[MODERN A]

HOW DO I FIT,DRILL, BOLT, REINFORCE ETC., HINGES, (ONE PIECE) DOOR TO BODY. FIBERGLAS 31 MODEL A COUPE.

[bigdog7373]

There's a lot of guys on here who would know this so i'll bump this for you.

Anyone?

[Irelands child]

What body manufacturer? How much internal reinforcing built in by mfr? Who made the hinges - OEM/stock style? Hidden? Why didn't the body mfr. install the doors? I've seen several different mfr's 'A' bodies and they all shipped with doors installed and aligned, usually with your choice of hinge and latch.

Oh yeah, turn the caps off on your keyboard. You are yelling with them on and many folks wont respond.

[MODERN A]

much obliged on the caps thing (i was not aware), i have always used all caps, big & bold due to my eyesight.

the body came as parts only,quite rough, i was disappointed as soon as received. $860.00 w/tax, good deal ???
i was supplied with jigs to cut out the door jamm, to let the concealed hinges swing, but nothing tells me where to drill holes. they were fabricated by a local machine shop near the body builder, probably coppied from an original.

the manufacturer was called "a glass act", i think he went out of business or sold out. he had moved to fort eire across the river from buffalo ny, he claimed he had much more business from the states.

they claim to have built over 100 "a's". i think that they
were pissed off because i built my own chassis. at the risk of being boring i should let you know that i am a licenced marine engine mechanic, built and ran a marina here in honey harbour ontario,(south east corner of georgian bay)for 23 years. they did not like what i wanted for a chassis. i will give you a description of my build.

the only part on the whole car that is model a, is the chassis. starting from the rear, axle 87 camero 3.73,
air suspention, 91 gmc 1/2 ton manual 5 speed, engine
140 hp mercruiser 4 cyl (chevy 2 block) bolts right up to the gm tranny, front end is mustang 2 from the hot rod shop, firestone air springs, on 17' mags.

i am 81 years old, so i am not too interested in the drag strip any more. i had 4 model a's for my wheels back in the 40's and 50,s but they were all too slow on the highways (50/55mph) the 140 is exactly the same displacement as the original ford, and i think it will do just fine on the highway. the whole car is just under 2000#,
just right to tow behind my motorhome.

many thanks, i need all the help i can get on this one
j. ross birch

[Irelands child]

Ross - sounds like you have a 'project' ahead of you. If you can get us some photos, it might be a bit easier to work this out.

I'll think some of this through as will some others and we can discuss later on.

That Mercruiser engine - just make sure it isn't a reverse rotation like some of the V8's I'm aware of - it could get 'interesting' if it is.

Dave W

[MODERN A]

Thanks Dave, I'll take some more pictures cause I also want to let Stacey David know of my project. getting photos into my lapp top isn't one of my better accomplishments.

J.Ross Birch

[MODERN A]

Dave, I was an OMC dealer when I had the marina. i don't believe the 4 or 6 cyl inline chevs were ever available in rev rotation. around 1980 omc came up with a reverse rotation stern drive (by reversing the lower unit) for twin aplplications

[OneMoreTime]

Just to give you an idea on these bodies and cost:

1932 Ford 3 Window Coupe Body by Rod Action - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

Kind of one of those get what you pay for deals..And the speedway bodies are good but not considered one of the really good ones such as Wescott are..What we do is trade our time for the money so to speak..Now saying that I am building as much as I can and getting a pile of usable parts that are rough is just fine in my book as I can fix it and put the difference in my pocket..or as the case may be buy what I really cannot do in my shop..

Sam

Sam

[bigdog7373]

Good lord! $8000!!!? I'd try my luck building one myself before paying that much!

[MODERN A]

Thanks guys, wish I had known about Hot Roders Bulletin Board 10 or 12 years back. I'll have to keep going with what I have for now. I'll try and get some pictures on in the next few days.

Ross Birch

[302 Z28]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

Good lord! $8000!!!? I'd try my luck building one myself before paying that much!

In reality that is not too terrible a price.

Vince

[Irelands child]

Originally Posted by 302 Z28

In reality that is not too terrible a price.

Vince

Heck, for about $7.5K, you can get into a steel bodied Brookville roadster with Wescott fenders and Lobeck running boards/splash shields. Then it just goes up (and up some more) from there

Ross, we'll be waiting the photos of what you have to work with.

Dave W