Hey guys, I will be building a 1929 a model ford pick-up. I want it to be as cheap as possible but in a not suicidle way. Here for I want to buy a fibreglass body and I want to place that on a existing frame with suspension. I've seen this before with a '41 willy's on a blazer frame. So I'm curious if it is possible with the a model as well. Hope you guys can give me some usefull tips and point me in the right direction. Photo's are more than welcome because this is a totally new playground for me. thanks Joey
I'v seen complete model A roller frames [sometimes with fenders and motor included] selling for $500-$1500 lately... Prolly the best way to get all the parts at one shot for a budget build is to seek one of those out. From there, you can box, "Z", split the bones, etc, etc for just the cost of your labor... Maybe even re-coup some of the expense by selling off the un-needed parts... JMHO, YMMV.
Yes...Well I wish I'm afraid. What I forgot to mention is that I live in The netherlands....That is that little spot on the earthmap. I've seen 2 model T cars in my life and that was in a museum. I would love to buy a rotten frame for 2000,- but it is just not happening overhere. And our street regulations are very tight. The best way to make a custom car over here is to transfer an existing car because of all the paper work. So that is the challenge! It's good to know that a blazer frame is not going to work. European cars aren't based on a chassis. They're just one car. The only plus thing is that I'm able to get a fibreglass body for 2000,- so that's about 1500 dollars. Hope you guys can help me out with perhaps some dimention I need to keep in mind. tanks Joey
Joey, look for a toyota Hi lux ,the early ones have a coil aspring front end and the later ones are torsion bars. the chassis make great model A frames. There must be old toyotas laying about Holland or Belgium which you can chop up. The back axle is strong enough for a small V8 but if you look further a toyota Van (Hiace) is a bolt in and Very strong and will handle a BIG V8.
http://www.riley-auto.com/ Riley Automotive sells everything needed to put together a '32 or an "A" frame. The prices are reasonable, but I dont know how shipping and import fees to NL is going to be. I'v seen complete straight axle front ends in the HAMB classifieds and on Ebay selling for just a couple hundred dollars. Sometimes even less. You would also need a set of pedals. Just about everything else, you could easily fabricate or source from junk yards... I'v seen a lot of hot rods built using Volvo parts... Rear ends, engines, etc, so that might be something to consider. Then there's always fabricating a frame yourself fron box steel or flat steel plate. Here's an amazingly good tech article on making your own. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306987 Unfortunately, there just isn't much out there you can use as far as a modern chassis to get the proper hot rod look. A blazer frame would be a hidious frankenstein affair! But there are a lot of options that dont cost a fortune.
wahaha...well thank you that is some useful help en we do have a lot of those. Thanks a lot. If there are more suggestions they're more than welcome.
I dunno what they have in the netherlands but find out if mitsubishi L300 vans were ever brought into the country. they are generally cheap source of cheap correct width diffs and front ends (IF YOU ARE GOING FULL FENDERED) these are in use on many Australian rods. Have you considered building a frame from scratch? This is a legit option if you have some welding skills even if you don't is there some tech courses at a college you could take? I will pm a couple photoes I have of the basic frame that we are putting together for a similar project when i head back to the shop over the easter break, as you will see it can be done. this uses a L300 diff. If you can, join a local hot rod club, and if you have free time, head for the nearest hot rod shop and ask to do work experience. that is what i do whenever i wish to learn anything.
I would think a traditonal front axle for anything without fenders might be one of the harder parts to source. If you can get away with slicing and dicing the front rails, it shouldn't be to hard to add some A-like frame horns and fake it pretty well with something like the Toyota frame. I think some guys forget just how good we have it here in the States. The Aussie guys seem to have a handle on how to build a rod within strict rules without the access to parts that we are used to. Tim D.
None of this makes sense. If you really want an old type hot rod car you need an old type car frame, in this case a Model A or replica of the same. I understand you are in the Netherlands, but a fiberglass body on a late truck chassis is not an A model Ford pickup, it's just a lame kit car type thing. But spend a lot more time studying this site, you'll get lots of good information. There's a guy in France making a really nice modified roadster out of some pretty bare bones material, it can be done.
