Projects How about a 53 Chevy Hardtop build !!??

Seriously though, I thought there were not enough build threads of these model of cars, , so I thought I would upload mine as I go along.

A little history on this, I bought it roughly 8 or 10 years ago when I was going through a divorce, and getting together with my current wife. I bought a sedan and a HT as a package deal. The sedan was in MUCH nicer shape, and I thought SURELY i could sell off the HT and recoup some of my money. Tried selling it on ebay, and only got an $80.00 bid.Put it on here to trade, and didnt get offered much that interested me. Eventually I drug it to my parents place, where it has sat on thier farm housing rodents, while I have moved about a half dozen times for work.

Fast forward to February of 2011, and I decide I like the HT roof lines better, and im going to build the HT.

Here is what she looked like when I bought her.

 

So after nearly a decade of sitting, she makes the 4 hr trailer ride from SE Oklahoma, to NW Arkansas. Thinking its a bonus that it is already subframed with a nova frontend, I later discover the hillbillies who did it couldnt read a tape measure, and had the wheelbase an extra inch and a half to long. So out comes the sawzall to remedy that situation.

 

I no sooner get her lined up, and tacked back together, and my welder takes a crap.

And I get tranferred the same day, back to Oklahoma, AGAIN

So loaded her up once more

 

The last decade sitting in a field hasnt been kind to her. Add in the mountains of rat/raccoon and various other varmint piss and crap in the floorboards, and my floors are toast. First order of business was floor panel repair.

 

Not only a hardtop but a 210 hard top

 

I love those the 52-53 Chevy's good luck with it. What's the plans for the engine / transmission?

 

After that, I pulled the body so i could start the fun on the frame. I had decided I would run a 2 link (from a 60 something chevy p/u) with a panhard, but didnt have all the details worked out in my head yet. I installed a Walton Fab trans crossmember, mainly because I didnt have any original reference points on teh frame due to the nova sub.



After that, I installed a Gambino notch, and a 69 camaro rear end scored off craigslist.

 

Cool Build...Suscribed!

 

The 2 link crossmember caused some hiccups for me. My original plan was to build a new one out of tubing, similar to some I had seen on here. I tried a few different variations, and none seem to work to my liking, sooooo... I went back to modifying the original, which turned out to be just as time consuming. If i had it all to do over, I would make a pattern and have the machine shop cut me nice one. Live and learn i guess. You can see from the pics how much adding/sectioning it took to make the thing look like it belongs.

Cut the top half off, and used it to widen the sides:



Added some 1/4 angle to the top:


More shots of the various cuts/welds:


Finally kinda resembles what I was wanting:


Added some reinforced exhaust ports, and it should work


Even momma got in on the action on this project!

 

Hell yeah!!!! i dig it! gonna keep an eye on this one

 

A couple pics of my frame coming together. Ended up using RE8 airbags, modifying a panhard kit from suicide doors, and made some brackets to mount shocks to 2 link.




Finished before sandblasting. You can see I also gusseted the frame where the it was subbed. Might be overkill, but i dont want any doubts

 

Some more pics of after sandblasting-painting- re assembling the frame




Donor 305 (for now)


Clearanced the frame on top, and made it a "plate mount" on the lower A-arm.

 

Oh yeah, Got lucky that after I re-did the subframe, I was able to use stock motor mounts bolted in with NO modification. That was a shocker!!

 

So it was time to cut out some of the floor


And re-join the 2 halves

 

And then I started building the driveshaft tunnel


And decided the rear "feet pans" were junk, so......




And wouldnt you know, my tires rub the wheel wells

 

And wouldnt you know(of course) I decide the rear seat pans need it too

 

great little thread for the 210.
The extra cross bracing you are putting in is greast as the original fram had a stiffening beam down the center of the frame rails to keep the doors from poping open.
Looks real good from what I can tell.
Notice your without a good rear window.......those are few and far between.

 

where did you get the trailer fenders for the new rear fenders. ( or maybe they are some aftermarket fenders for something else)

 

Convert- Luckily I found a glass in Lincoln NE, last weekend, as well as the 210 rear spear i stupidly traded years ago.

Boones- bought the fenders at northern tool. Had to widen them 2 inches, make the panels on both outer sides, and legthen them on the each edge. Still much easier than using the stock ones and trying to stretch them!

 

kool deal right here! I suscribed!

 

wow, nice build, subscribed...keep up the good work

 

Subscribed. Working a '53 myself. Liking the rear suspension set-up.

 

I never really put much thought into the 210 HT part. If my research is correct, they only made 15 thousand in this series. Someone else on one of my earlier threads pegged this as a VERY early 53 HT, as it had some floor braces that werent used in 53, only up to 52

 

Man youre doing some great work, will follow this thread..

 

Nice job on the crossmember. This all looks so familiar. Oh yeah. I think I have a project very similar. I wonder where I left that thing?

 

Thats funny, I think I messaged you about 50 times on the subject, and actually had your build saved as a reference!

 

Havent had as much time to work on it as hoped while I am in town this week, but got got the seat pans fitted.

 

Got some time to get back on it. Got trunk floor/ tank area lined out

 

Was getting ready to pull the body to finish the bottom side. Pushed her out in the sun, and really got to take in the side view from a distance. This shot has really got me motivated to keep pushing forward!

 

Kim and I spent the whole weekend scraping and cleaning the bottom of the car. Spent many hours with a torch, scapers, and wire brush, but got it to an acceptable point where we could paint it with KBS Coating. Finished at 11:45 Sunday night, but was well worth the added effort.