Thread: tin-man has some questions, it begins.....

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IMHO what gets/got most newbs, and some vets, in trouble with the Cobra replicas is a 90 inch wheelbase and way more power than their cajones were accustomed to. Something about God giving us only enough blood to run the brain OR......................

I had really three choice as where to put my gas tank in my '31 Ford - well actually four if you want to consider the original style '30-'31 Ford, and with 10 gallons sitting right over your lap. Trunk, inside of the splash shields or modify the frame to accept the '32 style tank and my choice. I figured in the event of a rear end collision, I would be better off with that fuel behind me, at least giving me a chance to get out. As far as a trunk mounted tank - not much room in a '31 and have any useable space. I really dislike the polyethylene side tanks - think scrub line - and they are actually below that imaginary line.

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Trunk.jpg

The wiring mess has since been corrected, but this will give you an idea of the lack of room

There you go Dave. No restraints to building hot rods.

Here ya go tinman
32 and a 33
32 is a 106 wb and 33-34 is 113

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

In the Cobra replica world there's an opposite convention. Since none of the early advantages of the SBC apply, there's no historical rationalisation, nor any physical restrictions that support NOT using the Ford engine, big or small block. And since it's replicating an historical, iconic car, again the zeitgeist demands a Ford. Put a Chev engine in and it kills the market value (except in Europe for some strange reasion). Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' with it, ...................watch for incoming.

Which is Ironic in that it was well known that Carroll Shelby approached Chevy for engines first but was turned away as they (Duntov) didn't want another car with their engine competing against the Corvette. So he went across the street and the rest is history!

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

The 33-34 car is 6 inches longer than 32 and mostly thats cabin room, Many details between 32,33,34 builds will be similar with the longer cars having more cabin/trunk room--

That was why I chose a 34. I tried to sit in a 32 and hated it! I'm sure it had a lot to do with the seats and etc. of that car but....

Theres your answer,tin man..Get da34guy to build you what you want..The dude knows what he's about,,and he cranks them out almost blindfolded..That way,you get what you want,without any hidden probs that you might find after you buy from an auction..Make sense??

In the early part of the thread motors were being discussed me liking things of a different path I suggested using an AMC v8 343-390-401's being of the factory performance variety. No pacers, think 69' rambler scrambler, 68-74 amx/javelin 70' rebel machine, this is where those motors came from. And if you wanted to be different this would definitely assure that

I'm an underdog lover.

But what can I say I think air cooled Vw powered hot rods are cool to haha.

Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

In the early part of the thread motors were being discussed me liking things of a different path I suggested using an AMC v8 343-390-401's being of the factory performance variety. No pacers, think 69' rambler scrambler, 68-74 amx/javelin 70' rebel machine, this is where those motors came from. And if you wanted to be different this would definitely assure that

I'm an underdog lover.

But what can I say I think air cooled Vw powered hot rods are cool to haha.

gassersrule, thanks, so I didn't do too bad after all, but have to admit I forgot all about Scramblers, AMX and Javelins. being scramblers are those people who get behind, AMX is a credit card and a Javelin is something thrown in the Olympics Cheers, tin-man

The brand that is always ridiculed, oh well

Tinman
The pic you are showing is a mid-boy
Meaninf the body is channeled 1/2 way over the frame
below is a "True Hiboy Coupe" and Roadster

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Tinman
The pic you are showing is a mid-boy
Meaninf the body is channeled 1/2 way over the frame
below is a "True Hiboy Coupe" and Roadster

Don, I am sorry to say this but I am not seeing the distinction other than the hood appears to be longer on the Yellow Ford and its back wheels are about six inches to the rear. Absolutely the engine has not been aligned correctly and its certainly lacking the radius rods and hairpins as you state and arguably the wheels are not what I would select, but those are issues that needs to be peeled back as I get more involved. What I was endeavoring to do here is to show where my choices are heading. To me the fluid lines of the 32 Ford are both compelling and stunning and and here's the slow burn, I can see myself driving one of these classic hot rods. So can you help me understand the distinction since I have never seen any 32 Fords for sale listed as Mid Boys but then I am new and have not dug deep enough. BTW can you also throw in an explanation regarding the coils over questions I asked? I would be grateful for this. Thanks, tin-man

Visually and performance wise it’s hard to beat a big block in a Hot Rod. The down side is; possible fitment issues, the added weight on the front end, additional cooling system requirements (especially if AC is added) and fuel mileage. Either a big block or small block when properly fitted and accessorized can be visually appealing and made to work well in a Hot Rod.

As you’re buying rather than building you are going to be limited to what is out there for sale. I would concentrate more on the overall quality of the work and component selection than locking myself into a particular engine size. The mean elevation in Phoenix is about 1100 feet, depending on where you drive to from there you can end up at almost sea level to over 10,000 feet and still stay within the state. Depending on the time of the year it’s easy to start driving in the morning at almost freezing temperature and by afternoon be somewhere that’s in the mid 90s. Then you have the stop and go traffic in Phoenix, (which you will most assuredly get stuck in sometime in the summer) and the long stretches of 75 MPH Interstate.

In my mind it will boil down to how much weight you give to those things you consider important; performance, visual appeal, reliability, handling, mileage etc. Either a big block or small block can be tailored to fit your requirements but one or the other may be better suited to a certain task. For instance does the visual appeal of a 406 Tri-Power FE outweigh the mileage of a fuel injected 302 to you?

