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Shoebox Coupe Mild Custom Build.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by kiwiandy, Oct 21, 2011.

  1. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Hello.

    Well as if there isnt enough of these shoebox build threads... here's one more! The main difference being that most guys seem to progress pretty fast and I probably won't.
    Quick history. Had the car for nearly 6 years. I shipped to NZ from NC. Was an ebay find and was slightly misrepresented. Plans for a quick shot of paint and just drive it as is, quickly turned to some pretty major body work. I hadnt budgeted for that so I started saving and buying up the required patch panels. Lots of overtime and two babies later, I now have most of what I need and are expecting my floors in late November. I have also had to remove alot of the metal that the previous owner had welded in. In the process he had replaced (sort of) the rockers and misaligned the body.
    Anyway... enough BS lets get to the pics.
     

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    wescottsd and edcodesign like this.
  2. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    When it arrived in NZ it did sort of run but not very well. It had a 302/C4.
    I pulled the engine and stripped it down to find broken rings and years of neglect. The C4 had sand in the sump pan??? As for the body I set about cutting and grinding out the previous repairs. Unfortunately the trans tunnel had been replaced with a home made setup so I had to do alot of work to save what I could. I have left the drivers side intact untill I sort the passenger side rockers. I did not brace the body as it was already out of shape so I didnt see any point. As the new rockers go in I will pull it back to align the door gaps. For now im going to screw everything in to get it right then I will go through and complete the welding.
     

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  3. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    The lower door post is also up for some attention.
     

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  4. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,579

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Cool man...there can never be to many shoebox builds.
     
    kiwiandy likes this.

  5. hombres ruin
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,305

    hombres ruin
    Member

    I agree the more the better. Welcome to the club. Nothing like a shoebox to customize
     
  6. Can't get enough of shoeboxes since i'm piecing one together to. Gonna keep an eye on this.
     
  7. Grommet
    Joined: Oct 24, 2008
    Posts: 532

    Grommet
    Member
    from South GA

    Looks like a good start
     
  8. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Cheers fella's! Im going for a mild custom look. Early 60's. It will be a bit spoilt by the 302/C4 but thats what it came with and thats what fits the budget. Would love to do a flat head or Y block but no $$$$. Ive stripped the engine and had it dipped and machined. The crank is damaged so im now hunting a new crank. I have new pistons, bearings etc so as soon as I find a crank a can complete the engine. I did a trade with another guy for a car and he rebuilt the trans. Ive used a Jamco engine mount kit. The car came with 14 inch wheels but I found a set of 15 inch 1955 Victoria wheels and then picked up a couple more off a simular era Plymouth. Ive purchased a set of floors from Paul Bradley which are due later this year. While im waiting I will get everything ready and rebuild the door hinges etc.
    Andy.
     
  9. TheLogLady
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 180

    TheLogLady
    Member


    This is a familiar story ! i would like to hear of someone who this hasnt happened too ! :) subscribed and looking forward to your progress :):)
     
  10. 23dragster
    Joined: Apr 22, 2011
    Posts: 264

    23dragster
    Member
    from U.S.

    I'm liking this project. Good choice.
    Looks like your work is "cut out" for you. *Slaps knee and wipes tear from eye* Good deal though, it's sweet.
     
  11. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    As I see it, I got kinda screwed but at least this way im gonna know exactly what I have as I will be going over every inch of the car. Ive seen alot of nice shiney cars come into the country and you never know what is under that nice paint???
     
  12. farmer12
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 7,717

    farmer12
    Member

    This is one nice project, with a bit of work ahead of you. Did you "settle" the misrepresentation with the PO? Good luck with the build!
     
  13. Finnrodder
    Joined: Oct 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,970

    Finnrodder
    Member
    from Finland

    Looks like you have really planned what to do with your project.I had some floor issues too with my project.But instead of buying the floor pans,i fabricated them by myself.
    I guess shoeboxes will rotten pretty much from the same places,floors,rockers,lower cowl corners,floor bracing..
    Good luck with your project and keep us posted!
     
  14. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Thanks for checking it out.
    Farmer 12. No at the time it kind of knocked me over and I didnt realise that I had any come back on the purchase. For what its worth I also like to think that maybe, even a little bit the guy actually thought it was a good body.

    Finnrodder. Ive been following your build and you are doing a great job. I dont have any sheet metal equipment (I actually dont even have a welder at the moment!) and we also have quite tight laws around modified vehicles. The Paul Bradley floors dont come quick but they are a factory duplicate item as are the inner rockers. At $300 they are also resonably priced. Now I just need to get them in my shed!!!

    Andy.
     
  15. Finnrodder
    Joined: Oct 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,970

    Finnrodder
    Member
    from Finland

    Thanks man!
    We have pretty tight laws in here too,but luckily they are a bit easier that they just to be few yrs ago.Few yrs back i didnt have much tools either,but i've always bought something when i've needed them.I guess the beadroller was only item that i bought before i needed it.So it was just collecting dust in the garage for few yrs before i started my floor project...
    I am waiting for an update,hope you'll get your floor pans soon.
     
  16. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Thanks. Is the shoebox in your avitar the same car ive seen on SBF.com?
    Andy.
     
