Hot Rods Panhead starts to build a coupe - without a clue...

Well about two years ago I bought quite a few Model A bodies from members here plus some other stuff and shipped them down here. Amongest the bodies was a little A coupe I purchased off Hyfire here on the HAMB. Apparently it was originally chopped back in 1958 and here is a pic of it rolling out of the shed back in the day.



Looks like it was chanelled over a 32 frame with some brand of OHV motor that in the past people here have tried to ID but without luck. Now fast forward until two years ago and this is how it looked like when I bought it.



Now after setting in my shed whilst my car $$ was dedicated to completing a 28 that was too good a deal to pass on it, its now time to have a crack. Now I've never built a hot rod, only fixed things on my 32 when I've broken them and done minor tasks finishing the 28 so this will indeed be a learning curve - but with some help from here and some local mates Im going to give it a go.

The plan is a similar looking car to Chopperman's but just a 4" channel.



Yeah I know Im not being all that original but fuck it, for me he hit the mark with the lines of his car and for my 1st build Im keen to learn from others experiences. So Chopperman my apologies for ripping you off.

The biggest issue I have been fighting with is what motor. I had looked 409s, building the POS 392 I have which requires a LOT of $, 500 caddys - just to be different. What I hadnt considered was the old SBC that was sitting stuck in the corner, looking sad and not turning over. I was told it was a 327 when I bought it but had run the casting numbers and thought it was a 350 as casting number is 3970010

Well today got off my lazy ass and ripped into it. This is why it was stuck .....





Now I had never pulled apart a SBC or any V8 for that matter so it was quite the learning experience. Trashed bolts on the intake resulted in the heads having to come off together with the intake, and almost taking a finger with them. Now this is where I need my 1st lot of help.... the casting numbers on the head are 888 4520 but I cant seem to trace them??????

I broke a borrowed puller trying to get the balancer off, (which is still on the end of the crank ) but after a lot of persuasion and some help from the guy in the panel shop next door, with some CRC, wood and big hammer the crank, pistons and cam are out.

And after running the crank casting number (3911001A) I think I have 327 (?) with 30 over pistons and a 10 ova crank. My mate looked at the crank and apparently looks very useable but will need to go to the machine shop to be checked.

All going well the decision has been made. A warm motor based upon the 327 and probably a T5 behind it. Now its time to stop typing and get some more work done. All advice, suggesstions and general abuse readily accepted Will post again when more work is done.

 

the heads are probably 3884520 , which are called Powerpack heads. if they are , there should be a rectangle with a point on top cast on the ends of the head. pictures?

 

Thanks 36-3W, my shop is 1/2 an hr away, will have grab a pic tomorrow when I get the intake off. .

 

with that rust in the bores you may have some pitting in the cylinder walls. i see that your engine is already .030 over , i hope that you can get the bore cleaned up with .040 or .060....i believe .060 is the maximum. check those bores carefully

 

..or save the pain and get a crate long motor and finish it how you want it to look.

 

Nothing wrong with a SBC....Im going with a sb in my coupe with 3 deuces because I dont have the cash for a hemi...Build the car for yourself not anyone else and youll have no issues!!!

 

Looks good.
The motor in the orig pic is a early olds 303-324, valve cover features, exhaust outlets and oil filler tube location are all Olds looking.
Dont you have an Olds??
I have an offy 3 carb I can sell you.

 

hey PANHEAD...well for openers, you do know there has been water in those cylinders, don't you? need to find the CAUSE, before spending many bucks. and if you aussies keep taking OUR coups, well i'am going to ship 10 000 000 kangaroo's back to the STATES! HA! call me POP...or the old FART!

 

Ya Pete, definitely an Olds. I look at a 324 every day.

What ever became or that 2-dr sedan?

Also + 1 on finding another long block to start.

 

Thanks Guys.

Hey Holeshot we wouldn't even miss those few roos. They would run amuck over there too

The motor sat outside for quite a bit of time so am hoping thats where the water came from but will be giving it all a really good clean today so hopefully nothing catastrophic.

Had thought about a crate X38 but hoping to use this project to learn as well as build and be involved with putting the motor together - if the motor is toast may well be back to a crate.

Hey Superjunkman, the sedan is sitting in a mate's shed waiting a build but is as least a project away so not sure when that will happen

 

Hey Pete,

Wow... Great to see your working on it. The guys are right, it was an Olds. I spoke to the original owner's best friend who built the car and he said it ran a 371 or 394 Oldsmobile. Must have been a monster! I am not sure if that's whats in the photo, but that's what he said was in it back then.
He said it ran a 32 chassis until the guy found a '32 body a few years later... then the "A" body got stuck in the rafters for 50 years.

Great to see an update. That front roof modification still makes me drool... Awesome!

Josh

 

Looks like a good start dont be afraid to ask questions. There are no dumb questions just dumb answers. good luck.

 

Thanks for the input Josh. Nice to know a little more about it.

Some more progress today. Block and crank are now clean and ready for the machine shop in the morning to see what size pistons and bearings I'll be needing plus getting a nice bath for a few weeks whilst we wait for the parts to arrive. Love my nieghour's high pressure cleaner One bore is looking sus so am hoping it cleans up at 40 thou but may have to go to 60. The old heads are in the trading post in the hope it will make some beer money for those aready helping me. Needed to oxy to free the old intake from the heads....

