Thread: No question-just gloating!

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Just dug around in my junk--er, parts department--and rediscovered a '39 floor shifter 3-speed and a '47 rear end. All I need now is a Model A frame, and I know where one is. Maybe the Willys bucket gets to keep the banger. It has a triangulated four-bar rear that just doesn't seem to go with Henry's water heater. I have in mind a true traditional rod, nothing newer than 1960 or so.

Originally Posted by R Pope

Just dug around in my junk--er, parts department--and rediscovered a '39 floor shifter 3-speed and a '47 rear end. All I need now is a Model A frame, and I know where one is. Maybe the Willys bucket gets to keep the banger. It has a triangulated four-bar rear that just doesn't seem to go with Henry's water heater. I have in mind a true traditional rod, nothing newer than 1960 or so.

Hey, you can join our low buck project club. With the stuff you have there, you could put this thing together pretty cheap, and old-timey.

Not much has been happening lately for me and the other guys who were shooting for the $ 3 K budget, so maybe we need you to get us going again. I think you've got the real beginnings of a cool traditional rod there, and with old stuff showing up on Ebay all the time, you should be able to find those pieces you need pretty easily.

Much better choice than tearing down the other car.


Don

That sounds like a plan. But, please, don't even let the word Rat Rod pass you lips. I know you wouldn't and the "true traditional rod" backs that up. Go for it.

Just found a '37 tube axle. They don't like split wishbones, will an A-V8 work with stock 'bones?

Don't know, but I ran a '37 V8 60 axle like yours with split bones on one car in the early '70's, and it worked fine. I know you are referring to tube axles not flexing like I beams, but if you look at all the T buckets out there with tube axles it shouldn't be a problem. Plus, these 60 axles are very scarce and desirable anymore. I envy you, wish I had never sold the one I had.

Grabowski ran one on his Kookie T, but he had sort of a 4 bar set up on his. I think for the light weight you are dealing with here, and the limited use a hot rod gets, you will be fine. If it still worries you, give it to me, I'll take that thing out of your way.

They are bringing big money on ebay when they show up, and these look bitchin'. The only downside to them is that they aren't dropped very much, as a 4 inch axle would be.


Don

Yeah. I know of several tube axle cars that have split bones and they seem to live a long and healthy life. The drop thing won't be a problem, the roads around here don't allow as low a ride as I'd like. 6" clearance is a must on gravel or these lousy highways.
I drove a neighbor's restored "A" to town, and was telling how it steered all over on the highway. A coffe shop guru commented, "Well, whatta ya want, that car was made in the 'twenties, it was never designed to run on roads that bad!"