Lowering Your Hot Rod - How to Channel a Ford Model A with Eastwood

This video shows one way to channel, or lower, the body of your car, by modifying & dropping the body down over the chassis.
LINK TO BUY PLASMA CUTTER: www.eastwood.com/versa-cut-60-...
LINK TO BUY TIG 200: www.eastwood.com/tig200acdc.ht...
LINK TO BUY MIG 175: www.eastwood.com/eastwood-mig-...
For a more in depth breakdown on the project, read the full blog article here: www.eastwood.com/blog/eastwood...
For more information on Eastwood products visit www.eastwood.com or stay connected with the team via:
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Blog - www.eastwood.com/blog
Eastwood has everything you need to do the job right when you're restoring a car, truck or motorcycle - from welders to paint and everything in between.

[@WiredCustomsSpeedShop]

4 years later and this is still an awesome video

[@FECRWY]

I'm gonna put 2 and 2 together here and say that's Matt from Iron Trap Garage. Dude does some pretty good work!!

[@Nick-Kingsley]

Yep it is. I recognised the body in the thumbnail and was like hang on a sec..

[@indianajoe8396]

Thank you for extending you knowledge on this build! It has given me ideas on my own project. I'm lucky as I have an Eastwood store in Alsip, IL. just one hour north west from where I live in Indiana. It has been a great local place to purchase supply's for my build, and pick the ear of local guys on what and how they build. Please keep up the great videos!

[@totrodder97]

the whole process of making and fitting those frame bolt bungs was so satisfying!

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

With this video and the one before it I was able to see how this result can be achieved with a minimum impact on the integrity of the car as a whole. Thank you.

[@stevefriedlander7053]

One of best videos!! Loved all the great ideas as they can be used for other projects!!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

I can't tell ya how many times I've used my plasma cutter. What an awesome tool. And old cars don't die, they just get lower.... Nice project!!

[@Rhysnga]

Thankyou now I know what the term "chopped and channeled" means. Fantastic engineering.I haved subscribed.will now go and watch all your other videos.

[@robertironside3166]

Love the nut on bolt then in Lathe for the plugs to weld... nice! NOICE! lol Well done Matt!

[@sandercurtis1847]

Superlative work, well done.

[@tomkitchen2764]

This show is done very well.

[@That.IrishBastard1916]

Monster Garage who??????? Clean work my friend! Extremely nice navigation with the work done. Kudos no doubt!

[@Bradlifer]

Monster garage sectioned the car. Very different processes and much different results. I prefer sectioned cars over channeled.

[@chrisbram2235]

I'd really love to see close-ups of you guys mounting the subfloor to the body. I saw you do stitch welding there, but I couldn't really see what was going on. I'm currently about to attempt that and would love to see more of that!!

[@ViaAvione]

Thank you for sharing Matt! Subbed :D

[@beatricethemiata8565]

Awesome video!!

[@bradr4728]

post more videos of this coupe love them

[@efitter7]

Please continue this series!

[@edrowley1]

+efitter7 I second this motion!

[@SoCal_rnr]

when adding the bungs to the frame, you could get your bolt thread a normal nut then a washer then your bung to make sure you get a perfectly flat level with the frame and would take out some of the guess work

[@AZCobraman]

For those without a metal lathe you can buy flanged nuts and use a step drill to create a hole and recess, then weld the nut in.

[@Good-Enuff-Garage]

Matt you are the man!

[@Goodwithwood69]

Thanks

[@LowreyContractorsUK]

Brilliant. Thank you

[@RatRodBobBuilds]

I'm diggin it!

[@cgscprspecialist8581]

Great video

[@DanWalterTradeview]

Great video! Thanks for the tips.. love the music too! :)

[@SLfamily1]

Nice job

[@machinegun48]

Very cool!

[@stovepipe9er]

Doesn’t the body crack from being mounted solid to the frame without using rubber or poly mounts?

[@charlessmyth]

The way to make the threaded inserts was clever.

[@garylehrjr1616]

Will use this technique

[@christopherbolin9768]

Blows my mind why someone would thumbs down this video

[@samwickerboots590]

It's most likely due to the soundtrack... oh oh oh oh yeahhh!

[@megagadgetmad2]

Prius owners

[@nathanpeck5155]

Purists

[@johnplayer3093]

Your logo looks like Ford's, I like your thinking 👌

[@ShnitzlHaus]

holy crap this is easier then I imagined. guess I will build one :D thanks!

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

"Easy", when you "Know".

