1929 Ford "Traditional Rod" Pickup - Done!

[Tom Geiger]

In the beginning... here's what I started with. A Model A pickup that had been mostly assembled by a kid or adult with limited skills. I did like the green finish and figured I'd do something with it someday. Yes, I have all kinds of expensive kits and I always wind up playing with a $5 junker!

And the final details got finished a few days ago. It's pretty much my vision of the truck I'd like to have in 1:1. Front bumper is from the AMT '51 Chevy kit. Wheels were found in my tire box, and I don't remember where I got them. Theory is that they are off an old Jada diecast. I also added outside door handles. They are on pins with the head inside the body, so they can flop around.

I believe the seats are the custom units from the original 1963 Chevy kit. Seat belts are thin ribbon with belt buckles cut off those clunky plastic seat belts found in older kits. I had prepped the seats for a previous build and they had been sitting on the shelf right above my bench as a reminder that I wanted to use them someday. So today was that day. They fit right into the interior. Bed was just finished with a simple piece of plywood. I left the gas tank in it's original position.

For the rebuild, I kept the same Caddy engine to keep it simple and because I'd want an interesting 50s engine in mine, no Chevy small block for my Model A. I made the air cleaners to get the look I wanted and added details like a dipstick, ignition wires, fuel filters and a rubber radiator hose. I kept the original exhaust pipes but instead of gluing them to the skirt like in the kit, I drilled the skirt and attached them to a real exhaust below. I installed an MFA (Magic Floating Alternator) just for Harry because I already had installed a side mirror.

And since I didn't take a new close up shot of the door decal, here's one of my progress shots. I found the image on the Internet and had actually made the decals a few years ago. They fit my project so I used them here.

Rear view used the stock tail lights that were attached to the now missing fenders. I made a little bar at the back of the chassis and pinned them in place. The Illinois plate was added just because I've been putting random state plates on my builds lately. And because Harry lives there!

I already talked about the interior a bit, but there are photo etched gauges behind the steering wheel. The dash is wood grained. I added rope door pulls per a 1:1 I saw in photos. Since last outing, I lowered the rear view mirror, redrilling it into the window frame. It's pin mounted.

Chassis is pretty much the way the kit was only I lowered the suspension a few scale inches. I made the exhaust from my hoard of kit exhaust parts. It's all separate pieces that were pinned together, pretty much the same way a 1:1 would be clamped together. I wanted the exhaust to exit right before the rear wheels, and yes I wanted mufflers on a car I'd be cruising around in!

This one was only on the bench about two weeks start to finish and is one of the only models I've done without disruption. It was just fun to do and I'm happy with the results.

Edited December 18, 2013 by Tom Geiger

[Pete L.]

Tom,

Nice work, looks like you might want to try some snow tires

[Chuck Most]

Love it! And isn't this scenario always the one that plays out...

Yes, I have all kinds of expensive kits and I always wind up playing with a $5 junker!

[Tom Geiger]

Tom,

Nice work, looks like you might want to try some snow tires

No problem Pete, I have snows on my winter beater!

[farmer1]

A BIG improvement on what you started with ! nice job

[slusher]

Nice build Tom, very creative using so many different parts. Harry has a thing about those alternators ....

[PappyD340]

Real NICE Tom, Hey Tom the MFA is new technology in an old ride!! so essentially you have a resto mod rod!!

[Danno]

Very nice, Tom!

[ChrisR]

Looks good, Tom. Don't want to drive it in the snow though,

[peekay]

Nice work!

[Tom Geiger]

Looks good, Tom. Don't want to drive it in the snow though,

I take pictures in snow when the occasion arises, which isn't that often. It mostly melted today. And I do it for warm climate guys like you Chris!

Thanks for the nice comments guys!

Edited December 20, 2013 by Tom Geiger

[mnwildpunk]

Very sweet ride