Thread: 30 model a rat rod.... lemme know what you think

Tweet

Gee, I always wanted a chopped top and last Friday took my '29 roadster windshield frame to a glass shop for glass with a 2" chop, but I am really wondering if I will clear the inside of the top. I have measured over the cowl while sitting in the front seat and I am hoping there is some upward slant to the top. I am average height about 5'10" sitting on a Dodge Caravan seat in the '29 body and I think anything more than a 2" chop will be a problem on a '29.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist?/Teen Rodder

lol thats what i want!!! haha jk it looks like 5 would be perfect for me!! i really appreciate the help you have given me!!

now on that car in the pic...
how much was the z cut on the front of that car?
how much was the rear of the frame brought up for suspension travel?
thanks bro!

have any more pics of it? haha

The car is bagged all the way around. I think the front is only like 6 inches or so, but the back is more like 20, because he will be laying it down all the way at times. I'll get you the exact figures when I see him tonight.

Here is a side shot of the frame to give you some perspective.


Don

that is killer!! love it!!

Don, I love that rod too, very cool. I don't know if I can fit in her, I would probly have my head sticking out of the top!! Very cool looking car though, chopping the top is the only way to go if you have the know-how.

some good looking pics...giving me soem good ideas!!! keep em coming! any other suggestions?

Here are a couple of my favorite coupes with chops.


Don

The first red coupe is well proportioned but I can't guess how many inches the chop is. How can there be zero views when I have just looked at all three?

Don Shillady
Retired (?) Scientist/teen rodder

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

The first red coupe is well proportioned but I can't guess how many inches the chop is.

It's 4 inches. Here's the site with the whole story; http://www.classicroad.com/modelA/index.htm

I was looking over this car last Saturday (again) and it's VERY well done.

That coupe is flat out beautiful. So simple but well done and traditional.

The video in the pictures you posted is cool too, Bob.


Don

Yup, going to be a nice car when he finishes it....

very nice car!

very nice ride

The red one to me looks fantastic, other than the cutouts in the shade above the windshield. i don't know about these cars but I don't like it when they look like they have a bow or dip in the body right at the firewall. is that from frame sagging or what?

Red

Dago Red, I agree about the drooping cowl sometimes seen but that is usually with too much kick up or something like a Tudor channeled unevenly BUT here the red coupe really is nicely done with the '30 cowl as level as it ever was on the A-frame but here it is on a '32 frame as is clear from the sculpting on the side of the frame. The '32 frame is NOT flat on top so some sort of wood or metal wedge has to be added under the A body to make it level. The old '50s reason for doing this was because the '32 frame was ready for a V8 while the A frame required some modification for a V8. Then folks realized that the sculpted indent in the '32 frame looks nice so that was another reason to use a '32, although it is a little too wide under the cowl and is often "pinched" to mount a Model A body. Next time you see a near original '32 note that the frame was actually exposed along the side of the car without splash aprons and the frame was painted as part of the body between the fenders and upper body. As shown, that red '30 as about as good as it gets and that is really good but I would like to see the driver sitting in there for head clearance. Maybe someone else can explain why that "cowl droop occurs on some cars?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder