Time passes fast. The crossmember is still not in yet but it's close to time to pull it out so we undo the front spring, steering, and wishbone and roll it out of the way. Guess I am committed now, huh? Hover car.
That mostly catches the progress up.... it's been about a year in August since the car was purchased. I've collected a lot of parts and even put a few of them on the car. As it sits now, I am waiting on an order of a new Posies spring and shackles and some dropped steering arms. I also am on the hunt for the spring perch bolts. I think I've found a set in San Dimas.... fingers crossed. Once those parts come in the front end will go back together. Soon it will be headed to a buddies shop for some cutting and welding. I have motor mounts I need welded in and the tranny wants to live in the wishbone/X member. I haven't seen any kits for the 4L60E yet. I may purchase the 700R4 and have to modify it, I've heard they are almost identical transmissions.
Don't stop now I need to know what happens next. Good plan, good progress, love family car build. Take your time do it one and do it right.
The first year went from this.... To this ..... I should roll it out and take another picture with all the kids to see how big they have gotten. When it rolls that is.
I agree, family projects are the best. Especially when. You can hand down lessons about a job well done and hard work ..... all by having them do the jobs you don't want to. Ha ha half joking. Like....... Cleaning the frame with a wire wheel Or cleaning the wishbone to rid it of 70 year old grease ...... Or steering straight to get in on the trailer..... Or helping dad buff n stuff..... There not all bad jobs. And I love having them out there helping.
Here's the Magnum drop axle along side the stock axle. I don't know that I would call that 3 inches but it's still gonna look rad under the car. Hopefully between the axle, the raised crossmember, and the posies spring I can get the nose down low. Once I have the front dialed in I can adjust the rear. Waiting on UPS now since I sold my other big Brown truck Good luck, Sonny. Take care of her.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear..... Guess what was waiting for me at home after picking up kiddies at school? That's 3 in the cross member, 3 in the spring, and 3 in axle.
Looking good....You are a lucky man having all that help! Sent from my SCH-I535 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Man... Right in my own back yard! Mine's a '47, a four door. My lifelong friend Marc gave her to me...Almost ready to start, my wife is ready also. She's done many engines, chassis, wiring, and suspension changes at my old shop in San Jose... she also did the glass in my F100. All of it. So I can say, "NEXT?" Glad you have that '46 Tudor, I had the LOWEST ONE at Santa Clara High. Chopped crossmember, 4" '32 Dago axle, '36 front spring flattened w/reversed eyes, and 3" shackles. Front tires were 6.40 X 15, rears 8.20 X 15. "Mad rake"... Car was 'famous' in 3 days, parked it outside Mel's Palm Bowl, in the colored lights under the tall palms. Guys down at the main were saying, "Hey, check out the raked sedan over at the Palms..." 'Honor. Hop Up honor. Stay honor...' -Mortie, somewhere in Arizona
Your getting there! Do want a swing peddle, or going to keep it under the floor? I went with a swing peddle,and got one from a bronco ll, it was super easy and a great fit! For p/s I used a box from a 1985 olds 88,and got the adaptor for mounting it from speedway. Put in an old GM tilt and we were done. Did all this 20 years ago for cheap! And it's still holding up. On the steering box it bolted up to the ford linkage,but I can't remember if I used the pitman arm from the ford or the olds, but I know there was no modification for it to work. Good luck with the car and keep us posted
For the column, I have already ordered the Limeworks kit. Another high quality, good looking kit. It will keep the original style but have detents for the OD trans. More parts taking up space in the trunk instead of on the car.
coming along nice ! miss that Poncho wagon I sold you.. ( my buddies still give me grief) Had a 47 Sedan for a bit(stocker).. keep the updates coming...
I dig it --- looking good so far! And I cannot recall the last time I saw you post here. Good to see you're still around!
Hey Rob --- the guy who bought the wagon has a warehouse full of cars, Vintage speed boats, canned ham trailers and more just outside Sacramento. He will send me pics like this that I am sure has both you and I kicking ourselves in the ass. He tows and hauls with it all the time. I have another picture with some vintage motorcycles I'll have to post. And thanks Malcom, it's been a busy few years. I haven't had time to post but still lurk. I think I found my perch bolts at Sids drop Axles, too. Have to see who can ship them here and get that front suspension put together.
