Author Topic: The Pinstriper's "A" coupe (Read 53398 times)

pinstriper40 · « **on:** October 04, 2007 12:21 am »

Well, I just got it home this weekend, and with the help of Mr. Eyeball, we got it off of the trailer and into the shop. plans include a 3" chop if I still fit after the 3" channel. It'll have an early flathead with aluminum stuff on it eventually. 3 speed toploader trans, banjo rear. I've got a '37 I beam and wishbone that will be split soon, and am looking for front brakes.... :wink: the frame will be z'd 5" in the rear and pie cut up front via mad fab. vol. 4. Possible cowl steering, '40 column and wheel, sun 5000 RPM tach, and I don't know what for a guage panel yet. I've got a '37 harley "skull" gauge pod I might use. Check out the wanteds for my shopping list!

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2007 1:25 pm »

Don't do the channel than you CAN do the chop.

JakesBackyard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2007 3:57 pm »

I'll side with Tom. Don't channel it. I used to put a lot of miles on the "Jakester" (It was channeled 4".) and it got real old resting your chin on your knees. And I think you have some pretty long legs! I could only go about an hour and a half and have to stop and walk around a while to loosen up. I'd never channel another "A". My 2 cents.

Jake

pinstriper40 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2007 6:01 pm »

since it does have a floor in it, it makes sense not to channel it i guess. I'll still have to take the floor in the back out to get the rearend up in there. You're right jake, just with a chop my head and legs will be pissed at me enough. It would be nice to be able to drive it!

31Rodder · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2007 6:27 pm »

Looks like you are easily being swayed to not channel, it will totally change the look if you dont channel. How you sit in it will depend on how you put your seat in it and you might be on the floor, but it will still be the look you are after (channeled and chopped)

Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2007 7:29 pm »

I agree 31Rodder, but he was saying if he channels he might not chop, and that remindes me of the monkey, football thing. If he can do both.....great.....but if he can only do one I vote for the CHOP!!!

JakesBackyard · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2007 8:00 pm »

Striper...you should build it how you want. I was just relaying my experience. If you have a nice subframe and want to "feel" the channeled effect, a quick raised floor can be made from some scrap 2x4s and plywood and set on top of your subframe to see how it feels. In a coupe you have room to move the seat rearward farther than a rpu. I always wished I had stretched the body another 3 inches, but it would have changed the "look" I was after.....just like your original thought. We're always after "the look" and sometimes suffer in the "feel".

By the way...is that a special coupe?

Jake

overspray · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2007 8:36 pm »

Quote from: "31Rodder"

Looks like you are easily being swayed to not channel, it will totally change the look if you dont channel. How you sit in it will depend on how you put your seat in it and you might be on the floor, but it will still be the look you are after (channeled and chopped)

Todd Jake and I have the perfect "A" seat. 85-7 Dodge colt Vista van very back rear seat (38 in wide). I have mine on modified 80 suburban seat tracks for the front ot back adjustment. The seat backs recline by "clicks" at different angles or lay down on the cushion ( in case you want to haul 2x4's sticking out thru the deck lid). I have mine all the way to the back window (take out the stock package shelf), car is channelled 4 1/2 in front about 4in rear and chopped 3 in (that's the LOOK I was after). My 6'3" son whines about it being cramped, at 5' 10" I'm good. You'll need a "traffic light viewer". Hey--it's a little car not a Cadillac. My legroom is OK, column shift helps for room, cowl steering would help, too.

JakesBackyard · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2007 9:45 pm »

Yes, that was a nice seat. Thanks to Reed for hooking me up with one. Unfortunately I had it stored in the attic right above my shop furnace that malfunctioned two years ago. What was left of it is now buried at the land fill.

It was a good seat for an "A" or similar sized car. Could easily be trimmed in many ways. I liked that each backrest was adjustable.

