Projects 1933 dodge coupe "Baleful"

Windshield frame! Chopped and fit, a lot of drilling and tapping involved but i think i got it!

 

Thank you Oliver ,I will use these numbers in my mock up.

 

Youre welcome!

 

I believe you have the entry level Dodge. Or someone swapped the frame. I'm fairly sure 33 had independent front suspension on most models. 34 went back to a solid axle. Something like that. They had IFS for one year only. I've never found anything definitive about why they only had it for the one year. The overwhelming speculation was that it had to do with patents by other manufacturers or something like that. I love history.

 

Nope, '33 had tube axle, '34 had independent. '35 was back to tube axle and stayed through '38. I think there were some exceptions in '34 with a cheap model that retained tube axle but I have not seen any.

Only thing I have heard but no proof for 1 year only IFS was GM sued Chrysler for patent infringement. Other than that, I have no idea. The IFS actually worked pretty good but is really ugly without fenders!

Dave

 

Yes i sat in my car and made vroom vroom noises....no judgement! Got the windshield frame mostly figured out although i have an odd gap im sure ill have to address at some point

 

Where is the gap? You do know it gets a T rubber all the way around, don't ya?

Dave

 

Here is a 1934 frame drawing ,it shows the mounting area for the IFS

 

Now you got good reason to keep a flattop . Way to go great artwork ! A client of mine has a 36 Business Coupe and its one of my favs to work on . Great lines and panels . Nice your at the ' Sit in it ' stage . Wonderful

 

Thanks for clarifying that. It's been awhile since I read up on it.

 

Slow down grasshopper. Would it help to get the chassis on good solid level surface? Might have alinement issues when cutting it apart and rewelding.

 

Believe it or not, my rotten body has a lot of body mount holes in it, i stuck bolts in em before cutting and welding!

 

Got some parts in! Using window cranks and interior handles off of what i believe is an early 30s willys. I dig the styling on em for a 30s rod

 

But is the frame square and level. With the jack stands sitting in dirt. Isn`t anybody seeing what I am seeing.

 

I hear you, i didnt change anything besides swapping 1 cowl for another though, measured the first then the second a lotand didnt move the frame in between. Idk how the frame being on stands could change the width of the base of the windshield opening between the pillars...maybe it could idk how though. Either way, its good advice. Ill be putting it on level ground before any other cutting and welding

 

If you are comfortable doing it this way. Then proceed.

 

Well i already did it....but as i said, its good advice which i appreciate and will move it inside before doing any more cutting and welding

 

pics of 34 ind frt suspension

 

Oliver what Stan has said can be quite important. Those old bodies can rack very easily and/or may take a "set" which will plaque you as you move along. Always best to square up the frame before making any alterations.

 

Stan is giving good advice as I have been working on my 36 coupe and was working on the windshield surround and was fitting the windshield frame into the body an realized rhe car was sitting with a sligt twist and my frame was not going in straight. So I had to level the car to get it to mount properly so make sure your car is level side to side an front to back.

 

I completely agree...3 times. Im certain my cowl is on straight since its only attached to the pillars not the rockers and with a straight edge the pillars are straight and the windshield opening measures true on both sides, when i attach the rockers i will absolutely need the frame level

 

Something you're selling?

 

yes, PM me, thanks

 

Slick

 

Hes on top of it!

 

Well today i decided on the steering wheel im gonna run. Been thinking long and hard about it and since i cant afford a 53 olds wheel.....this one spoke to me! Itll look sweeeeet in there. Its ordered and will be here soon!

 

Yep, very good choice!

 

Oliver, I do believe the LaSalle trans you were talking about was mine that I had posted on the ol' List. I was always going to build a hot rod with an Olds in it but somethings have shifted now. I have a couple things that I haven't posted yet that you might need? I have the crossover to flip the starter to the othr side, a couple of the bellhousings that the Salle's bolt up to, and I do have a side shift Packard trans that might work for ya? Let me know if you are interested in this stuff......

 

That's a good lookin' wheel for sure... The dash is pretty sweet too!

 

I might be! Ill.message ya!