Projects BACK AT IT FINALLY!! RE-BUILD OF AN EARLY CHEVY COUPE WITH A 392 HEMI

Go go GO!

 

Mike... Wish I were there to help with my favorite pieces: '28-'31 CHEVY RAILS!
I have a nice '29 Chevy frame, was going to put my '27 tub body atop it...but the previous owner lifted it from the kickup on the right side...with ALL the suspension and engine and tranny in it! Twisted the rail visually...Really urked me, as the deal was made beforehand.
My wife and I went to pick it up, she was horrified...she asked him what he was thinking when he lifted it from one side. He said, "Shit, it's iron. Shouldn't-a bent..."
We took it anyway, I asked her how she'd deal with such a twist.
She answered: "IF we didn't have a frame jig, I'd use the tie-downs we planted in the floor when we poured it. I'd use the big Hein-Werner floor jack, the 3 foot piece of railroad track and some chain lengths..."
Right as rain, as usual.
Don't heat frame metal, bend it back cold. It wants to go back, just help it.
If increased length wasn't necessary, I'd be hard pressed to have replaced those Chevy horns...just trim behind the spring hangers, slender and sexy.
Make little 'Cs' as you weld...open end out front. Welding is practice. Best weldors have been practicing as long as they've been welding...
Welders are machines. Weldors are those who weld.

 

Can't wait to get over Dave's shop tomorrow and continue the frame build Mike!

We're planning to use my porta-power, possibly using his fork lift or Bobcat to secure the other end to and bend back COLD. Whatever we plan to do, IT HAS TO WORK!!

Mike, the frame horns I used to replace the original Chevy frame horns with the leaf spring mounts have been replaced with new '32 Ford frame horns, cleaning up the front rails VERY NICELY! I dig the way they bow out a bit as the originals at the tips for my planned circular nerf bar.

 

Did You see that banged up 29 roadster possibly survivor Hotrod that had a torqued framed repaired on a straightening machine by a Frame Tech...they probably hate being called that...

It did look to have some reservations about returning back to home base...after the fact with some splitting and cracking...but I guess that's what happens here and there.

Whatever you fellas do be careful.

 

Trust me brother, it'll be FUN and rewarding!!!!

 

I'm at my friend Dave's Rod Shop, just delivering my Winters QCR. We begin to measure the new '32 Ford front cross member that was extended on both sides so it will be trimmed to sit flush against the rails. Followed up by welding it in permanently.

Dave fabricated a new rear cross member to install the new chromed adjustable coil-overs, measuring 6" from the outside of the rail to the center point of where the coil-over will be mounted. We re-used my tabs on the old rear cross member and found two others in Dave's shop. Using a degree gauge, Dave welded the tabs on a 20 degree angle as shown. Clearly, I need to clean up most of his welds and possibly relocate this rear cross member once the rear is up and installed in my frame. This cross member is spot welded in for now. Once the body is back on, I'll know if the tires are centered within the wheel well.

Now comes the thinking and performing the task of straightening my bent frame... I've never seen this process done before, so this will be a very gratifying stage in my frame build. As you can see in my photos, Dave used a small chain and threaded rod with bolts and nuts to secure the ends of the rails to pull the frame in by tightening the bolt, once it was heated to help this task. Worked like a charm! He also chalked the areas that needed some attention. We just moved right down the rail that needed to be done. I had some areas that were dented in (not flat on the outside), so we used my old rear cross member and some plates of steel as shims to pivot it to bend the dent outward once the steel was heated. Very slick I should say! We used a big pipe wrench to pull up some dents in the top of the c channels once they were heated. And finally, I got to use my new porta-power to push the bottom of the c channel outward where the frame was bent inward. I'll continue to tweak my frame down the road before I install the new x-member, engine mounts, rear ladder bars, steering box, brake master cylinder, etc. If anyone has any doubts that frame straightening CANNOT be done at home by your average hotrodder, you will be mistaken.

I needed to order the lower coil-over mount, completely forgetting about this while I brought over everything to install in my frame. Next visit, Dave and I will install the front and rear suspension. DAMN, I can't wait!!!!!

 

I've been waiting for over a half year to reach this point in my rebuild...

Dave and I got to the rewarding stage - installing my new suspension! Started with my front end, learning that my bat wings from P&J had larger diameter holes for the Speedway polished hairpins. No biggie, just had to run to Lowe's to pick up some steel sleeves that fit 1/2" diameter for a 3/8" clevis bolt.

