It was one of those nights that gets permanently burned into your memory banks and is crisply remembered every time you think about it......

One night I got a call from a really nice guy that I'd only met once. He gave me a phone number for a guy named John who had '30-31 Coupe. I gave him a call from work that day, and made arrangements to come check it out that night.

It was a warm night, as we pulled up to our destination I saw a well-used '30-31 coupe body set atop a rolling Model A frame in the driveway of an old garage, bathed in the glow of a neon sign that proclaimed "HOT ROD GARAGE". That is when I met Randy and John, two more people who have made a difference in the way I think about hot rods and people in general.

I have learned a whole lot since then, and I spend a lot of time at work on the internet, just absorbing information. I'm really trying to have the Coupe roadworthy by the Paso Robles Memorial day show. The car will be far from pretty when I get it going, but it will be mine, and I'll work on it until it is juuuusssst right in my head.

When I brought it home, 6/13/05. The coupe was battered, it had been rolled a long time ago, but the price was within my means. Of course, it came home with me, starting the whole project. There's a couple bullet holes in it, too

9/25/05 Who can resist mocking garbage up? Winston gave me the "street rod style" Model A hood, and I really want to run a hood. I bought a pair of OEM 30-31 hood sides, so I can go either way, but I'm probably going with the stockity stock stuff. Still no front spindles, hubs, or anything else, really.

11.25.05 More mock up, I can't really recall what I've done in this picture, other than adding a '30s Chrysler cowl air vent to the Model A gas tank top. I like it, and it should be very functional. I still haven't finished that project yet.

12-13-05

Pulled the engine out of the Business Coupe, needed it for the Model A. 12-28-05

Chrysler 383 Big block, inserted (less than) gently.

I bought an old Edelbrock three-deuce manifold for the 383. This intake pre-dates the factory Chrysler "Six-Pack" set-ups buy nearly ten years. I found a set of the Rochester 2gc carbs. My Dad had two, and my friend had one sitting on a '283 intake next to his work's garbage, all was for free. I bought two, but they turned out to be the later bigger bolt pattern that I couldn't use, so know the measurements, or carry a template of the carb base measurements. A thin gasket tucked in your wallet works great.

1.21.06 Dropped axle in!! Starting to look like a car, kinda!!

1931 Ford update
4/22 Hey, that's a nice dune buggy!! Only 33 days to go until we're supposed to leave for Paso!! Maybe I'll just have to drive the El Camino... back to work!!

Norm and Jon beat my roof seriously with hammers!!! Big thanks guys, it looks almost presentable now!! Lil' more whackin', sling some mud, and roll on some paint!!

The frame is STILL not done. Getting there though. I keep getting interrupted by life, work, and stupid crap.

The old cam was soooo worn, I don't know how this thing ran. "New" old cam and lifters in, and when I flipped it over, the bolts on the stand were kinda loose, so the engine flopped over, and I wasn't going to put a crank in while on it's side. Tonight, maybe!!

The rear frame and suspension is almost finished, I did it a little differently than most people. I also think I may have gone overkill with the frame, but at least it will be strong.

5.15.06 Mocked up the stuff again. This car is so very light....

5.15.06 Installed '50 Pontiac tail lights.

7.24.06 Been very lazy since I missed the Paso deadline. I still need steering, but at least it runs from a twist of the key. Starts right up, though!!

8.20.06
I took pictures this time!! Just building a firewall, and other assorted crap. Welded on the frame, mounted the z-bar bracket, pedals, started the rear brakes, and some other junk.

Another night around the garage!

This is the frame thus far. Ladder bars, "traditional" buggy springs, and a 5" kick up in the rear.

Dan cuts the firewall to fit. There's no metal "brake" here, we did all our bends by hand. Kinda. Later, we broke that little red sawhorse.

Tack welded in. I have to thank Dan a bunch, he did ALL the hard work. It may not look like it will fit, but I reversed the firewall, it goes inward, and that has given me a lot more room around the engine. I took no pictures since I did that, so you'll just have to imagine it right now.

Last three nights before Billetproof...

Little "keepers" I had to make so my driveshaft wouldn't fly off. Never had that problem before, but this fixed it.

Twas the night before Billetproof...

Up til 4:00 am, and up early...

I make it to Billetproof!! Hell yeah, I did it! Looks like a total pile, but we'll see what it looks like in a year!