Hi everyone, I'm Jake from Mexico I've been a lurker over the forums for some years now and have already learned a lot from all of you, I have wanted a hot rod for as long as I can remember and I'm finally wanting to start my project, recently I came across the opportunity of buying a "Frankenstein" which seems to be an 32' inspired hot rod (inspired being the key word here) it seems the only part that resembles a 32 is the front suspension, but it has the right paperwork which I believe is the valuable thing in this case. My plan is to salvage the suspension, probably the rear diff and building a new frame and body from scratch to make a correct 32 hiboy using only steel, buying a new firewall would be step 1 to have the proper dimensions and start from there, I would need to fabricate some dies for the bead roller which I can do and ask a lot of questions to you guys. BTW I'm aware 90% of people couldn't run away fast enough from this, but getting a 32 here is next to impossible so this might be the only way. Here's the victim so you understand what I mean by "inspired" Best regards Jake
Well you've got alot more than some guys start with so at least you have a starting point! Looks like it could be a fun little project to play with and without seeing it blown apart to see what the actual frame looks like its hard to say what really needs done at this point. ALTHOUGH a word of caution here. Be Careful! You have a project from the looks of it that could be finished and enjoyed without a whole lot of time and money so I see a couple options for you. 1- build it as is and make it safe and fun and enjoy it! 2- build it as is and make it safe and fun and sale it or 3- blow it apart and start from scratch BUT heres the problem I see with that. Your already talking about a different frame, building a body etc. In which case you sound like you won't be using much of what you have there so it might be easier just starting from scratch to build what you truely want. If you build it and make it safe and sale it, it might give you a big jump financially ahead to build the car you really want to build. Either way enjoy! Have fun! & welcome !!!
Interesting! Good to hear that you have the paperwork. Have you transferred it into your name yet? I would do that before putting time and money into it.
Looks like there’s a few different “themes” going on with it. You do have something to work with though. Assuming it’s actually constructed well, I’d think it’s easier to undo some things rather than start from scratch.
By the time you remove everything that doesn't look like a '32, you will have nothing left. I think that you should keep the look it has but fix the shortcomings and have fun with it.
Get it running, paint a picture of Frankenstein on each side, and drive it. You'll never worry about stone chips, rust, or theft. Now, if I could only follow my own advice about things like this.................
Looks like a small block Mopar in there ? Seems like you could do some work on that and have a high old time . Doesn’t seem bad as it is . Tommy
Absolutely go for it. Use everything you think you can save that falls into the 32 Ford category. You have the golden ticket (title), take your time and build it how you want it. Don't be influenced by others opinions, but listen to technical expertise. Don't rush into driving it. Anybody can drive a car (just look around car shows and cruise nites). It takes commitment to build your dream. And what ever you do, don't ever settle for less than you want because what you'll end up with is something you really won't want.
Thanks everyone for the welcome and taking the time to reply, lots of good advice and I can assure you you guys got me thinking good, the good thing about building my frame and body is that I don't have to part out this one to start so I'm thinking about following everyone's advice and fix this one up and enjoy it while I build my dream hiboy on the meantime, I'm in no hurry to finish it just want to get started and build it exactly as I want, on the meantime I'll keep on browsing the forum and admiring your projects. Best regards Jake
I like the way it looks now. Just clean it up and get it running well and safe and drive it!! I like that it is different and there is nothing else like it on the road.
Welcome! I'm not familiar with the Mexican system but it sounds like you're dealing with much the same kind of legal issues we've got here in South Africa. Scratch builds were easy here up to 1995; thereafter they became effectively illegal, so the only way to do a scratch build here now is to build around grandfathered components. The stamped VIN on the frame is particularly important. For this reason my recent thinking has been to use an early-'90s Ford Courier pickup frame turned backwards, pinched to a fairly close Model A plan shape, with what used to be the rear ends of the rails cut off and replaced with fabricated Model A forward rails. The kick-up over the rear axle becomes a Z aft of the firewall. But the frame number would remain unmolested, only now it's on the rear part of the right frame rail, and so the licence disc would still say "Ford."
How about posting a full side shot pic. Lots of work went into building it. Might be worth cleaning up some of the wonky stuff, then it just might be nice enough to drive and enjoy it. Or, you wouldn’t be the first to fix and flip a hot rod to end up with a hot rod you really like...sort of work your way up the ladder.
The Jalopy Journal