As you're in the Netherlands you can't be more than a couple of hours away from the SINS car show that's coming up in Belgium hosted by The Scrapers. Do yourself a huge favour and get along to that to see what can be done under European legislation with "real" old cars. In fact, there will be fellow countrymen there in the form of The Trashers, I'm sure they'll be glad to point you in the right direction. Take a look here: www.scrapers.be
I agree that plunking a glass body on an late model frame generally ends up being a pilo 'o crap, but I think it's wrong to dismiss the idea out of hand, if that means you have no other option, budget, talent, or regulation wise. A list of potential donors, in addition to the truck mentioned, might include Mazda B2000 and B2200 pickups from the 80's. I had a couple of those, built from totals, that were great little trucks, torsion bar front suspension, paralell leaf rears, GREAT OHC motors, and frame layouts that could be made to work under an a early body with some careful modifications. In fact, I'm thinking of building a car doing exactly that using a '27 T roadster glass body as an economy modified style car. That said, it would still be a huge amount of work, and could end up as a pile without some very careful planning, modifying the trucks frame and a big pile of rectangular tubing. I correspond with a couple in the Netherlands that have a '47 Pontiac they drag race, so there are hot rodders that you can connect with there who could help you get going. Find out what American car related clubs, cruises, shows and events are close enough for you to attend, try to meet some people active in hot rods and drag racing, and get their ideas and advice. From what they tell me, it requires a level of dedication, determination and money that most people here would find overwhelming. Over here, we have lots of opinions as to what you should do, and how to do it, but our perception is skewed because there's still a good supply of raw material (rusty old junk), very little official regulation of the old car hobby, and lots more people involved. Don't listen to everything we say, get involved over there and connect with people who've done what you want to do and know the ropes. Good luck! Brian
Hey everybody, Thanks for the enthusiastic replies and knowledge. First of all I want to make clear that I'm totally new in this scene so this topic is just about bringing up options and ideas. I live in Belgium most of the time (college) so that car show is a great thing and I'll be there for sure. I also totally agree that an old style hotrod has an old style frame. BUT if driving it with a new frame means the difference between having something or having nothing at all I think it is an option. But never the less I understand your opinion and respect that. I am able to mig weld. taught that myself and must say after a few years I do some reliable welds. Also an important question to be answered: I will go fully fendered. I think we have to overhere since it is ALWAYS raining. The whole idea started since I've seen that willy's on that blazer frame. That made me think I could do it to. Here is a photo of my recent project wich will be finished this year.
Just found the Trashers website for you: www.trashers.nl It looks like they own a few fenderless 30's cars between then so there must be a way round it. As I said, I know that some of these guys will be attending SINS so try and seek them out, I'm sure they will glad to talk about how to get an old car on the road.
The European rodders I have talked to over the years play all kinds of fast and loose with the rules over there just to enjoy a simple little fun hobby under extreme socialist circumstances. Remember, Big Daddy knows all and sees all except what they don't know and can't see. Inspections get done with stock wheels, fenders, even different engines or inductions, then home, spend a day dismantling the car, reinstall all the hotrod goodies and wheels and tires, and you're enjoying for another year when you get to do it all over again. And we thought we have it bad sometimes with our little old ladies at courthouses and DMV offices! HA
Hy Joey ,a budget rod ? there is no way we can do this in Holland (I know because I do this now for some years) BUT HERE IS MY PLAN!!! - Citroën body (I bought one for 400 euros) this looks like a model A - chassis ,you can buy from us K.a.r.s. - rear axle Volvo 240 ,very strong and reliable ,bolt pattern is Chevy small - engine look for a Toyota 2.0 st (1980) these look like a hemi fourbanger - Or a inline six from Opel 2.8 GS these have dual carbs and a finned aluminium valve cover ,these engines with the right parts look killer !!!! - one of the few things I would buy new is a complete front axle,you want to live or not ( if you want to drive without fenders or else you could use a Opel B-Kadett front axle with some bigger 5 lug brakes) Here is a plan I know will work and you have a unique Euro traditional hotrod on a tight budget!!! And I asure you if it is finished right,I will make sure you are allowed on Sins 4(or 5,6). Cheers T
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