So.. To put it bluntly, i'm getting sick of driving a Kingswood around. Its a nice car, looks tidy and goes alright.. but its been just over two years since i bought it and i am starting to want to drive something different.

Basically.. i've decided that the EK will be no daily due to it is going to have a white interior, and being a metal worker it probably isn't the best idea to drive a white interior'd car to work every day. Then theres the Chev.. SO much fab work involved and thats not a big deal, but i wanted a race car out of it. It will happen, in due time of course.

So after having a think.. and finding that there is a very good company that offers some repro panels for a Model A in the states.. i've decided that along with the help of a mate who has a '29 Roadster about 5 minutes away from me and two other guys that wheel and deal Model A stuff.. i'm going to build a super low budget, almost factory stock '28 Ford Model A.

Now, i'm picking the chassis up tomorrow.. but there will be pics. The basics of the car are as follows.

• Ford '28 Chassis
• Original 200ci 4cyl "Banger" Motor and 3spd Crash Box or a 250ci Ford Straight 6.
• Front End - Most likely original Model A beam Axle or a '32 - '36 axle, Model A transverse spring and original Wishbone, or Split Bones (Radius Rods).
• Diff will be either a Model A ('28 - '31) - '45 if i run the Banger motor, or '46 - '48 Ford if not.
• Body as stated above, Open top Roadster.

So yeah. I'm super stoked on this, and seeing as i'll have the large majority of the parts i need to get an assembled mocked up chassis almost from the get go, hopefully it should be done relatively quick. I'm not going to set an event to get it to because i doubt it'll happen. Oh.. actually i will. I need a car that isn't my Kingswood for my Brothers Formal in November.

That gives me 7 months to do it. The guy i'm buying the chassis off (One of the above mentioned Brothers..) built his as a Street Rod in 6 months, and i'm doing it the simpler way with using original Model A parts. Their such simple cars, so getting a body peiced together will be harder and more work than doing the chassis.

Anyway.. pics tomorrow fellas.

Oh yeah. The inspiration for this one.













Anyway you get the idea.

lets just hope you dont have to many rainy days driving home from work nick!

^^^HAHA ...what Nate said!

Good luck with it Nick. Those model A roadsters are certainly a kool cruiser!

...just had a thought (ouch that hurt!) ...be even cooler with my freshened 308/330 Holden V8 in it!!

Sounds GREAT, fairly (!) cheap to run and will give that cool V8 look with the open engine bay.

phill

Har har Nate. I'll be running a soft top on it most of the time, except for those nights where theres no clouds in the sky.. and the airs cool.. ect ect Haha thats what Roadsters were made for.

Phil remember i'm on p's, so i can't drive a V8. I wouldn't put a Holden or a Chev motor into a Ford anyway So its either the Banger motor, or an early Ford 6. Or perhaps my Hemi 6.

Once i'm off p's i'll either source a Y Block for it, or run a Flathead V8.

cool idea 'slead

i must say there's nothing the feeling off bugs in the teath first thing in morning

id get a roadster but im kinda going bald lol

Goin bald? That means less hair for the wind to ruin while your driving Haha.

I'll be running a top on mine anyway so wind and rain isn't a problem.. well.. not as much as if it was open. Still doesn't have windows so the sides will always be open.

:bowrofl: :bowrofl:

Yet another half finished project using your outstanding metal working skills... :dunno:

I know your still a kid, but you need to pick one of your projects and actually finish it.

You talk an A grade game but from the time I've been on this forum, thats all you have done....TALK.

How will you finish this in 7 months when you can't finish any other cars you've started.

EK: not finished, "40 Truck: not finished. We all hear the excuses and the talk of what you'll do cause your a metal working guru :jerkit: But we never see a finished project.

heres a couple of finished cars, so you know what they look like.

and what do you have ????????????????????

Olcruiser,

As EH-Buddy said, what have you got? If something, did you build it yourself?

I would like to think i know a bit about metal work and welding, im now 20 and i've been doing it since i was 13. Not a lot of years compared to some i know, but been doing it nearly half my life.

Also furthermore, i must be alright if i have people asking me to always do jobs and metal work for them. Again, not saying i'm mind blowingly awesome like some welders i've seen, or metal shapers.. but must be alright.

I've stopped my Chev for a decent reason i think. I want it to be a fast car.. and considering i would be spending about 5 - 7g on the Hemi motor going into it alone, i'd rather spend 5 - 7g and have a near bone stock A Model on the road and driving.

EK i've already had for sale once, and considering it again.

Read the name again.....What do you think I have.

i did tell you to look at the EJH Club once, does that help?

Oh and the pic above also.

