DAYDREAMING: Building a '36 3-Window.......in my head. May come TRUE!

I've been asking second opinions about possible trades for May Cause Dangerous. In the meantime I've been daydreaming about future cars. I have come to the conclusion that I don't want another major project for a few years ("Yeah right!", says the voice in the back of my head), so I'm looking at possible drivers that I can work on as I go this time around.

Some of my dream cars include: '38 or '39 Ford Tudor, '36 Ford 3-window, '32 Ford Fordor, '33-'34 Ford coupe, '57 Ford pickup and so on. My mental shop has been leaning more in the sedan direction so my daughter can comfortably ride in back.

Then a few days ago a '36 Ford 3-window came to my attention and has had me full-on mentally sidetracked. I really need a sedan, of some sort, for practical purposes, but a REAL '36 Ford 3-window?!?!?! Talk about dream cars!

So then this morning another possible player in the MCD runaround game pops up with an actual cash offer. It's far below my initial thoughts of value, but is probably more realistic. It's enough to get this '36 and almost pay off one of my credit cards (which is my goal in selling the Starliner - get another cool car and pay some bills). Well that offer is waiting until after Christmas and until after the check he got for selling his car clears. Famous last words, I know.

Even though I know that the offer is not final, (and probably never will be - he'll be about number nine in the string of "I gotta have it" guys who then fall of the face of the earth) I can't help but daydream, and I'm locked on the idea of the '36 I came across. It's a screamin' deal and wouldn't need much to fit my desired style - traditional early custom!

It's a 12-year old stock restoration that has pretty much been in storage since then. Super straight, no rust, late flathead, 3-speed, and so on. I even like the color!

Anyway, I just thought typing about it would relieve some of the pressure in my brain. Here are some pics...




























In my head it looks more like this...



Just simple improvements: Rear parallel leaf kit, dropped axle, maybe flatty speed goodies (2-twos and aluminum "Canadian" heads), me driving it!

 

1st I'd like to say nice car, 2nd, if you get it I'd like to say I hate you...but not in a bad way

It's a real love/hate thing selling a car, huh? The $$$$ burns a hole in yer pocket before ya get it, then you have to plan it out quick before the washer and dryer needs replacing or that home improvement guy drops his price so much the sold car pays for it, then 15 sweet deals come along KNOWING that at least one of em you can actually make money on to pay for the home improvements. Damn bro, I feel your pain. If you get it send me a PM.

 

I had the same problem with my 5w thinking that it would fit the bill of more space after driving my roadster for a year but now I am learning that it too is not nearly big enough. So I ***ume that you are in a similar place in terms of space. With that being said, I think that a '36 will be one of those cars that you will be happy to get now rather then later.

That car is pretty nice so I would be I wouldn't say that you would be out of the fire yet in terms of major project. You being a designer would probably make that a project even with your strongest restraints. I think that it would become much more labor intensive then you would originally planned. I did it with my '35 or I'm doing it should I say. I planned on getting the car and lowering it...that's it. Now I'm in the middle of a 265 engine build with a new rear and original axle being dropped and a whole new interior. It's becoming a huge project which is taking longer then the 1 month deadline I planned on.

I say go for it if that's the car you dream about but if space is an issue then there might be a couple other options that might work better. There is a '32 Sedan that has some history from Johnny Deluxe in the cl***ifieds right now with a picture of his kid in the back. When I see that pic it makes me want the car more and more. The history becomes secondary to the image of my child in the back coming with me to go get some food or drive to a show.

It's tuff having choices huh?

 

Do it! I'd do it. Are you gonna do it? I want a '36 coupe so bad I can taste it.I bought a Packard grille to put in the one I'm building in my head. Do it, for me!

 

The "late" flathead cant be very late as it has the water pumps in the head, 36 was the last year for that style motor, or is there a later flathead comes with it? Still a good find, not much too do to that one.

 

i like it. not a build. but like ya said no room for the lil one. so...what to do what to do

 

She sure is purdy.

Rich

 

Yowza!!!!!!

 

You have some compe***ion. My buddy is looking at the same car.

As an aside, depending how big your daughter is, built a small back seat for her. I did that in my '35 3w and a little kid will fit nicely............depending on whether they are claustrophobic or not.

 

I am really starting to see the crunch with space now that I have one on the way. The '35 will be fine while my wife is pregnant but what happens once a baby is here??? I have a '54 Chevy that I want to put together but I don't have the funds nor the time right now and with 7 months to go I am going to have to do something.

Enter: The Rumble Seat!!!!

 

if I were to end up with that 36 in my garage I wouldn't touch a damn thing 'cept maybe an overdrive of some sort and a few optional accessories.

 

I actually meant to type "correct" flathead, but early heads have the water necks in the top center of the heads.

 

Nothing at all wrong with what ya have built in your head. Man........a '36 3w. A nice one, too!

 

Can we call it *** Dumpster?

 

One of my fav. body styles.

 

I definitely hear you, but I have building cars for the past 4 or 5 years. I want to get back to driving them. I had a lot more fun before the past 5 years.

I'm truly looking for something along these lines- an older restoration that I can hot rod as I go along, like would have been done "in the day." An axle here, skirts there. I like the aging interior and paint.

 

Of course!!!!

 

I've never regretted getting mine....

 

Dude... don't take this the wrong way, if that thing becomes available to you and you don't jump on it... You need to seek help!

 

May Cause Dangerous is a great car and I hate to see you sell it, but that 3 window is one nice machine. I say do it!

 

I love the look of a "tail dragging" custom as much as the next guy but I think that if I were building a 40's type custom or at least a '36 three window I would lean toward the styling of the Pierson 3w that used to push the famous coupe. It seems like a **** load less headache to build and also drive. You could go with a 2" drop axle and some shackles out back without getting into flattening crossmembers and such, a set of skirts and your off in a weekends worth of work. You also would be able to drive the car pretty easily without the worry of ripping an oilpan off and such, plus it would look plain ol' rad. Nothing would be done that could not be reversed in case you decide to part with it (which I believe you might considering your history haha) and would separate itself form the rest in a show!

 

Enticing, but it doesn't sound like it fits your needs. Kinda like having two girlfriends. One is not as pretty, but definitely easy on the eyes. Totally the marrying kind and she'll take good care of you. The other is high maintenance, and trouble-but very hot. So you go with the hot one and realize that beauty is only skin deep and can't stop thinking about how things might have been if you went with the first one.

 

Oh, believe me, if I get cash and this is still available...IT'S MINE!!!!!

 

I already have a hot girlfriend - The Legion Special. This would be a hot, cl***y wife.

 

One of my faves! Yep, sure would be a good direction too. A chop would, no doubt, be in the cards, but I could definitely go a few years with the lid as-is.

 

Do it. Now.

 

Can the family ride along? I thought that was the criteria??? So, sounds like you need to sell the Legion then??? Your priorities are confusing me.

 

HA HA!!!! They confuse me too. Knowing the responsible thing to do doesn't mean I'll do it. I'm a guy and a hot rodder so I'm destined to make the impractical decision.

 

Ok, so we have a decision then! Get the damned 3W and be done with it! You can't go wrong with that car and sounds like the finances work out for you.

 

I don't have the money in my hand yet. When and if that happens, and the '36 is still around, I'll be making the deal. Like I said, I'm just daydreaming at this point.