So it seems the more parts I collect for this thing, the more parts I will have in the end which won't be used. The last two months have brought me almost enough parts to create two rolling chassis.
More parts to the pile:
I bought another Model A front axle complete with tie rod, spindle to spindle and
40 Ford front brakes complete with Model A piston rings and spacers for adaptation to early spindles--
$375.
On July 30th, I found a 1929 Model A frame complete with front and rear crossmembers--not just rails this time, on Craigslist for $170.
In early August, I finally located some front wishbones while perusing Craigslist as well. I had been watching a guy's ad pop-up for over a month and a half. If I remember right, the years of the parts kept changing as he relisted them time after time. The last time I read the two ads for one set of front and rear ends for a 1932 and the other a complete set up for a 1939. I somehow talked Liz into going to the Lake Isabella area for a short day trip so I could eventually take a look at the parts. Once we arrived to look at the the goods, the guy said one front end had already been bought and he'd take $125 for the remaining stuff, if I paid right then. Noticing that one rear end had hydraulic brakes, I agreed quickly. The guy and a friend of his also did almost all the work of removing the torque tubes and wheels loading the parts listed below into my small, but trusty Tundra.
The fellow really didn't know what he had. It turns out after getting the treasures home and looking at them closely, referencing the pictures on the HAMB, and posting a question, I have what turns out to be:
1936 front end, complete spindle to spindle, tie rod, draglink, and wishbone with spring
1936 rear end, drum to drum, mechanical brakes, with torque tube
1936 set of wide five Ford 16x4 artillery wheels
1948 rear end complete drum to drum, detachable shock mounts, hydraulic brakes, torque tube and radius rods
Friday evening I go see the man I bought my grill shell from and I pick up a rear crossmember that I had been needing for the 30 rails. $25.
Yesterday, Liz and I went out for our usual Sunday afternoon antiquing outing here in Bako. We always find stuff that we like but can't afford, so we just drool a little and go home. This Sunday was a little different. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not find anything I needed which I could also afford. So I just kinda trapsed around the stores hoping to spot an old bent end wrench that would fit the bolts on the inside of the early Ford backing plates. About to give up on that as well, I started toward one of my favorite booths at one of the larger antique malls.
This booth is a man-child's playground with old tools in old boxes. old tin flashlights, fishing lures made of real wood, baseball gloves--well, you get the picture. Before I can get there I notice an old pair of wheels hidden under a small tin sign in another booth that sometimes has a small array of neat stuff--usually die cast model A trinkets, a Hank Williams Jr. cassette and a couple Hawaiian shirts. So I move the tin sign to reveal not one, but two Kelsey Hayes 16x4 bent spoke rims in very good condition with a price tag asking $59 for the pair. I excitedly walked to my favorite booth knowing that there is an old folding stick ruler laying around so I can measure everything to confirm what I was seeing and hollar at Liz to follow me so I can talk her into giving the official OK for me to buy the wheels. Sure enough, they are 5 on 5.5 and 16x4! So tell her that these things typically run upwards of $75 on the internet. So she gets excited and gives her OK. In the end I get a pair of great wheels and save them from a certain, and slow, painful death in the form of some family's favorite yard art.
In eight months, I've spent $755 and now have more parts than I know what to do with.
Grand total: $1525
I now have a line on Model A springs for the front and back. I recently learned, the hard way of course, that the spring behind springs are too wide to fit into the Model A crossmember. Now I'm looking to spend another $100 for one. I've found a very good resource for these and may have found a surprise as well.
More soon...