Nice Hudson but be nice or fuck off.

Lets see, I have built many cars.

1. 2L Escort GL sports (My first car, made a great rally car)
2. Over 12 EH Holdens (Vans, Utes, Sedans, Wagons) Still have 2 of them
3. 1951 Hudson (in previous pic) Still own
4. 1955 Chev bel Air (still own)
5. 1973 VJ Valiant Charger (still own)
6. 1969 Mini Cooper (sold)

Many various daily drives as well.

I only ever started 1 project at a time, this way I was sure to finish them.

I don't want to get into an argument with you or Eh-buddy, but pick one project and finish it.

As i said above.. i'm sick of driving my Kingswood, i'm not gona be driving a stark white interior'd car when my job is metal fabrication, and the Chevs motor will cost more than my whole Model A will..

Its just how it happens, but i'd rather have three projects than piss it up the wall every weekend and not see a dollar of it.

Hey Nick,
If you are thinkin' about a Ford six-banger for the model A, a mate told me about a rusty XD falcon with good running gear for $450.
Could grab that, ditch the car and keep the motor, gearbox and diff for the project.
Let me know if you are interested and I'll get the details for ya.
phill

Hey Phil,

Cheers for the offer but no thanks. If i go a 6 banger Ford it'll be somethin from the late 50s or early 60's era.

I want the car to resemble the Model A Roadsters hot rodders built just after the war.. Or in the event of a slightly newer motor.. entire car be relatively just post war, but upgraded motor which i've seen happen a lot.

son of a bitch think up some body mods for my HK and we can do a project together and i will pay you in beer and gobbies

no offence dude but i get a little pissed off when people start bagging other people just for having a go


and as for building a few cars on the said eh holden car club website you may notice a little eh wagon "nomad" thats on there or rememeber a candy apple green eh with a small block in it from the nats about 10/12 years ago there was photo off it in the burnout comp with no front on it well that one was mine

im more into hillclimbing nowadays

i only asked because you seemed to go straight into attack mode for no real reason

will be great to see this finished with all your other cars Nick

Mate, no offence taken.

I probably did go straight on the attack, but lets all be honest here, Nick does talk it up on this forum. He has an opinion on just about all the pre 85 issues and I've watched as he carves up someone who, god forbid doesn't like the way to build a car that Nick preachers.
I was just making a point.. no more, no less.
Nick has 3-4 projects on the go, but I have yet to see him finish one. That's all I was trying to say.

^^^no probs ol boy if your after a couple off eh axles let me ive got two sitting here doing nothing

did you end up selling the hudson

Good luck with it all Nick, stick to your plan down to the letter and leave your other projects on the back burner until you've finished it. If it's what you really want it will all work out in the end. I'd stick with the 4-Banger as there really isn't a great deal of room in early Fords for an inline six. Get stuck in to it!

Kurt.

Hey Eeyore,

I saw a video on Youtube last night of a fella in the states with an A coupe, with a pretty sweet looking banger motor.. the thing hauled ass and sounded awesome as well. I know they are slow as a standard motor, but shouldn't be hard to push a bitta HP out of them..

I'll keep you updated

hahaha i swear your going to age early from all this car building.
if id done as much as you in the time you have id probs be bald.
what do you think of a hz?
im looking at one this weekend.
looks like it should be sweet, my grandpa fully rebuilt his mg when he was younger.
looked awesome

It's going to be a cool looking Ratrod

*Remembers the 'Rat Forum Yes Or No' thread*

..

It won't be a Rat Rod, i'm building it to resemble the style of the Hot Rods of the early 50's.

Less posting moar building.

Haha. I'm in the process of cleanin out 20 years worth of Dads shit in the shed so i can get the Model A in there. Quit ya wingeing

Since i got requested to post some pics, here we go.

I've had the "car" for about three weeks now, but only just really started on it a few days ago seeing as i've had to spend the last two weeks cleaning up 20 years worth of my old mans shit in the shed.. dirt behind the benches, terribly designed and constructed benches, shit everywhere and 20 years worth of collected junk.

Finished the shelves and new fabrication bench so i got started on blasting everything and finally working on it. Havin a blast as well.

When i brought it home (It did have full fenders and running boards, forgot to get a pic before they came off..). Also nice to note, the whole front end worked before it got stripped down. Turn what was left of the steering wheel, and the axle followed suit. I thought that was pretty rad.









Pulling the front end apart.. this wassn't as fun as i envisioned it'd be.. Nice to find that it still had grease in everything, and the spindle bearings still worked, although they look like those tapered roller bearings or whatever their called, and i don't recall those as being a factory item (Could be wrong but sure i read somewhere their not..).



