Newbie from Southern Maryland

[zoomy]

I am new to hotrods and have been checking out this site for some time. I am 40, married and have two kids. I just finished building my house and always wanted to build/own a hotrod.

I bought my 28 Tudor this year from a neighbor who believe-it-or-not, was going to donate it to the Salvation Army as a tax right-off. I was able to persuade him into selling it to me for what he would get back in his taxes. I knew that the body was solid and rust-free but what I did not know was that the work underneath the body was a mess. This Tudor was originally turned into a hotrod sometime back in the 70s and some of the work on it is pretty scary. The frame was never boxed, there are some major steering (binding) and drive-line issues and some really butchered frame/suspension work. So I decided to start from scratch and plan to order a new frame and new suspension components since most is unusable.

I really like the look of the car now but I want to update the wheels/ tires, stance and fill in the roof and then perhaps a custom dash. The body needs to be stripped bare since the 20-plus year lacquer paint is starting to check and fall off. I mainly need help with the proper suspension components to get this car lower so that the tires slightly tuck and fit under the fenders. I am leaning towards a 4-link front suspension with reversed eyes and a 4" dropped beam in the front and radius rods and coil-overs in the rear. Any ideas or suggestions?

http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/zoomy/233803.jpg

[Kustomz]

Nice ride! Good luck on doing your upgrades. Lots of good resources here to help. Welcome to the HAMB!

[hambhead]

Nice Lookin Car And Good Luck With It. Check Out Brookville Roadsters , They Sell Chassis Componets To Complete A Chassis. And Ebay Was Some Last Refuge Chassis Occasionally. Hambhead

[D-Russ]

Hughsville? Is that anywhere near St. Mary's? I've got relatives there.

Fitysix is from Solomon's Island.

You've got a great looking start for a build. Read and do a lot of research about the various eras and build styles (especially here on the HAMB) before you buy any parts. Plan out what you want to do and stick to the plan. You'll save money and time in the long run.

Good luck.

[Fitysix]

Hey Zoomy,
As druss32 mentioned I am over in Solomons and my parents live in Charolette Hall. Nice to have another hamber close by. Were you at the show at the fairgrounds on the 8th? Well we will have to run into each other soon so I can check out your ride;) . She looks like a keeper!!
Fitysix
PS hey Druss32

[zoomy]

I'm in Hughesville and I live five miles from Charolette Hall. I have a friend who lives in Hollywood, MD who helped me cut and bead roll new floor panels for my car. He has a 37 Chevy Sedan, 31 Ford Coupe, 35 Ford Coupe and a 69 Camaro. He just finished blocking his car and it is in primer sealer now. I will be helping him put the windshield in the car this Sunday so it will probably be on the road this spring.

I have a question for you... Who in this area would you trust to strip a car? I am looking for someone to soda blast or plastic meda strip my entire body. The laquer paint just gums up sanding pads too fast and I am not too sure about using any paint stripping products because of the wood and numerous body seems. I would imagine that chemical dipping one of these cars is a big no-no.

I haven't been to any shows this fall... I wanted to go to Richmond but never made it. My son plays football and I manage my daughter's 13-17yo softball team so I stay pretty busy.

[Fitysix]

Zoomy,
Sounds like your plate stays full with the kids and I can sympathize... I have a 20,17 and a 8 year old to tend to and they keep me hoppin' pretty good. As far as the blasting I would check with Ship Point Machine on Airportview Dr. in Hollywood (301) 373-3121. If you decide to head over there to check them out drop me a line and I will introduce you to Fran the owner and Chip who IMO is the cats tits when it comes to blasting, powder or paint (he also owns a 56' T-Bird that I have been buggin' him to get working on). If your in need of welding I have a good buddy of mine that works at Triton metals and is the best welder I have ever met. This guy has serious talent and works on the side for beer:D . Ship Point also has some very talented machinist if you need fab work done. Like I said if you would like a inside line with them just drop me a line and I would be happy to give ya an intro.
Fitysix
PS Who's your buddy in Hollywood?

[333 Half Evil]

welcome aboard....sweet ride.

[Red69Hoss]

Welcome aboard.

You ought to drive that car at least once across the Bay Bridge before upgrading the steering and suspension. Cheap thrill!

[zoomy]

Wow, small world... Fran was my next door neighbor for 5 years when I lived in Waldorf. He is a very talented guy. My father has done some addition/remodeling work on his home that he and Stacey bought down that way. I brought an old Panzer tractor a couple years ago to sand blast but at the time he was pressed to meet deadlines and was very short of good help. I will stop by his shop this week and see what he can do for me.

I think I know someone who works at Triton though a network of friends. My friend, Jeff Edwards lives in Hollywood. He was a neighbor up in Waldorf too until a couple years ago when all my friends moved farther south away from DC. He stays pretty busy year round working on stock cars and was storing my car while I was finishing the construction of my home. He is a body/paint man by trade and works for DC Metro. He is getting ready to start construction on his new 40x50' garage which will have a spray booth built inside. He and his father use to work on hotrods until he passed away a couple years ago. He inherited the 37 from his father and is doing a ground up restoration on it. I will see if he will join the HAMB but he is not that much into computers...

... And BTW, the pucker factor would be very high driving over the Bay Bridge with this car!

[Fitysix]

Hey Red69Hoss,
Nice lookin' Vicky ya got there any more pics of her? And if I am not mistaken your profile pic is you in a 69' Mustang? I used to have a 70' "Sportsroof" with a 428CJ.

[Fitysix]

Yeah Fran is a great guy. It is funny how small the world seems at times. I will be heading over there after work today I will tell him to keep an eye out for ya. Jeff Edwards sounds so familiar will have to do some askin' around to jogg my memory. If your lookin' for a good pucker without traveling so far just take her across the 301 bridge with some 18 wheelers headin' in the opposite direction...great on a bike too :eek: .
Fitysix