Hot Rods What would you do?

4" Z up front is all.. Could sweep frame rails But may just build a low frame.

So many ways I could re do this, or do another.

Forgot to tell everyone who has contributed here, Thanks

 

You could visually sweep the rails with a gusset.

 

Something else I have actually strongly considered! Look and function with minor time to change it up.

 

Your bones are mounted outboard, so you wouldn't have any interference. You could blend that angle out with a nice sweep pretty easy and it might make a dramatic difference in the look, particularly if you spruce up the body work should you choose to go the route of un-ratting this car rather than doing another one.

An Idea I had for your 440 to give it some more period wild factor: Dress it to look like a 413 and put a cross ram setup on it:

 

I had strongly considered that cross ram also.. at least I know my thinking isn't completely screwed up then.

Cross ram would be insane looking and the 6 pack intake would be another wow factor to stay period correct I think?

 

Six Pack is getting late in the 60's. That's most closely associated with the Musclecar era whereas the wedge and crossram were earlier and would be closer to a HAMBy period. I'd say wedge for the big block or multiple 2bbls if you find a 331 HEMI.

 

The idea of "period" however is not just a sum of the parts available at that time , it is a feel/ vibe ,esthetic of a era which includes stance, colors style of wheel and tires .

.. That's why vega steering , borgson joints , 9" fords aluminum radiators ect..get a pass.. ..none of that stuff was available in 1956

 

You know when two people are arguing and one of them doesn't realize that the other is actually agreeing with them?

Are you quoting me to agree or to argue?

 

The only down fall in my eyes with cross ram or six pack stuff is the price !! The Mopar guys think that stuff is gold , solid gold!!! I know I have restored plenty of Mopar stuff over the years and dealing with guys like that has away's been a test of Wills . Will I pay him or Will I punch him in the face for being a money grubbing jerk!! Of coarse those same jerks are in every facet of our hobby. I have made a lot of money over the years buying and selling parts and I think everyone should make a profit but you don't have to rape people ! Well with that off my chest, lol I still think an aftermarket low profile dual quad set even painted engine color like it came out of a late 50s early 60s Chrysler 300 vibe would be cool and the most affordable .
The reality is we can build this with 100 ideas a 1000 different ways. What you need to decide is what is the vision and style that's going to make you happy. I have been at this along time and dealt with all kinds of people and believe me ,Your not going to sell what you have and even begin to finance another build from scratch. Despite what you see on TV or read on here , people are not going to pay big bucks for an unfinished car . Sorry if I sound like I am raining on your parade but I still think you can build the car you want with what you have and actually save money in the long run providing your doing most of the work yourself and if your not a new build by others will probably cost you at least 3 times that easy!! Again good luck Larry

 

Actually agreeing with you ... Mostly.. But just elaborating ... Example :while the cross ram2x4 would of been available in the day.... it screems rat rod to me a 6 pac wouldnt be era correct parts but estetically would look era correct if you squint cause 3 carbs in a row is pretty traditional)I disagree with ford steelies though ...

there are buyers for a car like this ... There is another faction of guys that like this type of car and not fender less s-10s with 32 grills fans either..

someone would buy this car as a fixer , they would see it as a blank canvas , they might not have the skill to build it but have ability to bolt on wheels or intake and " make it there own" with same examples that are given on this very thread

Trust me ... I have fished and sold painted hotrods for the same money or cheaper than a slightly more beat up primer car... People seem to like to put their own mark on them

I just see people on this thread saying to cut it up and spend $$$ tochange it ... Doesn't sound like it will be what he really wants still , I see a car worth between 8-15k but to build the same roller( which would be similar work to rebuild) costing about 5k ... Seems like $$$ left to do what he really wants to do or maybe different body style if he's inclined?

 

Stubbs .....
Here is my version of a '60's style Custom Hot Rod that I built in 2008.
I can tell you everything about it, but I'll just give you a few pictures that may give you an idea or two, or if anything inspiration.
The Chrysler 440 engine pretty much dictates a mid-+ '60's build style for your car.

 

After some pondering -
I'd do something like this :
Before

After


I know its a 32
just squint

Or
Slant the windshield, graft in a 32 header, move the b pillar back , round up the rear 1/4 window

 

Had a trade offered on the car last night that is totally OT and only issue would be starting over with no funds as of now. Had a few low cash offers. Funny how I make a decision to keep it then get tested on 4 sides at one time.

 

Well since you asked - Keep it just the way it is. Find a space to store it and build a car to fit your current tastes. That way you'll have a Hot Rod to have fun in while building a more refined one to your current standards. Then when your finished with your "next" one then sell this one if you like.

Tim

 

The 440 may dictate mid '60s but they had a tall deck 383 in '59 as well as the 413 which was also a tall deck so there is no reason that it couldn't be dressed for the late '50s early '60s part. Only the people who really know MOPARs or know where to look will notice that it is a 440.