This was even worse.. I'm sure you can guess whats going on..



The Chassis. Very straight, no pitting at all on any part of it and only one inch long crack on the frame horn at the front. Not looking forward to sandblasting it though..



And heres where i'm at at the moment. Was pretty stoked when i got this all together again and stepped back for a gander. Unforunately the rest of the springs are rooted from pitting, but the main leaf was absolutely perfect with no pitting at all.. guess that one worked out alright ha.

Still have to blast the right hand spindle but other than that its mocked up at least.





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i'm not going to sugar coat this

you are the most optomistic mother fucker i have ever seen... why the fuck would you waste your time on what is essentially a pile af rusted cast iron.

FINISH YOUR OTHER PROJECTS

fixed....

HK,

I said above. For what i was going to spend on the Chev's engine, i could build an A model for that money. I want an old timey Hot Rod to drive around as a new daily, and this is way easier.

Olcruiser,

Whatever.

i'm not having a go, but fuck man its literally a pile of rust... i admire your enthusiasm and vision but dude you have to draw a line some where.

Nah i know what you mean. A lot of rodders refuse to use old parts for the same reasons and misconceptions you have. While it appears "rusty junk", after its been sandblasted it comes up looking like a brand new part.

Provided of course that the parts aren't actually pitted, surface rust is just that.. on the surface. Some of the leaf springs are pitted quite badly and i won't be using those.. but the main spring for the front is in perfect condition, but not sure about the rear one. Seems most of the parts though aren't pitted.

Fuck, not bagging you but i see a lot of work.
would be a pretty mad daily though.
wonder if insurance would be a bitch on it.
good luck

Yeah they are a lot of work, but the reason i decided to do the Model A before my Chev, is because i'm using original Model A Parts for everything, it just bolts in.. whereas the Chev has so much fabrication and chassis mods to do, to run the same Ford suspension in it.

And yeah, it would be a mad daily. I did think of that too haha.

nice, glad to see you're willing to put in the effort.

I'd love a project like this to tinker with over time

Bit of an update.. a mate of mine who has a '29 A Roadster that lives around the corner.. asked a guy in his car club who has a '28 Closed Cab Pickup and is going to be Hot Rodding it in a few weeks.. about the original parts in it.

We made a deal of $500 for the Engine, Gearbox, Diff, Rear wishbones, Front end (I think minus bones..), Steering Column and Radiator.

Needless to say.. i'm super stoked. For $1250 i'll have myself a near complete, almost rolling chassis. Woo!

Also, Dick ('29 owner) thinks i'm a magnet for old car parts, i scored a set of original '49 Ford F1 pickup shock mounts for $40. Apparently, their absolutely rare as hens teeth. Gotta love having a win here and there haha.

Will get more pics when i've got the chassis blasted and the new parts home in a few weeks.

update?

Hey,

Getting my frame blasted tomorrow and then should be able to build a jig for it and for a mate of mines '27 Roadster (Hes using an A frame, so that'll be the same as mine, only new rails not original) and once its in the jig i'll start welding up the holes and smoothing it out.

I called about the parts and Vince still hassn't pulled the truck apart yet, so i'm waiting on those.. but in the meantime i'll probably start disassembling my banger motor that i've got here and having a look inside and seeing what condition its in.

Updaaaaate!

Finally somethin to show, thats half decent.

First up.. the chassis back from the blasters.





Then filled a whole bunch of holes.





Then sat the front end under the frame..



Then blasted and painted most of the front end stuff.. Spring perches will be getting the shock knob and the eye cut off eventually, but painted for now (just rattle can gloss black) to keep it all from rusting.



Then i picked up a whole bunch of parts i bought off a guy i met through a mate, who has a '29 Closed Cab Truck. Hes just using the body tub and panels, and the chassis.. i took the rest

So i mocked up the painted front end, and the rear end to have a look.









Heres a pic of where i'm working on it at the moment. We have another garage near here but its got my '61 Holden and my brothers '66 Holden in it at the moment, so i'm doing the fabrication here for now.



This is the chassis jig i made today to do my work on, so that the chassis doesn't twist, flex or warp when its boxed up.

I made it so that i can also mock up the front and rear ends without interfering with the jig itself. I'm sure that aspect will come in handy.





Here is the banger that came outta my chassis. It won't be used at this stage..





And the one that'll replace it.







Thats it for now. Hopefully i'll have more to come soon.

top stuff matey, coming along nicely

Cheers Pig.

Gotta get some steel to finish off the middle jig uprights, and some 50x50 or 40x40 plate that is 8mm thick so i can weld it under all the holes, so when the chassis is boxed, instead of welding nuts and ruining the threads, i can drill and tap the plates for the bolts to go into.

