What did you do to your non-G body project today? [2022]

[CopperNick]

Too bad you couldn't lay your hands on a Lincoln Zephyr 39 box based on its reputation for durability. Last set of springs I re-stacked received in between layers of heavy poly-plastic anti-squeak material. Stuff is still there and doing its thing over thirty years later.



Nick

 

[rwd_pete]

It's the Spring of a new year so we're prepping for this year’s Model-A events season:


* Rebuild the front suspension to remedy an occasional 'death wobble'.
* Reduce the ride height while it’s apart because I lower 'everythang'. Doing “traditional” mods: spring tweaks, swapping in a ’32 front axle (dropped vs a ’30 front axle), & adding tube-style shocks (front & rear).

* Retire the same-size 19" ‘May-Pop’ bias-ply tires for fresh Big-n-Little 16” radials (5.50/7.00) that look like bias-plys.
* Swap the 19" Spoke wheels for later 16" Spokes.
* Install new LED taillights & a functional brake light switch (faulty brake light switch was determined to be our electrical system drain source).
* Rebuild the fuel supply system & carb: Tank float + gauge kit, inner-outer hard lines + filter/screen, carb kit & new hardware already here.
* Adjusted the valves (determined to be the source of initial/internal valvetrain concern). Purrs like a sewing machine now.
* Install traditional appearing new electronic ignition & wires.
* Swap the OG non-synchronized 3spd for a '39 model synchronized V8 3spd.
* Refresh the cooling system. The system pressurized @ some point causing leaks & a mess. The issue has been found & corrected. Now we’ll rebuild & modify the water pump for a temp gauge fitting. We’ll also pull & externally clean the radiator from the mess created (rust stains).

* Clean the firewall of >60yrs worth of grime. Clean coolant spray off motor/under-hood.
* Freshen up some interior items: add insulation; new rubber floor cover, move seat back 3"; new interior screw kit; fresh glass welting; & add SW gauges (parts enroute & gauges purchased last year).

The first big outing will be the Round-Up in Austin TX next month.

The trans rebuild/swap parts should be here end-of-week. We picked up 3qty core transmissions @ an estate parts-sale & initial inspection looks like enough good internals to have 2 solid units after the rebuilds (bearings/synchro’s already enroute). The suspension rebuild parts have also been ordered & are on their way. Over the winter I worked on & salvaged 8qty 16" wheels (straightened wheel lips & spokes). They're stripped down & ready to move toward the paint process. Nothing high-end & not worrying about having them pretty. I just focused on the straightening, removal of heavy scale (rust + 87yrs of re-paints) & did general clean-up. The paint is just so they're all consistent in color (black). Tires were purchased last year but finding good wheels w/o over-paying took more time than we wanted.

In the pics is the removed front stock leaf set-up & then the reversing of the main-leaf spring.

We’ll combine the reverse-eye mod (~ 1.5”) w/removing a leaf or three (~1”) & the higher spindle height of the ’32 axle (~ 1.5”) which should yield about 4” of drop. I’m currently rounding the leaf ends & chamfering the contact areas for a smoother ride quality. We hope to pre-assemble the front set-up by the weekend so we can heat & tweak steering items as needed.

Very neat way to de-arch the leaves. I hadn't seen that way before. I had a reverse eye main spring made up to fit a later spring in front axle (slightly dropped) to use in my roadster chassis. Do you have a picture of your car? Did you happen to catch the recent Vise Grip Garage Youtube video where Derek drives home a tired stock model A for 700 miles. Pretty good story.
Pete

 

[scoti]

Very neat way to de-arch the leaves. I hadn't seen that way before. I had a reverse eye main spring made up to fit a later spring in front axle (slightly dropped) to use in my roadster chassis. Do you have a picture of your car? Did you happen to catch the recent Vise Grip Garage Youtube video where Derek drives home a tired stock model A for 700 miles. Pretty good story.
Pete

I have not seen that episode so I'll check it out. Some pics from last Fall

 

[Wraith]

So a little mock up today, 26" Forgiato's



I know this car may not everyone's cup of tea BUT this winter it will be going 6.2 LS, big turbo. Do not spend time watching Donk racing, crush your ideas about donks, amazing on the work done and their abilities, hooking on those skinny tires is work.

 

[MrSony]

Truck runs like absolute dog sh*t. Still does the gradually loading up chugging then dying thing at idle, at highway speeds, any time it's on really. Starter is also pulling 300 amps and can barely turn the engine with no compression whatsoever over, main bearing knock getting louder, power steering works less the faster you drive, etc.
#justfordthings
Granted I've beaten the absolute hell out of it nearly everyday I've driven it for the last year and a half. All the above problems would be immediately solved with a new engine which will happen shortly.

 

[Hurricane77]

So a little mock up today, 26" Forgiato's



I know this car may not everyone's cup of tea BUT this winter it will be going 6.2 LS, big turbo. Do not spend time watching Donk racing, crush your ideas about donks, amazing on the work done and their abilities, hooking on those skinny tires is work.

Always respect the time and effort that people put into their hobbies, even if it's not your cup of tea. If someone want to build a donk, a stanced car or a squatted truck, doesn't affect me one bit. I go off-roading with a '93 Ford Explorer and half the Jeep guys wonder WTF I'm doing out there.

In that video, did the donk win. Hard to tell from the angle and they cut out before the times went up on the board. Vette go the hole shot clearly - no big surprise there. Certainly looked close at the end.

 

[rwd_pete]

I have not seen that episode so I'll check it out. Some pics from last Fall

I like it. Should be fun. So a '31 Cabriolet with roll up windows? The taller back tires help with cruising speed. I have older tall T/A sport truck radials on the back to kill some of the 3.70 gear ratio. On the front 185/75x14. They actually came from the factory on a '81 Malibu that I bought new.👍

 

[scoti]

I like it. Should be fun. So a '31 Cabriolet with roll up windows? The taller back tires help with cruising speed. I have older tall T/A sport truck radials on the back to kill some of the 3.70 gear ratio. On the front 185/75x14. They actually came from the factory on a '81 Malibu that I bought new.👍

'30 Model. Cabriolets were the upper end of the 'open' cars w/windows that roll-up & the actual folding -top. The top can go from up/down @ any point on the road w/o having to remove it to store somewhere ( vs. Roadsters).

As far as gearing, we put an OD in it last year when going through the mechanicals to get it back on the road. So it's a .74 final drive gear when the OD is engaged. The combo yielded ~1700rpm @ 40mph; ~2000rpm @ 65. The 'new' trans from a '39/V8 era flathead has taller gearing vs. the pre-V8 transmissions. First gear in these things is super-low so the '39's gearing helps make 1st gear a little friendlier & the gear splits aren't as wide ('30 = 3.12, 1.85, 1:1 vs. the '39 = 2.82, 1.60, 1:1). The best part is they're synchronized. The double/triple clutching gets old quickly until you are fully used to it's quirkiness which is hard to do in a car that's only driven occasionally.

The different 16" wheel/tire combo is actually 1" shorter in the rear vs. the 19's & should yield ~1752 @ 40mph; ~2100 @ 65mph. Very 4-banger friendly rpm's. They don't like to lug but high rpm beats the center main Babbitt bearing set-up of original motors. Trans gearing would look like 2.82, 2.08, 1,60, 1.18, 1.00, .74 if all gears were split. Those options help on hilly stuff but it will most likely be like having a 4spd.

 

[MrSony]

starter on the truck is doa

yay

 

[Clutch]

starter on the truck is doa

yay

At least your not making payments on a truck you can't drive.