The Illusion of Progress: A Hot Rod '34 Ford Coupe

It's okay @Tuck. This journey has been dangerously deep. I have contemplated selling the body several times because I was concerned that I was too completely wrapped up in my dad's dream to ever really make it mine. I have thought that I couldn't live up to his legacy. I have thought that because what I want from this car and what he wanted were so far apart that I could never do it justice. But, I've built two other cars since I first got it, and while completely different, they have come together right next to this one. I've learned a ton along the way, and thought about this car constantly, and am at the point now where I feel like I know what I want this car to be outside of where my dad was headed with it, and I'm very pleased to see it progress along each small step. I've also come to the conclusion that life is for the living, and if I want to honor him the best thing I can do is make this pile of parts a car and drive the wheels off it. That's the best tribute I can possibly pay him. It doesn't matter how far apart our visions were. What matters is that it becomes a car that eats up miles.

At some point, this thread isn't going to reflect an illusion of progress any longer, but real honest-to-goodness progress that results in a killer hot rod. I am really excited for that point. And it's closer than I can imagine. Once the snow ball of a million little things gets rolling, it's hard to stop.

 

anyone have pics of 33-34 sheet metal door jamb tins installed?

 

I got answers on IG. I was correct about my assumptions. I know how to install them now.

 

back on this in earnest now. progress being made. i made trans mounts out of a model a bell housing mount that i split lengthwise. then i made square holes in the x member and installed it with short carriage bolts to give it a riveted in look.

34 ford trans mount 3 by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford trans mount 2 by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford trans mount 1 by general gow, on Flickr

 

then some rad dudes like @Slick Willy, captain bawb, cousin bill, cousin bob, @Mikel50, and almost-uncle-tim came by to lift the body on the chassis for the first time in waaaaay too long.

34 ford body crew by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford 4 by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford 3 by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford 2 by general gow, on Flickr

34 ford 1 by general gow, on Flickr

so now i'm working on sorting out f100 steering box placement in the frame rails, and what i'll use for pedals. i have a set of f1 pedals, and i'm getting my hands on a set of 39s, so we'll see what happens.