My "31" Model A Roadster
"Work in Progress" - From the Beginning to Almost Complete
February, 2006.
I've gradually loaded lots of pictures and below is some of my history with a 1931 Model A Ford Roadster purchased in 1975 from John Simpson. He lived in California but had the car stored in his grandmothers garage in Vestal NY since a teenager. I bought it when John was about 40 years old, so it probably hadn't been driven since the 50's. His father may have been the original owner but the registration was missing. It was in fair shape but with no top, windshield, and a missing rear fender, John had bullnosed in where outside door handles should have been and had brush painted artistry on the car. Noteable was a good drawing of a skunk on the differential with the words "Li'l Stinker". When I first got the car I started the motor which seemed to run pretty well and drove it through the gears. I concluded the drive train was not bad, and the odometer showed only about 51,000 miles. Only after joining a Model A Ford Club I realized I couldn't afford to restore it, so it rested in my garage for years. I moved from Johnson City, NY to Austin Texas, stayed over a dozen years, then moved back to upstate NY, taking the "A" with me. I have now been back in upstate NY since 1992.
In 2005, 30 years after buying the car and a few false restoration starts, I re-started converting it to an authentic Deluxe Roadster. I decided 'now or never'.
The story continues January 18, 2009.
First effort after removing the body, the 'Body Off' chassis:
'A' Body, as it was, hoisted up and chassis removed
'A' Body on saw horses
'A' Body on a truck to take to G & B Body Shop
Restoration of the chassis starts here.
The chassis as removed from the body
The unrestored chassis from the rear
Disassembling the chassis
Front Axle & Radius Rods
Front Axle & Radius Rods, another view
Primed front spring leaves
Front Spring Leaves, ground and painted black
Frame restoration in process
Frame, cleaned, sandblasted, & painted
Li'l Stinker rear axle as I purchased the car
Checking and prepping to restore the rear brakes
Reworking rear brakes
Damaged emgy. brake asm.
New shoe and new lining installed
One drum done, one not
Rear axle Assembly
Reworking rear spring
Rebuilt engine, front left view
Reworked transmission
Rebuilt engine, front left view. This engine was purchased, rebuilt by Howard Palmatier
Rebuilt engine, right side view
Rebuilt engine, rear view
Rebuilt engine & gear train in chassis
Restored wheels and new tires
Repainted radiator shell
New rear shock absorber and linkages
Chassis, mostly reassembled
Restored Chassis with Temporary Cowl panel.
Front view of restored chassis
From here on the body work is shown, being performed at G & B Body Shop by Gordon Hitchcock. Are you bored yet?? This has been a four year project.
Body, showing old top tack strip.
Body, showing old top tack strip & package tray from inside
Rumble area showing floor needing repair
More rumble area before repairs.
Gas Tank - before restoration
Another look at gas tank - before
Painted gas tank set in place, as seen from old interior.
Cowl as it was
Unfinished cowl showing poor fitting heater duct.
Sandblasted body, front view
Cowl reworked and primed
Sandblasted inside cowl
Sandblasted left door
Sanded door showing imperfections to repair
Gordy working on the body.
Body with rumble lid prepped & primed
Running board splash panels, painted bottom sides
Hood being worked on - new center rod installed
Rusty rear fender well & Gordon Hitchcock with patch panel
Rumble lid, painted - inside view, primed body in the background
Rumble lid, painted - Outside view
Rear fenders, fix or replace?
Rear Fenders, freshly painted
Right front fender, bottom side - positioned to paint the top side
Painted right front fender - it's a good mirror. See Gordy's house.
Hood top panels
Painted hood side panel
Freshly painted doors
More pictures: Feb. & March 2009.
Charlie Davis Chassis with fenders, etc.
Body on a trailer, painted.
Basic body on chassis
Basic body on as seen from front angle
Rear view March 10th., 2009 - Tail lights & trunk lid added.
Front view March 10th., 2009 - gas tank & cowl lights added,
December 2009:
The car was removed from the body shop in driveable condition in June 2009. To me and most observers it looks great. I've been remiss about new pictures.
I've probably driven it about 300 miles since I got it home, enough to check it out and found a few more jobs to do.
The transmission shows excessive wear, and drops out of high gear going down long hills, so I must rebuild it or swap it out. Other than that just little things need attention. The motor runs great and it's surprising how much torque it has, handling most of our hilly country in high gear. I need to replace the broken speedometer cable so I know what speed I'm going and how far.
The first day snow came and the roads got salted, I put it away for the season. It's only in a pole barn, not the cleanest place - so I bought an inflatable bubble to keep it in. Maybe , if the weather permits, I'll get it out and take more pictures before spring. Also need to do that tranny.
July 1 2010 update:
During the winter I removed the worn transmission and replaced it with a rebuilt with syncros for second and high gears. It works good.
I also had the body 'pinstriped', a very good job. Here's a picture taken in June. Picture from June 2010
Charlie Davis