Reed....Johnson's have any more of them?

pinstriper40 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2007 10:40 pm »

if your son was complaining about leg room at 6' 3'', and I'm 6'5''ish, then I don't know..I'll have to just see what I've got for room and what I can handle, as well as what's (relatively) safe. I might just have to have a jockey shifter so I don't have to worry about my legs.

overspray · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2007 10:41 pm »

Quote from: "JakesBackyard"

Yes, that was a nice seat. Thanks to Reed for hooking me up with one. Unfortunately I had it stored in the attic right above my shop furnace that malfunctioned two years ago. What was left of it is now buried at the land fill.

It was a good seat for an "A" or similar sized car. Could easily be trimmed in many ways. I liked that each backrest was adjustable.

Reed....Johnson's have any more of them?

Not yet. I'll keep an eye out.

How about that yard in west Fargo?

pinstriper40 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2007 10:46 pm »

Jake- I don't know, is it a special coupe? I got it from my uncle for graduation, so that's special. How can you tell? I am definetely planning on cowl steering, and a floor shifter. Where to get a decklid skin? RacerJ and I need decklids, and this one needs a bare metal louvered one.

overspray · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2007 11:05 pm »

Quote from: "pinstriper40"

if your son was complaining about leg room at 6' 3'', and I'm 6'5''ish, then I don't know..I'll have to just see what I've got for room and what I can handle, as well as what's (relatively) safe. I might just have to have a jockey shifter so I don't have to worry about my legs.

I guess you never sat in or drove an old Corvette--or Tom's Track T. I know for a fact that GM spent big bucks engineering the Vettes to fit a wide variety of body sizes and they have less room than a chopped and channelled A coupe. Tom is not a little person, either.

Well there's a couple ways to measure. How long from your ass to your head or your ass to your feet? Do like Jake said and mock up a seat (way back) and check it at different heights. Try on Todd's or my coupe for size. Channel 3 in in front and 2 1/2 in back. Chop 2/1/2 and call it 3in. (The gospel according to Dave Boardman) Model A's and T's are so easy to channel. Build ass buckets or cutouts in the seat cushion to lower your butt for headroom. Smaller diameter steering wheel and short column. I spent a lot of time figuring and sizing up my coupe to fit more than just me. My kids whine, but they can drive it and enjoy it. The smiles on their faces tell me it still fits a 6' 3" person. I think my model A is the roughest riding car i've owned (that's called complaining), but I've never had as much fun with another car. Soooo- Last resort--cut your feet off.

A lot of planning will get you where you want. If not sell the SOB and buy a coupe de ville.

There's lot's of possibilities.

I'll check with Elvis and see if he has anything else to add.

overspray

Eyeball · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2007 11:30 pm »

I actually have a coupe deville I will trade you for....................just let me know

JakesBackyard · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2007 2:48 am »

This is a fun topic.....I guess it's because there are so many "A" lovers on here. That's great.

As far as I know Ford made A's in three coupe bodies...

1. Regular 5 window all steel except for the area above your head like Todd's.

2. Sport/Business coupes are the same except Sport has landau bars and the Business has little oval quarter windows. They both are like the Cabriolet except the doors are solid, tops don't go down, and unlike the cabrio. they have visors. Mine is a Sport coupe.

3. Special Coupe (some call it a leatherback)....basically like the 5 window
except the entire roof is covered with the old Cobra grained oil cloth. That area between the quarter glass areas on yours was all wood. I only learned this about five or so years ago when I put a Lebaron Bonney top on one. If that belt moulding around the bottom roof area is removable, that is what it is...A Special Coupe.

Here's a bunch of really good start to finish pictures of a restored one...
scroll down to the lower part of the page.

http://www.170amodela.com/RonandBettyAasen/1929SPECIALCOUPE.htm

Here's a place that has the wood....I think that main rear pc. with the back glass opening is the last one that is $92.

http://www.fordwood.com/spec1928-29twk.htm

I'm not really sure if they are any more collectable than a regular 5 window or not. I know I have only seen one and I've looked at a lot of A's (cars too).

You know if you just wait and build this thing when you get old....you'll probably have shrunk a couple inches or so.....

Later....Jake