Projects 32 5W Build - The $4K Swapmeet Body / The Old Chrome Coupe

If you haven't done so already some tips for getting pieces & parts plated would be welcome, your preferred source & price examples if comfortable in doing so as well. Ron

 

I just got my old chrome 97's back from being rebuilt by "Uncle Max" Musgrove, so decided to work on fuel supply. I was looking at pics of the engine in the Walker Morrison roadster and decided i needed a 3x2 fuel log similar to what he had done. I started with a cutoff piece of Ford steering shaft, milled 3 flat spots on carb centers, then drilled and tapped 1/4 NPT. I still need to finalize the fittings, but I am happy with the look. Once finished up, the tube will get plated.

 

Very nice

 

Very cool. Love it. Neal, how did you seal up the end nearest the generator?

 

Very cool

 

I have a small direct mount fuel pressure gauge that I plan to thread in that end. I just need to make sure it will clear the idler pulley ***embly and coil mount.

 

Excellent. This build is really inspirational. Your work is always top notch. Thanks for taking the time to share and post.

 

Weekend update. I worked on steering boxes all day Saturday, but I did sneak in some 5W time on Sunday. I have used Red's F100 box in a 32 headers on the last 4 32 builds. They work out great with a Nash or Hudson style steering box, but this set I plan to plate, so had to do some dress up work. I bolted the header to a cast iron 32 exhaust manifold while I welded on it. I radiused all of the joints with silicon bronze. Then lots of grinding and sanding....then more grinding and sanding to make smooth fillets. I just got one done today, but hope to get the other one done next weekend so I can send off another batch for plating







And the rest of the parts about ready to go. Still need to clean up the torque tube and rear backing plates, then I will be about caught up on chrome.

 

Bon travail

 

Oh, the chapters in my life from the "Chrome Shop Days". Thanks for bringing them back up. What a car.

 

Nice Work Neal.

 

The fuel rail…so simple and understated…just *****en Neal.

 

Header work is fantastic, do you worry about them turning blue once in use?

Bob

 

I'm sure there will be some blueing, but that's to be expected. I do want to get the carbs dialed in when the engine is on a test stand, before I put the chrome headers on.

 

More than likely some browning out & bluing of the wallet to be expected

 

We set the body back on the frame. Frame welting went on first, using a hot drift punch to pierce all of the bolt holes. With the welting taped in place, we first took a small ball pien hammer snd marked the bolt holes. Feeling underneath for the hole, then tapping lightly from the top to make an impression. Then with the red hot drift, the hole piercing took about a minute per side on the frame. Doing it this way not only makes a nice clean hole that wont frey, it also holds the welting in place.

 

Wow, that is Genius.
I have never heard of installing webbing that way.

 

Looks great thanks for sharing

 

I still like to use an arbor punch & BFH, using the end grain of a chunk of wood works best.

 

Wait! Don’t leave us like this, you teaser. What’s the story on the paint?

 

Think Joe Nitti, but a full fendered 5W version...

 

WOW! That will be off the chart with all the shiney stuff. Great choice!

 

One overthought project at a time.

I made up the fuel inlets that will connect the fuel rail to the Strombergs. Since the rail is tapped 1/4NPT, i started with stainless pipe plugs and drilled them to 1/4". Then cut 3ea 2" pieces of 1/4" stainless tubing and silver soldered those in place. Cleaned them up and added Ford fuel line nuts with br*** ferrules to screw in the carbs. Waiting on the rail to come back from chrome to ***emble it all.

 

Nice job on the fuel lines @NealinCA

 

AMBC contender by the time this is finished!!!!

JOE Nitti Burple, baldy caps and www's are really doin' it for me.

 

In '82 when I was ***embling my 3W an old Hot Rodder friend showed me the hot drift pin punch method to open the body webbing with it on the frame. I've p***ed it on to friends and like Neal stated it makes a clean hole with no fraying. This is a great build and I'm looking forward to more coverage.

 

I love this build. Perfect in every way with a keen eye to detail.

 

Just when I couldn't think this build thread could get any better, now there are tech tips? If there is such a thing, this build thread needs to be in the top 5 of HAMB threads for sure. Simply incredible.

 

No real progress on the 5W, as I'm trying to get caught up on steering box builds. Gotta pay the piper (or the chrome shop in this case)
The owner of the chrome shop delivered made a delivery this weekend.

...and yes, that's a vise handle in the upper left. Gotta have a chromed out Wilton bullet vise once in your life!

I had an original Ford script rear motor mount plate re-vulcanized and plated


Also rounded up a set of original Wittek band clamps for the air cleaners and had those plated. They are probably nicer than my old chrome 97's and air cleaners, but they will fit in.



Waiting to get the intake back from being Cerakoted, so I can finalize the fuel rail and linkage, but had to mock it up now that it's chrome

 

Neal,

That fuel rail and fittings that you built is just amazingly cool.