looks good man! sorry got busy yesterday got a welder and some tools needed. going to replace my rockers,rusted floor parts and rusted wheel well areas today! btw do u have a spare welding shield laying around? the little hand one that came with my welder suckkkksss!!! anyway ill be by today to bring the vest and that wheel back
Nice work choptvan. I like the flip to a white body and green roof. My next project is a 56 Ford and I have to do the 4 door to 2 door conversion also. Any advice for how to brace the rear door so you don't get a ghost line where it joins the rear quarter panel? Most cars I have seen in real life that have madde the change seem to get this line. Also, how did you fill the gap in between the rear door skin and the body (what used to be the door gap) - lots of weld, weld and lead, weld and filler, some rod to fill the gap then welded in? Cheers, Drew
I actually had little to no gap to fill between the rear door and the quarter. I kept grinding till the gap was almost nonexistent. I used the door skin and not all of the shell. The fit has to be good. Again, there are a few things not posted. I did that on purpose. As far as the swap goes, it is more than move a pillar, add a door, slam the rear door shut and then weld it all. It is a VERY difficult thing to do. Takes skill and a ton of patience to get it done right. Drilling spotwelds is key. Fitting the front door is just as important. If you do any of this out of order, or to quickly, it turns out like shit. For instance, the line you always see. That is why. Not enough prep. Not enough care taken. There are a few things I would do differently after doing it. Don't get me wrong. It is not a perfect job. But standing on top of the car looking at it, you cannot even tell it was a 4 door. I have to tell people it was. I am damn proud of that. Good luck with yours. Don't rush it. It will show.
I picked up a few goodies today. I got ahold of a 55 pontiac split rear bumperw/overrider, and a decklid. Got all the holes fill in the lid and removed the gas tank so I could redirect it into the trunk ( runnin the right vents ) and began figuring out how to get the brackets built for the bumper. I have pix but left it all in the shop. Updates tomorrow hopefully.
I've been wondering how it was coming. That '55 bumper will look good on there, especially with the over rider. Looking forward to it.
second try, the chassis (front end) looks real the same as on my 53 lincoln are they the same ? would ford ball joints fit my lincoln a -arm or even dropped spinldes for a 54 ford? i dont like th highjack but would love to know it
for those keepin up.... new trunk release filler neck relocation. Actually, subtraction. Not sure if I like it yet. Pretty easy to use and keeps it out of the trunk. Going to try using it a ew times before I finally decide. filling in the old shit rear bumper beginning much fukn better!!!
in the existing filler location but cut down. A lot. I cut an access hole for filling the tank and it has plenty of access. Keeps it accessable from the trunk, but not IN the trunk. Again, I am not sure if I like it yet or if I will run it all the way up into the trunk. I will try filling up a few times before I make up my mind. PS I have not done the vent tube yet. I will do it before she leaves the garage.
I was looking at a 56 chev today, I wonder if there is a way to pivot one of the tailights and put the filler neck inside..... gotta be a way. Also, 53-54 caddy had something similar?
It's lookin' good, Shannon! Keep it up! You're moving that gal right along... Can't wait to see the changes in person next year at Gunnison...
Like the car, I've seen it around town. Do you happen to know anyone with a spare windshield for a '53 or '54, I have a friend trying to track one down.
The Jalopy Journal
