Hot Rods 1934 5 window coupe chop - race car build

Just another 34 5 window that is getting chopped . Quick backstory on the car; a friend of my Dad's, Gale Plummer, who has since passed, hauled this car back from Klammath Falls, Oregon in 1963 for a friend of his named Bud in the bed of his brand new GMC truck. The car sat in Warrenton, Oregon, which is a coastal town, outside under a tarp for who knows how long. A little over 10 years ago my dad and I were lucky enough to purchase a few of the cars he owned and this was one of them. The car was blasted and stuck away in the shop waiting its turn.

With Covid and being allowed to work from home it was time to get started on it. Over the years, my Dad and I had collected numerous parts and patch panels so I got started with some of the rust repair. Typical bottom of the doors, rockers, rear wheel wells all needed attention. I am not very experienced with patch panel repair and have never chopped a car so there will be a lot of learning. Will try to keep pictures as I go along.

Plan is to build a full on race car with a blown sbc. Always liked the 554 car and the show element of the "Mazmanian" cars so looking to use inspiration from those cars with this one.

Enjoy!

 

More rust repair. Plan on redoing a portion of the top of repair.

 

Subrail and Floor repair

 

Had Shroeder speed and custom build a frame in their jig and mounted the rear end and front end so we could roll it out.

 

With the body bolted down and quite a few measurements taken. The top is ready to be removed.

 

Set the top back on after cutting out the metal to get a look at the new profile. Going to need some trimming and need to lay the "A" pillar back but it's on its way to becoming a race car with attitude!

 

Excellent build. Looks wicked with the chop! Keep the pics and updates comin'!

 

If you haven't watched it yet, Walden Speed shop has an excellent video series of chopping a Coupe. It's worth checking out.

 

There was a time when '34 bodies like yours and mine would have been scrapped or used for patch panels. Nice work! In my case the floors, cowl feet, door bottoms and other structural rust repair was ok but not near as much fun as chopping the top! Some days I wish I'd leaned the a-pillars on mine...

 

I've always been partial to this roof line on the 15 OZ coupe....But you are doing one hell of a great job on your hot rod.

 

I like where this is goin, blown sbc in a fuel altered 554 style....HELL YEAH !

 

cool ! keep us posted

 

Derrick, glad you started this thread, and are making great progress. You have come a long way, since you ran into the front of my shop, back in '86. Seriously, he did hit the shop, with his Dad's 34 pickup, I am not bitter, he was only 2 years old ! He pulled it out of park, and it coasted to a stop, against my front door. I have been working on projects with his Dad Bob, for many years. It's great to see him making his way in our hobby, and building a car that is safe, and well detailed, like their Deuce sedan.

 

The chop totally changes the attitude of the car. Nice work, keep it up.

-Abone.

 

Looking great ! Keep up the good work

 

Very nice work

 

Holy shit!

 

Nice. Sweet hot rod.

 

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a waste of a '34 coupe to make it a "full on race car". You have done beautiful work saving that coupe body...only to make it a seldom used, seldom seen, trailered to the track race car.
It would make more sense (to me anyway) to use a glass body and build (or let someone else) a REAL hot rod out of that steel body.

Just my opinion.

 

That's funny! Lot's of good memories. Something tells me that you will leave your mark on this project as well! Look forward it.

 

Back at it over the weekend. Got the A pillars leaned back and tacked into place. B pillars are tacked. Now to the rear quarter windows and then back window. Had some awesome help from some of my estranged car club friends. Helpful to have some serious talent involved

 

Rolled the car outside to get a quick side profile look. Starting to look like something.

 

Great save! Perfect use of a steel warrior.

 

Here's a thread i started for a little inspiration. Hot Rods - The Severely Chopped Coupes and Sedans Thread | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

Little more work from last night and today. Back of the car is coming together nicely. Really looking forward to fixing the doors.

 

Had a little time to work on the back panel replacement today. Been a little nervous about getting the curvature right on this one. Got a little education on the english wheel and borrowed a shrinker/stretcher and some dolleys from @Marty Strode and was able to conquer my fear. Now onto the other side and then to tackle the front rain gutter piece.

 

Love it. Takes me back about 6-7 years ago. You guys are gonna screw around and make a nice car out of that thing.

 

Back of the car all tacked together. Time to move on to the front of the car. Excited to see the A pillars and door openings come to life.

 

That's awesome. Lots of work but the feeling you must get driving the car after all that work has to be rewarding.

 

A little more progress late last night. With the A pillars leaned back, the rain gutter/driprail had to be reworked including the front eyebrow of the top where a relief cut was made. I was stuck on the best way to do the gutter/driprail for a couple days and ended up at @Marty Strode to get some guidance. Took him a measly 30 minutes to form up a couple pieces and sent me on my way. Now I know how to do it again