Alright, things are starting to get rolling on my build so I figured I'd make a thread. Let's start off at the purchase......after answering this craigslist ad I drove up the the berkshires and dragged it out from a 60+ year slumber (1952 Ma inspection sticker just barely visible on the windshield) This guy inherited the coupe from his uncle who drove it here in 1948 from Washington state. The Washington paper work was still tied to the column with string, pretty cool. So anyway we cut a deal and I winched her out from her shitty life in a barn. I am not into the leatherback at all but the rest of the body was so perfect I couldn't pass it up. Figured I could find a standard roof to bolt on.
Yeah I hope so too, they are hard to come by. So once I had the title in my hand (that is a story in itself), I ordered up some JW rails and figured I'd build my own chassis. Flattened out a 40 rear crossmember I had. Pieced together this over the last year. 1.5" drop 32 axle with original 32 spring 40 brakes/bones etc
40 ford spring in back, 67 Bronco 9" 3.50's etc sunk the ladder bar crossmember into the X scored this mag that had been run on a nailhead powered drag bike you may have seen from the northeast. Had to Rework this jeep shift tower to work on the dearborn top loader. Old transdapt bell. Now we're talkin
Nice, I really like the leatherbacks, they're just different enough, but I can understand why a lot of folks don't. Good looking so far, I'll be watching to se where this goes. I can't imagine driving a Model A that far back in '48. I guess men were men...
Trans cross member looks weird cause the tail shaft on that Trans is clocked so I had to lean the mount as well. I made it saddle type to help strengthen up the X member as well. Well that was still hot about an hour ago so that gets us up to date.
combine the pieces of roof you already have with the back window section of a Tudor sedan,and you'll get this.
The sheet metal that was under the leather is rotted pretty bad. I'm need standard roof pieces if anyone knows of any. Thanks for all the good comments, will update as things come together.
I have had 2 Special Coupes, have a 29 stocker and my 28 avatar with a V8 60, I like the leather back but built a completely different style of car. Have to agree that it wouldn't look as good as a highboy on a deuce frame.
Big thanks to Jared for hooking me up with the 64 425ci Nailhead and a big box of Holley 94's to make my good six. Also some killer early Cal valve covers. I'm thinking of doing a new cam and springs etc and maybe a light clean up on the ports. Would be a tire killer with the stock torque anyway, but more is always better.
Thanks, no this is my first hot rod build. I made up a 4'x4' steel table to build the frame one, just kept levels front, back and middle and measured everything a 100 times.
Set the body on tonight, need to do some cutting of the trunk floor to get it sitting down right. Then I can get the 40 pedals and F100 steering box located. Also the car will be wearing 7.50's and 5.00 tires. I just need to find one more 16x5 so I can paint them before mounting.
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