Projects My first 33 Chevy 5 window build

Well I got side tracked on the frame and decided to finish the assembly of the SBC engine, still waiting on a few S/S bolts to complete the build.

 

Are those the trick flow heads ?

 

No, they're just cast iron 291 heads painted with high temp aluminum

 

A little more progress on the frame.
When I got the car it didn't have a transmission mount, so I had to make one.
1 x 3 square tubing

 

Mount looks nice. Bolts in and out.

 

Nice work on the mount. Looks solid.

 

Back on the frame, when setting up the engine angle at weighted ride height I noticed the the drive line would hit the top up the "U" cut out in the crossmember. Well a little cutting is needed.

In this pic the rear suspension isn't even clost to being at weight ride height.


Here is what needs to removed for the right clearance of the drive line. The frame is upside down. This section of the crossmember is made of 2" long radius 90 and a 2" straight between the two. It was a strong section untill I cut half of it out.


So to get the structural strength back in the crossmember I mirrored section of pipe to the "U" cut out. Also it can serve as a drive shaft loop. With the suspension unloaded now the mirrored section needs to be cut out for drive line clearance.


Here's the new section installed to be welded back in.


The finished result, crossmember is strong again.

 

I got a new toy for the 33 build



Rolling the body out of the garage into the shop


It took me a half a day to get the adapters made to mate the body onto the rotisserie


When I got this project all of the wood had been replaced with steel, some parts were done good and other parts I'm going to have to redo. Overall it's a pretty damn good start. The roof was installed real good, no redo here.


Firewall and trans tunnel is all new, but the firewall being flat it has a little warpage, but not going to worry about it at this time.


The part I'm most happy about is the under floor, really structrued good.

 

good looking car, I'm in texas too and building a 34.. Took me forever to find a body and it's pretty rough haha. Wish I had found something like yours

 

I was origially looking at a complete untouched 30 model "A", but a friend of mine said he found a better car to build which was actually right around the corner from me at a higher price, but I'm happy with the 33 chevy choice.

 

I love the car! The transmission mount looks well made. But the drive shaft looks to be too short. Is that the length with the drive shaft located in the pinion yoke and the u joint bolted in? If it is the transmission yoke of the drive shaft does not appear to be far enough into the transmission tailshaft. It might crack and break the tailshaft housing while spinning under load.

That looks to be schedule 60 green domestic pipe elbows. Made in the USA!
It looks like Welbuilt brand name pipe. Good stuff. I can almost read the heat numbers on the side of the pipe. I spent some of my misspent life working in a pipe yard.

 

That drive shaft was used to get a ball park clearance for the "U" cut out. I had an extra drive line from my 300ZX that I had cut down to the proper length. Almost ready to have a pic of the complete rolling chassis.

Thanks, I spent my early years as a pipe fitter...slash...metal fabricator, before I became a Design Engineer.

 

Believe saw mount on 9 inch for panhard bar, but no bar mounted yet on rear. Maybe you had already removed or will add?

 

Looking good. Man that floor looks like it could hold elephants!

 

I wish it was a 9" but is a 8", here is a pic of the panhard bar.

 

Thanks, but I can't take credit for that fabrication. It was like that when I bought the car. You're right it is very soild.

 

This may get me kicked off the board, but I don’t care. I always thought the Chevys looked better than the Fords or Chrysler products. But it really needs a pair of leaf springs in the front.

 

Yeah it's a fine line between what early 30's model has the best looks, but was never a fan of the duel leaf springs up front. It just reminds of the drag racing gasser look, for me not a good look for a street rod...just my two cents

 

I can respect that. Just don’t put a Ford engine in it!

 

Nope...no crossbreed on the engine side.

 

Well it's time to set the ride height.

I added weight to areas of the frame and body to simulate all or most of the missing componets to finish out the build.




Then I had to come up with a devise to keep the front axle weighted without weight.


With a little bit of fab'ing this actually worked out great.




For the rear I measured between the bump stops and added 2 x 4 blocks.


Now my goal is to fine tune the rear pinion angle to the trans, run the exahaust, and the brake lines. Should be a piece of cake with the body out of the way.

 

Pretty sharp leveling.. trust u not hurt you bag lifting various stuff (smile face)

 

Thanks on the leveling, I have verious lazor levels and digital levels to get it pretty darn close.
The back? not yet, the heavest rock was around 32 lbs. but the bag of 80 lb concrete in the trunk was a bit of a streach getting it in the trunk

 

Make sure you have accounted for the tire size you’ll actually Run front and back before you get far. Cool to see it back on the frame though!

 

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Sure thing on tire size, the front tires are new and set. The rear tires are going to be replaced with wider tires but the same height, so everything is pretty much set. However the further the build gets I'm sure something is going to change.

Oh...body on frame...this is about the forth time I've had the body on and off. As of now the body is off, I have a system that makes it an easy one person process.

 

Two more things done to the frame, fish plated the rear angle frame splices and shock brackets.

The shock brackets aren't anything special, but they get the job done. Maybe they will look better with primer on them.


It helps when you are able to 3D model the build and send the files to your brother-n-law to lazor cut.







The rear of the frame I wasn't sure if the previos owner put any fish plates on the inside of the frame splices. So I decided to add some for peace of mind. They will be hidden by the body.


Next will be the streering rack, brake lines, and exhaust.

 

I think they look great with a ford fe in them !!!

 

If I had a Ford body, it would definally have a ford engine in it.
Not a big fan of crossbreed, but not opposed to it.

 

Added a little primer to the mix with a little help of my granty crane.



The new brackets look some what better with primer.





Now put everything back on the frame for the ump-teenth time, a little bit closer.

 

Nice work!