Projects My 1936 Ford Coupe Project from Start to "Almost" Finished

DirtyDan · Aug 14, 2011

**UPDATED PICS W/ NEW INTERIOR ON PAGE #5 & 6**

It seems like this is the year for 36 Ford coupe builds there must be 4 or 5 of them currently on here.

Well, heres another one...

Since Im wrapping up the final details on my project I figured I would do a build thread on my 36 5 window. My goal was to have it done enough to drive the Lonestar Round Up this year, which I probably could have made, but between being shorthanded at work and not having the confidence in the car to make an 850+ mile one-way shakedown run on a fresh car; its just not in the cards for me. Since I cant show it off at the LSR, Ill just have to settle for the HAMB.

A little back ground story:

I had searched for months to find a 36 coupe, and finally settled on a nice 35, 5w that I found locally stashed in a garage for the last 20 years. I bought the 35, and got it running only to find a beautiful 36 coupe in CA a week later. The car was absolutely rust free and had an older restoration. The 36 was more what I was after and quickly purchased the car from a HAMB member site un-seen. I had it shipped all the way from Sacramento CA, to St. Louis, MO. I was extremely happy with the 36, but now I had two 5w coupes.

Loading up in CA

I decided to sell the 35 and use the money to focus on the 36. I posted it on the HAMB and a gentleman in Finland snapped it up.

After driving the 36 for the summer in original condition, I decided I had to make it more of a hot rod. I planned on a simple drop axle, juice brakes, and big and little Firestones, and maybe a few flathead speed parts and call it done. It seemed like a good plan until over the winter I noticed a small oily puddle of water under the car. The car had a very good running 40 flathead motor, but apparently it did not like the cold St. Louis winter, and it developed a crack on the skirt.

So out came the ol 40 motor

While I was at it, I might as well pull the original front and rear suspension and prep it for a rebuild.

4" Superbell drop axle with 40 ford split wishbones and Posies spring in the foreground.

So I managed to tear the car all apart, just in time to take on another project:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293538

So the 36 sits for a year or so while I finish up the Rivi During this time I discover the Ultimate T-5 article and decide thats the way to go with the 36. So I start collecting parts again.

I found a great deal on a very ugly, but freshly rebuilt 8BA to replace the cracked 40 motor, and have it shipped in from Colorado.

I also ran into a great deal on some crusty old flathead speed parts

After a round in the blast cabinet. I probably should have left it alone here, but decided to do a full polish on the intake later.

Stevie Nash · Mar 28, 2011

Looks like your thread isn't formatted correctly....

DirtyDan · Mar 29, 2011

And since the motor is out, I might as well paint the beat up multi colored firewall

The firewall was my first attempt at painting, and it turned out well, so I turned my attention to that ugly (but patriotic) motor. I also found some pretty decent 16” steel wheels. I debated for weeks on what color to paint the motor and wheels and finally settled on gold.

In this mock up you may notice I swapped out the 8BA Offy heads for some early style Edlebrock Block letter heads. I also picked up a couple of 97s.

With the motor painted up, I moved on to fitting the junkyard S-10 transmission to the flathead. I decided to use the adapter plate made by Dwight Bond, because it seemed to use the most amount of factory ford parts, and would allow me to use 39 pedals for the clutch and brakes. I had a few problems figuring out the clutch and pressure plate, but in the end it all seemed to work out pretty good.

I decided on a Superbell 4" drop axle and had to split the wishbones to make room for the new T-5. I used a modified Pete & Jakes split kit once I removed the stock frame crossmember.

DirtyDan · Mar 29, 2011

Since I now needed an open drive, I decided to ditch the stock low geared and mechanical brake banjo and go with a ford 9” out of an early Ford Bronco. It has nearly the same width, self-actuating hydraulic brakes, most have a 3:55 gear ratio and an they have an early Ford 5 on 5.5” bolt pattern. I used a Chassis Engineering parallel kit, that I now regret using. If I could do it over, I would have used my stock 36 radius rods with a transverse spring. I just can’t get the rear of the car as low as I want it with this set up.
I mounted it up using lowering blocks, but later made a spring perch using rectangular tubing to lower it 2.5” without the block.

