Well I wish this could be a more in-depth build thread, but tough for me to post due to time constraints. My vision for this build was to stay with a '58-62' era look. Not sure that I got there exactly, but I'm happy with it and it's a great car to drive. I've received positive feedback so far so I'm good with it. I started with some frame rails from JW Rod Garage as a buddy had used them and recommended them. They are very nice. The same buddy has a jig in his shop for '32 frames, so this made the assembly much easier. I pinched the frame rails 1" at the front and as it turned out, I should have either pinched more (to about the width of the radiator shell) or not bothered with it at all. I took some build ideas from the Doane Spencer '32 and also from I guy I know that built a clone of Doane's car when it still had front frame horns. I bobbed the frame front and rear and installed model A crossmembers front and rear. The X-member is out of a '39 Ford that I modified at the front so that you (hopefully) couldn't see them while looking down near the firewall. I used a Winters quick change with home built hairpins/ladder bars in the rear. The front end is a 32-34 front axle dropped to about 4" total. The front hairpins are from Speedway and I mounted the spring behind the front axle. This was part of the look I was after. The engine is a '56 Chrysler 331 industrial or truck motor that had the cam that ran backwards.(has been changed over). Well, here's some pics of the build. (I've lost the ones of the bare frame when it was in the jig) Hope you enjoy: Painting parts:
Thanks guys. It's been a fun build. Trying to keep the mistakes learned along the way in my memory (what's that?) for the next build.
The tasty color combo makes me hungry for pumpkin pie or maybe thirst for a nice amber ale. "I need my mirror boy"
Wow that was a quick build thread in 9 pics!! Car looks terrific and I just love that Hemi for motorvation. How did you fit it in without cutting the firewall? And how does your QC perform-are you running straight cut or helical gears? Neat car !!
Very nice, on to the next build. Curious as to what you have in mind. Hard to top what you already have. Custom perhaps?
Two things I think helped with the engine to fit without cutting the firewall. With the spring behind the axle, The radiator and grille were moved up just a touch. Also, the hemi has a Chevy water pump conversion on it which shortens the total length of the engine something like 1.5". I really like the quick change, not very noisy and it has the straight-cut gears.
The Jalopy Journal
