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Projects Model-A speedster. Oh dear, where do I start?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by edwardlloyd, Sep 14, 2018.

  1. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Karma threw me a punch with this one. It's one of those Argentinien built Model-A speedsters which came in the shop to be lowered 2" all round and get a flathead V8 fitted.
    Seemed like an easy project, but I kept finding "interesting" engineering everywhere. I'm surprised it ever drove anywhere under it's own power.
    This is the frame after removing the body and banger engine. Seems to be a modified AA chassis or maybe a more recent remanufactured one. It has a set back engine and riveted in kick ups at the rear.
    The body has huge hidden compartments under the floor. They'll be cut out, as the current owner isn't a drug smuggler.
    20180914_124003.jpeg 20180912_105457.jpeg

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  2. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,345

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    I would think those deep foot wells would greatly add to driver comfort if your seats were low on the floor. Or are they behind the cross member? Just guessing. Gary
     
  3. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    barrnone50 and chryslerfan55 like this.
  4. Maybe @Clark will see this and chime in.
    He has built one of the nicest speedsters I have seen.
    Chappy
     
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  5. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Here's the mock up so far. I repositioned the rear axle 3" behind the rear spring and made weld on hangers to lower it 5" at the rear. With a new reversed eye spring it came down 7" in total.
    I replaced the Model-A torque tube with one from 1932 which is 2.5" longer. This meant the motor only came back 1/2".
    I also unsplit the rear wishbones.

    Due to the car being lowered so much I couldn't do the K-member the Tardel way. I'll post pictures of that later.

    The whole front end was junk. I threw literally everything away except the perches. Even the kingpins were oversized so the axle and spindles were junk. Hand made front hubs with no provision for a seal.

    The new front is made out of Model A spindles, a dropped 1941 I beam, split 1937 bones and a new reverse eye spring.

    I'll be fitting a new steering rack from an Opel Corsa B. 20181029_152911.jpeg 20181029_152957.jpeg 20181029_152928.jpeg

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  6. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    Think maybe those pockets were structural? There isn't any diagonals in that frame and it would've scared you silly the first offcamber turn you hit at speed, those pockets might have been an attempt to add ridgedity to the frame?
     
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  7. Ned Ludd
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 5,026

    Ned Ludd
    Member

    I'd have thought that a flat floor would do much more to triangulate the frame in plan. And neither triangulation in plan nor open-topped boxes like these would do much for torsional stiffness. I'd guess that the boxes were about discreet storage space in a visually minimal open car.

    How will the rack and pinion be set up?
     
  8. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,390

    Squablow
    Member

    Wow, what did this thing look like before? I've never seen an Argentinian built speedster.
     
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  9. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That pic I posted with 18 and 19 is an Argentinean racing pic...the link has links to more info...
    they were quite big into it and it was very dangerous and competitive and alot of American iron was used.

    To this day they still roadrace vintage American Iron down there...
     
  10. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

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  11. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That's really coming together @edwardlloyd what's the plan for the nose 29 rad and shell or track nose?
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2018
  12. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    This is what it looked like when it came in. The body is hand made out of aluminium. The radiator shell looks original but is actually hand made.

    I won't be changing the body at all. It's a mechanical rebuild with V8 running gear, and lowering as far as possible. IMG-20180417-WA0000.jpeg

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  13. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    The pockets are almost gone now due to reverting to unsplit rear bones.

    Rack and pinion isn't really correct on a solid axle car. (Toe in becomes variable). However I've learnt from those who have installed it, that in practice, it works very well. I guess front suspension travel of max 2", does really affect the toe in settings that much.

    I'm looking for a very direct one finger steering like modern cars have. It'll be low, with limited suspension travel. Stiff shocks all round and Lincoln 2" brakes all round. Looking for a sporty ride on this one.

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  14. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Progress is being made on the Model-A speedster. I fitted some sports seats I bought in England. Also pictured is the Opel Corsa D steering rack fitted. 20181121_113151.jpeg 20181121_113232.jpeg

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  15. denis4x4
    Joined: Apr 23, 2005
    Posts: 4,198

    denis4x4
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Colorado

    Secrets of Speed has done several stories on the Argentina speedster racers.
     
