Projects Rollers :D '40 Chebby kind of trad adjacent. Someone's stalled project.

So a couple of weeks back @Roothawg posted about "Street Brawlers". Mrs Pk'n'Beaner managed to get herself inspired and went and found this '40 Chebby coup. It was a 30 year project that was stalled. Not totally trad, but that is the way with stalled projects. You get what you get, then you decide what you are willing to live with and what you got to change.

Here is what we are starting with. Its a 327 car, 300 horse motor, fresh. It sounds good. The machine shop that freshened it squared up the decks so the numbers are gone. I cannot prove anything about the mill without a tear down, which will probably not happen soon. 400 turbo hydro, B&M prepped if I can believe the paperwork.

The underpinnings are not totally trad, but they are all Chebby. No wild horses were harmed in the building of this car. I won't go into it out of respect for the members, other than to say that it has a pre-metric 10 bolt out of a '67 Chevelle. If you must know message me.

The body work is roughed in. The man was a body and fender man for a living. I do need to bump a dent or two out. All new glass, I have only had two cars in my life with all new glass and they were all new cars.

It looks like it was wired by a spastic chimp on meth. And there are a few other minor things that need to be addressed. Mostly TLC to make it a driver. Which is the plan for the near future.

Stalled projects can get you on the road quick. Unless you decide that a total build is what you are after. Then you are actually better off not to go that direction.

Anyway, here's a couple of pics.

 

Man I’m so excited for this! Gonna be a perfect bruiser for you. Get the wheels and tires swapped and get it sitting right and you’ll be scaring old women and street cats in no time.

 

Yea those dinky wheels have got to go. LOL

Unless something different happens before hand these 15x5 Ansens will have to do on the front. maybe a pair of 15x8 steelies on the rear, would be perfect. Don't own those yet.

 

That looks to be a great "stalled project" get! I am jealous.

 

Hell I am jealous for ya.
Came out of Topeka. Just a little bit south of you, well 4 or 5 hours I guess.

 

Congrats on the new project! Looking forward to updates.

 

Yup, yup gidyup. Tons of potential there.

 

Great project. Just move/hide that gas filler sticking out of the rear quarter panel. Weld a gas door from a 50's GM car into the quarter. Stock is soooooo ugly.

 

Sounds like a fun car for sure! Congrats and I look forward to what all you do with it!

 

It looks like PO cleared the front fenders for 20" wheels. I hope it is as solid as it looks. I'll follow the build.

 

Nice project, have fun with it.

 

I thought the Bigs went on the rear and the Littles went on the front. Are you trying to start a new trend?

Looks like a fun car to finish! Good luck!

 

Looks like mama scored! I have had 2 41 Chevies, so I understand your vision. Excited to see where this goes.

 

Hey PnB,
Cool car and a great start!! Not much needed to get that one on the road. I have a few parts in a box from my 41 Chevy so if you need something and I have it let me know and I'll see if I have it.

 

What's up with the front wheel well opening?

 

Looks good Beano. A set of 15x8 Ansen style slots on the rear to match your fronts would look good. Good to see ya with an active project again!

 

yeah, I could not live with those front fenders, shouldn't be difficult to find a couple originals.

 

we think it may have had some dirt track ambitions at some point. If anyone’s got fenders to donate I’m sure we could find a way to get them there but for now I think he’s just
Gonna get it sitting right and driving. That’s the important part at the moment.

I believe it’s a 5x4.75 bolt pattern on the rear. I think steelies would be cool but just incase someone’s got slots kicking around

 

I’ll keep an eye for a set of cheap fenders.

 

Has a lot of potential, but as others stated, those front fenders need repair or replacement. Weird that someone opened them up, but left the rear original size?

 

Way cool.....still love the '40 Chevy coupes...I have posted this before on the Hamb...here was mine
back in the 60's..did a lot of street racing....please keep us posted on your build....

 

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Gary_Overby's_1940_Chevrolet

@porknbeaner I know you said your wife was inspired by a street brawler. But for your consideration, the '40 Chevy Coupe built back in the day owned by Gary Overby. A nice, low center of gravity, and additionally, the sneaky sleeper aspect of being disguised as a mere custom.

Plus, it would save you and her finding new front fenders. Just rework the rear fenders to match. Get the widest tires you can tuck in there. If they've got wide whites and wheel covers, all the better! Who would guess it was ready to brawl?

 

Does it have a late clip in the front? I'd bet the front fenders were opened up to re-center the tires after a little surprise. Maybe best to form some new lips and weld to those fenders in the correct position.

 

@alchemy it does have a clip but the wheels he’s wanting to run should clear a stock fender.

I also had the thought of a custom with power as the wheel wells first made me think of sectioned cars not dirt track. Could slam the ass down and run skirts.

But that doesn’t seem very Pork n Beaner to me

 

there you go. now you don't have to find new fenders

 

P&B,

Way to go. 40 Chevy coups have been one of my favorite cars since the first time I saw one. Nice to know that no MII IFS was incorporated. I guess they might be ok but I've never cared for them.

Please tell the Missus she did good and that your first road trip should be to come see us.

 

Master 85 or Master Deluxe Business coupe, (no rear seat, gas filler hole behind passenger door).
Did you get some headlight buckets with the car?

 

...the chopped coupe with the radius'd fenders doesn't
look too bad