Projects T&A Flathead Builds a '48 RagTop

Messed around with making a custom grill a little more.
Crude photo shop to shade the surround in the first pic. 2 floating grill bars from a 51 Chevy.

 

I like the grille. Looks better than stock.

 

thats looks killer

 

I had a couple hours in the shop on and off so I got a little work done.

I made a patches to fill in the tail light holes on the rear fenders. I want a fat smooth rear. Will have to take pic when I roll it outside.

The original grill had a support built into it that connected it to the splash pan (panel that sits behind the bumper). Without some sort of brace I was concerned it would flop around in the head wind. Since I cut the grill apart, I need to make one that looks hidden. I think it will be fairly inconspicuous when painted black with the chrome bars. I’ll have to take a pic of it on its own when I remove it again.

 

I really need to know what you did with the top irons and wooden headers to get them to fit right with the top chop.
I have just bought a 46 Convertible which should be arriving tomorrow and it has been fitted with a carson style top, I would like to return it to a folding top. Did you lower the mounts ? did you have to chop the window frames or haven't you got that far yet, I know the front Vent Window Frame will need to be chopped, mine is already. I sure would appreciate any feedback.
Regards
Bill

 

@willysbill , if you start at post #71 on page 3 I get into some detail on how I chopped it. Let me know if you need more.
I don’t plan on chopping the door window frames but I will have to chop the rear window frame as well as the front 1/4 window.

 

Thank you very much, I am going to print out that whole page 3 so I can study it intimately (grin)
This is exactly what I needed to know. I have over a 100 pics of 46-48 Convertibles that have been chopped.
This is the first time I have seen it done in detail, excellent
Regards
Bill
PS when I get my Chopped 46 Convertible tomorrow I shall post pics.

 

@willysbill sounds good. I can take more pics too. I may have some I didn’t post. I’ll go thru what I have. I have one more adjustment to make on the front link so that it lays horizontal, then it should be done. Most of these that are chopped just lower the top and rear window mechanism, that just didn’t do it for me so I made it more difficult for myself.

post a pic of your ‘46 in here. I need some inspiration.

 

Tim, any chance that you have a 3rd grill bar laying around? Pretty big opening for just the 2 bars...just saying!

 

Hi T & A Flathead
Ok you asked me to post some pics of my new 46 which arrived today, rather then put them on your thread I have posted them to the 41-48 Picture thread.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/41-48-ford-and-merc-picture-thread.798516/page-55
The reason I bought this new 46 is because of the disaster below, go to page 164 and 165 as well
http://aussierodding.altervista.org/My Hot Rods/46.Convertible.163.html

Regards
Bill

 

@willysbill Nice ‘46.
Those other pics are hard to look at.

 

I do, but 3 gets a little crowded. Once I space them right and rotate them to give them a little thicker appearance. Also, with the bumper back on, it will help complete the look and close the gap. If it doesn’t turn out, I can redo it, it all bolt on, nothings permanent.

 

Love your engine trans combo.

 

Looking good! Maybe over your way in a few weeks, will call, maybe we can get together

 

Just curious, how might a '55 Chevy grille look?

 

A big grinning smile.

 

Think I like the bars better.

 

A few for thought.

 

It was just a thought. You don´t know unless you try it.

 

Sweet 46’


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Thank you, just trying to get through minor things the engineer wanted done, almost ready for the road.

 

This grill is the Ticket, all that other stuff is crazy trying to be different and ugly, go traditional 50's like this grill.

 

Do you think that is the top grill piece with the holes filled in, or was there more done to it?

 

Looks like a stock grille with the top trim piece removed and holes filled. Pretty simple and classy.

 

I'm also a fan of a simplified stock grille on these cars, but I can't fault a guy if he comes up with a (good looking) alternative.

 

Yes, and then a small piece of sheetmetal needs to bent up and welded on to line up with the bottom of the hood. The original pot metal top piece sticks out quite a bit, so when you remove it, you need to make up that space.

 

A little more work on the car today. But didn’t take any pictures. Rear fenders are ready to be stripped/blasted. Working on radiusing the body to match the bottom of the radiused deck lid. Maybe I’ll have something worthy of a pic tomorrow.

 

I agree. But I was at a show last weekend. 1/2 the 46-48 fords were done this way, almost as common as a bellybutton.

 

Pics from today.

This is what I started with, picking up from where I left off when I radiused the corners.


I left the top and bottom open so rain water flows and it can be flushed out when needed.


not sure I like it, may have to redo it and make a gutter.