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Projects Southeast TN 51 shoebox build.

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Kage, Nov 6, 2018.

  1. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I just picked up a 1951 Ford Custom. The car is very solid. Only has minor rust damage in the trunk. The worst parts on the car are the passenger side quarter panel in front of the wheel well. Some one drilled a lot of holes to pull out an old dent. Someone did a real hack job on the trans tunnel (which is ok with me....because I was going to be cutting it out to make room for a more modern overdrive transmission). And there was a real bad patch job done on the front floor pans. Basically a flat piece of metal was laid over the old pan and epoxied into place.

    The plans for the build are:
    Smooth out all the body panels
    Shaved doors
    Frenched headlights
    Fix the floors and trunk
    Mustang gas tank
    93 mustang 8.8 rear with 5 lug conversion 3:55 gears
    302 sbf an an E4OD trans.
    Rebel wiring harness
    Drop block in the rear
    Aerostar springs up front
    And a moderat chop. 8635B2DB-5550-4188-AB44-4A75F4A3BD4D.jpeg 31BE4E94-9EEC-49E4-969E-9D1D165C5A20.jpeg

    Luckily the shoebox already came with sbf engine mounts
    2ECAFA26-DCE0-4A5F-8AAE-7A5895CA6B5A.jpeg 934EE706-0962-42C5-B423-2D8939903B74.jpeg

    Bringing her home
    E1CF985D-10B8-4840-BB15-8DF630D79783.jpeg

    The passenger quarter panel is the worst body panel on the car.
    1D01C87F-4CB1-42E9-AC25-089963010059.jpeg


    DDC0A334-AAEE-4AB0-9BA7-DADAB8E63CFE.jpeg 885DC74B-636E-4C9F-A8AA-029269F932A9.jpeg 92A6E998-A859-4045-96BF-561B6B163FFE.jpeg

    E4OD transmission out of 96 F150 (my dads old truck)
    F608B347-1787-42D1-B773-5CCBEA06E56D.jpeg

    96 302 (also out of my dads old truck)
    Stock bottom end.
    Ford Motorsport roller B cam
    Ford Motorsport 1.6 roller rockers
    GT40P heads
    Comp cam valve springs
    And a dual plane intake.
    EDF7B073-8CD2-495F-AC7C-31BF861BF575.jpeg

    Small rust hole in lower kick panel
    538FF8B3-A887-4D00-BFBA-B89F36A78063.jpeg

    Patch from one of the previous owners
    You can also see the hacked up trans tunnel
    C639B79C-94C5-4DA9-925B-4A4CF0F1DB5E.jpeg

    Passenger side...same kind of patch as the drivers side. And another shot of the trans tunnel
    135DC4F8-A1E3-457C-A9D0-D9638EC140C3.jpeg 3F852AE0-F45D-4F21-803A-BD23E6F1FD5F.jpeg

    Back side of rocker is solid
    D8CBBA22-AAAD-4C03-953F-A29CB8016C77.jpeg

    Underneath is very solid...all body mounts are good.
    FE572ECB-15D2-47A4-B000-D51E352BA6D7.jpeg B80C1260-A4CF-46EF-BF49-470FAE735D17.jpeg


    You can see where the drivers floor was cut out and the trans crossmember has been cut as well.
    88630A01-FEE0-4C93-8555-2F08D2F8497F.jpeg

    Solid rear floors.
    86F6AFC4-D7B7-439F-B2EB-0B9942920F77.jpeg


    C55C94A9-06D6-4C98-8F4B-751AB7160A39.jpeg

    Before I started cleaning the floors
    36E6FFEA-C8F7-4BDA-99C2-C9D47AD42157.jpeg
     
  2. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    Currently working on cleaning the car up. Seeing what all needs patched and doing some research on brakes and other parts. I’ll keep this updated as much as I can.
     
    enloe and lothiandon1940 like this.
  3. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,180

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    looks like a visit to a shop that can blast it clean to save a lot of time and labor - consider a early 60's T-Bird set of seats - be sure to figure out glass before chopping
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  4. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    Already planning on having the whole body blasted. Just working on getting most of the old coating off the floors and trunk 1st.
     
    enloe and lothiandon1940 like this.

