Thread: 1930 Model A Truck Rat Rod Project - Best Frame

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These guys pretty much got ya covered. If you do some looking you can still find model a frames in decent shape. Good luck with it.

I messed with several stock Model A frames and encountered a LOT of rust problems. Then I bought a Brookville frame and really like the rear shock-spring setup. The shock-springs offer a softer ride in the rear but I kept the I-beam front axle setup and with a SBC the front rides heavy even with a super slide front spring. The shape of the rear cross member on the Brookville replacement frame allows more coil spring action but eliminates the stock rear spring. The only problem I had with the Brookville Model A frame was the puny 5/16" bolts for the rear bumper, they are far too weak to support a heavy stock bumper if you want to keep the stock look. I solved that problem using stock rear bumper brackets that I bolted to the inner walls of the frame and now I can jump on the rear bumper and only the coil springs flex. I liked the squareness of the Brookville bumper. My son and I were able to adjust the four-bar lengths to match the corner-to-corner distance on the frame to within less than 1/32".

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist.teen rodder

Thanks everybody for your input. Part of my problem is that all I have is the cab. And although I think I have a lead on an original one, the thought of having to deal with a whole new drivetrain and suspension is a little daunting. Hopefully there is something out there that will allow some short cutts.