While the frame was upside down, we tackled the c-channel issues such as the holes I cut out from the lower channels from Chevy's mistake from the original stampings.

Dave was right in his thinking that he suggested NOT to install the complete front brakes such as the rotors, calipers and backing plates. Just installed the hub, bearings and the new studs to mount the tires and wheels. Dave and myself were drooling of this awesome front end, once installed with my temporary wheel and tire combo.

Lastly, came the Winters QCR installation. Coil-overs were bolted in, along with the lower mounts. As anyone can see by my photos, Dave's Bobcat came in handy to get the rear over from the other side of his shop.

Since I did not have a new pair of ladder bars which I could not order the proper length until the center x-member is installed, Dave let me use the ancient ladder bars from his '31 Chevy Sedan, needing to heat up the top bar and hammer down a bit to line up with the holes in my new rear hairpin mounts. Just a temporary setup for now to hold the rear in. Dave welded in the lower coil mounts and spot welded the ladder bars and the rear shock cross member just in case they need to be relocated if the rear tires are NOT centered in the wheel well on the body. Man, do these 10" slicks look KILLER on that quick change or what?

FINALLY, my frame can roll on its own!!

Would like to wish every HAMB member a happy New Year!!!



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Pretty Damn Slick there Mike...Whats not to Like...Christmas presents spilling over into the New Year...May You and the Family Have a Happy New Year.

Give your friend a Big New Year pat on the back for his efforts as well...Go Go Go

Hey is that you picking up some welding tips and executing them real time there?

 

Great progress Mike! Happy New Year to you!

 

Now that is big progress.

 

looking good! happy new year

 

Wishing you a great New Year and your family too @Stogy!

That's Dave performing the welding, hoping he would let me run a few beads. He will always be a good friend, definately will keep in touch after I finally get to leave Florida. He's also working on my custom grille with quad headlight buckets!

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Thanks alot Mike - Happy New Year to you and your wife as well! Great combination of both the '32 Ford I-beam and the quick change huh?

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Indeed @loudbang! I can't agree with you more...

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Thanks alot Jeff - Happy New Year to you and your family! Early Chevy hot rod coupes with QCR's and superchargers - sound familiar?

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Inspiration for the ya.......


I guess i'm not smart enough to add a video

 

Damn Jeff, looks exactly like mine when I had fenders WAY back in 1995/96... Speaking of videos, I'm having some issues myself. Do I REALLY have to sign up for Instagram????

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To post videos, just put them on youtube and post the link on here!

 

I suppose you need to type out the link completely from using our keyboards or if possible, copy and paste. Thought I tried this sometime ago and couldn't make it work. I'll make a stronger effort the next time around. Appreciate the info @Dick Stevens! Happy New Year to you and your family.

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Just copy and paste the link...........and Happy New Year to you and yours also!

 

As anyone can clearly see, I have not much room at all in this garage to work on my coupe. Tight huh? Much better photo of the new front end than in my previous posts. The width of those great looking slicks shows that I have no room at all to maneuver about... My welder is buried now too!

My plan that was suggested by my buddy Dave is to find another c channel that will fit tightly inside my original frame to strengthen it similar to a truck frame. I'll drill wide holes in the center of these c-channels so I can weld them in securely. The outside edges will be short so I can "step box" my frame for room for brake lines, wiring, etc.

 

I only have one word about this project; D-A-M-N!!!!! I'd love to have a car like this, but as long as I'm married, and have too many other responsibilities, I'll have to live vicariously through guys like you. We can all dream, some of us, can actually live it! Keep on posting. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Butch, there's always a chance that someday, you will have the time to purchase your OWN coupe to call your own... Appreciate your kind words buddy!

 

Yea but for Butch it would have to be a Sedan Delivery Coupe

 

Good thinking @loudbang, a hot rod to match his '56.

 

So good to see it rolling!

 

You know it well Mike!

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She's comin along Mikey! I was just in a shop yesterday of a guy that is friend's with a buddy of mine. 40x80! full 15,000lb lift in the centre, oversized bays, 15ft high, overhead radiant heat. All built right off his house. Needless to say most of us could only dream of that much space! Keep her going!!

 

Yea she is Fitness! Want to get in there and try to clear out the right side so I can maneuver a bit more... When I get out to Arizona later in the Spring/Summer, my next garage at my new apartment WILL be 10' x 20'.

 

Mike,

Loved reading this thread, amazing progress! I'm liking very much the work so far! I should be right behind you in frame progress this month!