They say it will settle 1 inch but it really comes out to closer to 2 inches. You'll love it! Sent from my SM-N900P using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks flat out--- it was actually your pics and info on the 9 inch that helped me out alot. Glad to hear they will settle some more.
Yeah man I'm glad everything is going well!! Should be a perfect daily family driver. Mines SBF C4 and it's my daily. Sent from my SM-N900P using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Alright! Sids Nostalgia Drop Axles came through big time. What a great company to do business with. I emailed Sid and he replied almost immediately that he had the parts I needed. I spoke to him on the phone on Wednesday and on Friday these babies were on my door step when I got off work. Like I said earlier, my old ones got mangled during the disassembly process. Now I just need to find an afternoon to start bolting it all together. I have a new axle, a new spring, and all the new brakes. I still need to wrestle that old crossmember out and bolt in the new one. Once that's all done I can roll the whole assembly back under the car and just worry about everything else.
Very neat project, I have a 46 coupe. Wish I knew you needed some perch bolts, I have probably 3-4 pairs.
That's funny. I just drove 18hrs to Spokane for a conference at the Northern Quest Indian Casino last week.... next time.
We just got back from a 3,000 mile trip in our '46. Our SBC is adapted to the stock 46 trans and rear end via a Hurst front mount and Speedway Trans adapter. Did the Magnum axel and Posie reversed eye springs front and rear. I put tube shocks on front but still have the original lever shocks in the rear. It gets to be a hand full in a strong cross wind. This winter we'll be putting tubes in the rear along with a sway bar. I was a little disappointed in the stance when we first set it on the ground but after a few hundred miles of rough road she settled right down. I also used The Brothers Lincoln brakes front and rear along with a Mustang type master cylinder, they work great! I sent the stock gauges out and had them converted to 12 volt and the amp gauge changed to a volt meter, looks the same, just works different. We like the interior of the old Fords so we just bought a LaBaron Bonnie Kit and had it installed. Went with the Super Deluxe Grey, thought it would go better with the Maroon paint. Good luck with your project, keep plug'n away and you'll be on the road before you know it.
Nice work I'm in the middle of putting a dropped axle from sids on my 47. I also had issues getting good the perch bolts out... messed them up good. Found a NOS one in NV for $125, pass. Found a wishbone and axle locally and the guy said I could just have the perch bolts if I got the out he just needed the wishbone back... Long story short I hope to have it back on the ground tonight.
Loving this build. It's going about like my 47 Linc, as cheaply as possibly, even if it takes a bit more time. At least you have an unmolested car to start on, I'm having to redo somebody elses crappy work. My wife loves the 40-48 Tudors,and they have grown on me. Almost got a 47 a couple of years ago, looked good in the CL pics, but when we got there it was a pile. New paint over absolutely no bodywork, very little sanding, it even had pits in the roof. The roof was so pitted, I bet it was thin as a sheet of paper in spots. Needless to say, we passed on it.
Finally! Got about 3 or 4 hours in a row to work on the 46. Rog was available again and came over to help. My goal today was just to get the old crossmember out and make room for the new raised/dropped member. It wasn't raining so we were able to roll the Corvair out and give us some room to work. After straightening up all the stuff that seems to get stacked on the car it was time to get to work. Everything almost fits in a "two car garage".
I had ground out a rivet or two when I had a few moments. Of course I went after all the easy ones on the nice wide, flat surfaces. The ones that were left were those bad MFers that were tucked in corners or just far enough away a grinding wheel wouldn't hit them.
Rog brought an air chisel and we broke out the big drill. A hammer and a punch got us lined up and we went to work. Between the grinder and the chisel we were able to knock the heads off. Next, we drilled out the centers and pushed them through gently with the BFH. The air chisel made the job a bit easier. Between the chisel and the compressor running to feed the chisel both our heads were throbbing by the time the cross member finally gave up the good fight and broke free.
Oh hell yeah! It's out. Once all the rivets were gone a few good whacks with the BF hammer freed it. At this point it was cross member shotput for distance..... With a huge throw that giant piece of steel was out of my way. Almost made the sidewalk. I did get a little nervous as it soared through the air and took a bounce towards the Corvair.
The Jalopy Journal
