Turns out this is my first hot rod build, be gentle guys, I'm green! Had a customer with a Model A that I just loved so here we are. Found this out on the Feather River in CA as it had been sitting for almost 50 years. The folks on the property had used it at their vacation home to make runs for lumber and the like. I intend on converting it into a somewhat proper hot rod. I was lucky as the metal is in great shape, and so is most of the wood. The floors are gone obviously but that's almost a given. My first plan after the body is off and the stove bolt 6 is out is to convert the front end to a transverse spring and hairpin set up. do a mild 4 link in the rear....channel the body 8" or so and keep the top un chopped. Still on the fence for engine but definitely want to keep it bowtie. Please any advice or opinions are welcome. I'll post photos in the comments Thanks!
oh, and will someone please tell me why Chevy seems to be the illegitimate bastard son of all of pre 50's hot rods?
Mostly because of the wood sub frames is my first thought. Takes a lot more to make one of these stable than it does a Ford of the same year. That's probably why more Fords survives than Chevy's. If you have solid wood you are way ahead of the game.
Also you can do a lot with an inline six like a 235 and have a really nice hot rod. If a V8 is where you are headed I would stay with a 283 / 327/ small block. Nice looking coupe by the way.
Thank you! Great question. To which I’m not 100% sure of the answer. First off, I want her nice and low, probably a bit lower than some of the folks on here would approve of lol. Secondly, I just really love the look of the transverse leaf setup ! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yes I’ve heard that. The wood in this car really is solid but it’s gonna need some serious stiffening even to just survive leaving its home it’s been sitting on its whole life... Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Yeah. Definitely am leaning towards a 327. As far as the 6 goes, yeah I realize the cool factor, but I just don’t think it’ll have the power I’m looking for. I wanna drive this car, hard. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I'm thinking that might be achievable regardless of spring orientation...the look well that's a different story...but why not exploit what it had going for it... @tb33anda3rd has a small block powered 33 Chevy with the parallel suspension still...not really as low as your thinking but I'm sure the frame can be notched, springs re-arched axle dropped, blocks...your call of course... Have fun with it.
One more thing...lots of competition in the traditional history of this Hotrod/Race involved Favour of those that weren't Ford...and they were a force so seriously consider your loyalty... You may well be better off exploiting the brand power you have...nothing wrong with that either..
Good looking Chevy to start with! Looks like you're well on your way for the tear down. Good luck with the build!
you could keep the parallel leaf springs all around, and a stovebolt, and not bother with the channel, and build a bitchin hot rod.
Nice coupe. FYI My 1919 Dort is basically wood, skinned with metal and I do not have a top to help. It is bowtie V8 powered. I lowered it using a 4" 50's Chev pickup axle. It fit nicely with the stock Dort parallel springs. I used a Vega box for cross steering. Make sure you stiffen the frame rails as they will flex quite a bit and you will have some fun keeping it going straight down the road.......also mind your front and middle cross members to help stop the flexing. Good luck!.....keep us posted.
I’m just on the fence I guess. I really like the look of the transverse leaf as well as the aggressive ride height.....is it sacrilege to swap it out from the Chevy set up? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Great point. My thoughts are to do just that..tho are you referring to the suspension up front? My loyalty is clear, I was just born a Chevy guy! Lol. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Cool ride! Thanks for the hints. I had planned on boxing in the front and rear sections and adding some sort of x frame in the middle. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Great buy Eddie. I'm also a first timer and you'll find that the guys here on the Hamb are here to help and support. Good luck with the build!
Night cap photos. Started to brace in the cab in preparation for removing it. This thing was sloppy! Much better now, I’m gonna add some lower perimeter bracing tomorrow and it should be stout enough to come off?? I may end up building a rolling stand for it as I’m crunched for space. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
That is extremely clean. And I agree. Extremely cool. I’m currently trying to locate that exact issue.
I just posted it because it's a friend's car if you can't find the issue, let me know, I might have it somewhere around here.
Hey thanks sir.... Yes. Everyone’s been great here. I’m in over my head and loving every minute of it. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I was referring to front, rear and beyond. By going smallblock you are bumping this build up to 1955+ as that was the first year for a Chev Smallblock with 1957 being a 283. there is absolutely nothing wrong with that of course. You are new here welcome...I just want to let you know you have posted your build in the "The Traditional Hotrod Forum" and if you are going to build it like a Hotrod between 1955 to 1965 thats fine and encouraged...but if you deviate from Traditional "The Hokey Message Board" Forum is where you want your build to be. This is not to alarm just to let you know... Here are some examples of Similar Era Chevy in varied types of Hotrod Just as others have posted to offer potential inspiration and direction... Again you have a really solid very cool start...have fun and we're in for the ride... There are links below to where these were posted and you may find additional info or more to enjoy. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-57#post-12488680 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-65#post-12591322 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-65#post-12595655 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...genized-hotrods.1002926/page-15#post-11367162 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/32-chevy-302-gmc-6-done.258189/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ogenized-hotrods.1002926/page-9#post-11317188 https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ogenized-hotrods.1002926/page-6#post-11314525 Credit to Photographers, Owners
My very first hot rod was a 33 Chevy 3 window coupe. The termites had gotten to the wood. I replaced all of the wood with square tubing and channeled it down over the frame . I used a 324 Olds and hydro. Sorry no pictures but this was mid 60's.
The black roadster with GMC on the side, was built by the same guy as the gold coupe. It's also featured in the Rodders Journal issue. ....and I took that picture, at the drag strip...St Louis, 2013.
I am also a fan of the parallel leaf springs on the front of the old Chevy cars/trucks (pre-35). My 34 coupe has a 6 inch dropped axel with reversed main leaves and it sits just above the scrub line. Also using a cross steer set up. Bought the axel many years ago from Butches Rod Shop, not sure he still has them. Drove it over 63k miles without any issues, pix is of car apart.
That copper 31 was driven solo across country over 10 years ago to the first Milltown Show in Palmer, Mass. That show was a huge hit, and brought out awesome cars & survivors in droves. As I recall... listening to the tons of people at that car that day, he was originally from out here, and had a brother that also had wild rods and was still here in the East? is that correct? ... Anyways, I overheard some of his local friends telling the story of why "he jumped in the Chevy and headed back home to visit"...but I won't post that here. At that time, he also had that stunning 32 Ford Cabriolet fenderless flattie. .