Period car...how far does one go?

So I was thinking about how I am doing my car today and I thought, how far does one go to make a period car?

Im building my car to look as if was sitting in a high school parking lot in the late 50s early 60s. So basically I wouldnt be using any parts on the car that werent available at that time. But how about methods of lowering a car, body work, etc.

Has anyone gone as far to build their car with methods that were available and were only known at the time of their period car?

 

I recently acquired some NOS motor oil from 1948. I only got 5 quarts, so I can't drive my car more than 3000 miles....ever.

Just kidding, I don't really have an opinion. I do agree with the anti-4bar, etc. crowd though.

 

I'm sure there are plenty of guys here running traditional rods that only used period parts. ie : buick drums, flatheads, toploaders, bias-ply tires, lowering blocks or cut coils etc. As far as the building methods, what are you refering to, stuff like leading ?

 

yea like leading and using only tools that were available at that time.

 

besides the welder i say most everyone uses the old school ****... not TOO much has changed,unless youare lucky enough to have mills etc etc...

 

No way would I put away my tig and go back to gas welding "because it's period correct". Tools and products have improved in the last 40-50 years, why go backward. A couple exceptions for me is leadwork, I still prefer it to plastic fillers just because I hate working with bondo (nothing wrong with the products, just me) and if I was doing a period correct car I'd use lacquer or enamal paint, modern bc/cc just don't look the same.

 

I was worried about putting disc brakes on the front of my car. Its pretty period correct with that exception. Man does it stop better!!! I came to the conclusion ITS MY CAR! I want to DRIVE IT!
BUILD IT FOR YOU!!! Chad

 

I agree the shine on bc/cc comes the thin coat of clear plastic over the car and with enamel or laquer the shine is more genuine and from the pigment. CHAD

 

The hardest part is gonna be finding original 1950's air in a can to inflate your tires.

I'd try e-bay

 

I did my best to build mine like they were back in the late 50's early 60's, but I got disc brakes and a 700R trany because I want to stop and do 90mph on the highway. It's your ride, do what you want.

 

Not to be picky... but stopping quickly from 90 mph is overated... I love drum brakes

 

Funny...Thats exactly what I've been doing.
I'm doing a lot more Hammerwelding lately with my O/A set.
I like it, and I like the results.
( but I'll use my Mig or my Tig when the job calls for it )

I'm getting ready to do a lot of repairs to a Aluminum bodied car, and I'm going to buy a Henrob for that.
So I can choose between using it and my Tig.

I've been Sandbending Headertubes, and you can get shapes that would be almost impossible to duplicate any other way.

There is a lot to be said for doing it the old way.
Or at least to have done it enough, so you can choose...

 

POST SOME PICS OF YOUR ROD FIRST....

then we can discuss it,,this has been wayover discussed here on the HAMB over the years,,alot of times its a 46 ford Fudy style trucks with a long *** suicide frontend running radials and a 305...if you post a pick of what your working on we can get a better feel...

 

I agree... faster isn't always better. I gotta thank my dad for teaching me how to gas weld and use an ARC welder BEFORE turning me loose with a Mig.

 

Maybe I was misunderstood, and I agree, lot to be said about old school techniques and I use them all the time, I'm just saying I'm not gonna make my choice of tool because they didn't have them in the day. To me, it's the final product, not how it was created that matters.

 

my take is that if you are really going for a genuine period high school car look, you're gonna have a rather crude machine when you're done! not many guys in high school had the resources or skills to do a car up nice. There were a few...but they were far between....

 

i've read threads on here where folks won't use phillips head screws. i too would like to see what your wrenching on.

 

I wouldn't use that non-detergant motor oil.

 

I'm building my 33 Ford 5 window coupe using primarily period parts. It has a 53 Cadillac 331 motor, 39 Ford trans and a 40 torque tube rearend. I have so far been lucky and have been able to get all genuine 33 parts for the body, including a good original wood set. Have had to cheat on the trunk lid (repro metal) and the spring perches. Guys up here think I'm crazy, but I don't care. Its a lot of fun to track down the original parts and I have met some good people along the way. Here are a coupe of in progress pics, I will post a build thread shortly on this car.

 

I think i have some rocks and sticks if you want to make some fire!
Just kidding

 

I'd just stay away from power anything (brakes, steering, windows), and make sure the main components of the car are old-school. I think it's ok to use repro parts as long as they're good repros or from the original tooling. It kinda depends on what kinda car you're building too. If you can't see it (like on a fat-fendered Ford) don't worry about it quite as much (i.e. disc brakes). Just my pennies.