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  16. fortynut
    Joined: Jul 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,038

    fortynut
    Member

    I didn't know the era that cars like the original version were raced but, keep in mind for many people from Argentina, in the late fifties and sixties, racing was serious business. One of them, of Italian descent, made a name for himself in Europe, racing in Formula One. Of course, I am talking about.Jaun Manuel Fangio, who won five Driver's World Championships. Much of his later success he claimed was due to his participation in road racing in his home country as a young man. I won't get into the details of his life, or career. Anyone interested can do his homework and make themselves acquainted with this awe inspiring man on their own. My point is that the history of building race cars and racing them goes back many years down there. Perhaps that is why cars like this speedster are not anomalies but were used in serious competition. If this was the case, the compartments may have had a more utilitarian use. Then again, I may be talking about a different type of car built as a toy. One thing I am sure of, its in good hands, now. And, i will be curious to see how it turns out. Good Luck, and surprise us again.
     
  17. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    First trial fit of the flathead V8. It's a 1960 G29 German built flathead. They're basically an 8BA but still have the 59AB half bellhousing cast in. It has a rear mounted Bosch distributor.

    Unfortunately the Stromberg 97 sits at an angle. I'll probably fit a 59AB intake to level it out. 20181122_145517.jpeg 20181122_145456.jpeg 20181122_145447.jpeg 20181122_145433.jpeg

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  18. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Front metal work refitted and new V8 radiator fitted. I used F1 front shock mounts and the typical accessory lower mounts mounted on top of the wishbone. This calls for a short shock which I found at So-Cal. 20181204_135539.jpeg 20181204_135849.jpeg 20181204_135329.jpeg 20181128_132410.jpeg

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  19. Looks cool. Needs Blockleys!
     
  20. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    Yes it does, but the customer just fitted these tires so we will have to live with these until they're worn out.

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  21. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I bet not many of you have ever seen one of these. It's a German flathead generator stand. It's got the "FK" for Ford Köln (Cologne) cast in underneath it. I wanted to use this neat piece so I mounted an alternator on it. 20181207_124312.jpeg 20181207_135734.jpeg

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  22. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    So here it is, nearly finished. The seat is currently being upholstered in real leather. The hood and front valance will be fitted after I've tuned the engine.
    I set the rear axle 2.5" back, spring in front of axle, with the help of a 32 torque tube. It has Boling Brothers Lincoln Bendix brakes, 1935 Ford wire wheels powdered coated black. The entire chassis and running gear are powder coated black.
    It has a German Truck Flathead V8 from 1960, and 1939 Transmission and a Model A rear axle.
    20190329_130202.jpeg 20190329_130137.jpeg 20190329_130128.jpeg 20190329_130114.jpeg 20190329_130055.jpeg 20190329_130022.jpeg 20190329_130007.jpeg 20190329_125940.jpeg

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  23. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I was fed up with vague steering boxes so I decided to fit this one with rack and pinion steering. I utilized the Model-A steering box as a lower column mount but the shaft goes on thru the box and has a DD end welded on. I found that a Vespa motor scooter crankshaft seal fitted perfectly to seal the bottom of the box.
    A GM 2009 Opel Corsa manual steering rack give a direct 3 turns lock to lock with no play at all.
    I used the GM because even though it's a European car, it uses the standard GM spline, so I could use aftermarket UJs from Speedway. 20190320_151008.jpeg 20190320_151014.jpeg 20190329_131040.jpeg

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  24. KevKo
    Joined: Jun 25, 2009
    Posts: 926

    KevKo
    Member
    from Motown

    That thing is pretty cool. Looks like it would be a blast to run around in.
     
  25. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I've got to post a video sometime. I built this one with no muffler at all. It sounds awesome but I can still balance a coin on top of the engine while it's running. 20190424_123406.jpeg 20190402_151737.jpeg 20190417_144835.jpeg

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  26. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    I took the speedster out for a test run yesterday. Snake like road you'll never find in America but smooth as a billiard table.




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    Last edited: May 11, 2019
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