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Hot Rods '51 Chevy Fleetline DeLuxe Project

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by ChevyWT, Feb 18, 2013.

  1. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    New to the board here with a new project.. a 1951 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe. I just hauled home this local Memphis car with 75,000 original miles and about 98% original and rust free (go figure). She's "sporting" the original 216/3 speed and loose remains of Mayland Black paint.

    Plans for the car short term - Rebuild brakes, get engine running, make it safe. Drive the crap out of it... oh and a 2" drop. :)

    Plans for the long term - eventually strip and repaint to original Mayland Black paint... Restore cosmetically inside and out. The idea is for a car that was Mom's back in '51 but when the kid got a hold of it in '60 he dropped it and made it cool again... time will tell what that will entail.

    So here is the starting point.
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    I've gone ahead and made some progress. Last night I ordered new radial whitewalls and got the tires pulled off the wheels today. I plan to sandblast and repaint them within the next few days.. color to be decided. One last look at those old tires..
    [​IMG]

    Pulled a drum off to see what I was working with. Crusty and unmolested.. just the way I like it!
    [​IMG]

    I have been toying with the thought of clear coating the car for now to preserve the patina and enhance the look altogether. So I sprayed just the quarter panel and really like the way it came out. I think I'll go ahead and do the whole car. You can see the bare rims on the garage floor behind it.
    [​IMG]

    That's all of now. :cool:
     
    Zombie Dave likes this.
  2. OK new guy from memphis....I see you added some pics......thanks. Looks good
     
  3. chevy54man
    Joined: Feb 7, 2013
    Posts: 1,683

    chevy54man
    Member
    from NC

    Love the car and looking forward to seeing everything you do to her!
     
  4. Johnnee D.
    Joined: Aug 16, 2005
    Posts: 244

    Johnnee D.
    Member

    Love these Fleetlines, good luck! and welcome aboard
     
  5. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    I dig it!

    My Fleetline's a four door.
    Check out the 216 group in my signature. Stop in and say "Hi!"
     
  6. BadLuck
    Joined: Jan 7, 2006
    Posts: 3,055

    BadLuck
    Member

    wow.. cant get over those rear tires haha! looks like a great project.. keep us posted on your progress.. going to be a cool ride when you're done
     
  7. ausbuick
    Joined: Jan 31, 2011
    Posts: 676

    ausbuick
    Member

    Great starting point dude.....
     
  8. Wildfire
    Joined: Apr 23, 2006
    Posts: 831

    Wildfire
    Member

    Love the fleetline. Plans sound great. Keep the pics coming.
     
  9. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,059

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Great project, good luck! Welcome to the HAMB.
     
  10. seanbelushi
    Joined: Jan 26, 2011
    Posts: 175

    seanbelushi
    Member

    Nice to see more Memphis people on here. I'm in Bartlett (and have a '52 Chevy), so just holler if you need anything!
     
  11. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    Thanks guys!!! So I'm currently stripping down the wheels and trying to make a decision on which way to go with the color. I did a rough photoshop of a 2" drop and some 2-3/8" whites. So what do you think, black or red?

    (OK so the black came out sort of brown in photoshop, buy squint your eyes :))
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  12. jimstro16
    Joined: Dec 15, 2009
    Posts: 238

    jimstro16
    Member

    Man that's a great car to start with and will be pretty bad ass when its done. I wish my '50 was a fastback.

    Not diggin the red wheels though. I'd definitely go with brown if those are the choices.
     
  13. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    Thanks! I think you are right about the red.. I think I'll go with black, though I'm also open to other ideas
     
  14. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

    I don't know about your tires, but I bought WWW bias plies, and was surprised to find that the white did not quite extend to the wheel rim.
    It would have been less noticeable, had my wheels been black.
     
