Starting to restore a 1933 Ford pickup hot rodded in the 50's

Starting to restore a '33 Ford pickup that was rodded in the 50's. Chopped/ leaded top, 1949 Mercury dash grafted/leaded in,chrome reverse early Ford wheels and no rust. Last on the road in '73.
My question is can anyone help determine how much the top is chopped ? Windshield frame is 12 3/4" high from bottom corner to top of hinge. Any ideas on what a stock height frame is ?

 

Looks to me like a 6inch chop, not 100% but man, what A nice start for a cool hot rod!!!!

 

I'll measure a stock cab tomorrow.

 

My stock windshield measures 15 3/4" from bottom corner to top (mounting surface).
I'd say it is chopped 3".

 

cool truck for sure!

 

That's one great lookin' truck and the '49 Merc dash is SOOOOO cool!

 

Sweet - gonna have to watch this one...............holler if ya got questions. HotRodPrimer and PeteJoe might be able to help, too.

 

Nice !!!! Keep us updated. The dash is very cool. Gary

 

My stock 34 is 15 7/8 . I think 32, 33 , 34 are same

 

Thanks, I'm glad you guys like the truck. The body is being worked on now, I'll keep updated pics coming. I'm thinking a Deuce car grille shell, full hood with 4" louvers and keep it full fendered with what else...a Flattie. You guys got any suggestions ?

 

I don't know, are you sure they didn't move the header up or something? Looks like more than a 3" chop! I've got one that's chopped 5" and one that's chopped 3" and this one looks a lot closer to the 5" mark to me. The 5" chopped one is in my avatar currently. Cool project, I'm gonna be watching for sure!

 

I would say a 5" chop. I looks like the windshield frame isn't chopped as much as the top. The w/s frame is almost sitting on the cowl. It should be up a like an 1-1/2". Here's a pic up mine it's chopped 6".
Mat

 

Anybody got measurements of they're side door glass opening ? Maybe that will help clear this question up !

 

I have a 34 and the frame measured 16 1/4 inches

 

32 thru 34 Ford trucks all share the same windshield frame.

I also will be watching this build. HRP

 

LOVE the dash. Do you have the history on this car? Gary

 

If you really plan on using a '32 passenger car grill be prepared for a big project. The '32 passenger car and truck radiator was straight up. The '33-'34 radiator slanted back. The '33-''34 truck shell is wider at the bottom to allow for the slanted radiator. You would need to widen the '32 passenger shell grill to make it fit which sounds like quite a job to me.

Charlie Stephens

 

very cool find! i cant wait to see this one built

 

I just measured mine the door glass is 9-1/2 and the back window is 4-3/8. Mine is just a touch under 6".
Mat

 

I have egg on my face on this one. I looked at a '33 truck at the Big 3 swap meet in San Diego. I thought the front edge of the hood was vertical and the radiator shell was wider at the bottom to match but I found out on the truck the front edge of the hood slopes out and the shell is roughly the same width from top to bottom. A possible problem that I observed is that if you mounted a '32 passenger shell on the '33 truck the top of the shell would slope down to the hood. That might be difficult to fix.

Charlie Stephens

 

you need a 32 car or 32 truck hood to use a car grille on your truck.personally i would try to find a 32 truck grille for it. they are different to a 33 or 34, much more like a car grille, but the insert is part of the shell.heres a pic of one...

 

Thats a slick little truck.

 

Thats a nice start to a cool hot rod. Keep us posted. Theres guys on a social group called the Box Truck Bastards..............maybe they can help with some questions.

 

OK guys, Help ! Want to put a Vega box in the 33 truck with the stock wishbones and a early dropped I beam axle. But right now with the stock undropped axle in it the tie rod is just under the bones and there in no clearance for a drag link. A dropped axle will seem to make this worse. I did a search and could not find any threads on a Vega box with stock bones. Has anyone run this combo or is it immposible ? How do I get steering arm clearance ? BTW I'll post some pictures soon of the truck with most of the bodywork done !

 

can't wait to watch your build up. just picked up the front axle (dropped 32 heavy) for mine although I'm on the 20 year plan I've got most of the components to buid the chassis now. one small step...

 

You can heat and bend the pitman arm for drag link clearance.

I understand that some guys get a tie rod reamer from Speedway and ream the tie rod ends from the opposite side so they can install the tie rod from the top for clearance on the bones.

Aftermarket pitman arms for Vega boxes have the small end reamed from both sides so that you have some choices in drag link height at that end.

 

Any way you look its going to be one cool project and final results should be one hell of a rod.

 

My side windows measure 15 1/4". As said above my WS frame is 2" above the cowl as seen here. It looks like you need to add 2" to the difference between a stock WS/frame and your frame to get the total of the top chop. My guess is 5" also.

Do you know any of the history of the truck? I fell in love with these trucks when they were in the little pages. I know the Merc dash was a popular addition but it makes me think that I've seen your truck in one of the old little books. It could be that they all run together in my senior brain but it looks familiar to me.

 

I to like the dash, looks sweet.

 

Sorry for the long delay. Here are a couple of pics with the body work done, vega box in, Deuce front crossmember and dropped axle. The stance is starting to get better !