Projects 1930 CHEVY ROADSTER... IS IT WORTH IT?

HI All, I have a chance at picking up a 1930 chevy roadster. missing trunk lid, and all of the floors/bracing. looks as these are a pretty scarce item... are these chevys worth messing with? this would need a full inner structure made, and I am sure a new handmade deck lid. anyone mess with these old chevy's? I cant find any parts! anywhere! LOL

 

If it's cheap and I would look for a deck lid 1st which I think might be hard to find.Usually you have to replace all the wood inside which holds the body together,Any pictures?

 

Chevies in the early years were wood braced; actually metal 'skinned' over a wood frame structure.
Most guys building metal bodied early Ford roadsters build a partial inner frame (around cowl, 'A' pillar, 'B' pillar, and some rear catwalk and quarter bracing)

I have seen some build subframes from scratch: 1" X 2" rectangular tube, and some flat strap.
Time consuming, unless you're 'fast' at light fabricating...if body is missing all the inner structure, it will have to be 'creatively braced', as inner members are added...doors must line up, body straight, etc.

Deck lid skin is a compound curve, and if an original can't be found an inner frame would have to be made up, attaching and seaming the skin last. (read: English Wheel)
But I thought there was a Chevy specialist (Oregon?) that was making '29-'32 Chevy patch panels and lower bracing?

Chevy roadsters are beautiful. The project, if completed, would be worth the time, if the 'subject' were willing!

 

Get it.

 

Is it worht it, UHHH YEAH. Although mine is a buick they can all come out nice

 

Most of the parts would have to be built from scratch. Sub flooring, flooring, and inner structure.

 

Deck lid is easier to make then doors. (that is usually what is missing on those cars) As stated wood framed body. I think there are wood kits being made. I would check pricing on that before buying the car. I think it might scare you! Then there are the hours involved putting that together. You need to be a bit of a carpenter. Then there are about a million nails needed to attach the tin to the body. Building the framing from steel isn't any cheaper or quicker.

Here is a place that might make the wood kit and pictures of how much wood in a Chevy.
http://autowood.net/drawings.htm

 

No it's not worth, but please forward contact info please!

 

Those early Chevies are like pre-'26 Fords -- a wooden framework with the body panels tacked on. Ever wonder why almost all of the original-type bodies on Model T Rods are '26-7 ones? It's because those are almost all steel, with no wooden framework. I'm currently building a Rod using a '15 body. The only one I could find had rotten wood in it. New wood kits are available, but they cost $1,200! Since I wouldn't be using all of the wood framework anyway, I decided to remove all the wood and replace it with a steel structure. That is in the works as we speak. I'll post pics on a build thread when I get a little farther along.

 

Ok thanks guys. I forgot to mention its just the body. No frame or anything. The doors are there but welded up, no trunk lind like stated before, and no windshield posts or anything up front. I have seen where they create a square tube interstructure and work off that. Finding a roadster in my area is pretty darn hard these days, and when i do, they are way out of my price range... i will put up some pics tomorrow after i go see it.

 

There is a way to do this without an english wheel or even forming a crown in a big panel. I was faced with a similar problem, I needed a deck skin for my T coupester, and I also wanted to eliminate the stock beads that run down the deck on the outside of the decklid. I am also wanting to re-contour the area where the back of the bucket rolls into the deck like Louie (Anderegg Tribute) did on his car so it was closer to a T roadster,so I bought a re-pop '26/'27 roadster tulip panel and took it to a wrecker and laid it on top of various late model roof skins until I found one that fit the contour on the deck end of the tulip panel and grabbed that roofskin.
Now when the time comes to put this all together, all I have to do (hopefully, if all goes well and the gods are smiling on me) is trim it to width, and shrink the edges a little to get it to curve to match the curve of the 1/4 panels, and hammer weld it in place. I am not doing an opening decklid, I want the ass-end all smooth and slick like the later versions of the original Anderegg car.


