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Projects KIWI 1939 COUPE DU JOUR - Runnin from Johnny Law!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by woodbox, Dec 23, 2013.

  1. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    august 05 036.jpg august 05 037.jpg august 05 038.jpg august 05 039.jpg I have just recently finished a rather longer term than expected project. You can check it out here.............
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=685236

    Like any hot rodder worth his salt I have another waiting in the wings. This will be its story.

    A couple of years ago a friend of mine tripped over a 1939 Ford coupe that had been sitting in a shed near here for 20 plus years. He is a mechanic and decided that it would be a fun project. He hauled it home and had it sitting on the trailer. We went out to their place to have dinner one night. He mentioned that they were thinking of packing their stuff and moving to the USA (his wife is a US citizen). I asked him whether he would sell me the coupe. Long story short he said yes. Part of the deal was that there was a 1939 sedan sitting in a field that had to go with it. I figured there may be some parts I could use from that too, so, what the heck, I'm in!

    I dragged the coupe home on the trailer and he went to pick up the sedan from the former owner, and dropped it off to me. Unfortunately the sedan had been sitting out with the cows for 20 plus years.
    I tried to salvage what I could from the car. All I ended up with was front and rear axles, engine (probably solid) trans, the tops of all the doors. The rest all went to the scrap metal dealer for $27.00! The chassis was completely see through on the right hand rail.

    The coupe was being driven 20 years ago by the former owner with a flathead. they took it off the road and started to set up for a SBC. The mounts got done and a new open rear axle fitted on parallel leaves. It was at this point that for some reason interest was lost in the project and things ground to a screeching halt.

    I was digging through a box of new parts that had been bought for the car and found a docket with a name on it of the previous owner( before my friend) I looked up a phone number for him to try and find out some history of the car. I spoke to him and he was most helpful. He said that he bought the car from a local identity that is into HD bikes now. He gave me his name and it turns out that he is married to my daughters current school teacher!! Small world. I spoke to her and asked about the car. She used to drive it as an everyday car. Sometimes with 7 on board to a party!
    I asked her if she has any pictures of the car from back when they had it.......here's hoping she finds something.

    I am planning to set up a cubic metre plastic pod with molasses and water to strip all the major panels before any major work starts. I have some non car related work to catch up with after my last project (9 years), so will be happy to let the parts sit in the pod for weeks at a time while I do other things.

    I know my plans for this wont be exactly up everyone's alley, but I want to make things simple and functional and most of all fairly quick! Not like the last one!
    My plans are to have it low, but practical ( I live on an unsealed driveway), economical (Gas is over $2 a litre), 5 speed manual box, Body not to show car standard so I am not afraid to use it anytime or anywhere. I want it to handle well so I can drive it hard and not be afraid of it.
    I am on the lookout for a Mk10 XJ6 Jag/Daimler as a donor car, from which I will use; IFS complete, IRS complete, Power steering and pump, brake cyl and booster, possibly seats (if not they will be workshop furniture) Electric window units, E brake.
    A friend just did a similar swap on his 37 Chev sedan in 8 weeks! I may not be quite that quick but hey!
    To keep as many components from similar cars makes certification at the end of it all much easier too.

    I am not big on shiny stuff so there won't be a whole lot of fancy chrome and stuff on this car, probably not even the paint! Don't get me wrong, it will not be a r@t! I can't stand rattles and bad fitting parts so it will be quality, but not designed to meet the requirements of a show judging sheet to gain maximum points! No fancy braided hoses, just good solid engineering.

    I don't have any pictures of the coupe at this stage, as it is buried in the back of the shop at the moment, but I will be digging it out over the next few weeks while I am at home for the summer.

    Follow along and join the fun!
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2014
    OzMerc39 and kidcampbell71 like this.
  2. :eek:And here I thought you were a dyed in the wool open car man:D Looks good man will be keeping an eye on this one.
     
  3. Yeah , go at it Wade ! Not one to sit still are you . :D


    .
     
  4. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    Maybe the cook might like to roll up the windows in this one and chase me!

    I would probably only take up smoking or drinking if I didn't have something to do with the hands!
     


  5. Hehe, I'm just about to dive into a '39 Project also . Mine comes home 2nd week in Jan .


    .
     
  6. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    Cool! We can compare baby photos!

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  7. Haha, Mine's a Standard Tudor . I owner , original paint survivor .I won't crash your thread with what the plans are but yeah we will be comparing notes I'm sure !



    .
     
  8. fleet-master
    Joined: Sep 29, 2010
    Posts: 1,780

    fleet-master
    Member

    I'm so glad you don't live close Wade...otherwise you'd have got $28 for that body parts pile...from me !! :D :D :p
     
  9. daddio211
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 6,012

    daddio211
    Member

  10. 64 DODGE 440
    Joined: Sep 2, 2006
    Posts: 4,421

    64 DODGE 440
    Member
    from so cal

    Signed up to follow this one. Always liked the '39s.
     