 

my vision for the newly acquired 64 galaxie is to build it "period correct." I think the car being a 64 brings up the more important issue, though, of "period" applying to any period or era. As much as I don't want to admit it, even the 80s have their own period correct style, yes? If I were 16 years old building a hot rod with my Pops in 1948 (or 2001), don't you think he would teach me the newest tricks he had just found out about from his own experience or car club buddies? I'd like to think this would include things like better brakes, more efficient power mods, better tools and the like.

bad taste and/or ideas are not necessarily related to a "period" car. period.

although, all of this still doesnt mean I trust your judgement.

 

,,,see,....that is what i was getting at,,,,


...EVERYONE has their IDEA of what PERIOD correct is in THEIR way.....


...it;s not about how "I" think it was,or how "I" can make it cater to me,,,,but rather,,,how it ACTUALLY really was.....and how "I" can try to do my best to be that way....

 

To me, building a period correct anything is about paying homage to the memory of that period. If it is intended to be an art piece then by all means put it back the way it was as best as you can after doing a lot of homework. The pursuit of the parts is a lot of fun and you learn a lot about history and how things were done back then...that can really make you appreciate the much improved stuff we have access to today regarding cars; like better paints and primers, disc brakes, fuel injection, wiring, lighting, tires, fasteners, cooling, etc etc. So, in my view, it becomes a choice...do I wanna do a piece of art for the sake of making it 'period correct" and appreciate it for that value alone...or do I wanna DRIVE this thing?

 

Well first off the car thats about to go under the knife is a all original 1953 Plymouth 2 door hardtop(pictures attached). Also included are speed parts I picked up in the past year. Mallory dual point, unusual Edmunds dual intake with two 1bbl Strombergs and a Fenton head. And a fuel block I made on a Bridgeport and Weiler lathe. I also have some hard to find Mopar accessories from the 50s to place on the car(ie dash clock, rear defroster, etc etc). Thank god for a wife whos into cars!!!

Anyway, I have watched two shows on TV recently. One show was some people building a sailing vessel that was sailed in the something like 200 A.D using only tools that were around then. And I also get a kick out of the Amish raising barns using non-electric hand tools. It gets my brain thinking if these people can do that why cant a build my car using nothing but tools, supplies and equipment that was only available before say 1963. Im sure there are some elders of the hobby who are glad they never have to use the stuff they had back then when they can use the new stuff now. But I think in a way it would make me more appreciative of the blood/sweat guys/gals put into their cars back then. I dont plan on using modern day paints or fillers. And I think Id use brazing and stick welding over mig and tig.

As for using disc brakes and going 90mph. Its not for me. No matter where Im traveling on the road I almost always use back roads to get there. I dont care if its 15 miles away or 300 miles away. Its all about the journey getting there. So I dont have to travel 90mph and the drum brakes are fine to me.

Nothing is really set in stone right now, but I thought it would be a neat idea to do if I really wanted to go nuts about it being period. I dont know maybe Im being bit crazy taking on such a task, but In my head I think it would be neat.

 

Good luck with your project. We're just finishing ours and we tried our damnedest to make it pre-1962. At times it has been a blast, other times, a real pain. But always $$$$$$$$$.

And satisfying.

Note to naysayers; Old cars weren't unsafe if put together right. My 32 won't handle like a Ferrari but then neither does my 07.

 

I too have been trying to do a period correct custom. I have gone for the mild custom look, shaved door handles, de-chroming, lowering by only cutting the coils and blocks. Still have a ways to go...... slightly lower in the back 54 olds or 53 caddy hubcaps, full fender skirts new upholstery. I am trying to go for a mid 50s look. I have been to Rikster's site and 100s of little books and custom books I could find. The only down side is I have a '68 302 in it and c4 which I will probably keep, but I also agree that there are some good repops out there. I recently purchased the new cad batwing cleaner and was very happy with the quality.

I completely agree with you. I would do a period correct car. Best of luck to you. Barris did Ed Sloan's 53 Plymouth. I would post a pic but I have a hard time doing it.

 

My whole car is period correct,('32 roadster-period about 1956) I have been collecting parts for years and years (which is what it takes).... Some people look at all of my original Ford parts and say "You've got a f__king disease ...." Which I guess I do.
But it's always harder to cut and shorten a torque tube and drive shaft- than it is to install an open drive line.- Always harder to instal an F1 box in a '32 frame than it is to order up Vega steering from a catalogue and slap it in.....etc etc....you get the idea. Basically it's just more work and patience to make it look "Traditional" and "period correct" in every sense of those words....
good luck

 

Dig that ply! I have always loved that body style, and your speed kit is on target - go for it.

My best buddy tells me I have a f_cking disease, and I say the same to him. We know this **** is its own reward, and some folks just don't get it.

I admire guys that do it this way. Some folks get bent out of shape when you don't follow the lead - they think youre judging them. Doesn't just apply to cars either.

 

This one?