Originally built back in 1987 this was my first hot rod. It had a 377 with 2 quadrajet carburetors, fenderwell headers, and 4:10 gears. It had a camaro front end at that time. I was 19 and it was a blast! Unfortunately in 1990 someone pulled out in front of my wife and I and it got wreck. I parked it and put the engine in a couple of other cars. 33 years went by This is the frame I'm using.
This time I'm going with a straight axle. Since it originally had a straight axle I am using the springs. To save weight and make parts easier I got a 4" dropped axle from speedway. I'm using forged spindles and the metric caliper disc brake kit. I'm also going to use the original pedals. I gutted the original master cylinder and will build a new rod once I get the body on. I'm using a muncie 4 speed this time too and the clutch pedal looks like it's going to work great as well. I haven't decide yet what I'm going to do with the rear suspension yet. I'm using a ford bronco rear end (4.86 gears) and these wheels and tires. I plan on trimming the fenders to fit. Its going to have about 400 hp, 4 speed and 4.86 gears do it will have to be stout. I would like to use the original springs and ladder bars with sliders. The sliders I've seen don't look like they would last long on a street car. My other option would be coils. I have a pair of Chevette coils that I may be able to use. Or original leafs with traction bars above the axle? This is where I'm at now anyway.
Keep us posted...I built a '40 Chevy coupe in my teens in Phx. AZ...in the 60's...amazing that 60 yrs later people still have good hot rodding taste....cool build....
Cool! 40 chevys are fun! I've had a few. Easy cars to work on and light enough to be pretty fast. My last 40 I built a 327/6 speed. Congrats!
When I built my 38 Chevy (in the 70's) slapper bars were one of the ways to control wheel hop, I just welded square tube to the shock/spring plates and used rubber bumpers (hey...it was a long time ago and I forgot where I found them...used), they have functioned quite well although I suspect it would ride better with out them. This early 70's picture is the only picture I have that shows them...my daughter in the picture is a little older now.
I love that coupe!! Was it a big job making the one piece front? I'm thinking about doing that to the sedan. I'm worried it would get heavy and hard to open.
Your 38 sits nice!! I used stock springs and 4 inch lowering blocks the first time. With 4.10 gears the pinion jumped and the driveshaft would hit the floor. I built slapper bars on top of the springs. The did keep the springs from winding up, but I never could get it to launch without burning the tires off.
Bob do you have any more details on the flip front setup? I'm wondering if it was heavy to open, and how, or if, the fenders cleared the firewall.
Unless you lift it a ton you will have to trim the rears to fit. I am running 235x75s. The biggest offense is front to back. This is stock ride height in the rear. I did not have to cut the radius above the tire. In this pic I still needed to trim the front and back a little bit. Neat car by the way. Glad to see you resurrecting it. I did not catch what year chassis you are using? It should have knee action suspension from the factory if I am not mistaken. This is just a question not a critique.
Good to see a Chevy build around here! I'm working on my 38 coupe but it's too off topic to post here.
I just don't tell the stuff that won't fly. I got mine as a stalled project some of the underpinnings are not kosher. I don't post that info on the message board and anyone who knows me knows that they are free to ask (in private). It is all Chevy though. No baby horses where harmed in the construction.
Thanks I knew I was close. LOL Still makes me wonder what chassis he is using that was an axle chassis. One of the things I like about the GM was the hat chassis. Less work to make one handle more then stock torque.
Friends of mine had late '30s to '40 Chevys, there was always arguments about what had axles, and what had knee action! Larry Perreira had a '40 Chev tudor, that one had coils and a-arms. But Tony Martinez had 3 Chevys ('38 & '39) and one had an axle. I didn't care, (I had Fords) but always wondered. @rustyl, OPTION!!! (Didn't know that!) Thank you! I'm a slooow typist...
Did it myself....young and ambitious...kept the front end bolted together, then found some old wheel bearings from rear axles off a '57 Chevy, made some "L" shaped brackets that I welded to the inner race of the bearing at the little end of the "L", and then bolted the large end of the "L" to each side of the radiator brace. This allowed me to remove the entire front end just by undoing 2 bolts on each side of the support. When lowering it, you did have to be careful as the bottom of the fenders bend slightly inward. Used Jeep hood latches down by the fenders to hold it down. I found a much more creative way to do one on the Hamb, that a fellow did on his coupe.. It slides the front end out about 4", then you can tilt it forward without it hitting the frame. Pretty sweet.
It's a master 85 frame. They had a straight axle. I plan on trimming the rear fenders to fit the rear tires. I had a nova rear end with 15x7 rally wheels on it. I tried255/70r15 under it back when it was still on the road and they rubbed inside and out. This is the 40 I drive now. My dad built the car in the early 90s and it was passed to me about 20 years ago. It's a nice cruiser! This one is going to have a little more altitude.
My 38 currently has a 39-48 Chevy independent front suspension. They bolt in to the 37-38s so it was a common swap when my car was built in the 70s. It has corvette disc brakes adapted to it. Pretty trick for back then. I’m going to install a more modern independent suspension and that is frowned upon. If I get the suspension done I’ll document the rest because I’ll also be going through the 327.
Thank you for the answers. I worked on over the road trucks for about 25 years and opened a good variety of hoods. Nothing as pretty as the one on your coupe! Very cool!! I've done some searching here on the HAMB and found a few threads on the topic. I have 3 front clips in a variety of conditions. I thought about splitting the front fenders and bolting the rear sections to the body. I'll see how much time I get. I already have work piling up.
Nothing wrong with that! All of the cars mydad and I built got nova or camaro front clips. The 37-39 would need a nova narrowed 4 inches or a Mustang 2. The 2nd is a much easier process.
Long day! I got it dug out and on the hoist. Maybe I'll get the body swapped tomorrow. This is a shot of the crude traction bar I added to the lowering block. It kept the driveshaft from hitting the floor but did not help much with traction.
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