With the drivetrain shaping up I decided to tackle the wiring and dashboard. I have always loved the look of the factory woodgrain, but wasn’t sure if I had the talent to do it myself. I seen a video on You Tube showing a guy doing hydrostatic printing, and wondered if it could be done to woodgrain my dash and garnish. I called up a local guy who pretty much only did guns and bows in camouflage and he was interested in the project.

It didn’t turn out perfect, and it took lots of clear and sanding and buffing, but after all that work I’m finally happy with the results and the price was unbeatable.

Here's the dash installed along with the painted 39 Steering box, column, drop and banjo wheel.

I’m still working on getting the stock gauges working with the new 12 volt system. I am also planning on a complete new dark tan interior once I get the wiring sorted out. The old grey cloth interior is in pretty good shape still… but it just doesn’t go with the woodgrain dash.

DirtyDan · Mar 28, 2011

With everything bolted up it was finally time to start it. Amazingly enough it fired within the first few cranks. Finally did something right! It still had lots of bugs and needed fine tuning, but it was finally driveable.
First start- Video:

Finally got some exhaust on the car

Since I promised pictures from start to “almost” finished… Here are some pics I took of the car last week. It will eventually get the hood back on it, but for now I'm show'n off the flatty!

And a few artsy fartsy ones…

DirtyDan · Mar 28, 2011

My dad was a huge help on this project. Now that mine is almost done, we will be working on his 35 Cabriolet next.

After crawling around on the ground, he decided to go ahead and build a frame and swap the body over. It will be a very similar build to my car.

THE_DUDE · Mar 28, 2011

Top shelf

Alex Yohnk · Mar 28, 2011

perfect.

BEAR · Mar 28, 2011

nice wrok

Thirdyfivepickup · Mar 28, 2011

man that is NICE!!

(I know someone will say it eventually... but I think the back could come down a smidge. Looks like a little too much tire showing up top. Other than that... its perfect)

31Hudson · Mar 28, 2011

very nice!

big creep · Mar 28, 2011

wow! i love it!

hasty · Mar 28, 2011

Very nice. And two builds for the promise of one!

hvychvy · Mar 28, 2011

Sweet,awesome job!!

eric54chevy · Mar 28, 2011

Damn that nice!!

64LeSabre455 · Mar 28, 2011

Man, I loved your Rivi, but this is too nice!
I like your style!

noclubjoe · Mar 28, 2011

very cool, gotta love 36's

DD COOPMAN · Mar 28, 2011

I'd leave the "back" right where ya got it. This car is RIGHT! DD

HRod 50 · Mar 28, 2011

Any pics with the hood on it, finished?

Dave Mc · Mar 28, 2011

Looks just right, Excellent job !

ConceptVehicleDesign · Mar 29, 2011

Awesome!!!

Sent from my iPhone using TJJ!!!

lazyv8 · Mar 29, 2011

nice coupe! looks like the 36 version of mine!!

PDQ36 · Mar 29, 2011

You can't go far wrong with a '36. Yours is a really fine example.

radio_king · Mar 29, 2011

Very,very nice.I love how it sits,can I have it?Please??

sololobo · Mar 29, 2011

Wow, what a sweet job on the build, then you pop Dad's cab on us. Holy smolly man, how much you think a guy can take. If you guys cruz anywhere together it will cause a riot. Two outstanding hot rods! It's a two punch knock out dudes. Congrats on these rigs. ~sololobo~

49CadiClubCoupe · Mar 29, 2011

Gulp,.....me likey,... a lot

GreenMonster48 · Mar 29, 2011

Beautiful!

40fordtudor · Mar 29, 2011

Wow---I think you nailed it.

jimbob · Mar 29, 2011

Wow, beautiful car.

ROBERT JAM · Mar 29, 2011

Nicely done, just a perfect car!!

