Progress from the one car garage - new pics of my coupe

Kevin Lee · Mar 6, 2009

Haven't been in the garage as much as I want so progress is a bit slow, but here's a quick list.

Have the inner structure of the roof done. All 1/2" square tubing and bent to follow the contour of the skin. Very minimal and plenty rigid.

Also... finally mocked up my pedals, steering, and seat. Room to spare inside this thing.

Have the roof filled and finished out the front corners last night. Donor panels for that came from an A sedan and were reworked with hammer and dolly a bit.

One more picture coming.

coupster · Mar 6, 2009

I didnt really like the "look" at first, now I am love'n it.

Kevin Lee · Mar 6, 2009

Another shot of the chop.

With the windshield raked so much the back of the turret looked squashed backward. So I cut the entire back of the roof off right behind the quarter windows and leaned it forward. I think there's a careful balance needed here to keep from thinning the C pillar too much or just ending up with a weird non-Ford looking roof. The change in inches is not huge but it completely changed the look of the roof. Finished it off with filler strips right above the beltline to fill the pie-shaped gap.

If I ever chop another car like this I would consider cutting the entire back of the roof off first. I'm thinking this would save a lot of relief cuts and welding.

Also rounded the rear corners of the quarter windows with bottom corners from a donor window. The contours fit perfectly and even the tapered reveal around the window lined up. Still have some work left to even out the window channel.

So everything is tacked in place, all of the major cuts done and all the big holes are filled. From here it's all welding and grinding.

I'll post more pics when I get it completely welded and stripped to bare metal.

mogara · Mar 6, 2009

Awesome. The quarter windows look great. Some Model A chops result in the quarter windows being too pointy in the C Pillar area...your's isn't.

chaddilac · Mar 6, 2009

That thing is gonna be wicked! I love it!

Gotgas · Mar 6, 2009

Man, what a profile.

You're doing nice work! I kind of like the Frankenstein stitch welds... I think I'd have to run it like that for a year.

Keep it up...

hrm2k · Mar 6, 2009

That is sweet. The roof is just awesome.

NoSurf · Mar 6, 2009

Dude- that looks so good.

However. the first pic. the car looks so smooth and streamlined- the gas tank filler on the cowl looks like a big anus...

xderelict · Mar 6, 2009

The profile is killer.

oddrodgarage · Mar 6, 2009

That thing has a sinister look to it...that'll scare the little kiddies when you rull up next to their rice rockets at a red light

Kevin Lee · Mar 6, 2009

Nosurf said: ↑

Dude- that looks so good.

However. the first pic. the car looks so smooth and streamlined- the gas tank filler on the cowl looks like a big anus...
Click to expand...

Haha. That will definitely be filled at some point.

Malcolm · Mar 6, 2009

Very nice.... especially that side profile shot!

Malcolm

JeffreyJames · Mar 6, 2009

Profile is fucking Boss Kevin! God, do I dare say that the Chrisman Coupe profile doesn't touch your own. I think your car is going to shake the earth when finished.

blackout · Mar 6, 2009

Race car look. Keep at it.

Bass · Mar 6, 2009

The coupe is looking bitchin' Kevin!!

That profile shot gives me a good reference for doing the chop on Lindsey's car....it'll be similar but still a little different. You're killing it over there in that one car garage!

Django · Mar 6, 2009

Good call on the back panel. That totally makes the roofline.

seesko · Mar 6, 2009

Oh MAN!!! That is beautiful!!
You got the sheet metal talent and the "eye" for what looks right.
I gotta learn how to weld.
Keep the progress pics coming.

straykatkustoms · Mar 6, 2009

Very Kool!! Love the Bonneville style chop. I've not seen one chopped
like that before. Keep it up and please post more pictures when ya can.

Happy Trails,

Mick

Kevin Lee · Mar 6, 2009

Thanks for the compliments.

I need to thank Alex. (metalshapes) He has given me advice here and there and it is always spot on. He gave me some tips for fitting the roof filler and it is probably the best fitting panel on the car because of it.

I had also been staring at the back of the roof trying to figure out where to cut it, and happened to mention it as we were talking about other parts of the car. He said. "Just cut it completely off and put it where you want it." Perfect.

I'm going to try to get it back on wheels and out of the one car garage soon. It sucks standing the back yard in the middle of the night staring through the garage window to see how it looks from different angles.

JeffreyJames · Mar 6, 2009

We make due with what we have. Some dudes (me included) couldn't pull that off if you gave them a ten car garage. A humble beginning to what looks to be an incredible car. It definitely will have soul.

NealinCA · Mar 6, 2009

Leaning the rear of of the roof forward was a good move. I think that even 32 3w's need that done when chopped. That and fixing the 1/4 windows make this one a winner. The Chrisman coupe has always been an icon for what it is...a RACE CAR...but I've thought the roof looked like ass from an aesthetic point of view.

Keep those progress pics coming. At this rate, you'll have two on the road before I'm done with mine...

Neal

porknbeaner · Mar 6, 2009

Kevin Lee said: ↑

Another shot of the chop.

With the windshield raked so much the back of the turret looked squashed backward. So I cut the entire back of the roof off right behind the quarter windows and leaned it forward. I think there's a careful balance needed here to keep from thinning the C pillar too much or just ending up with a weird non-Ford looking roof. The change in inches is not huge but it completely changed the look of the roof. Finished it off with filler strips right above the beltline to fill the pie-shaped gap.