  11. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    You would have had to have collected it for that much!

    Buckle up Y'all, it could get bumpy!

    Welcome aboard......window seat or isle, sir?
     
  12. nunattax
    Joined: Jan 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,052

    nunattax
    Member
    from IRELAND

    aaaaaaaaaarrgh whats the steering wheel doing over there
     
  13. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    I need to have a big shift around in the shop to get at the coupe. The starter on my fork hoist is shot, so I have pulled it out this morning and will drop off to the auto sparky while in town today.

    Gotta get some groceries and ice for tomorrows lunch. Can't just go outside and put the beers in a snow drift around here! should be 83degF (25degC) tomorrow.

    The workshop shuffle will start today, with the light stuff first.

    Stay tuned for pictures..............in color...........promise!:cool:
     
    bengeltiger likes this.
  14. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    1387839613059.jpg 1387839658259.jpg Look what turned up this morning!

    I made quick work of slicing the top out of it. I will leave one side attached for now as a lid.

    Now......who sells molasses? Hmmm.:rolleyes:

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    Last edited: Aug 6, 2014
  15. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    1387852426477.jpg 1387852465019.jpg 1387852498645.jpg 1387852565923.jpg 1387852635027.jpg 1387852689940.jpg 1387852732240.jpg The starter was fine. Turns out it is a wiring issue. So I Hot wired it. While it was running I made the most of it and started the workshop shuffle.

    I took the chance to do a fleet photo. My mk 1 Ford Escort, 1927 modified roadster, the ute, Coupe de jure, the forks.

    Some shots of the coupe. Love that big ass!

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    Last edited: Aug 6, 2014
    Stogy and OzMerc39 like this.
  16. Oh why not.....looks very cool.. im in. JW :)
     
  17. daddio211
    Joined: Aug 26, 2008
    Posts: 6,012

    daddio211
    Member

    Looks solid! Especially when compared to the four door!
     
  18. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    Welcome!

    A lace doily looked solid compared to the sedan!
    The coupe has its fair share of holes too. All the skills I have learned so far should bluff me through this one too!
     
  19. luke13
    Joined: Oct 25, 2013
    Posts: 381

    luke13
    Member

    i would like to know more about this molasses, im just thinkin big sticky mess but obviously you know somethin i dont, my granparents had a 39 sedan , traded it in for a pa vauxhall. shouldve kept the sedan i think.
     
  20. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    Just do a search on here for "molasses" and look at what comes up.
     
  21. woodbutcher
    Joined: Apr 25, 2012
    Posts: 3,310

    woodbutcher
    Member

    :D:eek: WHAT??????????????????.Another jigsaw puzzle?Well lets get started.
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
     
  22. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,564

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Molasses doesn't seem to as cheap here as in the US. Farmlands or RD1 sell it by the 20l bucket. But I should have thought before I bought as we have a large liquorice manufacturer in our town. So keep your options open. I used an old chest freezer ,could fit 2 old A and T doors in it with a bunch of small parts.water blast and dry the parts as quick as possible then metal condition them to avoid flash rust. Epoxy etch and you're good to go.
     
  23. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    I can't find the box with the picture on it.......I guess I will have to make it up as I go!
     
  24. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    There is a factory near us that we deal with that makes stock feed that is full of the sticky stuff! I need to have a word with them in the new year.
     
  25. It's not really as sticky as it sounds.. lol
     
  26. Im in. :) I mean i'll lurk, and throw the odd hardcase comment in. Proberbly nothing constructive, but its always nice to get people cheerin you on. I like your molasses tank, the local council donated (unknowingly) my one. Im using my recycle rubbish bin!
     
  27. volvobrynk
    Joined: Jan 30, 2011
    Posts: 3,587

    volvobrynk
    Member
    from Denmark

    I liked the dry lake car, I love the escort mk1. And I've a pretty good feeling that the coupe will turn out awesome!
    Subscribed again.
     
  28. woodbutcher
    Joined: Apr 25, 2012
    Posts: 3,310

    woodbutcher
    Member

    :D No matter how you go about it,I`m sure it will be delightful.
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
     
  29. Mark Fox
    Joined: Dec 22, 2011
    Posts: 59

    Mark Fox
    Member

    I passed my driving test,in a mk1 escort. Back in the 1970s. There's talk of using citric acid, to remove rust. Have a look on www.allmetalshaping.com use the search function.
    Have a lovely Christmas. All the best to your bride, hope she's better ASAP .
     
  30. woodbox
    Joined: Jul 11, 2005
    Posts: 1,231

    woodbox
    Member

    All I wanted as a teenager in the 80's was a Mk1 Escort, but Dad said "No save your money and buy something decent." So I saved up and bought a 57 Belair 4dr as my first car! Not a bad effort.
    I still love my Escort though. My daughter thinks she will get the escort......I have news for her........and it's all bad!
     

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