themotorhood.com^71
1928 FORD
MODEL A COUPE
ENGINE: 327ci small block Chev, rebuilt bottom
end, mild cam, Chev double-hump heads,
aluminium intake manifold, triple Stromberg
94 carburettors, Joe Hunt magneto, custom
headers, custom header baffles, full two-
inch exhaust
DRIVELINE: BorgWarner T5 five-speed manual,
Chev bellhousing, Ford nine-inch diff
SUSPENSION: So-Cal dropped I-beam front
axle, transverse front leaf spring, four-bar front,
custom four-link rear, rear coilovers
BRAKES: Early Ford self-energizing front
brakes, ’49 Ford backing plates, Buick finned
drums, Ford rear drum brakes, under-dash
pedal box
WHEELS/TYRES: 16-inch steel wheels,
chrome trim rings, 5.00/5.25-16 Firestone
Deluxe Champion bias-ply front tyres, 7.50-16
Firestone Deluxe Champion bias-ply rear tyres
EXTERIOR: Chopped roof, channelled body,
recessed firewall, custom floorpan, modified
1932 Ford radiator shell, suicide-door
conversion, aluminium roof skin, aluminium
rear bumper, custom pinstriping
CHASSIS: Custom chassis, Z’d front and rear,
punched front rails
INTERIOR: Reupholstered bucket seats,
early Ford steering wheel, New Vintage USA
electric gauges, custom gauge cluster, ’39 Ford
headlight bezel, custom iPod dock and speaker
enclosure, custom storage cubbies, wind-out
windscreen
PERFORMANCE: Has run 12-second
quarter-milesbuild a hot rod, and some things aren’t worth
complicating. That’s why the front end comprises a
drilled and dropped I-beam axle and transverse leaf
spring, hung off four-bars, providing a functional
and good-looking system, while the less visible
rear end uses a Ford nine-inch, custom four-link,
and adjustable coilovers.
The brakes have been subjected to similar
treatment. The hydraulically actuated system uses
the rebuilt rear drums that came as part of the
nine-inch, while the front end is a touch more
traditional. It’s an early Ford self-energizing set-up,
with ’49 Ford backing plates and Buick finned
drums providing a touch of traditional class. The
four-wheel drums do all right in the lightweight
little rod, although it’s packing enough mojo to put
them to work if Neil feels like driving the thing like
he stole it.
Those triple Stromberg 94s sit on an alloy intake
manifold, and, while they definitely earn a few style
points, that isn’t all they’re there for, as they feed a
warmed-up small block.
“It’s a 327 I bought off my mate. He put good
heads, [a] little bit of a cam in; it goes real good,”
Neil remarks.
Backed by a BorgWarner T5 five-speed manual
box, the coupe’s a whole lot of fun, and Neil’s
pedalled it to 12-second quarter-miles. It’s the hot
rod of his with the most road miles under its belt,
mainly because it’s the oldest.
“It’s getting rougher, because I don’t look
after it, but nothing a little clean-up won’t fix,”
he comments.
Despite its position as Neil’s go-to hot rod, this
is by no means the only one you’re going to see
him driving.