My thoughts on the engine is that you could go with a low 2x4 or a cross ram and get the early '60s vibe easy enough. I personally prefer a 2x4 because of packaging, they just don't look as unwieldy to me and as a rule they perform better for a street engine. Not to say that a cross ram isn't as cool I just prefer the look of a standard 2x4 on an open engine.

@stubbsrodandcustom if I had decided to build instead of sell I would ignore most trade offers and not sell unless I could replace what I had for the money. There is nothing you have done that you can't change to better suit your current desires. Something that we all seem to forget, maybe because what we see in old magazines is static, is that rods more often then not were a progression. A rod may have started out with a flatty with little or no other mods, then moved to a valve in head at a later date or got chopped and channeled or vice versa if you catch my drift. Your rod does not have to remain static it can morph into whatever you want it to as time goes by.

 

that 32 is the style I been talking about excepted painted and upholstered and polished wheels!!

 

Yea that deuce is a nice looking car. Looks ready to kill don't it.

 

I tried to find the right style in the same level of finish .

And Yeah, its a funny thing though ,,about imaginations and vision.

To some folks When they are "shown" as not painted, not upholstered, they are "seen" in the colors and style of the viewers choice, any choice. To some having it in color ends the option if its not their color of choice. Some just can't see,

 

Yep some live in a world of pics and others live in a word of hurt. LOL

Some of the greatest minds the world has ever known thought in pictures.

 

so let me know how my line of thinking is with this. All the copper color up front is taking over and confusing the front of the car? Cause of all the silver and aluminum its throwing off some things also..

 

I agree!!

 

Please don't take this as anything other than my opinion on what I notice first.

I'll tell you I didn't notice any copper, I had to go back and look for it. So it's not that for me.


First thing I notice is the front wheels are about 12" forward of where they should be. Extended wheel base is Not necessarily bad if you're going for a Competition Coupe look - but a 12" Extension is either 12" too much or 24" not enough. It needs competition wheels to complete the statement.




Next thing I notice is the intake over the roof line with zoomie headers and the engine outside of where a hood line might be. Also not a bad thing if you are headed for serious competition but Nothing else about the car supports that look. So it comes off either confused or cartoony.

Next thing I notice is how low the car sits, and how small the rear wheel/tire combo looks and having the tire break the window line makes it look more odd. It also looks like the body is skooched forward - large portion of the wheel well lip forward of the tire seems confused and the small tires beyond the rear of the body is also confusing. There has got to be huge voids of space between the body and the tires when viewed from the rear. I don't care for that look as it has a much wider track width out back.

Where the lowest line of the car intersects the wheel/tire centerlines - it's in the lower 1/5 of the rear ( below the rim actually, that's got to be a scrub line issue) . And just below the lug nuts up front. The flow of lines is off there. Eliminating the Z and raising the body would correct that.

Where's the copper color?

 

I was really looking at the rear wheels, then noticed the camera fisheyed this side profile shot. really making the car stretch more than it is. My apologies. . I'm going to first off attempt to mask the front z as stated before. Here is a better view of how the rear tires actually sit in the car.

I do agree... Rear needs more meat to fill up that fender well and blend it in more. Going to raise the rear suspension up an inch also and I think that with a fatter tire will make a nice difference out back.

Tires
So do I do the Pie crust slicks and change fronts to bias ply or throw a 31x10.50 out back and keep the front runners? Or try to get the diamond back 1000x15 or something like that? Its a 255/75/15 on there now. And I have always thought they were a little smaller than I really wanted to begin with. But limited funds and trying to get the car on the road is why they are there.

Other pic is one that really has me thinking of ditching the tunnel ram and going skinny bias ply tires honestly.

 

I'd suggest making up some plywood dummy wheels for the rear in the taller sizes you're considering and finding something that works for you. That will tell you what to do with the fronts and your suspension I think.

I don't think anyone would recommend mixing ply and radials BTW.

 

Wheels and tires ain't cheap, buying them twice isn't making them cheaper- and wheels and tire will make or break any car.
I figure what wheels and tires are going on a build, get them in my hands and then start mock up. Deciding on that look is the hard part because it sets the whole tone.

That prime red car looks like it's running at least a 16" rim out back. Definitely a taller tire than yours, notice where the top of the tire is about 2-3" below the window bead. That tells me he's somewhere around 6" further up from the ground when com paired to yours.

 

Forgive my HORRIBLE Photoshop skills.
First pic: raised body up level with bottom of exposed front frame rail, pseudo 2x4 manifold, shorty air cleaners, horrid attempt at drawing lakes pipes, brought front wheels back to be inline with radiator.
Second pic: same mods as above but also shortened body thru the rear side window.

 

Just tripped into this thread.
I'll be short and sweet.
Cars talk.
This one says to me " I'm too far gone
to turn back. Sell me to somebody who likes
what I am now. Don't try to change me into
something you will like more. We will never be happy"

 

Well as a builder I don't give up. I just make transitions.

 

Nailed it there!

 

The first photoshop above, crude as it may be, is a great start. If you could do that, then add paint and some 60's era appropriate wheels and tires (to go with the engine), you could have a real nice, period-looking car there.