Bought it last summer on ebay. Brought it home and started tearing it apart and cut 4.5" out of the top. All with the help of my brother-in-law and nephew (they've never done anything like this before). Fenders and running boards removed and top cut and tacked back on now. For the very first time chopping a top, I am very pleased at how well it lines up.
Looks great. It also appears you started with a very nice coupe. Not having to buy a bunch of patch panels plus the work associated with installing same sure makes a project move along a bit quicker. Good Luck, great start. Go ahead and purchase a traffic light prism, because you're gonna need it. Mine is chopped 4.5 inches and there is a lot of neck bending to see traffic signals. BOutlaw
It is Very solid but the older resto on it was done very poorly and it is kinda wavey. But your right. I wanted to build a car relatively quickly and didn't want to have to do a bunch of rust repair. I HATE body work so less is better for me.
Plan? Plan is to drive it next summer. While it's a work in progress most likely. Box the frame, possibly Z the rear and maybe sweep the front Dropped axle up front Have some 40 ford backing plates and buick 45 fin drums 9" rear For now a SBC, I know, BORING. But I have a low mile running 4 bolt main 350. want to mount it high. Maybe 3 dueces or a 6-71 T5 NWC trans from an 80's camaro Rustoleum flat black for the summer but not intended to be the final color, we'll see? For now, most of my decisions will be based on budget and time. Would love to put duece rails under it but time and budget won't allow it for now.
Great start. That is the way to go, buy a decent older resto to work with. Did the seller have any idea what you had in mind ? Just curious, some of these old resto guys get pretty bent about hacking up old cars. Like there aren't enough restored Model A's out there already !!!!!!
Check out the coupes with bangers thread, the green one is perfect to me. You lost me with the late trans, 9" and flat black. I do like the chop though, it looks like you are doing a nice job, you only have to please yourself.
You might try blending in some gloss black to match the original color, that black paint does have a nice original look to it. Could end up looking pretty good with less work, I even like that pinstripe !
The chop isn't quite done. Still need to do the tedious stuff like make it look like it was meant to be this way. The pinstripe looks like it was done by a kindergartener. Makes the body look worse than it is. The seller was a collector and had a very nice collection of early restored cars. He asked what my plans were and I was reluctant to tell him but then he said "you should hotrod it". He said he was selling it cause it wasn't nice enough for his collection.
Looks like you have a great foundation to start from. I bought this coupe about a year ago. It was a restored car from the 70's with all the metal work done. I know I will be money ahead versus buying a hacked up rust bucket
For every hot rodded Model A there are still about 20+ restored ones. Thanks for bringing one more over to the dark side. Keep in mind that every modification should make it faster. You just accomplished a big one by cheating the wind, now think about putting some heat in the boiler room. Frank
Still working on the finishing touches of the chop but needed a break from it. So we pulled the engine and trans today. the chop stuff is pretty boring after the initial cuts and tacks are made and I HATE body work. Heres some pics of the progress.
Little slow to update here but I havent slowed down. Ussually seams like 1 step forward and 2 steps back but I got the doors welded, garnish mouldings chopped. Wishbones split and the ends welded. Bought a dropped and drilled axle, New spring and a flat crossmember. Had the frame sandblasted. Filled all the holes, boxed and X-member put in. Lots more parts ordered, Just waiting now. Should be a roller in the next couple weeks.
The very best and most important part is the youngsters you have included in the greatest hobby ever!
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