get adjustment left and right and up/down just drilled the fenders. Kind of look OK. As they were mounted on the angle had to adjust the glass but all good. Then I've been forced to mount 'side lights' the width of the car. I've never seen them on any other car here. Its BS but am just playing the game. Same with the need for fenders and turnsignals, as there are 100s of rods here without them. All this crap will be falling off once it passes rego and hopefully that's soon. Today it was a 4.5hr round trip to the DMV to resubmit all the paperwork. This shit is getting old.
Hahah... those headlights make me smile. Makes me think of a Pierce-Arrow. She'll pass, and then you can lose em. Almost there! I didn't post at the time but we had the same idea about the horn location... I really like how it looks.
Thanks fellas, another week and another round of BS with DMV. Gutted as there is an awesome event this weekend and really wanted to drive my car there. Almost at the point of giving up but cant. Its hard on my Mrs as she is doing all the translating and knows little about cars, on top of my current sleep disorder/grumpiness. Mix that with incompetence at DMV and I'm having visions of going postal. Hopefully better news next week.
Tough for sure mate, hang in there! Pity there's no UnReg Vehicle permit's you could buy... That clip made me smile, thinking of some Aussie going nuts over there cause they won't put plates on his car!
So its all back together and everything I need fitted. Not been easy mentally but completly my fault largely. The DMV have accepted all the paperwork and now I just have to wait a while for the inspection. Doing rework sucked but it is what it is and a big learning curve. I had to fit turn signals for the inspection and I used Logo Lites. Now aesthetically they suck but for ease of installation they couldnt be easier with just one wire from each corner and the control box having all the switching etc with a magnetic feature so it just hangs under the dash. All you need is a fused power and a ground. https://www.logolites.com/products/turn-signals/ On a more positive note got featured in a Japanese 'lifestyle' magazine which was kinda cool. Took me 2 days to clean up my garage but well worth it
Good news on the progress, pity about missing the show. Will you get a look anyway? Congrats on the magazine feature!
Well some solid progress. With some help from a mate and a 12 hour day yesterday, its passed its inspection. Would love to say it went through easily but in the end it included a visit to a bicycle shop for a km/hr speedo, some Roadkill style efforts in an auto shop carpark, some paint over plate light, brake linings and drum sanding, adjusting the mixture to as lean as we could with the GAV and a few other minor things it went through on its 2nd round. Woohoo! Then .... some how we failed to organise a recycling certificate so will now have to wait another 2+ weeks to get plates.
This is an awesome thread! I bought my first Model A two months ago and I love what your doing with yours. Awesome garage and nice toys, can’t wait to keep reading how you make out, keep up the good work and keep posting.
Very cool. I want to change my trunk into a dickie seat. You could use a small dry cell battery. Normally about half the size of a lead acid battery. It's easier to conceal. I would also keep the fenders. You may want to sell the car one day. The next owner may prefer them on.
Hey Pete at least it is still moving forwards. After reading your story I won't ever complain about our licensing system again and congrats on the magazine article.
Go Pete Go!!!...2 weeks time to prepare for operation putback... Congrats on the ink... Credit to Photographer, Owner
I took all the glass out of my GOW JOB......the idea behind a GOW was to get the weight down.....by law I had to leave the windshield in the car.....took back seat out,door cards out,
Woohoo, its plated, insured and registered which is called Shaken here in Japan. Its my 1st 'stock' Model A and sure is fun to drive. The late model transmission works a treat and all I have to do is go back and adjust the brakes a little and it will be fully sorted. Took my wide for a drive and she kept asking to slow down Wasnt actually driving fast, just feels that way. Thanks all that helped in numerous threads and those that followed along. Fenders will stay on for a month or 2 until the 34 is sorted out as once that's done I have to make a tough decision in that one will have to go as C19 is having a huge impact on our business. Finally I really want to thanks @JRN1967 for being so straight with the description etc of the car. In an era of increasing scams and shoddy sellers John described the car perfectly and I couldnt be happier with it - Thanks mate!
Pete! Awesome news! I'm so glad everything worked out. Now... get those fenders off. Wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea.
Thanks! Hahahaha yep I hear ya re the fenders, its HOT here so pulled the hood this morning and it become a chick magnet, might be fighting them off with no fenders LOL.
Pete, Congrats on getting "Henrietta" Shaken! That's the name my wife gave her. I remember the first couple trips around our little town. We had permagrin for about a week afterwards. Love what you've done so far, the big & littles give her just the right stance. Keep the improvements coming! And thank you for the kind words. Since my teenage years, I've wheeled and dealed with cars/parts. I seldom make any profit, but I sure have made a lot of friends. Enjoy - John
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