Ideas

[hawk'srod]

Gents,
I'am in search of some knowledge from all of you, Everyone on here has done something different and I do need Ideas on what needs improved on this HotRod, choptop, new whitewalls, exaust, please give me ideas,
Iam thinking of chopping the top 3-4 inches and re building the frame with a double z, but not sure..any ideas and feedback would be appriciated...
Hawk
1st pic is from when i bought it, the rest are recent

 

[Flipper_1938]

If I was going to re-do the frame, I'd start with 32 ford framerails. Nothing makes an A look better.

After that, next on my list would be skinny 16" steel wheels with blackwall bias ply big and littles.

some pics from the H A M B

 

[ratdog]

Nice coupe, I would chop it like you said and call it done.With a chop it would look great the way it sits now. And the whitewall tires I think are overused and overrated.

 

[hillbilly4008]

Gotta start off by saying "its your rod, do what you want" Thats gospel in these parts.

However, if it were mine.......
_definate chop top

-lose the wheel/tire combo, get some new bias plys with ribbed sidewalls. They dont have to be Wide white walls, sometimes the blackwalls are classy. Maybe get some model a 16" spoke rims on front and some steelies in the rear. Like mentioned before, run bigs and littles.

-lose the chrome valve covers, go with a cast aluminum or something paintd to match the engine. OR get some old school script valvecovers, or even the "fauxmobile" covers. Maybe some Lake style headers?

-not every car has to be flat black with red wheels. Theres no rule that says otherwise. I feel there is a VERY fine line between "ratrods" and "traditional" cars, alot of the time its only paint. I think this car would look good in a dull rustoleum color

-try and do the little things so you can keep it drivable, nothing worse than having a car in pieces in your garage that you've lost interest in.

Like i said, just my .02. In the end its your car, and it looks like you've got yourself a great starting point. And for Pete sake, enjoy it!

 

[DougnDog]

frame

if your thinking of doing a double "z" in my opinion its easier to build a frame than to change one.....I'm doing it for a guy right now with a 30 A and will be chopping the top 5".....Too much I think but its his car. check out my build in the build section for the way I built my frame and for the A see I'm back in this section. by the way the material for the frame came in just under $200.00 for a finished frame. Good luck...have fun

 

[BigIrish]

Tires & wheels would make a huge difference. Big & littles would give it a nice forward rake too. That would be first on my list.

A 2-3" chop would look real nice on that one. Much more and the car is almost undriveable b/c you can't see.

 

[LilD]

Another vote for ditching the wheels at least. Maybe some chrome reversed.
White walls would help.
Finned aluminum valve covers.
Chopping the top.
Repainting. Something other than flat black.
Just my ideas but its your car.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Definitly ditch the wheels/tires. Blackwall bias and solid steel wheels - like Flippers second pic - maybe yellow? Don't worry about the chop yet. Or lowering it yet. Just drive it.

Find that Audi commercial for some paint job ideas!

 

[LarryH]

IMO it doesn't need very much. Maybe chop it 3", ditch the wheels for some chromies or some five spokes (with black walls), swap the valve covers for some finned aluminum valve covers, paint it the color of your choice (personally i would leave it flat black) and drive the hell out of it.

 

[hawk'srod]

Thanks for all your friendly advise, ya'll sure have given me some ideas,
Thanks Again

 

[rainman]

I pretty much agree with everyone else about the wheel tire combo, but I don't think the grill shell fits the car. To me it just doesn't look right chrome. If it rides and drives well I wouldn't chang the frame. And chopping is totally up to you, me I like them both ways.JMO

 

[Sam_Fear]

I thought maybe that was just me - about the grill. I think it's just too shiney for the rest of the car. Doesn't balance out. If there was more chrome on the rest of the car, I think it would be OK. As is the fron looks a little chrome heavy compared to the rest of the car.

 

[Crossfire]

A-changes

Lose the rally wheels and tires,probably will bring you $500 to $600 at the swapmeet,the grill insert needs to be darkened up,to brite,make some cutouts in the visor and do something to make the Caddy air cleaner and headders stand out a little more,but no wide whites,that crap is so overdone with the coupes.