Thread: Need help with Track width

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To me, it would boil down to who put the Monte front on the car. Was it done by a pro shop or a really sharp rodder who knew what he was doing? If it was done by some yayhoo in the back yard, then I'd opt to change it out so I would absolutely know that it was done right. If it were mine, first I'd get the car flat and level on a level surface and I'd plumb bob it and see that the measurements are within 1/16" of each other, each side front to rear and diagonally. I'd make sure the lower control arm mounts are the same distance to the ground side to side. If all that was good, then I'd shop for narrower control arms. That's just my opinion.

Richard brings up a very good point. Buying someone elses half-finished project can be a great way to get a good deal, but you have to recheck everything done to make sure Mickey Mouse didn't have a hand in building it.

I think of all the areas that could be really screwed up it would be a front clip install, because it takes a fair degree of skill and engineering saavy to pull it off correctly. The things you are looking for are if it is attached properly and gusseted well, and if it was installed in the proper relationship to the road. You just don't take a donor front end and weld it on and hope it works well, it takes planning and execution to make that happen.

I have seen some horrible front clip jobs over the years, and very crude attempts to get the old and new frames to mate. If there is one area you really want right on a car it is the front suspension and steering. You might take it to a very good alignment shop first and ask their opinion on the install and geometry.

Don

Following Richards suggestion, for what you have now that is the "...best vs easiest....". As Don says, there are some good clip jobs out there, and many horrible ones. The same for frame changes. I'll post one of my file pictures to demonstrate a too often problem with S10 frame swaps. There are folks who can do these things well, then there are folks who should never try it. Don't know you well enough to say where you fall. As for "....best vs easiest..." I'm kind of a stick in the mud. The least "difficult" is something based on a stock frame. The width is dead on, the wheelbase is dead on, and the track is "right". And given the modern hot rodding supply market there are a bazillion options for modification to overcome any concerns for whatever level of technology appeals to you.

Thank for all of the input guys, before anything is done I am definately going to be checking the measurements with the frame level. We have just not gotten around to doing so yet. As for the picture that you posted Bob, I definately don't want anything to look like that one does. Because this is a 'clipped' car I have looked into getting a stock frame vs. having one built to original specs. I would love to take a trip back to 1941 and to get whatever I needed. So far, that is just not an option and finding this stuff can be quite frustrating as you guys already know. . . Thanks alot again for the opinions and input, will try to get started on all of the measuring over the weekend hopefully everything is spot on. Will have more questions in the future I am certain of that.
Peter

Originally Posted by streetrodder74

..... finding this stuff can be quite frustrating as you guys already know. . . Peter

Okay Peter, not trying to put you down, trap you, or hold you up for public ridicule in any way. But i gotta ask; Why do you think/say that? I hear this from time to time from folks and just can't identify with it.


As an example, in just a few minutes I found these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1941-...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-...spagenameZWDVW
Yeah, the second one has a truck front suspension stuck on, but just put up for the exercise.
I'm neither suggesting you buy one of them without checking what you've got first, nor saying they can't be found even closer, it's just to show what can be found through only one resource in short order.

Well, to be honest with you, I have been checking ebay here and there and have gotten some parts for the car there. I had not personally seen any full frames prior to this time, unless the asking price is too much for what is being offered vs. what I can afford to pay at the time (I pray for deeper pockets on a daily basis to make get the car I envision become a reality). I will continue to check ebay and other areas for things that I come to need. This car is my first 'old' car though there is a '27 tudor T, a 29 tudor A, and a '37 Ford coupe currently in my family. I have been big into cars from a young age but have not had the chance to fully immerse myself until recently. I always loved the '41s and knew somewhere deep that I would eventually get the chance to have what I really wanted.

Maybe all isn't lost. Why don't you post some pictures of what is currently on the front of your rod, and let's take a look.

Don

Well, ebay is only one source. There's also Craigslist, Auto Trader, Fordbarn, the free classified papers that seem to be in every town, Deals on Wheels, and so on. Swap meets are still golden, and of course the best source.........networking with other car guys.

The next 10-20 years are going to be golden for younger guys who like these kind of cars. As we pre and early boomers near 80 we're going to be getting out of the hobby out of necessity.........dead or alive. Since you're new to this portion of the hobby I'll just say, there's more "stuff" out there than you can imagine. My generation and somewhat earlier have been packin crap away for decades. Some of us will begin thinning out our stashes thinking ahead to make it easier on our survivors, or because we need the money for medical stuff, or just because we get old, cranky, and disinterested. Others will die and their widows will have to deal with it. If you watch ebay for instance, you're already beginning to see a regular trickle of years long collections pop up. I posted a thread on a flathead cylinder head collection last week I think.

The point is, if you get yourself connected with like minded people, look seriously for what you want, you'll find it cause it's out there and, I believe, will be out there even more in the not too distant future. If it trickles out gradually over time, the pricing won't change a heck of a lot (ignoring the genuinely rare, unique, high value stuff), but if it starts to come in larger spurts then the prices will actually drop ..........................good ol' supply and demand...........works both ways.