Hey guys, Another project car i just picked up and have a few questions if anyone can help... i was wondering what some people were using for front clips....and also something that will fit for a steering column? Also ui heard that a late 60-'s rear end out of a camaro will work or a early nova? any comments would be greatly appreciated. Roughneck Josh
Granda rear end fit perfect in my 31, with 7" wheels and a 3-1/2" back spacing. Did not have to change inner fenders and tires cleared the fender lips. Front end I used a 4" drop front axle, reversed spring eyes, 14x 6 wheels.
my favorite 'front clip' under a model A is a 1932 straight axle. give me a call at the shop and we can talk about what's right for a car like that.
If you're going to use fenders it takes much more planning and measuring than fenderless car does. Wheel width and backspace, tire widths, brakes, axle length all have effect to total tire outside to tire outside distance. I have done many A's all different and all with fenders. I like my front wheel center to be at the highest point of the fender and rear tire sidewall to be at or little out of the fender. 48" front axle works if the wheel is narrow or has more backspace and brake is narrow or the 46" axle is good with wheels with small backspace or wider brake. About 56" wide rear axle is good for up to 8" wheels with stock inner wheelwells. I have used late fifties 9" and 8" axles from Mavericks and Granadas. Early Nova 10-bolts are close to that width too. This car <- has Heidt's Superide IFS with 15x6, 195/65-15 and 16x8, 265/65-16 on Maverick 8". If you're after old style search Hitchhiker's coupe build. IMO it can't be better.
No "front clip". Use what's there. Drop the axle, split the wishbones, use an f100 steering column and box. Any independant front suspension will make it stupid.
Give him a brake! He's a ''f--kin newfie guy''sorry couldn't resist.All model a coupes are ''5 windows'' [no factory 3 windows till '32]Some people with nothing better to do like to point this out to new guys rather than give usefull info.Do a searce on here,every thing you want to know is on here if you can find it!
No wonder some guys have 4,5, or 10,000 posts with just smart ass info to people who need help. Get a life.
Hold up..... Here is what you should do. Put the car someplace safe...Do NOT touch it. Hang around the HAMB here for at LEAST a year and read every thread relating to your car. Study these cars closely and ask lots of questions....Than plan your build.
No front clip .... Best thing is a transverse spring cross member and a Ford style front axle. Get an original and have it dropped or a forged aftermarket. Avoid the cast axles like your life depends on it, well because it does. There's more options available for the ford front end.
My mistake,asumed it was a Ford,[so did every body else]Dead elvis is right,study the HAMB,plan ahead, avoid the rat rod crap and you will be fine. p s lets see some pics!
"31Vicky" is correct in that you can replace the front cross member and adapt a Ford transverse spring set up with lots of options.. but check out www.butchescoolstuff.com first as they have lots of early Chevy replacement parts for modernizing the front end and there is nothing wrong with running a parallel spring system.. doing this keeps the stock radiator mount and thus hood fitting isnt an issue.
Ok, Chevy. In the 90's I put on my 28 Chevy roadster early Nova 10-bolt with 6x15 wheels and 205/75-15 tires and front I kept the original axle with 70's Camaro discs selfmade caliper adapters and 4,5x15 wheels and 165-15 tires. Original leaf springs with some leaves removed front and rear. Another guy in Finland put German Opel Commodore IFS in his 30 Chevy sedan.
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