  5. Looks like you are well on your way. Robert Mitchum would be proud.:D
     
    robracer1 likes this.
  6. Dennis34
    Joined: Jul 3, 2008
    Posts: 138

    Dennis34
    Member

    Looks like a good start. Good luck
     
  7. texasred
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,202

    texasred
    Member
    from Houston

    Should have been against the law for a backyard bodyman to own a dent puller...
     
    mikhett likes this.
  8. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I completely agree.... I have a stud gun and love it. I trying to decide if I want to try and save the original quarter or just invest in a patch....or make a patch
     
    enloe likes this.
  9. texasred
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,202

    texasred
    Member
    from Houston

    I would look for a patch from a 4 door
     
  10. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Looks like it has good bones, my '51 is set up similar to your plans, you will have a good time with it! I used an AOD behind my 302 and didn't have to touch the floor/tunnel at all so you might have to just patch up the damage and keep it simple.
     
  11. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    The E4OD is very large. I’m debating about either a manual 3sp with over drive or switching to an AOD.
    I already have one of the old ford SROD transmissions out of a truck at the house. Really starting to lean in that direction.
     
    enloe likes this.
  12. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I managed to get a couple of hours in on the 51 this evening. I got most of the passenger side stripped.

    DFFFB49F-7FFC-46DB-8FD2-07CA53E59294.jpeg

    You can really see how beat up the passenger quarter panel is.
    FB241B4A-57FE-46B7-837A-75E5EAB6C6ED.jpeg 460C1626-A558-4013-95FF-94A259B0FEB7.jpeg


    I think I have decided to run this 3 speed with overdrive SROD transmission out of an early 80’s F250. The shifter position on these is farther forward than the ones that came out of the cars. So it should be in a position forward of the bench seat.
    4F8E60D5-97BA-45EE-9B80-239F4A7B0A0E.jpeg
     
    enloe, loudbang and warhorseracing like this.
  13. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    Got a few more hours in yesterday. Managed to patch the lower passenger door and cowl area. Then I ripped up the old patch in the passenger floorboard to see how bad the damage was. Looks like a lot more cutting and welding in my future. While I wait to order a floor pan I will go ahead and patch the rocker panel.

    E63305DE-EBCB-4AD2-B06E-23B6900FBC2C.jpeg 5AB8DA61-CAF3-441C-9085-588125F029C5.jpeg A5CBB2C9-CD50-48DD-81A6-AD117211F01D.jpeg 35704C82-C3C0-4EF4-AD53-2AFD39A4D364.jpeg C4314739-7B09-4E53-9BAF-5052EF54C16A.jpeg D0BBE76F-17E4-4A77-8771-93414CFBF0DA.jpeg 21CB3D7B-BBCA-45AD-AFA6-5A65C7219F8A.jpeg


    I’m really debating about cutting off the passenger quarter panel in the damaged area and just work the original steel back into shap. It would give me a good excuse to go ahead and invest in an English wheel. Lol
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2018
    dan31, enloe, lothiandon1940 and 2 others like this.
  14. Making progress,that's the main thing.

    I bringing back another old shoe box myself. HRP
     
    enloe and Kage like this.
  15. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    Nice. Are you doing a build thread?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  16. Not really a build thread, I bought a '50 coupe from a friend who has health issues and the car had sit for several years, I have just been going through it and fixing a lot of things.

    I have some sheet metal work to do also but my main objection is to get it on the road and address some of the sheet metal work over the winter months. HRP

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950-ford-club-coupe-my-new-project.1116699/

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950-ford-club-coupe-my-new-project.1116699/
     
    Kage likes this.
  17. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I hope you get it on the road soon
     
    loudbang likes this.
  18. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I didn’t get much work done on the 51 over the weekend. I did managed to go pick up my freshly rebuilt 302. And dropped off a 292 Y-block to be rebuilt for my 54 F100. I also scored a bell housing. I drove over an hour away to go get it but for $60 bucks it was worth the drive. With the bellhousing in hand I was able to get the engine and trans mocked up in the 51. I’m pretty sure the engine frame mounts I have are the Jamco Suspension mounts. I’m using a 96 F150 oil pan. I seem to have good clearance all around. I still need to fab the mount for the trans and get it centered.


