Traditional Custom Tech: '49-52 Chevy Quarter Panel Scoops

I'm building a custom (kustom?) '49 Chevy Fastback right now, and I'd been planning all along to add scoops to the quarter panel bulges. Since I had the rear wheelwells out of the car to move them up, and had a little more access to the inside of the quarter panels....I decided I'd go ahead and get the scoops out of the way.

First step in doing this custom mod is research. I looked through some of my old magazines, and browsed Rikster's excellent photo archive...and decided that I liked the teeth used in the Hirohata Merc, which are cut down '52 Chevy grille teeth.



I also liked the general shape and placement of the opening used on the second version of the Rev. Larry Ernst '51 Chevy, although I liked the teeth used in the Hirohata a little better.



So with a general idea for the scoops, I next had to locate 6 '52 Chevy grille teeth. They only had 5 teeth on the grille from the factory, so I would either have to find one single tooth somewhere, or buy enough for two grilles. Luckily, Flat-top Bob at Owens Auto Salvage had a spare single tooth, and I managed to buy a complete '52 grille from a wrecking yard about an hour south of Dallas.

After scavenging the teeth off of the complete grille, here's what I had.



You'll notice the one on the far right is taped...that's where I decided I would need to cut it to fit flat to the body. Another thing to note is that each tooth is specific to the position on the grille it was meant for, and the shape of each tooth is slightly different.

Here's the first tooth after cutting and t*******:



I believe the teeth in the Hirohata Merc had to be trimmed in much the same way.

Now with the teeth ready to go, I moved on to the opening in the quarter. I drew out a couple of different patterns in marker, then stood back and studied the position and shape. When I finally had it where I thought it looked right, I cut it open with a cutoff wheel in a die grinder. Then I switched to a round burr in a die grinder to shape the corners of the opening.



With the opening finished, I now needed something to both close the hole up and to mount the teeth to. Since the teeth still had some curvature to the backside, I decided to make the insert in two pieces. To make the backer for the teeth, I first made a rough template of the curve at the front/ inside of the opening. I transferred that to a piece of 19 ga. sheetmetal, and cut it out. With the backer cut out, I took it over to the slip roll, and roled a couple of curves in it to match the backside of the teeth. I then figured out where the teeth would need to be placed in the opening, and marked and drilled holes in the backer.

The second piece of the insert was made in the same manner, but the curves were bent over a piece of pipe that I set up in the vice to use as a hammerform.

After some test fitting and bumping and t*******, here are the two fabbed pieces for the insert:



Now that I had the two pieces roughed out, I needed to test fit them in the opening. I mounted the teeth on the backer and mocked the pieces up.

After getting them where I thought they looked right, I put the door, fender skirt, and hood back on the car, taped the Packard side trim on...and stood back and looked. On first glance everything looked like it would work well together, but I find it's best to walk away for a few hours and then come back and take a fresh look.

Now's the time to make changes if you don't like the way it looks.



Satisfied with the placement and shape, I made the final cuts needed to fit the two pieces of the insert together. Here they are trimmed and ready to weld...



After welding the two halves together, the back side needed to be closed off. Here is where you had to think ahead a little when making the two pieces for the insert....I made the outside curved piece large enough, so that I could bend it over to meet the backer piece for the teeth. I simply made a relief cut on each side, then bent it over, clamped it and welded.

Here's what you end up with...a pocket for the teeth to sit in:



And here's a shot of the backside after t******* and finish welding:



You'll notice that with the way I trimmed the teeth, the front mounting hole is still intact...this is important for them to pull tight against the body.

One more trial fit before the teeth are removed and the insert is welded to the body. I left the insert a little bit oversized on the bottom, to make it easier to keep in place while tacking.



After carefully (and slowly) welding in the insert, I hammer and dollied where it met the body on the front edge to create a smooth transition into the scoop. I then filed the welds down until it looked like this:



There will only be a slight amount of filler needed, if any. Unfortunately, the rockers had already been replaced in the car before it came to me, so it will need to have some filler there.

Here are a couple shots of the nearly finished product...the front screws aren't in the teeth in these shots, so the teeth will fit even closer to the body when they're installed. Even with only the rear screws in place, they are a nice fit.





So there you have it. It's pretty labor intensive and you have to get the cuts right the first time, but pretty much anyone with patience and a little know-how could accomplish something similar.

I'm happy with the way it looks, and I think it's going to compliment the rest of the body mods really well.



-Brian

 

Nice accents to a very cool car.

 

I've been watching this build. Nice touch!

 

That is slick as snot! Nice touch. It's one of those modifications that could go a long way toward making it just another unnecesarry accent on an otherwise cool car - but you pulled it off marvelously - thanks for the tech.

 

Yes it is borderline on being too much...but I've thought long and hard about what mods to make to this car. I decided with only the Packard side trim to break up the sheetmetal, it would start to look too much like a blob. I think the scoop works.

I beleive that the goal when building a custom is to not have any one part or modification stick out when you look at the car as a whole....but you don't want it to be boring. I think everything I have planned for the car is going to work together...and hopefully achieve that goal.

Thanks for the compliment!

 

I personally feel it blends really well with the planned modifications on the car and the general kustom vibe you have created! Amazing work as always! It is a pleasure following your work Mr. B***.

 

Nice touch...and I agree, it adds to the car as a whole.

Did you lengthen those skirts? They fit so much nicer that most I've seen.

Bryan

 

Too much???

Borderline??

No way, you are deadon with the modification and should be the winner
for tech week!! Kool post!!

Happy Trails,

Mick

 

Perfect! Now do a tech on fitting that merc surround. My buddy is getting ready to do the same to his 50 chevy.

 

Looks great!!!

 

It looks like a KUSTOM and not just a lowered car. I really like it.

 

looks cool too me! need to get some light next time pic's are kinda dark.

 

Nice B***!!! I Love It.

 

Very nicely done!

 

You get my vote. Nice job.

 

wow i agree with Rusk whats up with the skirts my skirts on my 53 dont go all the way down to bottum edge of fender like that but i would like them too

did you do em like that or is that factory and my 53 is just got different kinda skirts .....whats the deal

 

This is what you call taking it to the next level. I was wondering with all the Hot Rod background you have why you chose to call your business B*** Kustoms but now you are showing us all why. This whole car has been researched, highly planned, and the best part of all well executed, Great work Brian, I got to come check this out in person before it gets painted

Rusty

 

that is awsome, get tech post!!

 

I think it's perfect.

 

Once again, I'm blown away by the skill, taste, and talent on the HAMB.

 

Nice work Brian.

 

Awesome!!

 

Now I really want that '51 I've been longing to b uy! Thanks a lot.

That looks awesome. a great alternative to the rock guards.

 

dont you have anything better to do?
riverrat

 

looks perfect,,,you have great taste and an excellent sense of traditonal styling...that car will be a stunner when finished,,

 

nice work as always ,brian.....

 

fuggin dazzlin

 

thats awsome, really nice work

 

I love going to B***' shop

 

Why Brian I was wandering just yesterday what you have been up to... It seems you have been busy in a good way! Keep it up man you are awesome! Crash.
P.S. I need me one of them B*** Kustoms shirts!