Projects custom? hot rod? what will it be?

...going to ask where this belongs, I cannot find any forum that fits.

My new Avatar is the beginning as it is now. 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 dr hardtop.
somewhere along the line it had lowering blocks put on it and the front springs were warmed over. a couple little things make me believe it might have been someones mini custom.
I have had to cut out both rear quarters up to the chrome line, back 8" of the inner trunk floor, the tailpan under the trunk lid and both sides inner bulkhead from trunk floor to quarter panel at the bottom. and the last trunk floor to frame cross brace. interior Floors seem to be ok.
I am going to do the body as close to Moonglow as I can, with a few minor differences, one being it will be utilizing the 57 Packard taillights., door handles will be shaved as the trunk and hood stuff will be.
Now. comes the part that will have this string deleted.. I Bet.
brand new 545 HP 427, brand new B&M turbo 350, Mustang 2 front suspension, power Rack, Brand new 9" positrack 375 rear differential with Disc brakes, underfloor power brakes, flaming river column, a gorgeous custom steering wheel in the colors I will be painting it (mint green and white).
body will be Traditional Kustom, drivetrain will be Muscle car, and suspension will be Street Rod, Interior will be traditional tuck n' roll white bench seats, column shift.

SO WHERE DOES THIS CAR FIT?

 

Where ever you want it to, sounds like it will be a Kool car, your car , your vision, your $$$. I would not worry about it, just enjoy the car and the "Hobby".

 

General discussion would be my thought. HRP

 

Mecum auction ??

 

Funny 302GMC.Twenty Gallons...All that work and money and column shift?

 

I found life in one of the social groups...mine very much in the same catagory as yours...just a few hundred horsepower less, lol. BTW, make my day and tell me that 427 is a FORD!!
opps...Never mind..just noticed the 350 tranny.

 

Mine is in the same boat. chopped, shave and decked, frenched front and rear and purple candy paint and white tuck and roll. all traditional custom. But then we have vintage gray spoke torqe thrust wheels big and little tires no skirts , a 428 ford , borg warner t10 an a 9" posi and 4.10 gears which pays honor to the 66 marauder convert I had in high school in 1971. But I drive the hell out my cars going to various car shows around the mid west . which explains the chassis work I did. Rack and pinion steering,4 wheel disc , tubular a arms, tri angular rear and adjustable coil overs on all 4 corners! Where does mine fit? Why it fits in my garage quite perfectly I might add. Build what you want and enjoy it! There will always be guys like me and Texas57 who will pat you on the back and say "great job" Larry

 

As long as you don't pop the hood no one will know. Kustoms keep the hood shut so it doesn't mess up the lines . It your car enjoy it and drive the wheels off.

 

Why do you care? Labels suck. But if I had to pick one... "Donkey Punch I can't believe its not Butter".

Popular Hot Rodding will be all over that style. Better have it airbrushed on the car before all the hipsters do!

 

Try "Yellowbullet"
They're into "Coyote engine" and "Junkyard LS engine" swaps

Sarcasm aside! If you get a shitload of criticism and controversy from being different......
then "mission accomplished"
That's what hot-rodding is all about [but you have to build it yourself]

 

I miss the old HAMB where we did traditional rods and customs

 

I completely disagree. That is not "what hot rodding is all about."

Personally, I wouldn't give a shit about a label. It's a modified car. But strictly speaking not a traditional custom because as you point out, it has feet in several camps. I agree with HRP. The rest is up to the mods, depending on what you post.

