I have an opportunity to pick up a 52 Ford with a flathead in it. I have not seen the car up close and won't until this fall. But I need to say something before someone else takes it to the scrapers. I've only seen it from the front at about 50 feet. The owner said it had a flathead but didn't know much else. The worst I thought was take the engine and experiment on chopping the top. I've been following the two shoebox builds and will have a nice place to do it next summer. Thoughts, ideas, problems, pictures of custom 52's or anything else. I would love to chop a car and the price is right on this one even if the rest of the body is rust. I've googled 52 fords but didn't find any chopped or more then light custom. What frame will fit, etc.. etc.. etc. Thanks. It might be cool ,it might not be. I just hate to see something go to waste.
The '52 -'54 Fords all share basically the same body. Check out the '52 -'59 social club. HRP http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/1952-59-ford-social-group.282/
dealing with curved glass can be a big challenge. hope that it is parked in a place that protects it from the weather - no/or minimal rust.
It's outside, has been for awhile. Rust? This is the great state of Misery, I mean Missouri, we have rust and lots of it. I'll join the SC and see what goes on. I was looking for a car to practice a chop on and if I mess it up. it was heading to the scrapers anyway. I do want the flathead an have found out you can get parts. I might be wrong, have been before, but read somewhere this is a flathead to have. I have not seen this car from the side or under the hood yet. Won't be able to until later this year. I have to ask for the car in the next few weeks but to do so need to do something with it other then scrape money. BTW this is family so I have to be careful how I handle this.
Good on you for saving it. Great looking cars but also known to be rust buckets, if it's beyond saving, at least grab it and part it out. Good hood hinges sell for a small fortune. Even if every piece of sheetmetal is rusted beyond saving, an otherwise intact '52 Ford car would part out easily for over $2K with some effort put in.
I'm retiring in less then 2 years and we are building a large shop for me to play in. 40x72. After looking at picture on Google, I see the problem of a chop, the top is a lot of glass. Thanks for the info about parting it out. I was an auto tech but like doing body work as a hobby. With a Pacemaker, I can not use the MIG I have but bought a Henrob and love that thing. If the car is in too bad of shape, it would give me some practice to play with. Now I just have to wait. If I say yes it will be Thanksgiving before I can see it again.
If you are planning on trying out a chop, the 52-54 Fords are a really bad place to start. There's a reason you haven't been able to find pics of them chopped- they are INCREDIBLY difficult to do right. Most of them end up looking like hacked-up r*t r*d garbage. Very cool cars. If you can, save it or part it out to help some folks who need the parts. Best of luck!
Thanks all. It seems the older I get, the more my taste changes. Never thought that would happen. Now I really want to get this thing out and find out how bad it is. Thanks for the info on the chop, I still would like to try something someday. When the owner said it had a Flathead in it, first thought was a bucket I have been building for awhile and then I started looking at the shoe-box builds on here. Depending on the condition of the steel will tell me which way to go. Always wanted Hot-Rods now I'm really digging Sleds,(K)Customs, Kemps, tail draggers or what ever you call them. I have put patch panels in a few trucks and have repaired other car parts and enjoy that vs. the mechanical that I've done all my life. Haven't painted yet but have a friend. Thanks
Doesn't sound like you've got a lot to lose, and it might be a fun/interesting challenge. The '49-'53 flatheads are pretty popular, simple and easy to work on, and parts are fairly easy to find. Lots of repopped stuff and aftermarket speed goodies available, easy to spend a lot of money so do some research. Blocks do tend to crack between the cylinders (possibly fixable) and along the pan rails (then it's a boat anchor). Even if the block is toast you can learn a lot just by pulling it apart to see what makes it tick. Here's a good source of flatty info... http://www.vanpeltsales.com/index.html Have fun.
Big A, your build was one that made me want to take this one on. I'm not a body man but have all the tools. Thanks for the positive vibe. The more I research , the more I am hoping for good news when I get a chance to get the car. The car wasn't in the woods, just someone's back yard. Being an old (not that old) mechanic, I've worked with some very stuck engines. At this time in history, right now is a good time for the Flathead Ford. Looking up gasket sets and ignition parts, not bad, not too bad at all. I rebuilt an Olds Flatty and the parts pricing was way up there. Not too many of them being built. At this time , I'm unsure of the outcome but think I'll tell them I'll take it anyway, even if to take the engine. Again , I can not take it to scrape as a whole car. A piece at a time , maybe. One last question? Is a Shoe-box 49 thru 51? I am an old Chevy fan, or is it an, old, Chevy fan. That might change
Sounds like you have a plan.......nothing to lose and a cool ride to gain. play with it and at worst be prepared to part it out later. Lots of value in those parts, and lots of fun to learn the chop and make a tail dragger..................good luck
Glad you want to save her! 49-51 Fords look great chopped but it is harder to pull off on 52-54s. I am a big fan of these cars with a simple shave, lowering and olds tail lights. They are funny looking cars that look really cool with these few things fixed.
Just in case you don't know, here are some sources for inspiration. Rik Hoving / Custom Car Photo Archive: http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...like/ford_custom_cars/52-54_ford_custom_cars/ Kustomrama: http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=1952_Ford CarNut: http://www.carnut.com/photo/custom/custind.html Congratulations on this new phase of your life. It looks like the best is yet to come!
Thanks for the car porn. I'm stoked and am going to tell them this weekend , I'll take it. Looked at all the pictures and realized it is going to be tough trying to decide what to do. I'll have to see what's bad to give me some direction. I do know skirts ,lakers, white walls and scallops. I'll post the build. Thanks
Uh-oh, that was your first mistake (but thanks for the compliment) In my mind, shoeboxes are '49-'51 Fords only. Some guys call tri-five Chevys shoeboxes too, I think that's a regional thing.
Done right they look great, and you don't have to chop one to have a nice custom. For example (from the Rikster's site): First things first. Get it running. Figure out your drivetrain, brakes, fuel delivery, wiring, etc. Then start customizing.
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