How much abuse can the model A rearend take? I see a lot of guys use it, so I figured I would ask. I'm still learning to hopefully do a project of my own someday.
Can take plenty for sure, at least everything that a flathead will throw at it. People often use other motors with more oomph with same rear end without problems. This is actually a v8 rear end that im using, but people do use A with flatheads still, maybe not as often tho. Yeah im still learning also, think that is the way it is with this. Would definitely recommend doing your own, its really fun and rewarding. It helps alot too if you have mates who are into it - thats how it is for me at least. PLus theres tonnes of great advice and builders on here. A
This weeks work was on the radiator and headlights. I had bought a aluminium rad the closest height i could find that may work was a 25.5" one. Once i got i realised that it was still slightly too tall - with the grill shell on and it placed where i wanted it, it was about 2" too high. I am after a 1" drop on hood with 2" extension of hood, with a slight lean forward of grill. So i had to cut the bottom of the rad up and modify it. I added mounting tabs on the bottom, then welded studs to the front cross member. To hold the stud straight in place whilst it was welded i drilled a small point to locate it and made a holder with access to weld.
Headlights brackets are bent F1 shock mounts with model A cups off a headlight bar. It was a nightmare getting them identical as i could, took a while! Healdlights are BLC 682. I also cut the frame horns shorter and boxed them in, i still havent finished welding them tho.
Hi guys. This week i made a little progress on the car. Hopefully it will be ready to drive to Bonneville this year. I installed the studs, i wasnt looking forward to installing these i had bought Offy ones and i just wasnt sure if i liked the fit of them. With sone encouragement from Pineapple i did. Using #2 permatex in the block. I also wiped out the last threads in the heads by countersinking themm, now the plugs stick out nice. # Now i had a problem with firewall clearance and the manifold and fuel pump/oil filler. I got these big ballz this one is 3" using a press and a pipe with just over 3" i pressed a sheet of 18ga between and got this nice hemisphere, welded into a hole in the fire wall. to make the oil fill work i needed to make a offset pipe. I used welded aluminium 1 3/4 pipe, i needed to flare it so the fill cap would fit. I made a tapered pipe and pressed it in it worked really good. Then to make the dimples in the top i made another little tool with slots for the inside, with a coller on the outside and screwed in a rounded bolt which worked good also! pretty pleased with it, but these small little things take so long to do! also rebuilt and painted a oil filled fan, the fan had a big gouge in it so welded it up first. the vice grips that are on it are really neat they have a copper anvil on the bottom so they are great for welding in thin air. Slowly but surely. Al
Nice work! Don't know how this thread has eluded me until now, but I love all of the purpose-built tools and clean craftmanship. Keep it up & thanks for sharing in such detail!
Thanks Jim & Soviet really appreciate it! We got a nice day in CO so will try and get out there and spend hours doing very small work.
Ordered a 3" chopped thursday, the '32 frame raises 1.5" from the cowl to the radiator... the A body did not, so the stock A radiator is 1.5" too tall... couldn't find a 1.5 or a 2" chopped... also the lower pans are like willows, just flat, he fixed his nicely... figure the extra chop should keep me from having to fix mine... the tanks will show, but a flat black the face and the use of a blacked out 4' fluerescent light defusers [small plastic squares] they hide the tanks and the pattern blends with a radiator.. pix ; top unpainted, middle and painted bottom installed
Looking good Sloppy, I really like your use of the fluorescent diffusers. really clever and looks great! Yeah i had had trouble finding a radiator of the right height. I think i had created a bit of trouble for myself by doing a mini channel of the body over the rails.
Today i made some longer studs to use an offset gen mount. I was going to buy some but the ones i had seen were just 7/16-14 all thread. I didnt have any 7/16 crs to hand but some 1/2" so turned it down to a bit under - .431. I then adjusted the die so it was a real nice fit into the block. I had thought that the offy ones i had bought were a bit loose. I wish i had made the shorter ones too although 45 more didnt sound so fun. I did also cut the hub down on the bottom pulley to line up the belts. I started cleaning up a old deco style heater, its going to be more work than i thought. The core is no good and was full of HORNETS! Arggh! Found a new AL heater core on the bay which will work good. Thats all i got for now, thanks folks......
I really goes through the same concerning the energy to work on my project. Thinking all (working)day of all the things I will do, some drawings, order stuff, then at home - drained! But good luck on your project, and maybe look for insulation and heating in the garage? Regards Uffe Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Hi , I am 57 this year and have built many many "projects" including a house whilst also working full time as a maintenance tech in an oil refinery (some years working the equivalent of 16 months due to overtime) so I feel qualified to offer a little bit of advice ! On the way home from work plan a job ,even something like taking off the back wheel or removing some paint with a sander etc .When you get home DO IT ! , don`t go in and sit down and have a coffee just say hi to the Wife /Gf or kids then go straight out and work for an hour (even if you have to change into overalls in a cold garage) those hours work out at 5 a week ,double that up with getting up an hour early and finishing last nights job before setting off for work and you have done 10 hours !I built my truck whilst working full time and bringing up 2 kids with no wife so it can be done ,good luck and stick into the project.
Thanks Uffe, Im glad to hear i am not the only one! I have built an insulated room inside now with insulated barn doors i think that you can see in some of the photos. I also put a heater in the main part which has help immensely. we are also having a very mild winter which has help with my productivity! Regards
Thanks TrikeJunkie, I hear ya mate, I made a list last night and it seemed doable. I have exhaust mandrel bends coming this weekend so i can start on that. Cheers for the encouragement!
Nice work ! Its great to see good welding and machining.. I like Tig welding a lot and I’m sure you do too. No cleanup work afterwards. Keep up the great work! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I used to only have oxy-acetylene! then 30 years ago got a mig ....what a difference to life lol now I have tig also ,life is perfect! (well almost )
.......and I am struggling to believe this comment, - or you are very modest..... Awesome build thread and nice workmanship ! - Glad that you posted it. The hamb needs more build threads.
Lovely stuff Mr Ralph! getting excited to drive mine. hopefully that will happen this year. does that have a rear wind down window? i wish mine had that, must of been a late model thing?
Thanks Clem appreciate the comment. Yeah first car, i have built a motorcycle before (i say built i mean got about 90% completed then stopped). Been machining stuff and making random things for long time think alot of that down to my artist dad and a very enthusiastic shop teacher when i was about 12, which eventually led me to tech college for engineering and machining in UK. Hope all is well in NZ.
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