 

Thanks guys, I was afraid it would be scattergunned, ( little pellets from every direction.)
Actually this car will be quite a lot like my original avatar. I have always believed in big inch HP. almost every car I have built over the years, and believe me when I say that is a LOT of cars, has had some kind of big inch engine. You can NEVER have enough HP, Most of the time you do not need it but when you do I prefer to have it rather than to wish I had it.
AND, I have always believed in Traditional Kustoms,.... Moonglow is one of my all time favorite Kustoms, a car to aspire towards. . Also want a car with good street manners, easy to drive and easy to ride in. That is what I am aiming for overall.
I will try to include everyone in this build by way of H.A.M.B. This will be my LAST build and I will be keeping this one for myself.
As far as the column shift? I never did like something sticking up out of the floor for automatic.
4 Speed? ... yes! .....
(I have had more than my share of rowing thru the gears, and sometime it gets tiresome),
.....but not an automatic. I guess you could say this is going to be a musclebound Cruiser.
health problems as you get older slow you down quite a bit at times.

 

Why? Is it a fashion show to you [where you follow the "trend setters"]

Anybody can build a 'glass 32 Kit Car with a 350/350 combo and not get a 2nd glance.
At least the OP dares to be different

 

There is nothing wrong with making a custom POWERFUL. I have a 53 Ford club coupe. It has a 390 bored 120 over, almost out to a 406 but not quite. Tri power. Running through a Beefed up C6 into a 3.55 posi rear. It is nosed and decked with Shaved doors. Has Chromies and skirts. A sleeper if you will.

 

My guess is call it a car and let everyone guess what they want it to be.

As far as class showing? Leave the hood closed and call it a custom leave it open and call it a street rod?

 

Starting this build here, This is about half of what I have to deal with, Plus holes in the roof.
so On we go.

 

step 1

 

That is a cool build, Bud. Think about all the '46-'54 Chevies that guys build, put their hearts and souls into(not counting mucho dinero), and run stock or slightly pumped up 6 cylinders. They are able to afford to drive their beauties anywhere, which is what we are all about. You happen to be on the other end of the spectrum with your mega horsepower. You have "traditional" on your side with the nosing, decking, crazy-wild colors, column-shift, lowering, Packard taillights, shaved door handles, etc. Like some suggest, just keep your hood closed or lie about what your mill is. Tell 'em it's a '56 Packard Clipper engine. Kinda maybe traditional !................................. Uh, OK.

 

Twenty gallons. If you think what your starting with is rough. Go to www.hotrodders.com and check out John Long's ongoing 53 belair convert project for inspiration in the Body/Exterior forum . 90% of the parts he needs he builds himself with basic tools in the garage under his house !. and he can put many a professional metal man to shame. I been doing this for over 40 years and I just sit back and marvel at what he can accomplish with what he works with!!! Anyone who wants to see some cool metal work check it out!! Larry

 

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

 

next...

I am going to get all the frame work completed including motor and trans mounts and differential and in place, then the body will come off and the body and frame will be media blasted and all welding completed THEN it will be reassembled and the body mods can be finished. I do not want to dismember the body until it us back on the frame and secured in place.

next is the motor and trans, will most likely irk some people, but remember please I have spent a lifetime building what is now called "traditional". been building this stuff since it was not a fashion but WAS the way it was done. this is kinda a nice change in playground for me.

 

CustoRod

 

"Hey guys do you mind if I build a 50's car with my money and skills, and take the time to post pictures and tell you about it? Im going to put in a new engine"

*grumble grumble grumble thats not hamb worthy! Grumble grumble grumble

 

Hhmmm, ok

 

Sure thing Fenderl325.. www.cardomain.com sounds like a good fit, no standards, deep pockets and can archive all the OT drivel you care to post

twenty gallons,

Nice work on the rear splash

 

Ah, but was Rick Nelson married?

 

I like what you're cooking. MoonGlo was awe inspiring .... still is. No clue which one was best. I like them all. ( Mostly paint revisions, and bumper change. ) This will be a fun build. Big engine for cruising ? Pound away !! Makes sense for today's roads and miles anyway.

Inspiration from Rikster, Kustomrama, and Custom Carz and such. There is a Hot Rod feature .... but I don't like the halo styled modern headlights that were shown. So black and white, Kodachrome, and one modern snap it is.

 

Hardy har har