Hot Rods Not Really A Build Thread...Just thought I would share

I have been trying to build my 32 Plymouth coupe for a number of years
now. Trying to figure out how I want it to look and what the
final version might be. I have NO talent or time or space to
do the building myself, but have been very lucky to find a
few folks help me achieve my dream....

The chassis was built by "Ranier Morneau" in St.Paul....proud member of the
"Delinquents"....American Stamping Rails, CE X Member, is what he started
with....and I let him do what he thought was best from there....will be running
a '56 Dodge 315 Hemi, 39 Ford Box, F100 Diff and Front Brakes, Dropped
36 Axle by "Titus", and a bit of this and that...

Then, wanted to find someone to try to bring the body back from the dead,
by the few photos, you can see how rough it is/was....
and was lucky enough to find "Fame Hot Rods" just 5 minutes from my
house....Young Gunz with Mad Talents and a GREAT Attitude, family
affair, Dad and Brothers, honestly won't find a better bunch of folks to
work on your car.

I have attached a few photos, just to give you an idea of what I started
with and where it has come......

It is a life long dream, that actually May Come True !!!!!!

If all goes well, it might be on the road next summer, if not,
it will be DAMN CLOSE....

 

Really nice work on frame and near miracle on the body work!! Tim

 

I'm gonna follow this, great start.

 

Nice collection of parts!

 

A few more shots of the frame....and my Carb Choices

 

Come on Mate, those three carbs will look too lonely in that valley, it's itching for six.

 

Looks real good,like the front bones mounting.

 

...very nice work, should be a great ride when done,...nice concept drawing.

 

Was able to find a backup motor....You just never know when you might
need one...hahahahah

 

Rough or not, you need to put the body on the frame, get the tire and rims you're going to run, and mock everything up till you like the way it looks.. If running a hood put that on, grille shell and then roll it out side and get a beer or two and sit in a chair and keep moving the chair around and see what you like and don't like.. I feel this is one of the most important steps to building a hot rod.. If you just build it you'll be saying "I wish I did this or that".. Then you know how it will look and that should keep you going through the build... Good luck...

 

Looks great Les! Hopefully you'll be cruising sooner than later! Looks like you're off to a good start!

 

Agreed!!--- 6 on a Hemi pretty much sums up the "mission statement".
Cool project; good luck with it.

 

Looking like a hot rod now! What are your plans for tail lights, and paint color?

 

Was thinkin 65 Mustang Tails and Bright Pink for color...hahahahahaha
NOT REALLY !!!! I just haven't thought that far down the road, ALTHOUGH !!
The Mustang Tail Lights would sure get a lot of discussion going at the first
outing..hahahahahaha
Thanks for looking....

 

Was able to find this manifold for the 331 Hemi....very cool, only it makes
the decision on which motor to use that much harder. Also picked up a
Hot Heads Adapter to put a GM 4spd behind either hemi...What is a Guy
To Do ?????
I can't make up my mind as which way to go with the tranny, it is setup
now for the early ford 3 spd top shift, but if I put any power at all to that,
is it likely to break ???????
Toss your opinion in, willing to listen

 

Depends how you drive, if you put your foot in it and beat on that car pretty regular like most hot rodders then yes. That trans will be in pieces

 

You were pushing your luck, back in the day, w/ the '39 box behind a flathead, pushing 200 h.p.
When guys continued using them behind the new OHV mills in the early '50's, they were wise
to always have an extra early box on hand. It was a sure bet you would need it, sooner, rather
than later, as the popular saying goes. (But, at $10-20 bucks a pop it was no big deal)
It was really the case w/ all the stock, early trans., (and rear axles); the exception, of course, being
the very popular Cad-LaSalle.
I had the stock running gear behind a 270 Jimmie in my '37 Chev coupe. Even w/ mostly restrained
(read, semi-spirited) driving,(the one exception being a couple of passes at Woodburn Drag Strip), I could not keep trans. or rear axles intact w/ that torquey motor.
If you want to stay w/ the traditional theme you have, the safe combo. will be a mild hemi, truck clutch, and a LIGHT foot.
(Even then, start collecting a couple of early gear sets and purchase good Triple A towing coverage, just in case you get challenged at the next red light.)

 

Robb, thanks for the great advice....including the towing coverage...VERY SMART !!!!!

 

ditto...

 

Look'in real good, always like the Ply. coupes, I'm watching!!

 

In my opinion the early Ford if fragile with any ohv engine, let alone a hemi. Are you going to be able to respect the trans and drive accordingly? If not, it gets expensive. I pulled a rookie mistake and did an easy bump start in first and sheared a tooth right off.
Just had VanPelts re do it for me and it was pricey but worth the quality. Mine is behind a 283 and if the car was not a survivor, I'd use a different setup. Skinny tires help too.

 

I am putting a side shift cad-lasalle behind the Olds in my '39. It can be mated to a torque-tube, but there is machine work involved (output shaft shortened and re-splined, holes drilled and tapped) and the case is a little longer than the ford, so either the torque tube has to be shortened, or the engine pushed forward.
Unless you are totally DEDICATED to building a 101% period-correct car in every detail, I would put a chrysler 4 speed or Super T-10 in it with an open driveshaft, the non-synchro first is a bit of a PITA, and parts can be tough to find.

 

I've gone through 2 '40 transmissions in the last 1.5 years. I don't drive the car hard - and each time I sheared teeth off first. If I was starting with a new build, I would go with a stronger transmission. I am currently building a flathead to replace the SBC and I am keeping the early transmission in mine.

 

Nice build so far. Since you asked:
Uhmm, pink wasn't unheard of in the 50's n 60's. . I think if bright enough, it'd be a great color, on a late50s/mid60s rod. Does pair well w/bright white. Conversely, a very light shade of pink would also work well. Certainly better than rust, flat black, or somesuch. Mustang taillights? Uhmm, seen them done, but not well very often - definitely that mid-60s vibe. Could work!
On the early ford trans, I'd pass. Most that could, used better trans as they could afford 'em (& the adapter). Don't forget, these aren't new or only a couple of years/3-5k miles old. They're what - 70+ something years of abuse/fatigue/etc now? If you need an early-type 3sp, look to the T85/86 3spOD. (Note: can't remember at the moment, which is the strong one, the 85, or the 86.). Other than the xpen$ive Cad/LaSalle, there is the Packard - although it too, is hard to find. Otherwise, just go w/the gm 4sp that fits the adapter you have.
Marcus...

 

Funny, when I bought my '39, I started thinking about colours, I was thinking either Purple or '59 Buick Lido Lavender(pretty much metallic pink), but I couldn't visualize the Lido lavender, so I was pretty much set on a purple something like this.

Then I saw this...


So, I aint gonna call it Pink, Its Lido Lavender DAMMIT!
Black is for total wusses..."Oooooh, I'm scared to pick a colour, ooooh, I'm so chicken..."

Same colour in sunlight...uh-huh, yup, its PINK...

 

George those cars are Pink? They look lavender to me. its a legit question, isn't it?

 

Goddammit George, I've been mulling pink lately for my RPU. Looooooong way from paint mind you, but color is something that a guy thinks about a lot on an upcoming (or ongoing) project.

 

I know guys that start painting individual parts before they know what colour the car is going to be, that just doesn't work for me. I need to know the colour before I even start, I want all that shit tied together so it compliments each other.

 

shhhhh, I'm telling my daughter I'm painting it pink for her....

 

Total wuss here.