Projects 1946 Chevy: In Early California Custom Styling

So I did what is never supposed to be done.
I bought a 1946 Chevy Coupe from Hawaii.. sight unseen.

I saw the ad here on the Hamb and just knew I had to get it.

I called up Brant (aka JAWS) and told him how interested I was. We talked a ton about it, and I'm happy to say I made a great new friend.

So now I have shipped the car across the ocean and picked it up in Hayward Calif.





Well I was driving home, and this thing runs AMAZING.
I am more that pleased with my purchase.



Well, about halfway through Sacramento I saw some smoke under the dash and as I was pulling over, the car dies.. and after that, no power anywhere.

It turns out to be due to a cheap chinese ignition switch that shorted out inside and burned up some wires and the starter.

Now this is nobody's fault, all of Brant's previous work on it is top notch.

So needless to say..





We broke down at 2, and after a long drawn out process with AAA, we ended up getting back to Reno at 12am.

Here's where we stand right now. More to come soon...

 

nice! congrats on the new ride

 

My plans are:

Fill all trim holes, but leave the long piece that goes down the side.
Full sombrero wheel covers.
Possibly raise the front an inch or two.
Dual exhaust through chrome pencil tips out the bumper.
Teardrop fender skirts.
A simple dark brown pleated naugahide interior with ivory piping.
7.10 15 Goodyear Supercushions
Eventually paint it black or dark red, with a simple gloss single stage paint.
All while driving it daily.

I'm sure I missed some things, but I will show the whole process here on this thread.

Also, I'm very open to suggestions and ideas, and I'm sure I will be asking a lot of questions along the way.

 

So the car looks like it has Pontiac dash and front hub caps. Correct? What's up with the pic of the parts? Are you sell? I may be interested in the radio if you are. I have my wife's grandfather's '46 fleetmaster sedan that he bought new in '46. I'm going to leave it stock. Some of my wifes cousins and a brother were going to restore it and somehow "lost" the engine and removed the clock with a hammer!

Wish my sedan was a coupe like yours. It's going to look great.

 

It has a Chevy dash and Chevy hubcaps.

The picture of all the parts is stuff that will probably go on the car.

 

Awesome car. Will be watching the build!

 

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Leave the stance as it is. Add some teardrop Appletons (lorraines). The color choice for the interior will not matchup with black or dark red. Tan would work. And use 6.70s. Everything else sounds good and maybe one day, if you are lucky the following will happen to you too.

 

My bud Levi (EVIL1) is looking for those hub caps...

Any way to get rid of that apostrophe in the Kustoms plaque?

 

Boy that car has spent a bit of time at sea. I saw it 3 years ago when Brent was living in Boise, Id.

 

Congrats to a nice taildragger. I was following Jaws built thread at the time and like the way he did the haircut...I will follow your progress.

 

Can you give me details on the suspension mods front and rear?

 

I know Jaws and the car. Everything he has done is top notch. Can't wait to see it finished.

 

Stupid Chinese switches!

I think that car has always been your car. Thanks for letting me cruise it around.

-Brant

 

Hahaha those Chinese switches can bring down even the strongest running of cars.

Tomorrow I am going to crack down on it and get it going again. I hope the starter is okay.

This thread will be very picture heavy, and updated constantly.

Just to show how drawn out the towing process was, here's a picture of the car on a truck at night.

 

Hey Brandt, can't imagine you without that car! Aloha

 

I like the stance, but I'm really going for the late 40s early 50s look, and many of the cars weren't this low. We will see though, I'll play around with it. I already found one appleton 112 for it, just need to find another (hence the signature ).

I'm pretty sure the original plaques had the apostrophe. I don't know if I will run it though. If I do, it will be mounted on the front bumper.


Thanks for all the other replies as well. I will try my hardest to make this an entertaining thread.

 

Brant is awesome and has really loved that car. Just a few hundred more miles and it would have been back where it all began!

 

Sweet car!!! Looking forward to what you have in store for it.

 

Funny Eric......

Aaron is gonna make this car what it should be. Yes I loved this car, but it was never my dream car. It is his and he should have it.

From now on it is HIS car.

Carry on!

 

Congrats dude nice find. So what's the rust situation like?
Cheers Darren

 

Only got little things done today.
Tomorrow I will take out all the old wiring and put in a new fusebox and wires.

Did some painting today on little parts..





Once my 'old school' steering column comes in the mail, I will take out the awful tilt column and replace it. I will show pictures of the destruction of the tilt column, Brant.

Also, I installed the original aftermarket ribbed hubcap trim rings.. what you you guys think?





I promise there will be more interesting updates SOON!

 

Neat car. What skirts are currently on the car? Early '40s Buick or Cad? Homemade? Difficult to tell from the photos.

 

They are homemade skirts. I'm going to be replacing them with some steel teardrop skirts with the proper clips and brackets.

 

I love the 3/4 rear view of the car on the roll-back...it has a perfect shape. Like the hubcaps also, and do raise the front up for that 40s and 50s look.

 

I hate that column!

I love those rings!

 

I love this car Jaws does great work, sounds like its in good hands!!

 

Great score dude...always liked it when it was Brants !!

Welcome to the club - here's some inspiration for ya !!

Rat

 

Sweet, been following this car all over the country.
Glad its back on the Mainland.....Maybe I can actually see it in person.

 

The flow of that car is perfect! Nice score man, I will be following this.

 

Rat, I love your beautiful bomb with the Fleetline trim.