If I ever chop another car like this I would consider cutting the entire back of the roof off first. I'm thinking this would save a lot of relief cuts and welding.

Also rounded the rear corners of the quarter windows with bottom corners from a donor window. The contours fit perfectly and even the tapered reveal around the window lined up. Still have some work left to even out the window channel.

So everything is tacked in place, all of the major cuts done and all the big holes are filled. From here it's all welding and grinding.

I'll post more pics when I get it completely welded and stripped to bare metal.
Click to expand...

Ya know Kevin I've been giving this some real careful thought, and I've decided I don't like it one bit, I do like it 2 bits though.

As usual you're takeing a sows ear and makeing something of it. When do I get a ride? Hell just let me sit in it and make varooom varooom sounds.

Keep on keepin on my friend.

SinisterCustom · Mar 6, 2009

Fuck oh dear!

That looks so much better than I had ever thought it would.....

This car is going to be SO rad!
Nice job Kevin......

-Brent- · Mar 6, 2009

Unreal! I'm along with the others that love how you handled the rear. A subtle modification that works completely!

Great work.

Chuckles Garage · Mar 6, 2009

I love it! That chop is out of control!

C. Montgomery · Mar 6, 2009

I know I've seen it somewhere, where's the post on you putting that windshield frame in and how you modified the doors? I can't find it. Bad ass car btw..looks awesome.

Hellfire · Mar 6, 2009

Awesome work!

K13 · Mar 6, 2009

Mean as hell looking! Great work I can't wait to see it back on it's wheel and outside.

Look on the bright side of things at least you have a window to look through I'm building in a one car garage no window and a driveway that has about a 25 degree slope to it. Makes it very difficult to judge anything on. HAHAHA.

Crazy Backyard Builder · Mar 6, 2009

I love the side shot through the garage window, the preportion's look spot on.

CBB

general gow · May 22, 2009

jeez, that does look great. and i really think the change at the back made a huge difference. this will be a car that people talk about for a long time to come. not that there's any pressure...

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Progress from the one car garage - new pics of my coupe

Kevin Lee Super Moderator from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Staff Member

Attached Files:

chop_1.jpg

coupster Member from Oscoda Mi

Kevin Lee Super Moderator from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Staff Member

Attached Files:

chop_2.jpg

mogara Member from Indianapolis

chaddilac Member from Muskogee,OK

Gotgas Member from DFW USA

hrm2k ALLIANCE MEMBER from Baltimore County MD

NoSurf Member from Plymouth NH

xderelict Member Emeritus from South Omaha

oddrodgarage Member from Mooresville, North Carolina

Kevin Lee Super Moderator from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Staff Member

Malcolm Member from Nebraska

JeffreyJames Member from SUGAR CITY

blackout Member from Coastal Redwoods

Bass Member from Dallas, TX

Django Member from Chicago

seesko Member from Western Twin Cities area. Minn

straykatkustoms ALLIANCE MEMBER from Dewey, Ok USA

Kevin Lee Super Moderator from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Staff Member

JeffreyJames Member from SUGAR CITY

NealinCA Member from Atascadero, Calif., USA

porknbeaner Member from North Central Missouri

SinisterCustom Member from METHaway, WA

-Brent- Member from Salt Lake City

Chuckles Garage Alliance Vendor from Santa Rosa, CA

C. Montgomery Member from Jarrell, TEXAS

Hellfire Member from Dallas,Texas stationed in South Jersey

K13 Member from St Albert, Alberta, Canada Upholstery Kustom Painters Canadian Bacon (Northern HAMBers) Metal Fabricators traditional custom trucks Lacquer lovers unite!

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Kevin Lee
Super Moderator

from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding
Staff Member

coupster
Member

from Oscoda Mi

Kevin Lee
Super Moderator

from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding
Staff Member

mogara
Member

from Indianapolis

chaddilac
Member

from Muskogee,OK

Gotgas
Member

from DFW USA

hrm2k
ALLIANCE MEMBER

from Baltimore County MD

NoSurf
Member

from Plymouth NH

xderelict
Member Emeritus

from South Omaha

oddrodgarage
Member

from Mooresville, North Carolina

Kevin Lee
Super Moderator

from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding
Staff Member

Malcolm
Member

from Nebraska

JeffreyJames
Member

from SUGAR CITY

blackout
Member

from Coastal Redwoods

Bass
Member

from Dallas, TX

Django
Member

from Chicago

seesko
Member

from Western Twin Cities area. Minn

straykatkustoms
ALLIANCE MEMBER

from Dewey, Ok USA

Kevin Lee
Super Moderator

from KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding
Staff Member

JeffreyJames
Member

from SUGAR CITY

NealinCA
Member

from Atascadero, Calif., USA

porknbeaner
Member

from North Central Missouri

SinisterCustom
Member

from METHaway, WA

-Brent-
Member

from Salt Lake City

Chuckles Garage
Alliance Vendor

from Santa Rosa, CA

C. Montgomery
Member

from Jarrell, TEXAS

Hellfire
Member

from Dallas,Texas stationed in South Jersey

K13
Member

from St Albert, Alberta, Canada

Upholstery

Kustom Painters

Canadian Bacon (Northern HAMBers)

Metal Fabricators

traditional custom trucks

Lacquer lovers unite!

Crazy Backyard Builder
Member

from Studio City, CA.

general gow
MODERATOR

from Taunton, MA
Staff Member