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Projects 49 Custom Sedan build

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by NRErickson_84, May 15, 2014.

  1. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    Got some help today. I cut and welded in the frenched tail lights while my buddy Jeff spread the filler. We got most of the passenger side done with at least one coat of filler. Filled the door handle, antenna, and door lock holes. Have to do some repair work on the rockers and build a French antenna tube. Working on getting bearclaw latches in and have to buy poppers. I'll probably just run a mechanical release until I have the funds. Now I have a dilemma. The flatly is running a little rough. I am planning on having this as my daily. The cool factor with the flathead is through the roof but the reliability without a full rebuild is not really there. Neither are the funds to do it. So what do I do. I have always said I didn't want to swap in a sbc but the availability of parts and price is drawing me in. Is the 289 or 302 as reliable or cheap. Thanks for the help. Here are the pictures of the progress. ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473561.540991.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473575.606448.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473600.177224.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473622.946627.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473640.382556.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1438473652.717149.jpg
     
  2. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    Looks nice , good work.

    To answer your engine question - YES , the small block Ford can be as cheap to install and run as the belly button setup. I am running a mount kit from Jamco (you can see pics on my build thread below) , and we used an Opie's mount kit on my friend's 50 Shoebox (from Butch's cool stuff , I believe). Both were nice kits and fit and work well. Keeping it all Ford is simple and cheap.
     
    Cooon and NRErickson_84 like this.
  3. As much as i love flattys but to much money i needed a motor that will go and get parts for anywhere. 302 ho. c-4 maveric rear for a budget power train. Loving it after 3rd season of driving. Made my own mounts. Pretty simple. Added some big block merc valve covers and air cleaner for that old timey look. 50 ford 518 (Medium).jpg
     
    daddio211 likes this.
  4. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    That looks great. Nice work.
     
  5. george775
    Joined: Sep 29, 2006
    Posts: 85

    george775
    Member
    from Nor Nev

    Not much different here. 302, C4, 8" and 50's Thunderbird valve covers adapted to the SBF. IMG_1528.jpg
     
    NRErickson_84 likes this.
  6. Why is the cleaner backwards?
     
  7. george775
    Joined: Sep 29, 2006
    Posts: 85

    george775
    Member
    from Nor Nev

    Good question. It is a full sized Cadillac from the '50s and needs to be reversed to clear the front mounted distributor on the 302. Better question - How do you get Ford FE big block valve covers on a SBF? Answer - machined adapters mounted to the heads. Customized car, customized engine.
     
    chemlab and NRErickson_84 like this.
  8. george775
    Joined: Sep 29, 2006
    Posts: 85

    george775
    Member
    from Nor Nev

    I also needed the space to clear the firewall.
     
  9. I see, I didn't even notice the distributor in the front :(
     
  10. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    Ok so after long deliberation and a look at the budget a full swap is not in the budget either. So I'm going to run what I got until it breaks then worry about it then. In the mean time I'm throwing some parts at her. I got water pumps, fuel pump, exhaust, head studs and bolts, rebuilt the 94. I'm locating a distributor and coil.
     
  11. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    Got some work done on the front end. Prepped the French headlights. Welded seams and filled in the parking light holes. It's looking good. ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1439670697.680283.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1439670731.897531.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1439670744.549862.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1439670767.688558.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1439670793.089006.jpg
     
    beyond static likes this.
  12. TS057
    Joined: Apr 10, 2012
    Posts: 66

    TS057
    Member
    from Fargo, ND
    1. shoe box hambers

    Looks good! What headlight rings are you using?
     
  13. 1936dodge
    Joined: Jul 26, 2015
    Posts: 41

    1936dodge

  14. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    They're the ones from shoebox central. They leave you a lot of material to figure out what you want. I mounted my head light bucket from the back then measured the width of original stainless rings. I liked how they flowed better but I wanted the 1 1/2" lip that these have. They look great. I'll post more pictures when I get the welded in.
     
  15. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    More progress today. Finished the headlights and welded up most of the front. My buddy Jeff got some putty on the door top. And roof of the drivers side. Waiting on some engine parts and I'll be getting greasy too. ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282491.544929.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282504.462068.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282521.397012.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282534.266083.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282548.465576.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282562.401035.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282574.835648.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1440282584.719655.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2015
  16. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    So here is a little update on the progress of my car.
    I used to work at a "restoration"/collision shop and I traded a 28ft trailer to my boss to help me finish the bodywork and get it in to a base coat of paint. Well I got sick and had to take off work and during that time he laid me off. Since then it had been a fight to get him to do anything on my car. Finally after 6 months of the car sitting in the weather and surface rust coming through the bodywork that we just did I just pulled my car. I can't believe there are people still in business that act like this. I'm probably going to have to start over on much of the car.
     
  17. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

  18. grf-x
    Joined: Jul 15, 2010
    Posts: 299

    grf-x
    Member

    That sucks. Unfortunately, there are more and more people like that in the world. At least it seems that way. I hope you can recover and get the project back on track. Hopefully your health is better as well.
     
  19. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    Health is great now. More and more it seems that you really can't rely on anyone but those closest to you. Integrity is so uncommon anymore and I'm a young guy.
     
  20. grf-x
    Joined: Jul 15, 2010
    Posts: 299

    grf-x
    Member

    Judging by your signature, your youthfulness has no bearing. If you were/are a Marine, or even raised by one… integrity is drilled into you as much as marching, PT and marksmanship is. Same can be said for any other service member/veteran.

    I find it harder and harder to trust anyone. Even on a handshake. Our breed is dying.

    So where do you thing you will begin on getting back on track with the shoebox?
     
  21. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    I couldn't agree more.
    I think the first thing I'm going to do is get an estimate from another shop as to how much it will cost to complete the job. Not that I will use them but that gives me a document to take to court with. Then I'm going to inspect the work done. I'm noticing a lot of rust coming through the body work so I may have to take it back down to bare metal in those spots and start over. I've collected a lot of engine parts as well over the last year so I want to pull the flatty and start cleaning that up. Still a long way to go. But plugging away at her.
     
  22. grf-x
    Joined: Jul 15, 2010
    Posts: 299

    grf-x
    Member

    I think your on the right track with Documentation. Im in the same boat for progress. Replacing sheet metal. I got lucky and got the original flathead with the car. Ive not started with the engine yet. But it does turn over. As usual, pics would be awesome.
     
  23. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    Well that really sucks ! Not only did your car not progress , it took a step back :( . If he did nothing, go get your trailer back - especially if it's still in your name.
     
    NRErickson_84 likes this.
  24. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    He made sure to put the trailer in his name but I have enough documentation that I think I have a case.
     
  25. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    I'm going to coffin cut my deck lid. Haven't seen a lot of these done this way so I'm going to try it out. I was trying to get a comparison of a low cut and a high cut. I'm going with the high then smooth the ass end out. Garnish with some pinstripes when she's in paint. So happy to be getting on the '49 again! ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1470362344.120476.jpg
     
  26. Peanut 1959
    Joined: Oct 11, 2008
    Posts: 2,179

    Peanut 1959
    Member

    Never heard of a "coffin cut". Is there anything that makes it different than pancaking?
     
  27. NRErickson_84
    Joined: Apr 1, 2014
    Posts: 81

    NRErickson_84
    Member

    No. From what I've found it is the same thing. The term pancaking seems to be a broader brush for more things though. I had an old timer explain coffin cutting to me and it stuck. I've found more pictures of what I want to do under pancaking though.
     
    Peanut 1959 likes this.

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