RookieRod Model A progress

[BigIrish]

So I'm moving right along with my first attempt. So for I've got the body off the chassis, mocked up a wood frame, built a simple frame table, got the frame rails cut and started welding them up tonight. I think I'll be rolling in 6 mos or less (knocking on wood)!

 

[cycledog]

That's coming along nicely. Can't wait to see more.

 

[willmceliece]

nice fitup and beveling on those rails, are you doing internal fish plates?

 

[Bonehead]

nice fitup and beveling on those rails, are you doing internal fish plates?

Thinking the same thing.

Looks great so far.

 

[cnchotrods]

Rookie nothing. This is obviously not your first rodeo. Nice skills and a great idea on the wood mockup. I guess that been done before but I've never seen it done so nice. Very cool, looking forward to watching this one.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Looking good!

 

[BigIrish]

Well I'm going to do external fishplates on both sides of each rail. Not the prettiest but no one's going to see it. I don't have an effective way boring a bunch of holes in this thick steel.

 

[Tripper]

Irish,
You ain't foolin' around rookie!!! Man... that is lookin' really good. Any luck findin' motor/trans/rear yet?! Now I'm shamed into gettin' back on my PU.

BoB

 

[BigIrish]

Thanks! I'm looking on craigslist every day for an old bomb I can tear apart for the motor/trans/rear, wheels & tires. There's a wrecked but running 76 chevy p/u for $500 in austin that would be perfect. Need to find something like that in Houston and I'll jump on it.

 

[RatHead]

Nice job....

 

[tiny1]

Very nice !

 

[50Ford]

Looks good so far, Keep it up!

 

[ratterman]

nice progress, I'm going to do my frame mock up the same way. i figure it's cheaper to waste wood while i learn than steel.

Good luck on finding a drivetrain.

 

[BigIrish]

More frame progress...

Got the front & rear cross members all welded up. So far its level and square! Now I really need to get busy and buy some parts....

 

[cnchotrods]

Got the front & rear cross members all welded up. So far its level and square! Now I really need to get busy and buy some parts....

Great fab skills. Thanks for the pics.

 

[LOWANDRATY]

nice progress so far, and hmmmmmm that front tube and rail idea looks familiar to me, nice work.

 

[BigIrish]

Oh, I'm sure I copied it from someone, maybe you! I've been studying these forums for some time, picking up good ideas here and there.

 

[BigIrish]

Donor vehicle acquired!

Ain't she a beaut? Picked up this '84 F150 on the cheap. Has a recently rebuilt 302 that runs strong, good shifting tranny, actually drives nice. Even has a/c that sorta works. Also came with an extra C6 that has supposedly been gone through and driveshaft from another truck.

Not sure what the deal is with gearing on this truck though. At 65 its turning 3000 rpms?! Not sure if someone put some low ratio gears in it at some point, but the trailer hitch may be a clue. Either that or its actually a 4 spd thats not going in to high gear. I'm definitely getting 3 gears though.

Ill use it to run around gathering parts, then it's going to be sacrificed to power up the Model A.

 

[BigIrish]

brakes

I know everyone's going to hate on my disk brakes, but there's too many soccer moms on cell phones in Houston to do without. This is speedway kit that combines GM caliper and Mopar rotors. Also picked up a '94 crown vic rear axle with disk brakes from the junkyard. Should have a gear ratio more suitable for highway blasting than the rear in the F150.

 

[psychomike]

++ on the Disc Brakes

With what's available out there, and your skills, there is no reason that these things cant turn and stop and look bad @ss at the same time. No hating here !!!