[@rddirtin909]

My dream car!

[@vega120]

Mine too.Workin on gettin one.. :^)

[@Mainer1945]

How much would I have to extend the front frame rails, so that I can fit a 350 Chevy engine in it? It looks like the original firewall would need to be cut to allow the Chevy distributor room. I would like to leave the original wheel base as stock. And I like the looks of the original firewall. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@uppastdawn7627]

Hey- that’s the Iron Trap Garage guy! Does the welded modified nut used for the body mount remain “Grade 8” after getting that hot?

[@ericp.9497]

Freeze @9:07. What's the clearance between the drive shaft and the second cross brace? There doesn't appear to be enough room for travel? Did you wind up having to adjust there? Thanks!

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

Excellent welds.- Cooler than "The Fonz".

[@Ecosse57]

iron trap garage brought me here.

[@MrBlake1249]

Was not expecting to see iron trap garage 😂

[@scottblubaugh]

9:05 that crossmember doesn't hit the drive shaft when the suspension travels?

[@LivingOnCash]

I want to channel my '34 three window coupe but I don't have any tattoos. Will I still be able to do it or maybe I can just get some spiderweb elbow tats to start with? Ha, ha, just messing with ya! Good job on the channel. Are you going to run any body welting under the sub floor frame or are you bolting it solid to the frame?

[@armcchargues8623]

So, no rubber body mounts or anything to isolate road vibration from the body? The body is bolted directly to the frame?

[@johnbecay3686]

too cool, old school...

[@joshsmith4488]

Would the subfloor be as strong if the cross braces were even as opposed to on top. I’m 6’4” and need all the headroom I can get ?

[@vitor900000]

0:38 is this Z on the rear axle safe? 4:43 isn't it too close? u know that as rear axle move up and down the drive shaft will move too.

[@henrylove2600]

I have a 28 model A ford coupe. the top half had been cut off it to make it a roaster before I got it. and I would like to put the top back on it. can you make a video of making a new top half of tell me how I can make one.

[@insanemunk1091]

How high is it to the top of the roof? Or how tall are you??

[@marthamullennex3051]

What became of the Cushman project?

[@marcocaro3291]

What size rims and tires on that model a

[@mike3109]

how many inches did you step the rear ?

[@joeluce5926]

I wish I had the know how to do that

[@lestergross8959]

just wondering does welding on those grade 8 nuts make them weaker ? nice job hope to see more

[@RaceRabbit]

+Lester Gross I would have used a nut cert. I'm surprised Eastwood doesn't try to sell them.

[@cgulden]

Day lighting?

[@amtpdb1]

Curious as to how you decided which type welder to use at each place. I understand using the tig on the frame rounded nuts but why did you use a tig on the cross channels instead of the mig? What was the advantage here? Thanks for the videos.

[@eastwoodco]

+amtpdb1 I prefer to use a TIG anywhere possible but I was forced to use the MIG in places where I couldn't get my hands/the torch in or the metal wasn't clean enough for a nice TIG weld. Hope that helps! -Matt/EW

[@Maxlopezswing]

Just as a heads up your TIG welds are going to crack from vibration, you need to fill in the craters at the beginning and end, add extra filler, and taper off on the amps when you get to the end of your bead will help prevent it from cracking right away.

[@antoninstancl9198]

Clint series?

[@TomsChevelle]

Does Eastwood sell "Nutzerts"? They let you rivet a nut into steel when the backside is not accessible.

[@jondunbar5668]

I was thinking the same thing it would have been way easier than machining bungs

[@S7midnight]

Is this frame street legal?

[@dielauwen]

weird way to make threaded inserts . Buy a Rivnut tool and inserts and do it without welding. They come in all sizes and are replaceable if you damage one.

[@jackleonard8660]

Great video. Wanted to ask why you opted to tig weld everything instead of wire feed, mig or flux, or even stick. Years ago, when you were down on Rt.30, I bought a Century flux core machine. Used it when boxing some frame areas on my 51 Chev. 1/2 ton. Was happy with the results on the frame, not so happy when I tried sheet metal, too hot. When watching your video I thought the flux would have worked fine, especially if you ran into a position situation. I need to justify the need before purchasing another machine, agree that the tig finish is tops but who's gonna see it, so that benefit is lost, know what I mean. Thanks in advance. Jack

[@eastwoodco]

Matt is just a fan of TIG welding. Could MIG have worked here? Absolutely, he just likes to show off 😎

[@jackleonard8660]

Eastwood Company thanks. Nice job. Like tig but too busy sometimes. Was building a tire rack once out of pipe and fittings, tig practice, rod, torch, shield, gas pedal, some over head, standing on one foot, balancing....... too busy !! Finished with stick. Just one of my stories. Thanks again. Stay healthy. 👍👍

[@jackleonard8660]

Tell Matt I said nice job. Nothing like a nice weld.

