Projects 34 Ford 3 window Coupe..What to do?

As someone once said "let it be".

 

Thanks everyone for your opinions and insights..Yes, a SBC has more power than a flattie but it isn't about that at all..I can"live" with the SBC , but its not my choice of power so it'll always nag in my mind...I tend to agree with the opinion NOT to tear it apart for now..While some may not like the basic looks,I'm definitely not going to redo the body,as said before maybe just the fenders and hood need a different look..The cheapo or possibly used interior is a good idea..I do plan on dumping the front a little either with rubber rake,reverse the front spring or an axle.

 

Now your talking!

 

Hell it's your hot rod...so do what turns your crank...

 

You are one lucky guy. Cool car the way it is, needs a bit of clean up and probably a few parts replaced and then drive the hell out of it.

 

Are the wishbones split?

 

George, you don't want that thing! Let me put my 39 on a trailer and i'll tow it up there and swap ya. I'll even throw in a 425 Nailhead and a 4 speed with it! @Fordgasser1

 

That thing is sweet, build another drive train and swap it out when done, just let me know when you sell off the SBC and T5 from it!

 

Like most . I would leave it for a while and drive it like it is. Nice score.
Vic

 

Park it in a barn. Not a metal building, a real barn built with sawmill lumber ideally 80 or more years ago that's maybe leaning south a little bit but still serviceable. Lots of straw, hay, various feed sacks, some old mule harnesses hanging on the rafters and chickens. Chickens are a must. You'll need to change out the wheels and tires. One 15" white portawall on the front, a 16" mudgrip and at least one wire wheel. Model a would be best. Then stack some stuff around the car like an old john deere gas engine, a one row plow, a pair of water skies (wooden with the foot piece missing on one of them.) Put a California license plate on it, no newer than 1959. Buy an old pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes on ebay , green package, and put them in the glove box.

Then......close the door and tell no one. It may take a few months but soon you'll start hearing about an old three window in a barn. How did they find out? You don't know, but the offers will start to roll in. Sight unseen guys from all over the world will want to buy your car. Send them the worst grainy photo you can find. They wont be able to resist it, it's better than gold in Fort Knox. Never change that car.

 

What size tires on that thing ???

 

Looks really nice, I'm with ya on the sbc I've had the same fight with my project I have been working on...but I've gotten over it and decided to keep the sbc. It's been used by hotroders since it has been made, it's proven good. All I'd change is them red wheels to black.

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The 3 windows have "wooden" support above, around the corner and behind the door ... check the top front door header wood, and the bottom of the B pillars for rot... if they are failing replacing them can be a bear...
IMO...if they are solid then i feel the car warrants you building it your way...

 

Throw the fenders away and make a real hot rod.

 

6.50X16's all around..Too tall in the front for sure..

 

I'd beg to differ...there are some badass full fendered rods...

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Hi, ...in response to ur ? ,"what ya think", posting,... I think it's a way cool coupe !!..

I think Harpo1313's one sentence response says a whole lot,,!!..

&..I think if it were mine,...
I'd drive it as is for a while cause I have way too many undriveable big projects.!!

Good luck!! [emoji256]





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That's a real sweet Coupe! No need to sour it...

 

Ok... I think the SBC goes away, you put one of those Ardun setups you had in there... may as well throw a blower on top of that, remove all the "extra" sheetmetal that weighs it down & acts like a sail, take a good 5-6" whack out of the top, and drive it like you drive the 5W you have/had.

Isn't that what these kinds of cars beg for?

3blap.

 

Drive it. Old cars are just like friends----what good are they unless you can USE them once in awhile? LOL

 

I have an 8ba and 78 case 3 speed ..trade ya I would keep the 283 5 speed drive the hell out of it!

 

Over the years I've had a few flathead powered cars and was never happy with their performance. I'd definitely leave the SBC in it.

Gary

 

I built a nice 50 Merc for one of my coupes...loved the sound the look, the performance was good not gonna be what could be done today but it was a serious badass....and it was just as any old engine I've ever had it needs love and if you don't like working on them maybe not the animal for all...this time around I got a 327 in the rails and I'm keeping it in there....I have fought myself so many times on it...but hey I never had one to know for myself if it's a good engine or just all the folks that swear by em'.....I'll soon find out if my hands stay clean or my temp gauge don't keep me sweating like my old flathead. Love em to death but they are expensive to build and temperamental as a MFER.

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It's all about what you want . . . and can afford to do. Me - I'd leave it alone and drive it . . . all the while I'd be taking my time on building a real cool 276 cube flatty for it. Also, maybe find a 34 frame and build a whole rolling chassis for the flathead - traditional/period style you want. Then you just swap everything over to the new chassis -- Jed's a millionaire. You then sell the chassis and complete drivetrain you already have. If this process takes two years, who cares. Hell, spread the money out, take your time - make it exactly what you want.

 

Agreed...

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Have you ever had a flathead powered car?

Honest question.

The romance of it gets a lot of people a car they hate driving.

 

Flathead all the way. If you are even questioning the SBC then you've already made up your mind. I would drive it this spring and summer while collecting parts and switch it over next winter. Yes, a flathead has less power. Yes, they are more expensive. But I promise you won't regret the swap. There is nothing like a flathead Ford and that is the PERFECT car for one.

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Would you allow rodents to infest your house?...those General Mess engines are called mouse and rat for a reason!....

 

Alright, alright...this is your uncle Rocky speaking...here's what you do:
You want a flathead, right? Ok, so build yourself a nice little flathead motor and slip a 39 ford 3 speed trans behind it and fix up the body just the way you want it...drive it like that for a year and stop and re-evaluate your satisfaction with the little 3 window.
Now, if you've been happy with the flathead, great! If the 3 speed makes you as happy as you thought it would.............great! If not, you've saved the chevy motor/5 speed under your work bench, right?
Now, go spend some money on early ford stuff!

 

Build another chassis for it with the flathead and all that while you're driving it around with the current setup. When your new frame is done, swap the body over and sell the complete running chassis out from under it. Broken down into pieces, the leftover parts aren't worth that much but as a complete running roller, I know I personally would pay pretty good cash for that frame with complete drivetrain, could slide it right under my '33 coupe body.