1929 Ford Model A Speedster

You may have seen my thread in which I outlined our plans to build a Model A Roadster pickup.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1929-ford-model-a-roadster-pickup/61707/page1/

Well, that idea has been squashed and the new plan is to build a Model A Speedster, powered by an 8BA Flathead V8, and run it in The Race of Gentlemen.

I felt that a new thread was in order.

Our Flatty is at the machine shop. All the new goodies that Dave bought for it have arrived and are awaiting installation. I had already purchased a very good 1929 Roadster cowl around which to build the car and the next step was to find a chassis.

I looked at a bunch of cars and parts, but couldn't find anything that seemed to fit the bill. There was a local car that I have known about for the past few years. It was exactly three miles from my house and I drive past the house often, always hoping to find someone outside so that I could stop and ask if they would be interested in selling it. That never happened and I was moments away from buying another car. Finally, I decided to drop a note in the mailbox. A few hours later, I got a phone call. I was invited to take a closer look the following day. A deal was struck and this morning, I dragged home my dream-pile.

It's a 1928-29 Ford Model A Tudor and it's remarkably solid for its age. Loading and transport were fun and uneventful, with the help of my trailer, The Enabler, and a cheap Harbor Freight winch. Surprisingly, the ancient tires had air in them and the wheels were free to turn.

Dave represents the brains of the operation, and here he is overseeing the upload.

With the little car secured to the trailer, we made the short trek to Dave's shop; home of an overhead crane, sandblaster, a Bridgeport mill, lathe, welders and various other implements of reconstruction.

As much as I love Model A Tudors (and this is a pretty good one), this is going to be a chassis donor for our Speedster. We'll be using an original Roadster cowl, and fabricating everything from there on back. The body will be removed and sold, hopefully to someone else headed to the ROG. We're not exactly sure what's going to become of the original four cylinder ("Banger") engine yet, but we have a few ideas.

And of course, here's the Roadster cowl:

The goal is to end up with a fenderless, V8 Speedster that looks something like this one from the front...

...and this from behind...

...with a bunch of our own ideas mixed in along the way.

Hell. Yes.

I still wish you were looking for this project when I had my '31 sedan for sale. On a LaSalle frame, too. Stout little bastard. It's a very stereotypical rat rod now. Oh well.

Again, we shall not be using the expression Rat Rod...

Yeah. I was happy it went to somebody who'd build it instead of letting it languish like I did. I just wish it went to somebody who didn't like SBCs and welded spiderwebs so much. So it goes.

favorite'ed. I'll be watching this build.

That is great to see this project getting under way. Good luck getting it sorted, I started reading about a guy restoring a 1936 gas powered welder and am starting to get interested in the real old stuff. I like model A's too so I'll be watching.

Poke around here for a little inspiration.

Dan

http://www.nwvs.org/CarPhotos/CarPhotos.shtml

Congrats Woody! That Tudor would have need a $3-$5k car here in IL.

Lots of beautiful stuff on that NWVS site. I've been on there many times. It's also a good place to see some ideas that, uh...don't exactly work. I can learn a lot there.

Dave made some progress while I was at work today.

We have had this car for just about 24 hours.

impressive

Almost staggering in it's simplicity. After a day of trying to chase electrons around the Porsche I find the mechanicals of an A quite refreshing. That chassis would just about run and drive like that wouldn't it?

Yup. We'd just need to add a fuel tank, battery and transmission.

Minor progress today.

Today, I went down to Dave's shop to take a better look at the chassis, and it's surprisingly solid for its age.

I decided to haul the trailer and the body home, and to remove the radiator and grill surround, so I could work on them over the weekend.

Here's a shot of my dad (visiting from Florida) talking to Vinny, who works for Dave on the weekends. One of them is slightly older than the car, the other, slightly younger. Both have poor taste in hats.

Looks like we need a bigger propeller.

I would love to find an early 30s Plymouth to do an all-Mopar rod.

Love this - will be watching.

Very cool project which I look forward to following. I just saw an episode of Hot Rod TV covering the ROG which stated that the entry list is limited to 100 vehicles. At that level won't it be hard to get accepted as it seems most entrants are previous contestants?

This morning, I liberated the gas tank and firewall from Tudor body.

They will be combined with the windshield posts of the Roadster cowl that I already have. The Roadster pieces are in pretty good condition, but these are just a little better. I'll reattach the Roadster pieces to the Tudor body and they will go along with it when the body finds a new home.

In reply to Woody:

Cool man watching this one...

This is what I wish I was working on instead of my GMC, honestly... I am excited to see your progress

I dare you to name the car the "Hannibal Twin-8".

:)

twirls mustache...

Last night's eBay score:

It's a Vern Tardel Model A K member, which is basically a Deuce K member sized to fit a Model A frame. It makes the installation of Flathead V8 into a Model A much easier. It also gives you a place to mount the brake and clutch pedals, since they were originally mounted to the Model A transmission, which we are not using. These are currently unavailable, but I found a new, unused unit on eBay. Didn't save any money on it though...

Vern literally wrote the book on A-V8s.

A great deal of stress was endured, due to an eBay auction that was set to end at 4 AM on Easter Sunday.

I like this thread.