and Mrs Highlander is ok with it. Seriously, she is. But look at her and see if you blame me for letting it out: That's Mrs Highlander, and here's the one I've had an affair with. See if you blame her for allowing it: It's a 31, and I'm tellin ya, I haven't seen a Model A pickup this clean in the rust belt for decades. No cobbled up patch work, no 2" coatings of mud, just a really clean cab and box with really decent fenders. Here's a few more and some detail of condition: Inside the cowl: behind the seat: Both cab corners are virgin Henry steel: Nice doors too: Even Tommy approves of my affair: I've had it out already, put maybe 20 miles on it (with no windshield!), and it runs really good, shifts nice, and a surprising amount of power for a stocker. I did find some less than acceptable repairs at the front edges of the rear fenders, but fenders are easy to fix. It's also pretty complete and Mrs Highlander calls it "Simply Adorable". So is it like she's having an affair and I approve? WTF The plan: Powerwise I've made up my mind to leave it a banger. No flatheads, SBCs, Nailheads, 3" chops here. Just a hot little A bone PU to knock around in. In the future I do plan a B cam and a HC head, maybe some gearing. Not too many external changes, and no real theme. Hard to beat a nice flashy Model A pickup, even if it ends up closer to stock. She's a bit of a barmaid though. I think she'll hike her skirt for us when we ask her to...ok the truck dammit, not Mrs H!!! More:
Haha, I had a boat one time I named "The Other Woman" because my Wife said I spent more time with it than her. Nice looking little A there, sure is clean and a great start. Mrs H ain't all that bad either. Don
So the project has begun. On Saturday and Sunday (godless heathen that I am), I got to it. Ang and I pulled the box and rear fender to assess the rest and get going. I've gathered a few parts, made a list for some other stuff from Snyders, and found a small hack repair in a bed post corner. Here's my repair, since I have to walk the walk as a bondo hater. Pulling in to pull the box: The frame is nearly as clean as the sheet metal: The box rails (wood) are a bit tough at the front edge. I could fix em but for $60? Ordered some new ones. Here's the "repair" I discovered: A nasty metal patch frosted in with Duraglass. Can't have that, right? The other side is solid as can be so time for some metal surgury. Do try this at home. I started with some plastic paper, like for mylar prints, and made a radius pattern: As luck would have it, in my hoard of metal stuff I had a disc of solid steel the same radius/dia. Sometimes keeping "scrap" is a worthy idea. I set it in the vice as a hammer form/dolly of sorts and went after making a repair section. A shrinker/stretcher would have made it easier, but I have more stuff to get rid of to make room. This will do fine. I laid out where it had to fold around and smacked a line in the piece to get it going: A little heat shrinking with a MAPP gas torch and some patience: The 1st fit went pretty good so time to cut:
Sweet, That will make for a lot of fun trips around town and the surrounding back roads. And a trip or two to the farm store for a pigs ear if The look on Tommy's face says what that look means on Oddie's face.
Here's the fit and the final part, but I admit being "in the zone" and didn't take as many shots of this repair as I could have. They speak for themselves I think: I didn't weld it in yet, don't like to weld late in the day being a solo act. The fit is right on and I'll probably tack it in with a 110 mig in few spots then tig the final and metal finish. I'll take lots of pics of that too. Stay tuned...
That is a clean truck. Especially in our neck of the country. I'll keep watching. Your wife is a Fox also!
Stop!!!, busted. Trying to make us think it's the truck all this time. It's Tommy isn't it . Lol, JK. That's great to hear.
Local craigslist ad. Went to make an offer and just had to have it. Intentions were to finish/flip as was, but Ang loves it, somebody keeps chipping at my ass about the bubbletop, and i'm busier than a cat burying shit on a frozen lake. This one moves me. It's in that kind of condition that makes me want to make it a "Henry Award" winner. Stop over and check it out. Bring yours if it's doable too. It ain't like you gotta pack a lunch to make the trip...
Dam..I take 2 fuckin weeks off of trolling the CL for A's and you snag this?..I fuckin hate you oh well you probably paid more for it than this cheap ass fucker would.I gotta tell myself that you know? we rolled by the other day(week or so back) , out at Calders Dairy..your place was dead..not a soul in sight, maybe you and momma were out for dinner..your phone sucks bro, or it dont work well? either way good on ya man I hope you have fun with it..looks like its got you motivated. Dam nice shape man..dont piss me off anymore telling me that you killed on the buy I'll try to pop in on ya soon good to hear your busy
Glad you don't have to make a difficult choice! My ex said (EX THAT IS I SAY) "me or that Merc one has to go". My reply "baby i'm sorry you feel that way but don't talk like that in front of her".
Nice start and a clever way to show off your beautiful wife learned something already about metal work. subscribed
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