Customs Another bellybutton shoebox

I made my second taillight bucket for the Oldsmobile lights and started building the fixture to get them glued on. Slow going but some progress.

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Started on my tail light swap. Got the hardest panels made and tacked on. The "bezels" I made will bolt on and be chromed for more of a factory custom look. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out!

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Looks better than I thought it would, good on you for cutting them in!

 

Neat jig idea for the taillight placement. I'm gonna have to remember that one!

 

Just saw your post over on the "Kustoms blues..." thread, also. Was this car one of the inspirations for your shoebox?

 

Absolutely! Lee Pratt shoebox the @Ryan now owns! That is the best looking shoebox ever!

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More done on the lights. All is still just tacked together, I'll finish weld when all the parts are made and tacked.

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Looking good man!

 

That is some good inspiration! You’re doing a great job on the taillights!

 

Thank you! I'm super happy with the way they are turning out!

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Deck lid fits like trash but lights are fully fabricated and tacked on. As soon as they are done the body comes off the frame.

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Most of the welding is done. Turning out pretty well!

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Looks great! Nice job.

 

That looks really good. I love how the short coupe top is round and matches the lights in a way. Looks like the belong. Great work.

CN

 

Thank you! The 49-51 coupe is my favorite roof line of all time!

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Body off ready to finish the chassis.

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Good work,love the coupe conversion. Im doing a 51 coupe also but it will be a mild custom as if it was built by a20 yr old in the 50s-60s. Are you staying with the original rear end?

 

I have an 8 inch rear for it. It will have a 289 and an AOD with 3.55 gears in the rear. I want a daily driver I can drive on long trip with the whole family!

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Looks great! I've been driving my '50 a fair bit lately. It's an early 302/C4 combo with a 3.55 8 inch. Bulletproof reliability.

 

There has been alot of discussion over shoe box rearend widths and it appears the 70s V8 Maveric is the prefered at 56.5 in. ,same as original. I have the original and the tires rub the skirts even with 6.50 x15. After some research I found that the first gen S10 is 54 in. I may have to go with that,just something to think about when lowering a shoebox. Anyway ,good metal work ,I wish I had your skill.

 

I measured my stock rear and mounting to mounting is 57 inches. The mustang 8 inch i have is 57.25 so 1/8 inch on each side i will be just fine. 54 inches would be was too narrow.. the tire would be rubbing the frame. This car has 6.00x16 tires now. Where I'm going to get into trouble, like I did on my first shoebox, is the top of the tire. I will need to build new wheel tubs to clear the tire. This car will be pretty low.

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Thank you!! I had mine all set up with a c4. Im going to be daily driving this one and driving all over the country with the woman and our two boys so I wanted overdrive! Might even get fuel injection to help with mountain driving!

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I really hate this part of a build. I almost didn't pull the body off because I knew I would hate this. Oh well. Gotta try and get it back on its wheels asap so I don't lose motivation. Going to do just a quick clean up and rattle can on the frame. The car will be a daily driver and too low to see anyway. C notch is done. Driveshaft clearance is made in the center crossmember. And most of the unnecessary brackets have been removed. Not to finish up the under side of the mustang II and flip it back over! Only 1 pic taken as I'm not too excited. Haha!

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Good progress! Jealous of your workspace.

 

Put the body back on tonight. This is where it sits without any weight on it... no deck lid, bumper, gas tank, spare tire, interior. It will sit right I think. Now to cut the floors up and start making everything fit!

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Probably be skirtless... sitting so good!

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Looks great!

 

Agreed! The stance is on the way to greatness.

 

Body mounts are in and shimmed to get the doors to fit. Took some time but the doors fit better than I've seen on a shoebox! Now I can cut the floors up for suspension and drivetrain clearance!!

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