  17. JimC
    Joined: Dec 13, 2002
    Posts: 2,241

    JimC
    Member
    from W.C.,Mo.

    There are many who think their cars are better than they are.
    Being countries or even states apart makes it difficult at best to determine the actual condition of any car.
    Good luck on yur build, you are going to wind up with a car that you KNOW is good.
    Never too many of any kind of build.
    folks reading through these builds will learn a new trick associated with each build.
     
  18. JimC
    Joined: Dec 13, 2002
    Posts: 2,241

    JimC
    Member
    from W.C.,Mo.

    By the asy, My brother-in-law called me one evening wanting me to go look at a car he was interested in.
    He is in Wichita, Ks. and the car was in Arkansas just about an hours drive from me.

    I looked at the car and called him and suggested he look at it before he bought it.
    he made the deal over the phone without taking my advice.

    Here is the car he bought and it now,after several years and many dollars is just about drivable. It does now start and move around his place.

    After looking at his, you just might feel better about yours.:)
     

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  19. ricktard
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 152

    ricktard
    Member
    from spokane

    cool project dude
     
  20. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    When I picked my car up from the freight co in Auckland there was a convertable thunderbird sitting beside my coupe. I wish I had taken pics as one side looked really good and the other side had huge rust holes! I hope the purchaser saw pics of both sides:eek:

    Andy.
     
  21. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Well its a long weekend here in NZ so ive been working on the coupe when I can.
    I spent Saturday afternoon doing battle with the door hinges. They look to have never been off before so it took the best part of three hours. I used an impact driver along with a steel drift, spray penetrating lubricant and a heat gun. I started by giving them a soak with the lube (CRC,WD40 etc). Then using the drift I tapped around the head of the counter sunk bolts. This serves to break any corrosive link between the bolt head and the hinge and also in the thread. I then used the heat gun and applied heat to each bolt head. Now using the impact driver I worked the bolts free. Trick with the impact driver is to make sure you allow it to return to full stroke after each blow and make sure it is bottoming out with each blow. Once the hinges were off I ground down the hinge pin at both ends. I then drilled a hole through the centre to releive load. Now using a punch, while holding the hinge in the vice I drove the pins out. Note. The pins are splined one end and will only come out one way. Spline first. It was interesting to note that there is a reasonable amount of wear on the pin. Im now on the hunt to find new pins. I can't see them in the Dennis C cataloge? Does anybody know if they are available? Thanks.
     

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  22. Finnrodder
    Joined: Oct 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,970

    Finnrodder
    Member
    from Finland

  23. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Thanks. Yeah that worked out well. If the original pins are available however, I have measured mine and the wear is on the pin (~ 0.003 inch) so new pins should do it. If not I will do as shown. Cheers.
     
  24. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,602

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    Nice! Have fun with it! Shoeboxes rock man.
     
  25. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Its been a day of measuring the body. using the factory measurements from the green bible I have found that everything appears to be within 1/16 of where it should be. This is excellent news given that there is no bracing fitted. Ive been getting the floor braces ready to fit and found that the original braces have a right angled bracket welded under where the rubber body mount sits. Can anybody tell me what this is for? Thanks.

    I was also fortunate enough to have a couple of mates visit today. This was made even better by the fact that Barry was driving his 32 Five Window that has only just been finished after 40 years! Congrats Barry, its an awesome rod and it is great to see it on the road!!!:cool: (haha, now you will need to post more pics :D)
     

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  26. Stefan T
    Joined: Sep 15, 2008
    Posts: 2,165

    Stefan T
    Member
    from Sweden

    It is always nice with a good shoebox build

    good luck with yours

    /Stefan
     
  27. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,564

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Awesome project kiwiandy, at least you got on with it when you found the imperfections and didnt throw your toys out. Been there and done what you are doing and its difficult repairing floors with the body on the frame. We took our 54 Victoria off the frame and rolled it over on a home made rotiserie to replace the floor braces and rusty sills. We just fabricated our own braces etc. The rt. angle may just be a locator for the mount.
    We have a 49 coupe if you need any pictures of the structure.
     
    Ragmanray likes this.
  28. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Thanks, I appreciate that and will more than likely require some pics at some stage. If you ever find yourself in Auckland, let me know if you want to drop by for look. Im in Torbay. Yeah, that angle does seem to be for location. Probably to assist on the production line. Cheers.
    Andy.
     
  29. fordman1
    Joined: Jan 11, 2008
    Posts: 387

    fordman1
    Member

    Out of curiousity how will you figure out you have the body in the right position with the floors missing? I have a '50 in the shape and have been trying to figure it out!
     
  30. kiwiandy
    Joined: Apr 19, 2005
    Posts: 419

    kiwiandy
    Member

    Good question. The first thing I did was to check the body was securely mounted to the chassis both forward of the firewall and rear of the "B" pillar/door post. Ive then taken plenty of measurements and split the difference. For the record and of interest was that the measurement taken diagonally from the lower A pillar drivers side to the lower passenger door post came out almost exactly as stated in the factory measurements. All these measurements are in the green bible. Priority is to get good door gaps so once I sort my hinges I will reatach the door then clamp/screw the rockers/floors in place and recheck before final welding.
    Andy.
     

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