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

Do you need to consult "State Regulations"? Does the vehicle need to be inspected by the DMV?

[@Noitisnt-ns7mo]

"Badges? We don' nee' no stinking badges."

[@greirat5365]

Nice welds holy shit

[@sumthingangels]

I have bean wondering where do people find theses old cars.

[@justaguy2738]

Christy Hansen I see that this comment is 2 years old now ...... but the answer to your question is through a lot talking , looking , and waiting . It takes a long time for someone to find the perfect car for their project , as there are not too many cars left . They’ve either gotta know where to look , or who to talk to .

[@johnnieoddball]

do you have any uk resellers ?

[@eastwoodco]

Yes. Check out Frost Automotive in the UK.

[@axelsnipergarage3139]

FUCK! I LOVE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH!!!!!

[@georgedean5734]

What happens when you get to the radiator ? How do you lower that ?

[@johndoeOU81TOO]

George Dean you will either notch the bottom of the grill shell to lower over the front cross member. Or you can section the center of the grill out. But doing either of these two if you go very far you’ll need to get a shorter radiator to match the grill shell. I have seen in the past people moving it forward an inch and using or building some aluminum offset tubes for the water neck. (This is one reason I like quarter elliptic suspensions, it cancels all that out) 👍👍

[@georgedean5734]

@@johndoeOU81TOO , one more question- is the 28-29 radiator shorter than the 30-31 ? I have both shells and the 30-31 shell is about 3" shorter. I was going to use the 28-29 shell on my 31 roadster with a 3" channel job...

[@georgedean5734]

Sorry bout that, the 28-29 is the shorter one...

[@Shufi1]

You can buy flange nuts at the hardware store. Easier to weld

[@eastwoodco]

LINK TO BUY in the video and description above, SUBSCRIBE for future how-to videos as Matt continues building his '32 Ford.

[@Denis-dx2yt]

+Eastwood Company когда продолжение !!!!?????)))

[@tomnook8419]

That sure is a nice '32 Ford X'D

[@wesfrazier5822]

love how those commenters, who can't do, teach

[@thomaskohout8829]

How does one guy have that much skill?

[@eastwoodco]

He's an Eastwood Guy!

[@thomaskohout8829]

Eastwood Company if I hang out with him a while, are his skills transferable? : ) talk about a "bromance"! I have a 1955 f600 that I'm making into a 4 wheel drive and with a cummins motor. This guys awesome though.

[@immelting9834]

Can't wait to do this to my rat project.

[@Iowa599]

Why not put the axles above the frame?

[@eastwoodco]

This is a traditional method that has been used for decades. You could go that route but it would be a different approach to the build that would be an entire re-work of what we had planned, as we built the frame and planned suspension with this in mind. Custom cars are built like a cake - with a recipe. So you have to make sure your components all work together nicely.

[@Iowa599]

@@eastwoodco I kinda wondered why "no one" tried that…after finding an uncredited pic (via google) where someone did. In some cases it seems like wasted work, but in others it should be easier & it seems like leaf springs should be fine… But it would destroy the body if a spring or mount failed…

[@MrJeep75]

I like hi boys better, like the body more stock

[@ericwilkes238]

Some people are just jealous as hell like me .I want one for my 1965 corvair to fit my 5.3 motor

[@thomaskohout8829]

It blows my mind that someone watches "the video" and then thinks it's easy enough for them to do this. There's A LOT going with fabricating something like this that you do not see in the video.

[@jonathanjones770]

You ruined it

[@sammolloy1]

Butchers

[@Zlin0035]

I need an old car i can turn into a hotrod.... and then ditch the engine put in Electric Drive ... huehuehue .. Let the hate begin *tips cap and drinks tea* ~

[@Lazarus1940]

Blaze 125 You won't get much. Some wrecked Teslas have already been plundered for their drive systems to do just that. There's a 56 Caddy on KZbin somewhere going through it now.

[@desmondmoonbear4143]

Why have electric *WHEN YOU CAN HAVE DIESEL*

[@Chevysrule454]

Way too much work. No wonder its ..."old school"