Back to life: Resurrecting my 1930 coupe

[Onlybackroads]

Finally after two and a half years after our accident in Texas, I'm ready to start rebuilding my car! We've gotten word that our case will be settled soon, so at this point I am ready to start crackin at this project and getting the ol' girl back on the road. I have a good lead on a running chassis, I just need to hope it doesn't sell before I pick it up. I'll be posting pictures to document the tear-down and rebuild process, so stay tuned!

[cpf240]

Two years, and still not settled? Wow!

Can't wait to follow the restoration process!

[TRP]

Wow. I'll tune in to follow this one for sure. Glad to hear it will be resurrected.

Ted

[jthomas6]

Over two years!!!
Who was your A insured with??

[Onlybackroads]

I had basic liability (I know, big mistake...) with AAA so we had to get a lawyer to fight the case. Took a while but it's finally panning out.

[700rpm]

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Glad to hear it, Sean.

[Y-Blockhead]

I remember you reporting on Ford Barn about your trip and 'mishap'.

Glad to hear you will be getting your car back on the road. Will you be (finally) continuing your adventures driving across the Country?

[JDupuis]

Glad to hear you are doing well. I followed your postings in the past, and envied your spirit of adventure. The motor bikes look cool. Did you fix the fiddle? How's Lane's nose? Keep us posted with the progress of your A. Jeff

[H. L. Chauvin]

Looks like yesterday we read about your very sad situation; however, as we age, appears Christmas comes every six months, then every three months, then .......

We all can commend you for taking the time to return and to post pictures of your resurrecting your coupe.

Thanks for continuing to share your courageous Model A undertaking with everyone.

[Onlybackroads]

Thanks everyone, very excited to get back in the Model A world, the kind feedback on here also helps me chug along.

Jeff, the fiddle is still broken, but Lanes nose was set back and healed pretty well!

Y-blockhead, I will probably drive from Tennessee to California once I get it all fixed up, I sold my truck recently so it will once again be my only 4-wheeled vehicle!

[Onlybackroads]

Alright, back in Tennessee as of last night. I haven't been around much so my shop space if fairly cluttered, first step is to uncover this poor wrecked car after sitting since October 2014!

[todd3131]

I feel your pain. I have been here and done this after a very similar accident with similar damage. Is the frame bent really bad? Mine was out 12 inches to the driver side.

[Tiny]

Glad to see you're back. I'm looking forward to watching you bring the old girl back.

[Onlybackroads]

Yes the frame is bent pretty bad past the cross member, definitely in need of a full frame transplant. As of now I am scheduled to pick up a running chassis tomorrow with a newer distributor, bigger carb, and a "C" head.

[Onlybackroads]

Check it out! Running chassis with a "C" head! Time to get to work!!!

[Onlybackroads]

Hmmm... I suppose my frame is a liiiiiiittle bent...

[JRShaw]

Wishing you the best of luck in this journey!!!

[Onlybackroads]

Brought the cars into the yard for body swap once I got a few buds to show up! Everything swapped over nicely, just had to have my friends push here and there to get the body bolts to line up correctly. Check out the picture of my original frame with the body off, pretty twisty!

Going to run without fenders for a little bit while I hunt down replacements, I kind of like the classic highboy look anyhow...

[TinCup]

Pate swap meet in DFW is coming up so perfect timing to look for some fenders.

[V8COOPMAN]

So, did you get a new TITLE with the new chassis/engine? DD

[Drive Shaft Dave]

I like your progress so far keep up `the good work.

[Onlybackroads]

Swapped over all of my cast iron brake drums, my wheels and tires, and ended up seapping over the brakes and backing plates from my original chassis since the new ones were pretty toasted.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Onlybackroads

I had basic liability (I know, big mistake...) with AAA so we had to get a lawyer to fight the case. Took a while but it's finally panning out.

I don't think having only basic liability is a big mistake. That is all I carry. We are playing a numbers game and sometimes we lose. My cars are stored in a locked garage at my residence and seldom driven. I can afford to lose the value of the car in an accident (but would not like to do so). What I can't afford is a million dollar suit in case of an accident.

Charlie Stephens

[Charlie Stephens]

Be sure to work with DMV on your frame change since it has the serial number. Should be an easy task if done now but if you chose to ignore it then it could become a nightmare in the future.

Charlie Stephens

[Onlybackroads]

I scrapped the old frame and was planning to stamp the existing numbers into my new frame.

[Charlie Stephens]

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Originally Posted by Onlybackroads

I scrapped the old frame and was planning to stamp the existing numbers into my new frame.

You are going from a simple solution to something that is probably illegal. Can you get the old frame back long enough to show it to an inspector?

Charlie Stephens

[Onlybackroads]

No, I can't.

[Redbird]

I would think that as long as the vin matched the engine and stamped frame you should not have a problem.

[RawhideKid]

Hey, OBR, if you stamp the engine numbers on the frame and don't tell anyone about it, take a few pics and a rubbing to show they are the same, no one but you and all you have told here will know. So what is illegal about something no one else knows about?

[Onlybackroads]

Yeah I agree, not worried about it, my original frame, which is destroyed, had the serial number matching my title, therefore I feel comfortable making my new frame match the title

[Onlybackroads]

Made some headlight brackets today, using the broken parts from my wreck. Warning: picture contains modified parts! I wasn't necessarily planning on an old school highboy look, but since I didn't have good fenders to put on at the time, I actually started to enjoy the look of it as-is.

[TRP]

Backroads,

Sent you a PM. I have some complete headlights if you want 'em.

Ted