Another example, a GOOD fuel injection setup can probably more easy compensate for the extremes you will find here, but properly tuned carburator(s) can also handle the job.... just not quite as precisely (I can’t believe I just admitted that LOL). As above, it boils down to what is more appealing to the owner. The real key is having someone who knows what he’s doing setting the system up and maintaining it. Properly set up either can be a joy to drive .....not properly done it’s not going to be much fun or useable. Of course the same applies to every other system on the car.

In the picture of the car you posted, it really doesn’t matter to me if that is a big or small block. At a glance I have a real problem with the angle the engine is sitting at regardless of what displacement is. Visually it’s not appealing but more importantly why is it at that angle (what did they have to clear) and what do the driveline and U Joint angles look like? What other corners did they cut for expediency?

.

Originally Posted by Mike P

Visually and performance wise it’s hard to beat a big block in a Hot Rod. The down side is; possible fitment issues, the added weight on the front end, additional cooling system requirements (especially if AC is added) and fuel mileage. Either a big block or small block when properly fitted and accessorized can be visually appealing and made to work well in a Hot Rod.

As you’re buying rather than building you are going to be limited to what is out there for sale. I would concentrate more on the overall quality of the work and component selection than locking myself into a particular engine size. The mean elevation in Phoenix is about 1100 feet, depending on where you drive to from there you can end up at almost sea level to over 10,000 feet and still stay within the state. Depending on the time of the year it’s easy to start driving in the morning at almost freezing temperature and by afternoon be somewhere that’s in the mid 90s. Then you have the stop and go traffic in Phoenix, (which you will most assuredly get stuck in sometime in the summer) and the long stretches of 75 MPH Interstate.

In my mind it will boil down to how much weight you give to those things you consider important; performance, visual appeal, reliability, handling, mileage etc. Either a big block or small block can be tailored to fit your requirements but one or the other may be better suited to a certain task. For instance does the visual appeal of a 406 Tri-Power FE outweigh the mileage of a fuel injected 302 to you?

Another example, a GOOD fuel injection setup can probably more easy compensate for the extremes you will find here, but properly tuned carburator(s) can also handle the job.... just not quite as precisely (I can’t believe I just admitted that LOL). As above, it boils down to what is more appealing to the owner. The real key is having someone who knows what he’s doing setting the system up and maintaining it. Properly set up either can be a joy to drive .....not properly done it’s not going to be much fun or useable. Of course the same applies to every other system on the car.

In the picture of the car you posted, it really doesn’t matter to me if that is a big or small block. At a glance I have a real problem with the angle the engine is sitting at regardless of what displacement is. Visually it’s not appealing but more importantly why is it at that angle (what did they have to clear) and what do the driveline and U Joint angles look like? What other corners did they cut for expediency?

.

Mike, interesting comments and timely, what is evolving here looks like a carbureted BBF in 32 Ford 3 Window Coup, open engine, with a manual transmission that provides performance, visual appeal, reliability, and ease of handling. Something I can drive hard and fast, make real nasty sounds with, can survive long runs in Arizona and in general will provide the right amount of passion that I am looking for in a ride. Can I find something like that, probably, can get one built, certainly, but this is what's needs to be sorted. tin-man

Awwwww come on Mike--everybody knows the new thing is to align the rocker shafts with the rear pinion

John,
When you started here you mentioned buying a finished car, and now you've mentioned building which I assume means having one built to your specs. Mike's got a good eye, as that engine in the yellow coupe is angled back way too much to look and function right. I'm a big fan of "Ford-in-Ford", but shoe-horning a BBF into a deuce coupe is going to be interesting, and any vintage Ford engine (pre-modular) is going to be longer than the Chevy's - Bob gave a very good history lesson back up in post #15 in this very thread. That's why if you choose to buy a finished car you'll likely see about 3-to-1 Chevy powered, and about 1 in 10 stick shift. For me, if I build another one it'll likely have a newer mod-motor for power - I'm a glutton for punishment, and those mods look nasty in an open hood street rod (IMO).

Earlier in this thread it was pointed out that the '33/34 is 6" longer than the Deuce, and that almost all of that room is in the cabin & trunk. You have not mentioned your stature, but for me at 6'3" that extra length is priceless (plus I just love the profile of the '33/34)! We've been through this a lot lately, and while I love to build a guy can get a whole lot of car for a whole lot less money by shopping the market today. Don (DA34GUY) mentioned recently buying a really sweet little deuce roadster for about 65% of the cost of parts on a pallet - very sad for the guy who paid to have it built, but very nice for Don!

I think you're doing the right thing, honing in on what you like, but I would really recommend that you give it just a bit of time, get back on this side of the ocean and spend this summer going to cruise-in's and events like Good Guys & NSRA Nat's where you'll see tons of cars, but more important as you talk to guys and they see that you're serious they may entertain you putting your backside in their driver's seat to see what fits best. It's too bad you won't be back by March 9/10 for the Good Guys Scotsdale event. We're going to be out there visiting friends, and I intend to spend Saturday there roaming around seeing what I can learn, and enjoying all the different ways things are done. If you're serious about spending the bucks to have one built you might talk to Don - he built both of those Deuces above, and can have you living your dream (instead of suffering buyer's remorse) in a month or two, unless you have really crazy ideas about what you want....