I also cleaned up the spring perches yesterday and knocked off the knee action shock ball, and mechanical brake eye on each.

Need to get boxing plates as well.

So, a couple weeks back i chopped the mechanical brake eye and shock knob off the perches and this was the end result. Its half metal finished, and just painted with spray can gloss black to stop any rusting.



Then today i started by cleaning up the bellhousing mounts.. also painted gloss black for the time being.



Then i finished welding the last of the body mounting nuts in.. had all the others done last weekend.



I then proceeded to begin boxing the rails. Since i'm using the original bellhousing mounts, i've got to box the front two feet or so, and the close up that bit and leave the gap for the mounts to bolt in, and then box from there all the way to the back. So i started doing from the front crossmember to the mount today.

My boxing plates were laser cut, and came in two peices. The main part, and about a foots worth for the front. I used to front part to do this, and then for the second part before the bellhousing had to cut up the rest of the main plates.



Still gotta clean up the inside of the mounts, but clamped them in plate to know where to end the boxing.



This pic is the same left hand side of the frame, just upside down to tack the underneath of the boxing plates. You can see that i've put a 45 degree chamfer onto one of the plates, as well as leaving a 2mm gap to weld the two plates together.

For now, i want to just have it all tacked together.



I then did the drivers side (RHD). Only needed one plate to go to where roughly the steering box will sit. I'll have basically boxing from the crossmember to the steering box, then a bit more between the steering box and the bellhousing.

I'll also be putting a plate in the inside of the rails to close off each section.





One last pic of the frame upside down when i was tacking the underside of the plates.



Thats it for now. I found that the boxing plates are about 5mm too thick, so i'm taking what i've got left to work tomorrow to cut 5mm off on the guillotine so they'll fit perfectly when i get em back home tomorrow arvo.

I'll be updating more and more, since now i've got the boxing plates it'll be progressing a lot quicker

coming along nicely! wish i had the time and the space to do something like this(and the money lol)late 40s early 50s chev/gmc pickup would do nicely.alot of bad vibes from a lot of people.little do they know that this is how 99% of rods start out!

Absolutely right mate. Its not like despite that the cars are between 60 - 80 years old, they still get found in mint condition ready to be driven.

Hot Rods from even as far back as the 60s, have been getting built out of stuff just like what i started with, rusty shit thats been dragged from a paddock, farm, barn or even a riverbed.

have u got a body for it? and what sorta lookare you going for.something that would have hit the show scene in the 50s(metal flake and bling etc) or a more traditional look?

Only body parts i've got so far are a Roadster dash rail (closed car dash rails were a different length to open topped cars), a gauge panel and some peices from a tourer which i won't be using.

The good thing is, is that seeing as i'm using all original gear and an original frame with no chassis mods other than a new fabricated middle X member and boxing, an original roadster or tourer cowl with reproduction steel roadster quarters and floor braces ect will drop right onto the chassis.

Because of this, i can pretty much get the chassis to the point where i could drive it without a body on, and i'll still know that the body will suit. I am saving for a cowl though amongst a few other things i still need to find.

As far as styling goes, i'm thinking of a dark brown body, black top (removable roof), black firewall, brown '32 grill with a black or chromed insert, black '49 merc steelies and hubcaps / trim rings with a black originalish looking interior.

I want it to appear like something a 20 year old would of built in 1948, living in Southern California. I really don't like early period Aussie Hot Rods, and the late fourties style of Hot Rods from the west coast of America is what i'm into.

100% traditional, only parts that are newer than '48 will be things like new gauges (but still vintage styled), interior material, repro headlights and grill shell/insert, repro steel quarters and other body parts.. and some repro four banger hop up stuff.

So a few more pics.

This arvo, i got most of the passenger side boxing tacked in. This hassn't been quite as straightforward as most others builds i'm sure, seeing as i'm cutting and modifying my boxing plates but you get that.

First pic, got pretty much the remainder of the boxing tacked at the top.



Then flipped the frame, and had to shave down a few mm all the way along because the boxing plates are still a bit too thick. I'll have to guillotine my other rail at work tomorrow again. I ended up burning out our grinder, so i had to use the dodgy old one that has completely fucked bushes, but still spins. The disc just doesn't spin entirely on right axis.. its a wobbly motherfucker. So annoying, cause i had like three inches left and the grinder shit itself.



Anyway, got it all tacked in.



And as it sits now.



I still have to box the last few inches where the gusset is, and i have to close off the front section before the bellhousing mount and also the rest of the rails just after the mount. That part should be easy though.

More to most likely come tomorrow.