Moin and hello from northern Germany. Let's see if I'm able to do a short project introduction: I've seen the car first in 2009 when I brought parts to my media blasting guy Peter. Been deeply impressed, that he was building what I've ever dreamed of and said the well known words: If you ever consider selling it, I'm gonna take it. It took me some years to get some minor car projects and major house restoration ready but one afternoon in Feb 2017 I thought, well, what ever happened to the '50 Ford, is it still there? So I've called Peter and obviously I had luck because the car was still with him and he was just ready to let it go. Very exciting to bring home what I've wanted for such a long time but after parking the shoebox in the shed and checking all the items that came with, normal life came back in form of other tasks being important and urgent and not only an old dream. So I've checked 2 or 3 times a year if the little dwarves have made some progress and what I could do to achieve progress beside hoping for miracles. I the end I realized it's plain simple, I have to give it a go NOW and don't wait another year because there will be always something other to do and maybe more important. So that is what I've got now, a `50 shoebox fordoor converted to a tudor with a decent chop, an 8BA and an overdrive gearbox in a non drivable condition with a lot of work to to. All the chrome parts are very good, I think they are rechromed and '49 style. Wiring is almost not existing, condition of drum brakes unknown and tires to be replaced. But this car does already have historical paperwork being a big advantage in Germany for customized cars. What are my plans? Hmm, I guess I'll try to get something close to period correct early 50 Kustom style, somehow radical because of the chop but somehow mild because of not shaving door handles and probably leaving the hood unpeaked. As I don't know nothing about the flathead, I'll take it out and do an intense check for cracks and if this mill is worth to be restored or if I have to look out for an Y-block maybe. Aerostar springs are already here and the rear leaves are going to be flattened a little bit but nothing extreme, the car has to be normal drivable without rubbing tires in fenders or like. Skirts are a must and I think it'll get a little dragging stance. Not sure what to tackle first, but I've bought a spare wheel boot bottom from a Saab 9-3. This is going to live in the place where now the gasoline is stored to get rid of the awkward spare wheel in the middle of the trunk. The new tank from a '90 Mercedes is going to sit right on top of the rear axle hump. I hope that it is at least of a little interest for you showing up here with another shoebox build, because a lot of you might have seen quite some of them during the years. But I can't imagine another forum to better fit this project and for me it is much appreciated to get some advice. tschuess miguel
Great starting point. Car looks nice. Chop is great and as you said the chrome looks beautiful. Look forward to seeing you get down to business! Where you at in Germany? I used to live in St. Moritz and made it to Germany a few times. Spent a while in Hamburg. Didn't get to see enough though, I'll be back some day when my son is older...
Looks like it's a good starting point. The 4-door to 2-door conversion and chop look pretty well done. There's a social group for shoeboxes. Very little traffic these days, but tons of really good info. I added this thread to the list of shoebox build threads. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/shoe-box-hambers.112/ Keep going, and keep us posted.
I'm living half way between Hamburg and Lübeck, countryside is more what I like, big cities are not compatible with me and my living style.
Welcome and good luck. I like the Top job. As for advice I seldom give it but always say "keep it simple". That said I probably wouldn't start tearing apart a motor that may run just fine as is. I always have got them running if they will and then decide if they need an overhaul. The electrical part of these cars is so basic you won't find it difficult at all.
Thanks a lot for the welcome. Wirings doesn't frighten me as being really familiar with all kinds of cables and electronics. I've even managed it to take all those 200kg+ colored vehicle cables with me when my company changed production cables to grey with a printed label on it. There is more cable in storage than I'll ever need in my life. Yes there are really two methods of handling an old long time not run motor. I've seen so many videos of mills full of cobwebs and mice nests been brought to life by just bring a fresh battery and some gasoline in YT. It always hurts my ears cranking these sleeping victims without any oil pressure so long until they give the death rattle. If the screen of the oil pump is blocked by sticky oil residues you'll ruin the bearings with that one try. I think even the PO hasn't seen the motor running. Next thing is running flatheads without water seems for me not very clever. Let's see, I've read a lot shoebox threads here in the HAMB so I think about it and there are more items to be fixed before the V8 may start. For example the 12V neg ground conversion including the mods for the EU style battery.
Big A as you're from Canada, is there a store like i.e. rock auto selling parts in Canada? Import taxes from the US are quite high but there is a trade agreement between CA and EU with close to zero taxes.
