By Brian Brennan – Photography By Chris Shelton
We wanted to have some fun with our Canadian hot rod friends and their accents, so we playfully call the “Model A” the “Model Eh.” We’re pretty sure J.F. Launier, the owner of JF Kustoms in Canada, wouldn’t mind if we refer to his 1929 Ford highboy roadster as a Model Eh.
Before you is his ride, a Model Eh roadster brought here a few years ago to the Grand National Roadster Show to compete for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award. Known as “JF,” he is no stranger to building incredible hot rods and winning prestigious awards. While his 1929 highboy roadster didn’t win the AMBR award, he built a Ridler-winning car in the past, solidifying his reputation as a top builder.
The backstory of this highboy roadster is a “family affair,” featuring contributions from JF’s mentor, Ken Helm, as well as JF’s son, Clavin, and his cousin, David. The roadster was found in a barn at Helm’s home where he guided JF throughout the build.
The body includes necessary modifications to the cowl and firewall and a widened midsection to align with the contours of a Deuce frame. It was channeled about 1/2 to 3 inches in the rear, featuring small wheeltubs crafted by JF. Other updates to the body comprise a chopped windshield with curved glass, a modified floor, and a newly added tail pan. It’s worth noting that an original 1929 Ford roadster would have had door handles, unlike the 1928 model. JF removed the door handles from his roadster. (Hot rodders often use 1928 doors on a 1929 model to eliminate the exterior door handle, thereby reducing the additional bodywork.) A 2-inch chopped Deuce grille shell, without a hood, showcases the Canadian 409. Ted Hamar, a longtime friend of JF, refined the bodywork. Then, Danny “Dirty Diaper” Anderson applied the Matrix two-stage (basecoat/clearcoat) custom paint in a modified Porsche color. (JF tells us that his buddy Anderson remarked that JF’s color choices were “crappy,” which is how Danny and the custom mix color got their names. Hey, no one ever said hot rodders were particularly refined individuals!)
The V-8 nestled between the Deuce framerails is a Canadian 409 with a fascinating history. There can be little denying that the renowned Chevy 409 (or its sibling block, the 348) is the perfect hot rod engine. Its appearance, performance, and sound are full of “wow” factors—it’s undeniably a hot-rod V-8.
The engine was sourced from a 1962 Pontiac Catalina found in a Canadian wrecking yard, which many Canadian rodders viewed as normal back then. JF informs us that not all Pontiacs came with 409 V-8s, but they were available for the discerning hot rodder to find. The iron block is now fitted with Edelbrock aluminum heads and a rare Winters dual-quad intake topped with 1963 factory Carter four-barrel carbs. From 1962-64, the Chevy 409 4-bbl used a front Carter AFB carburetor (PN 3361S). The rear carb is PN 3362S; it lacks a choke and idle screws. This V-8 has a “lumpy” cam, a factory fuel pump, distributor, coil, black plug wires, and a handmade air cleaner combined with an impressive fuel system. JF crafted the cool valve covers and you’ll notice the word “Pontiac” stamped into the sheetmetal to maintain the theme—remember, the 409 came from a Pontiac Catalina.
JF informs us that a significant amount of detail was involved in externally porting the heads to match the exhaust manifolds. Each exhaust manifold required over 20 hours of grinding to achieve a smooth finish; the same attention was paid to the water pump and intake manifold. The rest of the exhaust system was fabricated at JF Kustoms using 2-inch stainless steel tubing and a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. The aftermarket Deuce radiator, shortened by 2 inches, features a factory four-blade fan, while additional block accessories include a factory starter and a mini alternator. Backed up to the 409 is a T5 five-speed transmission with an aftermarket clutch assembly and a Hurst shifter with a wooden shift ball from a Pontiac GTO.
The JF Kustoms chassis is based on a set of 1932 Ford framerails that are boxed and pinched in the front to accommodate the narrower Model A shape. A body-colored 5-inch dropped axle is used with 1940 spindles, a 1934 Ford split wishbone setup, a Vega-style steering box, and a Model A spring. In the back, another Model A spring and a ladder bar system holds an International Harvester Scout Dana 44 rearend filled with 3.73 gears and tapered axles (exposed ends). The brake system is based on 1940 Ford front drums and the Scout rear drums with an under the floorboard-mounted master cylinder and Pete & Jakes pedal assembly. More corner appointments include black painted 1939 Mercury steelies in front and 1940 Ford steelies in back. The Firestone by Coker rubber measures 4.75/16 in front and 7.50/16 in back.
The Spartan interior boasts a 1932 Ford dashboard now fitted with a Stewart-Warner five-gauge package (speedometer, tachometer, fuel, water, oil pressure) and showcases a 1940 Ford steering column that supports a stock 1940 Ford wheel with its flat-faced, two-spoke design. Gary Yorston wired an American Autowire kit into place. Lee Baxter fabricated the single bench seat and received approval to stitch it in orange leather with a plaid insert through his company Lee Baxter Hot Rod Interiors.
We appreciate JF’s effort in this build, as we’re sure many hot rodders do, but we find JF’s club affiliation, Cactus Jalopies, quite interesting. We’re familiar with cacti around our offices in SoCal, but none of us have given much thought to Canada being home to cacti. But, eh, what do we know? We know we like his Model Eh highboy roadster. MR
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
