In between full-on street rodders (who love all the latest modern hardware) and hardcore purists (who staunchly demand 100-percent factory stock) exists a few subgroups of people who enjoy staying somewhere in the middle. One of the many things these "in-betweeners" go to great lengths to achieve is to build cars with parts and pieces that are era-specific to a simpler time or use interesting combinations of components as they mix one part modern technology with an equal part of nostalgia.
While it has not been the easiest path with our Project '29 Model A sedan, the ability to maintain many of the original pieces and mix them with more modern pieces has been very satisfying. The latest area to get the treatment was the rearend. Many different combinations, such as a Ford 9-inch or early quick-change, were strongly considered before deciding a conversion to open drive with the stock Model A rearend would require the least modifications to the pristine vehicle, and we also thought it would be really cool to look underneath the rear of our hot rod and find something different than all the other rods on the block.
The decision to keep our Model A rearend would mean we would have to lose the torque tube, and lucky for us the good people at The Hot Rod Works have handled all the heavy work of designing and producing all the pieces necessary to make the switch to an open driveline. Follow along as we free our rearend from its torque tube and give it a new wide open (drive) future.