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Projects My 1936 Ford Coupe Project from Start to "Almost" Finished

DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

Stevie Nash
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from Farm Country

DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
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from St. Louis, MO

THE_DUDE
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from Olympia Washington

Alex Yohnk

BEAR
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from Highland SO-CAL

Thirdyfivepickup
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from DeMotte, In

31Hudson
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from Williams Lake BC Canada

big creep
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from Burbank, CA

hasty
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from Back in the UK

hvychvy
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from Dewey,OKustom

eric54chevy
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from TEXAS!

64LeSabre455
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from Adkins, Tx

noclubjoe
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from milwaukee wis

DD COOPMAN
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from Lake Houston

HRod 50
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from Los Angeles

Dave Mc
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from Dryside,Sierras

ConceptVehicleDesign
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from An island in the middle of the Columbia River

lazyv8
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from martinez california

PDQ36
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from Somerset, EN

radio_king
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from Finland/Spain

sololobo
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from South Omaha, NE

49CadiClubCoupe
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from In a barn in Australia waiting to be found.

Aussie HAMBers

GreenMonster48
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from Enfield Connecticut

40fordtudor
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from rowlett, tx

jimbob
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from Canberra, Australia

ROBERT JAM
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from RED LODGE MT 59068

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Projects ~~My 1936 Ford Coupe Project from Start to "Almost" Finished~~

DirtyDan Member from St. Louis, MO

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DirtyDan Member from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan Member from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan Member from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan Member from St. Louis, MO

THE_DUDE Member from Olympia Washington

Alex Yohnk

BEAR Member from Highland SO-CAL

Thirdyfivepickup Member from DeMotte, In

31Hudson Member from Williams Lake BC Canada

big creep Member from Burbank, CA

hasty Member from Back in the UK

hvychvy Member from Dewey,OKustom

eric54chevy Member from TEXAS!

64LeSabre455 Member from Adkins, Tx

noclubjoe Member from milwaukee wis

DD COOPMAN Member from Lake Houston

HRod 50 Member from Los Angeles

Dave Mc Member from Dryside,Sierras

ConceptVehicleDesign Member from An island in the middle of the Columbia River

lazyv8 Member from martinez california

PDQ36 Member from Somerset, EN

radio_king Member from Finland/Spain

sololobo Member from South Omaha, NE

49CadiClubCoupe Member from In a barn in Australia waiting to be found. Aussie HAMBers

GreenMonster48 Member from Enfield Connecticut

40fordtudor Member from rowlett, tx

jimbob Member from Canberra, Australia

ROBERT JAM Member from RED LODGE MT 59068

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Projects My 1936 Ford Coupe Project from Start to "Almost" Finished

DirtyDan
Member

from St. Louis, MO

Stevie Nash
Member

from Farm Country

DirtyDan
Member

from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
Member

from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
Member

from St. Louis, MO

DirtyDan
Member

from St. Louis, MO

THE_DUDE
Member

from Olympia Washington

BEAR
Member

from Highland SO-CAL

Thirdyfivepickup
Member

from DeMotte, In

31Hudson
Member

from Williams Lake BC Canada

big creep
Member

from Burbank, CA

hasty
Member

from Back in the UK

hvychvy
Member

from Dewey,OKustom

eric54chevy
Member

from TEXAS!

64LeSabre455
Member

from Adkins, Tx

noclubjoe
Member

from milwaukee wis

DD COOPMAN
Member

from Lake Houston

HRod 50
Member

from Los Angeles

Dave Mc
Member

from Dryside,Sierras

ConceptVehicleDesign
Member

from An island in the middle of the Columbia River

lazyv8
Member

from martinez california

PDQ36
Member

from Somerset, EN

radio_king
Member

from Finland/Spain

sololobo
Member

from South Omaha, NE

49CadiClubCoupe
Member

from In a barn in Australia waiting to be found.

Aussie HAMBers

GreenMonster48
Member

from Enfield Connecticut

40fordtudor
Member

from rowlett, tx

jimbob
Member

from Canberra, Australia

ROBERT JAM
Member

from RED LODGE MT 59068