FNG to all of this with a '51 chopped Ford Coupe project

Just to preface this a bit I am no mechanic. Actually I was labeled as one when I was in the military and worked on helicopters but that's a whole different game.
I bought a 1951 Ford Coupe about 4 months back to really learn about building a car...ya know....jump in head first. It was already chopped about 6-7", frenched head/tail lights, and smoothed out firewall (not sure what that's called), and shaved door handle and trunk. The car also came with a lot of extra parts but no engine/trans. Overall the car was a pretty decent start...

The chop on it was a little shady so that was my first plan of attack. This will hopefully be the biggest and hardest job and for that I have my buddy Brian Stone out of Gardena, CA working on it. I stop in and help when I can and try to take any learning experience with me. Brian is amazing with sheet metal and it shows. I'll post some pics of the top soon.

Next is the suspension to get it to the ground...
It's got a '85 Buick Regal front clip on it but I can't seem to find a good solution for clearance issues I'll have. See the plan is to bag it and I want it to lay the frame on the ground...not an easy task i'm finding out. So...I've been researching a solution and thinking a whole new front clip. I know FATMANFAB makes a Mustang II front clip for a 51 ford coupe but looking for competitive options. Any ideas???????

This is where I'm at now. I didn't mean for this to be so long but hopefully I get some readers and help from those of you that have been there. Thanks for taking a look and hope to be pretty active on here and post the progress of my build.

D

ps the pictures are how i bought the car...the top has since been fixed with new sheet metal....pictures coming soon!

 

Welcome on board. Looks like a good start. Looking forward to more pics. What engine/trans are planning on using?
Andy.

 

Thanx!

Well due to some budget restraints I think I'm gonna go with the Chevy 350 combo. It's simple, parts are a dime a dozen, and cheaper by comparison.

 

New pictures posted of the new sheet metal work on the top.

 

Welcome from West Virginia! If you use the search function there are some GREAT posts and build threads on Shoeboxes that may help you with some of your decisions.

 

Thanks man! I'll do that!

 

I was thinking. If you are alraedy subframed, fatman's is a stub. I would only worry about how much of your original frame was cut off. It would be a good idea to see what is needed to install a fatman stub. I think his web site shows instructions. I used a bolt-in kit for a 61 chevy truck I did and they make nice stuff.

 

welcome from utah

 

Welcome from Bluefield,VA!!

 

@Chopp'd49- Yeah that's a good call. I was wondering about that just from looking at the pics on their site. I spoke to them on the phone and know they make it but from where the original frame was cut....it'd be short. I'd have to make up some frame but need to get some measurements to see just how much. Or call FATMAN back and see what they can do. I know everything is built per order so maybe they can make something work???

Thanks for having me Utah!

 

Welcome, enjoy the board. Like the shoebox

 

Hello and welcome, nice ride!

 

Welcome from Finland!

 

welcome from Sweden

 

Great build, by the way.... Ford in a Ford is my vote, or just anything other than a SBC. Just my opinion. Great stuff. You'll love it here.

Welcome to the H.A.M.B. from Nor Cal and the Cam-Snappers Hot Rod Club!

Check out the club group! Love to have ya!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/g...hp?groupid=619

 

Welcome to the HAMB .

That car of yours sure is chopped hard ! Can't wait to see it in color .
As for the engine/trans - I've gotta say that I'm a Ford-in-a-Ford guy myself too . You can toss a 302/c4 combo in there pretty damn cheap too , so don't count that out . I can certainly see why you'd do a SBC combo though - you can't swing a dead cat without finding someone selling one cheap & they fit pretty good too . Do what you've gotta do . It'll be badass either way .

I'm building 2 Ford-powered shoeboxes at the moment (one with a friend & one for me) . His is a '50 sedan with a 351W/c4 & mine is a '49 coupe with a 302/c4 . Mine will eventually have a stickshift , but I have a c4 already , so in it goes , lol !

 

Hey everyone! thanks for the welcoming.

Yeah i'm not 100% sold on the SBC just yet....it's just easy. I would love to do something a little different but different comes with a price. I love how the old Buick Nailheads look!!!! Slap some sweet gold paint on the engine to match the original dash and ahhhh it'd look amazing!

First things first though...need to figure out the front suspension first to get in on the ground. The '85 front clip that's on it is going to need some heavy mods to get it where i want so looking into other options....

To be continued....

Thanks for all the support! I wish I would've got on here a long time ago! Great stuff!!!!

 

302, AOD my vote......................welcome.

 

welcome from the netherlands.looks great man very nice start about the engine 383 has my vote for it.

cheers