Finally remembered to take the camera when I went to work on my hot rod. A quick rundown- model a frame (in front of the cowl anyways) , 26-27 t coupe body with 28-29 cowl, 53 hemi 331, saginaw 4 speed trans, rearend from 53 chrysler imperial (same as the engine), 48 ford front spring in the back, front spring and bones are model a, front axle is a dropped model a. Front of the frame is swept up, we made the rear adjustable so I'm not sure of the exact kick-up. Ride height should be around 6-7 inches off the ground. Will be chopped around 7-9 inches. That cowl actually fits on there a little better than it looks but it definitely needs work still. The cowl sides weren't as good as I thought they were so those in the picture are from Brookville. I've done almost all of the planning on this but don't have the fabrication skills yet. A friend of my dad's, who is a welder by trade, has been doing a lot of the actual fabrication. This is the first hot rod he's ever worked on so it's been a learning experience for both of us I think. I'd say it's looking fairly good that I'll be driving it by the end of the summer but we'll see. What do you guys think of the project so far?
i think it looks killer. it will be a cool ride when its done. i live in st cloud too, just moved here.
Cool car. I like the A cowl with the T body. What do plan on running for an engine?............slim sorry. replied before fully reading the post
trent, your car SUCKS! Any special plans on mating that cowl to the coupe? I've been kicking around a T-coupe turned roadster, maybe with an early A cowl....looks cool. If that were mine, I'd either drop the body down lower, or I'd just lower the front a bit more to give it a little more rake. You're off to a great start dude, JOYO
actually, are you planning on chopping it. It might be fine if you're gonna chop it. I do like them stock height, but they've got to be LOW and raked, sinister! T-coupes are awesome! JOYO
Yep it's gonna have more rake. The rear is adjustable and the tires are just whatever we had laying around. When I actually buy tires the rears will be a little taller and the fronts maybe a bit smaller. Then I will play around with the adjustable spring perch in the back to make it look mean. It will be getting a big chop as well (7-9 inches). We were just talking about how to mate that cowl up today actually. I've got the complete front pillars from the model A so those will probably get sacrificed. It actually matches up a lot better than it looks in those pictures. We are working this weekend on it so I should have more pictures as long as I remember the camera.
wtf ok stop right now ! I thought you said t&A . sorry i'm just jealous because i haven't started on my t coupe yet looks good hopefully i'll be on that road soon. the cowl looks to be very cool I think 8" is all she'll need --i mean on the top get your minds out of the gutter. later
I wouldn't chop it, at least not that much. Mines cut about 6 inches and thats too much. But somebody else cut it before I found it.
Looking good so far, I chopped a customers T (7") and it looked right. Plan on chopping my coupe that much as well. Its a couple of projects down the road yet, and am still acquiring parts for it. Perhaps I'll see your car around. Later, Joel
Looks great so far. You might want to try setting in the car and looking thru the windshield frame for a bit before you chop it. The windshield is not as high as side glass. Mine is not chopped and I have to stay back from stoplights to see them.
On the chop I did, I narrowed the original windsheild header 2" to allow for more glass and even the proportions.
I already have it drawn on there with a marker to narrow it 2 inches. It looks funny to leave it all but taking it all off looks goofy as well. Thanks for telling me, at least I know someone's done it before.
I'm 6 ' and I am constantly ducking my head and craning my neck just to see out. There is not enough headroom, I have a constant crick in my neck, so the inch thick pad I call a seat is being dropped into the floor 3 inches My coupe has a four inch channel and a 7 inch chop. I am planning on raising the header to make it easier to see out and small sunroof makes the lights a little easier, but is not the total answer. Even if you don't channel it I still wouldn't go over 7 inches. Your neck will love you. If you care, any more will make a wiper impossible Radical rakes suck, but do give it a little attitude. Is it an uncomfortable ride? yes. Would I lift the lid back up? not a chance.
My friend's pictured T&A has the stock A windshield with the T part chopped. It has a seam down the side in front of the doors where he put the T door frame to the A cowl. He fitted the T visor to the A windshield too.
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