1930 Ford Coupe 60's Hot Rod

[Dennis Lacy]

This is a project I first started messing with about a year ago but it never got much past the stage of propping up some wheels and tires next to it. I randomly got inspired yesterday to pull it out and put in some work.

While there's things about these Revell "A" kits I surely would have done different, the only real gripe I have is their decision to render the bodies with raised wheel arches. They also made the wheel wells unnecessarily deep while they were at it. To solve both of those problems I cut the wheel wells away from the interior side panels and then mounted them into the body down lower. I then restored the bead around them with .040" half-round and then sanded it flat to match the existing beads on the body.

With the wheel wells in place the body would no longer fit onto the Revell '32 series frame, they interfered with the molded in floor. I made some relief notches in both sides of the rear, raised floor area.

The wheel well basically replaces the removed material visually.

I also had to match the bottom edges of the wells to the shape of the frame.

The '32 kit rear axle (Ford 9") was lowered by trimming the air bags to get the axle tubes up against the frame rails. I ditched the disc brakes in favor of drums by using a pair of modified plates from the AMT '29 Roadster and the finned drums from AMT's '32 Vicky.

The top section of the body is from Drag City Casting and has a beautifully reworked top insert detail that he mastered. He makes the whole body but I elected to keep the plastic lower half because of all of the wheel well work.

Here's the whole thing up on its wheels for the first time. The '32 series front axle had the spring trimmed to get the front end down. The rear frame horns were bobbed after cutting out the gas tank and a spreader bar installed tucking just under the back edge of the body. The wheels, tires and printed slicks are all a set from one of AMT's recent parts packs and the Pontiac engine is AMT parts pack as well. .

That's it for now... 

[Scott8950]

That is gonna be nice and it screams 60s hot rod.. 

[Intmd8r]

Looks great!

Can’t wait for more 

[espo]

This has the right look. What was the source of the wheels ?? 

[Kit Karson]

ADL, I guess I'll have to figure out another way of expressing my sincere appreciation for your classic style and grace in bringing traditional hot rod ques and period perfect parts together!  I know we go way back and I've been privileged to be one of your mentors along with @Rockin' Rodney Rat and truly commend you on how well your skills and execution have improved over the past few years.  This little koop is again right up there with all of your other very kemp rods in your model stable.  I know RRR feels very much the same as I do... keep up the good work and know that a fortunate few are now your faithful followers and are learning about and seeing the 60's hot rod scene through your kool kreations!  -KK

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Some spiffy surgery going on here.... -RRR

[carnut]

I agree about the rear wheel wells and I like how you resolved them, I’m taking notes - hope you don’t mind. Your craftsmanship is outstanding and inspiring. Keep it going please.

Edited April 9, 2020 by carnut

[Dennis Lacy]

On 4/7/2020 at 7:46 AM, espo said:

This has the right look. What was the source of the wheels ?? 

Thanks!

[Dennis Lacy]

On 4/7/2020 at 7:52 AM, Kit Karson said:

ADL, I guess I'll have to figure out another way of expressing my sincere appreciation for your classic style and grace in bringing traditional hot rod ques and period perfect parts together!  I know we go way back and I've been privileged to be one of your mentors along with @Rockin' Rodney Rat and truly commend you on how well your skills and execution have improved over the past few years.  This little koop is again right up there with all of your other very kemp rods in your model stable.  I know RRR feels very much the same as I do... keep up the good work and know that a fortunate few are now your faithful followers and are learning about and seeing the 60's hot rod scene through your kool kreations!  -KK

Thanks for the kind words, as always, brother KK!

[Dennis Lacy]

1 hour ago, carnut said:

I agree about the rear wheel wells and I like how you resolved them, I’m taking notes - hope you don’t mind. Your craftsmanship is outstanding and inspiring. Keep it going please.

Thanks and I don’t mind at all. 

[Kit Karson]

15 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Thanks for the kind words, as always, brother KK!

Blew a gasket on you the other night... caught you PM & you're more than welcome, Brother!  -KK

[Phildaupho]

You have really captured the look of my favourite A Coupe Hot Rods.

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

I didn't mention it last time but I am using a slightly trimmed Revell '32 series firewall to make room for the big Pontiac. I thought it looked kind of funky without any lip around the edge so I cut the lip away from the channeled option firewall in the '30 Coupe kit and attached it. From there I slightly modified the floor pan from a Revell '32 3-Window kit by removing material from the sides and removing the bulkhead at the back end. The bottom of the firewall needed to be trimmed 3/32" but mates up to the toe board portion of the floor perfectly. The interior panels and seat from the '30 Coupe kit were slightly tweaked to fit with the floor and I installed some alignment blocks on the floor so that the seat stays properly positioned.

I also finalized the setup on the Pontiac engine. The block, heads, valve covers, intake/carburetors/air filters, Spalding dual coil distributor and Hydro auto trans are AMT Pontiac parts pack. The headers (factory cast iron style), front cover/water pump/fuel pump and fan are Revell Pontiac parts pack. The belt drive is from AMT's '36 Ford kits and I also installed actual, separate valve cover breathers from AMT's '34 Coupe (street rod version.) The heads were really plain looking so based on Pontiac 421 reference pictures so I added bolt heads from Grandt Line.

Next up I need to choose a dash board and steering wheel, make a steering column and install details like pedals and shifter.

[crossfire 2004]

Killer work Dennis, once again you have given us a master class in doing it right yet keeping it simple. Inspiring stuff.

[afx]

I would like to have a book of all your build threads, they are always well executed/engineered and full of great design ideas.

Edited April 12, 2020 by afx

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Nice progress there, ADL... I really like the head bolts...keeping it real... -RRR

[DrKerry]

Lookin good Dennis!!

[Dave Van]

Great stance and work.

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

Got the car mocked back together and decided to try a Revell '32 hood top on it. If I keep the hood I'll need to raise the grill shell a touch because there's a little too much slope as it is. Also, there's a couple of close up pics of the fully mocked up engine fit back in.

[Can-Con]

Oh man! I just love this shot ,,, the proportions are just perfect !  What a great build you have going on here.

[jdhog]

I like everything about this.  

[oldrevellfan]

love the job !!

[High octane]

Great work you've done on that A-Bone so far. Thanks for sharing.

[alan barton]

Hi Dennis, another great project coming along here.  Really enjoying your efforts to nail the proportions and stance.  The setback Pontiac is a great look.  I will be interested to see your approach in blending the swage lines from the hood to the cowl.  I have an AMT 32 Vicky converted to fit the Revell Deuce platform but still haven't tackled the hood graft.

For what it's worth, a narrowed 49 or 50 Ford dash would go nice in this car.

  I will finish today my first Revell 30 coupe, a totally different look to yours but I grinned when I saw that I had put my seat locating blocks in exactly the same location of yours.  I created some issues for myself by using the full pleated interior with the channelled chassis.  The floor will fit but you have to pop it up into the body and then drop down into place.  The kit seat was then too high but the channelled seat from the 29 roadster was perfect but couldn't be installed til after the floor was glued in place - thus the need for blocks!

Cheers

Alan

Edited April 17, 2020 by alan barton

[Sam I Am]

Sweet little coupe Dennis!