Projects New Here and another Shoebox

Thank you all for the positive feedback , I will order that gauge . I kept the entire front end off the four door so I will be modifying factory metal. Does that grill opening that was on the car and shaped with buckets of bondo have a name ? Thanks Guys

 

I'm looking at your core support and its condition. Pretty sad for something so important. Then add in that even in good shape it is the reason we (49-51 Ford builders) have issues with hood to fender gap issues. I have built many of these and came up with some help some 40 years ago. Ever notice how much stress fractures are in the mounting brackets? It's brought on by the single center mount bolt on the bottom of the core support to the Frame bracket. Then look at the stock Radiator straps and the fact most are broken loose from the Top tank of it. This is from the Leverage the fenders create while traveling down the road. These things are basically a Non Support system for everything forward of the firewall. I also believe this is a large contributor to why these 49-51 Hoods fly Northbound at highway speeds. My fix is to make a better mount and adjustment system starting at the frame mount. Loose the center bolt! Build an outboard tab on each lower corner of the core support, add a mate to the Frame and make it adjustable between the 2 parts so you can jack up or down with shims. Now you can fine tune door gap and hood stop point. Next is to tie the top corners of the open ended coresupport together. I use a piece of 1"x1"x1/8" angel and bolt it in place. Now the fender dance does not tear the straps off the top tank. Look close and you might be able to tell there is one in place. It's mounted just under the top tank overhang and the bolts just above the first ones holding the Rad to the support. This system has worked out very well for me on many Shoebox Fords and is very simple to pull off. Getting good gaps is tough enough and getting them to stay in place is near impossible using just the stock system Henry designed.

 

Personally, I would just call it a Mess, but that's just me. Probably just the Grill Opening is good enough.

 

The two-door shoebox looks so much better with a chop, and I wish I had the room you have to work in. I have a 2-car garage with 2 and a half cars in it! Barely even room to fart.

 

Good info there thank you

 

I have seen that shape or similar on many cars didn’t know if it had a specific name . I know that particular one is a mess .

 

Great start! Guys here will give you some good advice too! If you are on Facebook check out my group Kustom Shoebox Fords.. there are about 800 photo albums and prob around 30000 pics of shoebox fords in it, 99% of them Kustom ones, and a whole tech album of how to for the cars! Keep up the good work! I’m digging it!

 

Frenched grill opening.

 

Not sure how to post again to my thread without replying . Anyways been too hot to do much but got started on my dash . Sent parts to chrome shop and cut new woven stainless mesh and tried my hand at paint and metal flake figured I would post results . Thanks for looking . Would like to find an original speedo if someone has a lead .

 

For speedo check with Michael at "The Early Ford Store" in San Damis Ca.

 

Thanks

 

Maybe “San Dimas”?

 

Maybe, thanks, I had to go to 5 different high schools to graduate, shops were my major, spelling not so much.

 

Keep in mind that ferrous and non ferrous sheet metal are not measured by the same gage thickness.
American Standard Wire Gage for Non-Ferrous Metals Cosmetic Imperfection (yardstore.com)

 

If you have ever seen any of the "Bill and Ted" movies, you would not have made this mistake.

 

I'd say you're good w/ 18 gauge steel.
Re; a name for that grille opening?... Based on that ton of Bondo elsewhere on the car, let's call it par for the course. Luckily, you've got the good taste to remove it, so now you've got a clean slate for the soon to be grille opening. You can tailor it to enhance whichever grille you decide to use.
That is a cool car despite all the previous wrongs done to it. Lots of potential! Go man, go!

 

Thank you sir

 

Keep up the good work. I think it’s great that you’re jumping into a major project and getting a lot done.

 

I love the 49-51 and I think your car is already beautiful. I have a 50 Crestliner

 

Thought I would start to paint the skirts and attempt scallops it’s still to hot out to be cutting and welding , will try and lay down the silver then a baby blue pinstripe to break it up later this week .

 

She is far from pretty but thanks

 

I commend your perseverance and hope you don't give up as I would like to see you finish it.

As already stated you've got alot of metal work in front of you but one thing you've done which I think helps alot is your doing small things along the way as in the seats, painting, wheel skirts etc to help in keeping you fired up in order to finish your dream.

So keep it up and don't stop, little steps at a time and keep that vision in front of inside your head of it being finished.

..

 

One of my favorite cars was a '49 Ford sedan. My first custom. I learned a lot building that car. Yours has awesome potential.
Try laying out your lines with 1/4" tape... A gentle stretch will allow smoother curves.

 

I will be driving this car in Austin next year . I refuse to be a spectator again. Thanks for the replies all

 

I’m going to try and trim that blue before painting the silver I was not happy with radi as well . I did use that flexible tape it looked better before paint to my untrained eye haha