    40C65D3C-A411-4528-9F0B-22EE45915D8D.jpeg 55555F79-1847-4865-855D-E9EDB48278E1.jpeg D756DEA0-ABF4-4FCE-9056-406A112300A1.jpeg 3923AE7D-1745-4A8B-8B16-F3D8247AF97D.jpeg FCDC6405-64A8-4F1D-A23F-92569F86B6A6.jpeg 70C63D7E-53FD-49AC-A28B-767EA4733027.jpeg 975BF72E-BBA0-441A-8A40-2ED18AE9CD6B.jpeg
     
  19. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    My cousin owns a machine shop and is going to make me a set of dies for a bead roller like the one pictured below that finnrodder made for his shoebox. Once I have them I will start making my patch panels for the floor and then I can fab up a trans tunnel. I really wish th PO hadn’t butchered the trans tunnel.


    60D45A18-B887-43B3-A30C-D1539994C032.jpeg E299CEF6-5B1E-43B7-B265-CEBA8D723FD1.jpeg
    The below picture is from finnrodders build. Just showing what floors made with the custom made dies shown above can look like. 1AC1B273-9FC3-4743-A42C-C5E276F4BFBB.jpeg 24AFD3DC-CAED-4FEF-B064-98D9333C616D.jpeg 4DB59767-DD12-4E34-B60F-48DF93945DED.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2018
    brEad, parabola, Finnrodder and 2 others like this.
  20. Fit's like a glove! HRP
     
  21. Looking good so far, is the '93 Mustang rear the right width?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  22. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    The fox body mustang rear end is 59 11/44......so I guess I’ll be on the lookout for another rear...I guess I miss read the measurement when I 1st looked it up. If I can’t find an 8” from Maverick or Granada I’ll go with a ranger rear end
     
    loudbang likes this.
  23. I'm planning to do a Ranger rear end with Mustang disc brakes on the rear, and maybe Mustang gears if I can't find a Ranger unit geared the way I want. Kind of a "Frankenstein's axle" situation.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  24. I lucked out and found a Maverick rear for mine on ebay of all places.

    Nice job on the floors & trans tunnel by the way. Looking good!
     
    loudbang likes this.
  25. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    Good find on the Maverick rear.
    The floor and tunnel above is not the one in my car...that is from finnrodders build...was using it to show as an example of what those custom bead roller dies can do
     
    BoilermakerDave and loudbang like this.
  26. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I found a ranger rear local with 3.08 gears for $150. I’m hoping to pick it up this weekend.
     
    parabola and loudbang like this.
  27. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Good score! It might be pretty tall geared with OD and the 3.08 though, I'm running 3.55's behind the AOD and it just loping along at 65-70.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  28. Kage
    Joined: Oct 18, 2008
    Posts: 944

    Kage
    Member
    from Delano, TN

    I have another 8.8 from a mustang that already has a trac lock and 3.55 gears. Might swap them over.
    I just want the car to be a good cruiser. And low interstate rpm's would be a great thing.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  29. I'd go with the AOD and 3.55 gears, or get a C4 for the 3.08 gears. The E4OD is the electronic version of the C6 so a) it's going to suck more horsepower, b) it's HUGE (as you've noted), and c) it's electronic, so you'll have to get a computer (if you don't already have one). The C4 or AOD will be a better choice over the AOD, just depends on what you want to do on the rearend.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  30. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That was my goal as well. My '66 Mustang (302, 4 speed, 3.25 gears) turns right at 3000 rpm at 70 mph, so I wanted the '51 to be my cruiser. I passed up a couple of C-4's to get the AOD, took quite awhile to find one in my area, because I wanted the gas mileage and the low rpm's the OD would give me.
    Critchdizzle has an excellent point on the E4OD, the computer and the wiring that is required is a pain; not to mention the huge size difference. The AOD goes in without any cutting at all; all I had to do was modify the trans. cross-member a bit.
     

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