Had a stroke of luck today when I was talking with a mate who popped ova as I mentioned I'd love to participate in putting the motor back together and he has offered to help me do that so am stoked I will be doing that with some help from a mate after its back from the machine shop, with new bores, cam bearings etc. Peterbuilt LOL.

Then this afternoon whilst waiting on another mate to pop over with a bevy and a chat started on the instruments. Had a win there but didnt have my camera so will post pics tomorrow.

I have some questions re the parts to go into the motor but will post a seperate post to get input.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4568376#post4568376

 

pete that block is the same as a 68' large journal 327. 62'-67' 327 were small journal

 

Good for you Pete! It will be fun to follow this build. It is very cool that your car has that history. The old photo is awesome! Is that the only one?

 

Thanks Kev, really am on the learning curve and have been very lucky to date with advice and help from others and a very reliable 1st rod that was 95% finished when I got it. Looking forward to learning lots of new skills. There are some other pics from back in the day, one of the motor which I had forgotten I had and here they are.

 

Too cool! I would be tempted to build it just like in the pictures. I like your plan though.

 

It looks great in those original photos -your plans aren't that far away from that look anyway, so why not just "rebuild" it? You could even put some of those fake Oldsmobile rocker covers on the Chevy and no one would know any different

 

If you don't have it already, get the book "how to hotrod small block chevies" A cover to cover read will give your motor project a healthy boost.

Good luck with the coupe!

 

I like the looks of this ''A'' rather a lot, I think what ever engine you go with its gonna be bloody NICE!T5's seem like the gearbox of choice these days,which ain't no bad thing!

Nick.

 

Thanks Guys, it will end up similar looking but rather then recreate how it was originally I want to have some of "me" in it and particularly have some intersting ideas re the chassis I want to try out. Also thinking of using a 33 International Truck grill like the one in the pic below on the left.



Thanks Shifty will go and track down that book today.

 

Block and crank are at the machine shop and am hoping it cleans up at 60 thou in the block, then will be placing a big order at Summit and with Riley Auto.

I do need a source of a complete T5 set up to bolt up to the 327. Looking for someone to supply a firebird etc tranny, relocated shifter, bell housing, flywheel, clutch, hydraulic throw out bearing etc. Down here these parts arent just lying around in junk yards. Another Aussie HAMB member is looking for the same too. Any suggesstions on who I should approach for this?

Was speaking to a mate and he has suggested using 32 rear wheel well patach panels for a different look, anyone done this before, as with my skills (lack there of) I need to keep this pretty simple.

Thanks for the input so far guys. Will hopefully do everyone proud. Target date to have it driving is Easter as we have our Nationals a few hours away and I really want to blast down there, sans fenders, mufflers etc etc

 

Bit more progress today. Trying to do something every day. Had a crack at fixing the header panel where it had been damaged in transit. Having never done any body work, too some advice, some new tools, a jack from the subaru, some left over wild turkey and now have it within 80% finsihed. Im no Kiwi Kev but its better then it was.

Had to laugh as after getting it sorted, fitted up the windscreen frame and noticed that it had previously been screwed with self tapers in at 4 places, will be doing the same . Im really keen not to mess with any of the orginal work unless I really have to. If you look at the windscreen pillars you can see the welds from the chop They are staying.







(sorry this pic is on the piss but photobucket is playing games)

Also started to play around with an old Ford pick up dash I have although and still in two minds as to using it. Opinions and abuse welcome





The only problem really is that it sticks out a little so might have to trim it if I use it.



Finally started sorting out some wheels. Had four of these that I paid $12 for at a swap meet and had blasted. Pretty cool and at 4" wide enough for the front but am thinking I should run a little more rubber then that on the rear but have these cool ass Goodyear tyres 6.50x16 with a funky sidewall. Its a bit hard to tell but thet are pretty thin.....

 

Great thread so far,Pete.Love your plans for the car.Subscribed.
You've probably checked,but the block casting number relates to;
327 '68-'69 Corvette,Camaro and other high perf. applications
350 '68-'76 Truck and high perf. applications.4 bolt though some were machined for 2 bolt mains.
I'll check the crank number later.
I'd definately use a GM 151 hydraulic cam in the sbc.Great power and lopey idle.It was originally fitted to the 327 350hp 'vette(I think!).
Good luck with the build.
Mark.

 

Great looking build Pete, hope it comes together well for you.
Anyone else notice the F1 shock mount in the motor pic? One bolt, top bolt hole above the frame rail seems somewhat odd to me.
Doc.

 

thats an early 50s dodge truck mount i think actually. it has the flat stamped end.

 

Whatever it is, it's the same mount as on my '35 Dodge axle in the Fordillac. I used both bolt holes tho...

Great project!

 

Good start. You should realy try to get the windsheild opening to work. Makes a big difference on the hot days.

 

Agree with 36-3window,head number is probably 3884520.It's the only one anywhere near your number.I have it listed as '60-'67 283 and 327.
Sorry,can't find a list here for crank numbers.
Cheers,
Mark.

 

Off to a great start! Personally, I think the dash panel is a way cool idea, and very unique. Good luck on your build!