First Car - '29 Ford Coach

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rwd_pete

Greasemonkey
Oct 3, 2006
108
86
28
Niagara Falls
I was in high school in the '60s and read Hot Rod, Car Craft and Rod & Custom magazines. I really wanted a hot rod but saved my fruit picking money and bought a stock '29 Ford in 1966 for $275. It ran but leaked oil a lot. I found a better stock Model A engine, added hydraulic brakes to the car, painted the car yellow in my brother-in-laws barn, and got it on the road in 1967.
1966 Model A.JPG
1967.JPG

I drove it to university in September 1967 which was about 80 miles away. I would head out on Sunday afternoon and return home on Friday night. It maxed out at 62 mph. If you had to turn the wipers on, on a sunny day, then the rad was overheating and spewing. Better slow down. LOL I got caught in a snow storm in November that year and it had no heater or defogger. I soon bought a 56 Ford for a winter car for $125.
1970.jpg

Of course the 56 Ford got hot rodded too. In 1970 it had a 390 4 speed.
1971.jpg

And then the 29 got a panel paint job in 1972
1972 Model A.JPG

Both cars evolved. This was around 1978.
1978.jpg

In 1992 I rebuilt the 29. I installed a Model B engine which is a '32 motor. It had a stronger crank than an A and I had it balanced, a mild cam, header and Ansen intake. I built a trailer from a Model A truck box to haul my son's go kart.
1992 go kart.JPG

In 2009 it was on the road for a while, but the electric fuel pump that was in it succumbed from I think alcohol in the new gas. It went to the back of the garage for a few years. The back wheels are 10x15 magnesium Americans that came off a top fuel car out of Lockport New York in 1967. They came with pie crust slicks and the car had supposedly ran 207 mph. The fronts are 14x 6 ETs with 185/75's that came from the factory on my 1981 Iraqi Taxi Malibu.
2009.jpg

It's almost ready to go again. The new fuel pump is causing the carb to flood occasionally, so it might need a pressure regulator. The insurance company probably wants a new appraisal ( last one in 1999).
2018 B engine.jpg


2018 interior.jpg


I hope to have it back on the road later this summer. When I bought it in 1966 it was 37 years old and looked vintage. My 78 Malibu is 40 years old now. I wonder if it looks as vintage to young folk?
Pete
 
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ItsnotaGN

G-Body Guru
May 28, 2016
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I think it's awesome you've kept it all this time. Hopefully there's people in your family who appreciate it's heirloom status.
 
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Longroof79

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
G-Body of the Month
Oct 14, 2008
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Thank you for posting your car history and pictorial. It does take me back to a different era in hot rodding.
It's cool to see that you've held on to these cars for all those years and the different stages the cars have gone thru.
 
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