It would be a little more complicated if you wanted an opening decklid, you would have to build an inner frame, but you could do the same thing and hunt up a roof skin at a wreckers that matches the crown you would need in the skin, cut it about a 1/4" larger all around than the size of the frame, and roll the edges over the frame with a hammer and dolly.

 

Something like is what you need, simple and strong and with subfloor frame that bolts to chassis! Make sure things are square before you finish weld.

 

I am currently in the process on a Chevy. It's a lot of work ! Takes some forethought, skills, and dedication to complete. Choose wisely.

 

Set it on a Deuce frame and use '32 windshield assembly, or '29-31 Chevy frames can be found and use glass fenders, aprons, runningboards, etc. for a '31 Chev. which are readily avail..

 

Not difficult to make things for those old Chevies. Edmurder brought his 31 to me to fix up, and it was quite simple to replace the old wood with 1" square tubing, and a couple hammerformed pieces. His, at one time, was converted to a pick up, butchered, actually, and it wasn't hard to remake the tops of the quarters, and truck lid. He did find some sheet metal pieces we needed, too. I believe we even posted pics of some of the work as we went along, but it would be about 10+ years ago.

 

Is it worth it? I think so. Like Ghost said you'll have to make a lot off parts from scratch but in the end you have a unique car and won't run into another one at the cruise nights. I had to fabricate all the inner structure for my 33 Chevy Cabriolet. It took more time than I first thought but I'm happy with the results. Good luck!

 

Is it worth it to you knowing how much fabrication work will need to be done? How are your skills? If you have the motivation to build all that framing. any ideas about what you would like to do for frame and motor for it? I am partial to that era chevys. I have a '30 sedan stocker. I have a few parts but no sheet metal. Good Luck.

 

Good Morning all, I am going out there today to take a look at it. I will post pictures of it later today. I seen another chevy that had the inner structure done with the square tubing, and it didn't look hard or complex... just time consuming and DEFINATELY a lot of thinking ahead. I have always wanted a roadster!! this might be my chance. and TFoch, you are right... not another one at a show you can bet on that!

 

Well, Mullet...These guys (Ghost, TFoch, Binger, r2c1) are definitely a 'hard sell'!
Some sterling examples of the 'Finer Points of early G.M.' More work than Fords of the same year, but the results are 'astounding'.
One of my '27 Ts is atop a '29 Chevy chassis (rails only) If I could have nailed down the Chevy roadster body, I would have.
Anxious to see your pix!

 

It's worth it....

 

ok.... just got back. lets see what you guys think... Ford? Chevy? I just don't know now.... he was told Ford, looks like a chevy, and has a bottom panel on the rear that says 1928-29 ford written on it from maybe a previous owner... maybe even a mix of chevy AND ford if possible!

 

Wow, not much there.
The lines of the car are great, are you up to building the rest?

 

Looks like plenty to start with (I have a '30 Chevy Coupe, deforested and re-done with steel). Ghost, PBRmeASAP and the other guys in the "Termites and Bowties" group are a huge help. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck! The hardest part is getting started. If you have a welder you can do it (a plasma cutter helps too!)

 

That is a '27 Chev coupe missing the roof, there is enough there for a build, just a lot of work.

 

1927 coupe huh? ok, I was looking at the top and it looked like it was missing something around the edges... damn... no roadster... what do you guys think its worth at this stage of life?

 

it has me thinking on the holes on the top of the cowl... could that be for a windshield stanchon? might be a roadster?

 

Lots of "roadsters" back in the day were coupes with the top cut off.

 

The holes in the cowl are for cowl light. As for value being a coupe I would first offer $500 but wouldn't go above $800. Even though it looks like a body in truth it is just a pile of panels for a body. There is extensive mods to make it resemble a roadster. I think it is a great start for a car like the Anderegg '55 AMBR winner.

 

I agree....1927 Chevy coupe.

 

might pass on it then... I really have to stew on this one after this info. I have 2 "projects" in my garage at the moment... I need this one like I need a hole in my head.. I have always wanted a damn roadster though! LOL.