On my parts list are at least fender skirts, preferably unribbed if available, cast headers for getting rid of the ridiculous driver side exhaust pipe across the front of the motor and disk brakes. Generally everything is available at shoebox central, so a canadian branch would be nice but unlikely. I‘ve learnded yesterday evening that the PO has seen the motor running and sprayed a good squirt of WD40 into the plug holes before leaving the motor untouched for years. Allegedly the PPO had the oilpan off for cleaning, but work of the PPO doesn‘t look very high end. The frame was obviously detached from the cabin for media blastig but you can scratch of the new applied color with your fingernails. There is one idea in my brain I‘ve never read here, I want the rear side windows retractable in one peace with normal window rollers or maybe hidden electric rollers. Has this done by someone?
Unfortunately no, not a big enough market here for specific shoebox Ford stuff. Somewhere buried (post #226) in my stalled out, unfinished build thread in my signature I show how I made one piece rear windows roll up and down. My car has a similar chop to yours, about 3.5 - 4 inches, and I notched the glass to clear the rear wheel well.
Moin Big A, I‘ve finally found your rolling back window on page 8, I don‘t know if I can do it similar because of the conversion. Let‘s see how it‘s possible. You‘ve come a long way with your build and I really dig the load of details, very well done! A real inspiration for me. Tschuess Miguel
miguel; Shoot us a couple of photos of the inside of the rear quarter window aria. Most of us here have done one off fab work because our needs fell outside of what the Factory offered us. Someone may say "how about this" and just make the job a lot easier for you.
That is a nice looking 4 door conversion. The quarter windows shouldn't be that difficult since they are way shorter than stock and don't have to go down that far.
Hello Pist-n-broke, here are the pics, almost empty. But I remember having more than 2 window scissor mechanics but if the glass rails are also in my stock, I don't know. But these are not rocket science, can build them from generic u rails or use some from spare doors from another car.
Were it me I would not use a manual scissors lift unit. It's to involved to get right. Go to Specialty Power windows and check out the pre 58 units. Yes they are power but the most universal and easy to install you will find. If you don't want the electrical switch showing you can get a power switch that mounts the stock winder handles. Another option is to just hide the switch and have no winder handle at all then control the window from up front.
@miquel.st I know the exchange rate and tariffs are high between us so you might have to save up for some parts that you cannot fabricate or find in Europe. On the wiring harness Rebel Wire is where I got my new harness for my '51 and they are an Alliance Vender here. Real great tech support and service too.
yeah, those window lifts are looking heavy duty quality and easy to install. But let's see what I'm able to find in my parts pile to save some money for the parts I have to import for sure. Generally I'm fan of the old hand cranking windows and it would be a little funny to have rear electric windows and front the manual winders. But lets see, maybe I prefer saving time for installation instead of money. The wiring is definitely to be done at home, wires are here for a lot of looms and with electrics I have my own perception about the dos and don'ts. I appreciate your suggestions even if I maybe deviate from that proven path.
I always go to my used parts before I open my Wallet. No worries here, just suggestions. Wish I knew of a car in the salvage yards with this style units in it but I haven't seen one yet. My 51 has power in the front being a good used driver door regulator doesn't exist here. No one knows when looking in the car. Stock handles all the way around as it should be.
Hi Miguel, nice Shoebox -especially the top chop looks cool. I just started to work again on my shoebox as well... There is a guy in Germany (St. Wendel, Saarland) having some shoebox parts and selling them time to time on ebay kleinanzeigen. I can sent you the details via PN. Gruß aus Koeln, Flo
Hi Flo, I think I‘ve seen this guy already on eka, but I appreciate if you send me the contact. Yes the work been done to the roof convinced me to buy the car, beside the new chromed parts. I guess this amount of quality tin work wouldn‘t have been there if I have had to do it on my own. Gruß Miguel
Finally I‘ve managed to push the car from storage to the workshop first time ever since 5 years. Yesterday all of the furniture left went back to storage, proper wrapped to survive the next years outside the car. First thing to tackle is the trunk lid. Seems that it’s a 49 lid with a welded on 50 number plate surrounding. Outside hinges are gone but the hidden inside hinges are without any connection to the car. How do the original 50 hinges look like, do the have this G shape? When the lid is working I‘m going to take out the bottom of the trunk. It will get a lying spare wheel bulge and after that a gas tank sitting behind the rear bench.
As usual things at old cars are worse than they first appear. I guess the deck lid originates from a 49 so having outside hinges. Yesterday around 8 layers of paint came off and I had to reopen two releaf cuts of the inner frame to get the top left corner flush to the extension panel. There are quite a lot dents in the deck lid, lets see what the spot welder dent puller is able to. I have to reshape the lower left corner of the lid also where some specialists closed minor rust holes with a small sheet metal patch and a lot of lead. You can imagine how the lead flux has worked inside the gap.
Those are front seat lower skirts. They cover the seat tracks, so you don't see them when you open the doors.
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