  15. Olderchild
    Joined: Nov 21, 2012
    Posts: 476

    Olderchild
    Member
    from Ohio

    I'm in" love". If your going to clear the car try mat clear just a idea takes the shine down and looks more like patina . Nice car;)
     
  16. no red wheels
     
  17. DoubleJ52
    Joined: Jul 15, 2007
    Posts: 237

    DoubleJ52
    Member
    from Belton, MO

    What about beige wheels? Great looking car by the way!
     
  18. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    Thanks for all the input guys! I have decided to keep it simple and go with gloss black wheels. I've been out hard at work. I got the wheels fully sandblasted and just got them in high build primer. A little sanding to do and then we will see some color... just in time too because my tires just showed up at my front door!:)

    Wheels in primer
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    Also got some mexican blankets for the seats
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  19. dynaflash
    Joined: Apr 1, 2008
    Posts: 506

    dynaflash
    Member
    from South

    Love it.


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  20. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    Just got the wheels finished up in a few coats of black... I'll get the tires mounted up tomorrow.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. jimstro16
    Joined: Dec 15, 2009
    Posts: 238

    jimstro16
    Member

    Looks good. Are you going to pin stripe them like they were or leave all black?
     
  22. C-10 CST
    Joined: Jul 4, 2011
    Posts: 267

    C-10 CST
    Member
    from Indy

    I love those Fleetlines as well, in fact I have a 1949 Fleetline four door Special. If you do plan on running that original drive train for a while you may want to find a 1950-54 powerglide rear end to install in your car. It will take your 4.11 gear ratio to a 3.55 and make your engine much happier going down the road. It's one of the best things I've done to my car. If you completely rebuild your brakes and want to keep them with the new rear end you can just swap out the torque tube only and keep your new brakes on your original axle housing. But if you use the whole powerglide rear end you will also upgrade to Bendix style brakes instead or your Huck brakes.
     
  23. Reijer
    Joined: Oct 11, 2010
    Posts: 175

    Reijer
    Member

    Wow, great project find.

    Subscribed.
     
  24. atomickustom
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 3,409

    atomickustom
    Member

    Good point! A thin red (or other contrasting color) pin stripe on each wheel would really set them off. I don't know about '51, but my '53 wheels came that way from the factory: it was a two-tone green car and the wheels were the body color light green with the top color dark green stripe on each one.
     
  25. jimstro16
    Joined: Dec 15, 2009
    Posts: 238

    jimstro16
    Member

    His original wheels still had the original stripes on them. Would be pretty easy to recreate. I just did it to my '50 wheels
     
  26. sloppymotor
    Joined: Feb 9, 2011
    Posts: 246

    sloppymotor
    Member
    from iowa

    Welcome...I too have a 51 Fleet...with a rebuilt 57 in it... I dropped it 4inches..and Sprayed on a False Patina... I have progress pics on my profile..should be rolling soon... I will post more pics then...If you have any Questions while yer doin it..Let me know...Ive been through the Gamit with mine..12 volt conversion..Ect.. Good luck...:cool:
     
  27. toml24
    Joined: Sep 23, 2009
    Posts: 1,620

    toml24
    Member

    Great photos of your Fleetline. My mom had a 1949 Fleetline Deluxe. Its color was Monaco Blue. Good luck with your project.
     

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    Last edited: Feb 20, 2013
  28. ChevyWT
    Joined: Feb 17, 2013
    Posts: 28

    ChevyWT
    Member

    Thank you for all of the input and advice guys!! It is all very much appreciated. As far as the pinstripes on the wheels go, I plan to do the silver factory pinstripes down the road but am going to hold off for now and just keep them all black. Today I did manage to get the tires mounted up and put back on the car. The hubcaps are still off for now until I get time to polish them up and repaint the details on them... For now it is time for some brakes! I can't wait to see it with the 2" drop.

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    Zombie Dave likes this.
  29. radconjon
    Joined: Nov 17, 2009
    Posts: 79

    radconjon
    Member

    Nice find. Wheels and tires look real good.
     
  30. IWB
    Joined: Mar 17, 2007
    Posts: 95

    IWB
    Member

    Wheels look better in black cool car.
     

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