9 months 13 days since bringing this home. Week 41 I think... Finished Home made block set Got set of New Hinge pins Sub rails drilled and bolts to frame in stock locations for first time. Once I got my head around what Ford intended it all becomes almost self explanatory. Might be able to do real shimming now, at least soon.
Slow progress for a bit. As you all probable know, ’31 A upper door hinge pins do not clear the body line. So hinges got to come off. That was fun (use heavy sarcasm) I’m 0 for 8 On to drilling with my time tested method of; 1. Freehand drill em and break the little drill bit off 2. Knock offending leftover bit out with hammer 3. Drill with the bigger 1/4 inch drill bit and break it off too 4. Hammer bit and drilled square nuts out with punch Success looks like this
LOL Every one gets a turn around here I bet. Car came with lots of broken hammer impactor bits so Grandpa didn’t win on hinges either, 20yrs ago.
Ordered Cowl patches 31 days ago. Feeling like they got stuck in Canadian trucker strike. Bless them for saving the world. Charging and Shipping confirmation occurred 9 days ago so hopefully soon. Hinge work progressing , but will need some new hinge washers. Are they the same as Model A floorboard washers?
Tired of drilling hinges so did something different. Split my first wish bone! I feel I’ve crossed some sort of Hot Rod milestone... Had to get them off the axle first. That didn’t go all that great because the spring perch were very stubborn. The cut. Trusty metal cutting blade make for quick work this part.
With little filing the inserts fit tight and great. Wifeys feet during aftermath of disassembly. She is understanding even when she doesn’t understand. I did not use that welder but did stick weld them. Had some minor thread distortions but my hot rod buddy had just bought a 2 for Ford tie rod tap and sold me one for 20$. Such a fine deal No shipping, waiting or hassle. Score! Thread Distortion means some good penetration right?!? A quick tapping and all is good. Might have to pie cut the other end, not sure yet... My inner and outer~lower cowl patches have arrived! Ford Approved! Has been a good weekend...
Year One Didn’t quite get to a functioning solid Model A body in the first year as the plan called for. I still feel that I have made good progress on what has got done. Am staying the course as best as possible. Working on the cowl right now Grandpas patch Removing Grandpas brass tacked patch Getting after new inner and outer cowl patches Still welding up the pin holes and grinding some and such, but not bad for the little flux wire mig.
Other side... It Didn’t drop in as sweet as the first side. Had to heat shrink a lump, might need another, but getting closer now.
Subrail nut welding. Should try take the good advice when you get it. Thank you T’man. Was dreading doing this but got after it and it went well. Due in no small part (Ha! hardware pun, I’m such a nerd) to the fat nuts that came with car in a City Mill bag (crumbled when i touched it.) from the 80s when they repackaged fasteners them selves. Thank you Grandpa! His enthusiasm is still adding to mine even now. Too Easy to burn up the easy to find nuts. Cleaned it up for welding, and you can see bolt holding if from underneath. Most got 4 tacks and touched up with a brush. All the threads cleaned up with homemade thread chase and I did not need to tap any. While doing this I realized ~ I will get to do this again if I use wooden floor boards...
I was on a roll So I welded some fresh 10-32nuts into sheet metal then into the door to hold the locks. Took every Dremel bit I had to grind it down but it bolts in now. Can get a screw in every hole now
Thinking about the cowl mounting. Much HAMB archive Google Kung Fu has revealed that some after market A frames have 3holes in the cowl mount thus fitting all body styles. So instead of moving the mount as planned I decided to add the third hole. Made some brackets and clamped up as best I could. Did acceptable beads but a lousy job spray painting it.
Still working on cowl. Welded up various rust pinholes and larger rot. Removed second Toe Board riser to fix rot behind. Had to remove and straighten this support. Weld up several non OEM holes in firewall. I’m thinking the hole through the Patent Data Plate is not stock. Listen to Led Zeppelin while getting the Led out! I think this repair was pre Grandpa and was under the green paint With gas tank and support out, this old dent was easy to access/repair. Making slow but steady progress! Happy 4th of July to all of the HAMBers out there , US or not!
Blue! A few paint chips later... Bolts down nicer now. With new hinge pins, bolts, and hinge washers, my new and improved, junky old hinges. I did my best to fix up a beat up cowl band and grill shell. still using the old house knob to open all doors A few paint chips more and... The cheapo Rustoleum paint job is looking good today. All those body parts took a lot of rubbing / priming and the blessing of a priest to be ready enough to spray. Still a couple parts left to prep. I’m starting the collection of frame improvement parts. hung my split wishbone on axle, other end is held up by a rope.
Hi Mr. Blue COOL! Another A-Phaeton on the Island! I looked through your page from the beginning. - 1st picture - Looks like a solid body... - Later.....Not so much! Great work on massaging all that metal. What did you use to spray the Rustoleum? Good idea to cover everything up! Rust in Hawaii?...I know - Kaneohe Kinda Humid! CU on the Road one day! Tommy
Home Depot Huskey brand gun, it works fine for what I’m doing. The secret lies in the paint viscosity. Is hard to get that Rustoleum cottage cheese to flow out even a little in the hot humid conditions around here. Lol, often its downright soggy over there.
Have spent most my free time this last month helping a buddy with his project (not car related). I did however find a set of 65 Mustang seats to replace the tall '87 ones. Mocked up on a board, but having a much better visual profile. Didn’t come with sliders, so still working on that. Feeling more HAMB compliant...
Seat back mock up. Some ratchet straps to ‘X’ it to the right shape and get a measurement. Some heavy wall one inch square pipe, I pie cut to fit on top of fixed seat back. I want to move fixed seat back/back 8 inches. Seat back tabs touch the doors, didn’t anticipate that. Between roll ball and seat back, don’t think back door is even useable now. Was pretty small opening to start with. Made up a lower steering column mount after looking at the one selling online. Installed, bolts to factory holes but will need a boot. Might try to add a layer of rubber around column.
Been thinking about how to attach seat back bar to B pillar. Leaning towards just welding it but not sure yet. While thinking about it I cut a coupling nut in half and welded it into a heavy wall pipe to make front spreader bar. I put some modified washers in each of the frame horn cups so bar fit perfect/tight. Tough enough to tow off drag strip but maybe not off interstate!?! (I know theres no intestate highway in Hawaii or I would go see the volcano)
Off topic post... Speaking of Volcano My buddies family on big island shared these pics with me. Threat Level had been down graded now but was very exciting for a moment. My favorite with eruption and moon in same pic
Back to regularly scheduled programing. Self Portrait... I need an engine in it so I can quit making car sounds Varoom varoom!!
Phaeton Seat Back After mocking it up, I’m not happy with new hoop being above B pillar, so I am lowering it some. Welded some angle to top of B pillars and now new hoop bolts on to em. Still got it strapped up as I sneak up on the final hoop width/angles. I’m imagining some fluffy upholstery to prevent the dreaded B pillar arm pinch. Can really tell now which side got the Maytag patch (galvanized) Lol.
The Jalopy Journal
