Tex Smith (left) and Kelvin...
Tex Smith (left) and Kelvin Waddington check the '32 'rails pinched to fit the new closed cab pickup from Waddington Street Rod and Restoration.
The nature of hot rodding has always been to mix and match various components and come up with a combination where the sum is greater than the individual parts. One of the most popular combinations of pieces is a Model A body on a '32 frame. This particular practice developed in the days when both were readily available and cheap. Some ingenious Model A owner peeled the body off a dilapidated Deuce, rolled it under a roadster, and the A/V-8 was born. It was a simple way to swap a four-banger for a V-8 and get a better chassis to boot.
The frame Waddington Street...
The frame Waddington Street Rods began with is based on Speedway Motors parts and pieces to produce the Deuce frame. This included reproduction framerails (PN 916-57007), boxing plates (PNs 916-57055, 916-57056, and 916-57057), rectangular K-member kit (PN 916-57026), and a front crossmember (PN 916-57012).
Because the '32 frame has more substantial 'rails than a Model A there are practical advantages to a frame swap, and for a highboy there are aesthetic reasons as well. The deeper Deuce 'rails give the car (or truck) a purposeful performance look as well as a longer and lower profile. But there are a couple of complications. First off a Model A has a wheelbase of 103 1/2 inches while the '32 is 106 inches-that difference is usually made up by sliding the body back and lining up the wheel arches with the tires, and if the engine compartment isn't left open a longer hood is fabricated. The top of a Model A frame (and the bottom of the body) is flat whereas the top of the '32 frame is slightly swaybacked-a spacer is normally fabricated to fill the gap. Finally, the Model A cowl, particularly the '28-29, doesn't match up with the 'rails-the cure is to pinch the frame, which is what we're going to show how to do.
A test-fit of the swoopy'28-29...
A test-fit of the swoopy'28-29 cowl showed where changes to the relatively straight Deuce frame would have to be made.
Recently we found out that our mate in Australia, Kelvin Waddington, is building reproduction '28-29 closed cab pickup bodies. Being familiar with the gorgeous Ute and '34 phaeton bodies he builds, we ordered a cab sight unseen with the intentions of building a highboy shop truck. The plan was to pinch a '32 frame and it just so happened we had a candidate from Speedway Motors. The problem was it had already been boxed, an X-member fitted, and it was even painted. Obviously modifying the 'rails is easier before all that is done (particularly the boxing) but after a reassuring phone call and hearing "No worries mate" from Kelvin, we shipped it to him for modifications. Here's how it was done down under.
Before any modifications were...
Before any modifications were made, the front framehorns were bolted to the table. The rear crossmember was attached in a similar manner.
The centerline of the chassis...
The centerline of the chassis was found and marked on the front and rear crossmembers.
For future measurements, reference...
For future measurements, reference lines representing the centerline of the chassis were made on the frame table.
For comparison's sake, the...
For comparison's sake, the width of a Model A frame at the firewall was measured.
Interestingly the cowl hangs...
Interestingly the cowl hangs over the A frame approximately 1-inch on each side.
Placing a Model A pickup cab...
Placing a Model A pickup cab floorsill assembly on the Deuce frame makes the necessary changes in the 'rails contours obvious.
Compared to an A frame, the...
Compared to an A frame, the forward portion of the '32 rails are virtually straight, but that's about to change.
To pull the frame together...
To pull the frame together at the cowl, anchor plates for a hydraulic ram were welded to the inside of the 'rails just behind where the bends will be made.
A test-fit of the cowl showed...
A test-fit of the cowl showed that the 'rails had to be pulled in 1 1/4 inches on each side. Note the piece of tubing welded to the support under the 'rails.