07-07-2013, 09:06 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Plover, WI
Posts: 261
|
Chassis rides
We have all been there when restoring a Model A. You have just gotten the chassis done and you can't wait to go for a ride. How many different ways have you all taken that first chassis ride to shake the bugs out. I have heard of sitting on milk crates, 5 gallon buckets, lawn chairs, etc... I bet someone out there probably even fastened on their ol' Lazyboy for the first ride. I am getting close to getting my chassis out for a ride so what are some suggestions? Pictures? I have mocked up a dash board with the coil, ammeter, ignition switch, gas tank and I thought I should add a kill switch in the ignition just in case I get bucked off for some reason.
|
07-07-2013, 09:10 PM | #2 |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
|
Re: Chassis rides
good idea tie a rope to your belt loop via the kill switch like a tread mill.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
07-07-2013, 10:13 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Cape Cod
Posts: 1,128
|
Re: Chassis rides
Ken,
Use milk crates minus the 78 records ! Marc |
07-08-2013, 05:22 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denville NJ
Posts: 964
|
Re: Chassis rides
We were cutting up an old Toyota at the firehouse years ago, I told the boys to be careful with the front bucket seats. They had no idea what I was up to. The seats bolted to a 1 inch piece of plywood, and I have used it on three frames.
__________________
Model A Ford Club of New Jersey http://www.mafcnj.org Model A Pick Up Owners and Enthusiasts http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/group.php?groupid=5 |
07-08-2013, 05:44 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, ON, Canada
Posts: 315
|
Re: Chassis rides
I recall several years ago I fastened 3/4" plexiglass to the frame and the make shift dash made of bed rails. What a sight, the seats mounted on the see though deck and pair of 28 plates tied to the frame front and rear. Every evening I'd take a spin through the village until "John Law" stopped me. It went like this: " What is this?" Officer, this is a 1928 Ford Model A farm tractor. "No it is not! Where do you live?" I told him and he suggested I take it straight home; I did
__________________
Dave A Jamieson Portland, ON Canada 1928 Tudor |
07-08-2013, 06:56 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 580
|
Re: Chassis rides
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
07-08-2013, 11:36 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fairfax, VA
Posts: 3,393
|
Re: Chassis rides
Tie it down so you can push against the brakes without the seat sliding back
|
07-08-2013, 07:10 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Plover, WI
Posts: 261
|
Re: Chassis rides
Great pose and picture. There has to be more out there.
|
07-08-2013, 08:10 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok.
Posts: 1,977
|
Re: Chassis rides
__________________
Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group. |
07-08-2013, 08:21 PM | #10 | |
BANNED
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks County, PA
Posts: 11,454
|
Re: Chassis rides
Quote:
and space for a navigator that one needs the auto kill switch |
|
07-08-2013, 09:19 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Plover, WI
Posts: 261
|
Re: Chassis rides
Nice touch with the co-pilot seat. I just got mine running tonight. I just am waiting for the brake drums to get done and pick up tires at the Iola Old Car Show later this week. Then I need to find just the right chair for the ride.
|
07-08-2013, 09:28 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
|
Re: Chassis rides
Hope this works |
07-09-2013, 05:09 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: lexington sc
Posts: 456
|
Re: Chassis rides
hello
here is what i did the milk crate did not look safe kevin 1930 model atudor 1923 model t roadster p/u |
07-09-2013, 05:34 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Brookfield, NH
Posts: 102
|
Re: Chassis rides
Wire milk crate on plywood. That was while ago and I remember being pretty pleased with it. Just cruising around the apple trees.....Thanks
|
07-09-2013, 08:08 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern New Jersey
Posts: 1,262
|
Re: Chassis rides
When road testing a chassis be sure the seat is sturdy enough for the heaviest driver and it is bolted to the frame to prevent it from tipping backward on sudden clutch engagement of acceleration as well as sideways on a sudden turn. Had the misfortune of hitting a curb and the steering went full left turn almost throwing a young passenger onto the roadway. ............Use caution ! When you don't think anything can go wrong, it will.
|
07-09-2013, 08:58 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
|
Re: Chassis rides
My Fathers little brother died in a chassis ride in '58. Him and a buddy were building a car, and the chassis with a deck were done. The driver hopped on behind the wheel and Ken threw an oil crate onto the deck and jumped on. They went down the road and the driver turned to pull into a hayfield to turn around, as the pulled into the open bar way, the front tire dug into the shoulder and the chassis spun around hitting a tree. Not much of an impact but Ken came off of the crate and drove his head into the roll bar. They unplugged his ventilator a week layer, on Mothers Day 1958.
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown |
07-09-2013, 09:47 PM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St. Davids, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 84
|
Re: Chassis rides
Just got my 1930 Tudor chassis ready for a ride . Used a '96 Dodge Caravan seat all bolted down an a lawnmower gas tank.
Great first ride but something was wrong with the motor, so tore it down last week and found warped ex. valve. I'll try again next week after a new set of valves installed. Grant. Last edited by grantsauder; 07-15-2013 at 07:45 PM. |
07-10-2013, 04:16 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Plover, WI
Posts: 261
|
Re: Chassis rides
Sorry to hear about the tragic loss in 1958. This thread is also important to emphasize the safety requirements and concerns when planning on taking a chassis out for a ride.
|
07-10-2013, 04:55 AM | #19 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 240
|
Re: Chassis rides
Quote:
I am a retired LEO and I had the misfortune of having to deal with a incident where an elderly gentleman managed to drive his newly restored vintage ford chassis ( no body or seats) through his garage door - into the road and got hit by a passing vehicle - the results were fatal. Our investigation concluded that it was driver error - he had selected the wrong gear - and because the seat was not bolted down as the car lurched forward he was just on the back and along for what turned out to be a very short ride. Speaking to his widow - she told me that 10 years earlier he had a bad crash in the car whilst negotiating his own driveway he went forwards into a passing car - he then stored the car for a long time vowing to get it all rebuilt on his retirement. I guess that car just had it in for him. |
|
07-10-2013, 07:48 AM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
|
Re: Chassis rides
That is only half of the story. The small town in NH where this happened did not have an Ambulance. My Father was a Fireman and chaired the the committee to bring one in. He and a few fellers took a Red Cross Emergency First Aid course, had a fundraiser and purchased a used Hearse from a neighboring town's Funeral Home. We owned the the only Garage in town and Dad had just finished painting the Hearse red and wired in the Red lights/Siren. A couple of guys were loading in first aid supplies while a Signsmith was doing the Gold Leaf lettering in the side. The call came in about an accident on N. Barnstead Rd., and the three of them, all friends, proudly drove the shiny new Ambulance, paint still wet, with lights and siren through town, only to find that the very first call was two of their best friends, with Dads Brother being one them.
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain. It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|