Bought a really bad project- so now what?

Slow down my friend,you have my head spinning.Post some pics of your firewall,so we can see what you need.your dash is cut up pretty bad,was there a glove box door?Also post some pics of your steering box and pedals.A lot of us old scroungers on here will also be at hershey and can keep an eye out for you.if you have a cell phone with you ,it would be easy to let you know what we see.That 34 is shaping up to be a fine ride for your girl.

 

Jambottle, thanks for the offer. Firewall is badly cut up, I just plan on replacing it with a Howell's recessed
repro. Could just patch it with 16 ga. plain sheet but it wouldn't look right. I'm going to have to work on the dash some- haven't figured if an instrument cluster and a patch or 2 will work to cover the hacks, but no glovebox door (Vintage A/C was in there). I'll post pics later when I have better bandwidth. Modern gas pedal, brake is 2"x4", but needs all the attaching hardware. I'm figuring to get it rolling and in the garage before winter and then start slowly gathering the other odds and ends over winter. I'll have to see if I can make Hershey or Carlisle- might just spend time working on what I've got on hand. Gracias, amigo!

 

This time with pictures....

 

Doug- if you call me "JC" one more time I'm going to send the original builder over there to work on the car for you!!

 

Doug,
I live in Chantilly; 20 miles west of DC.

I'd never opened this thread until 15 minutes ago and just finished reading the entire thing.

It's time for me "pay forward" all the help I've gotten from the HAMB. Let me know what help you need and how many buddys I should bring with me.

BTW, I have a 110v Lincoln 140c and am getting _somewhat_ proficient at welding sheetmetal with it.
I also have an engine stand that's lonely

I just PM'd you with my cellphone and address.

-Gary

 

it looks like you got yourself a real nice 34.That firewall is nice.Once you get the engine and tranny set in and find out what firewall alteration is needed,it looks like an easy repair.Replacing the complete firewall is a major deal and really weakens the structure of the car.If it was my car(wish it was) i would think about getting rid of that big brake booster and pedal and buying a nice compact brake and pedal assembly that built to fit the 34 frame and fits under the floor.The dash is nice too and a patch panel may not be to hard to find.Again i think that you really lucked out with that car.If you take your time and weigh out all your options ,you will end up with a nice restro rod which will be the envy of all you daughter`s friends.I know i will be watching this build.

 

Yessir, Mr. Grimes, we wouldn't want that!
Sorry, got stuck somehow on "John Christian," must've been thinking about Falkenberg...

 

Thanks, Gary, I'll give you a shout later.

'Preciate the good word, Jambottle. Huh, shoulda looked before I leapt again, I thought firewall changeout wasn't that big a deal....well, if nothing else, I can piece in the new one on what's missing from the old, that'll still looke better than straight sheetmetal, after I get my engine clearances set. MikeCo said the same thing about that housing!

 

Yep, leave your firewall as is. The butchered area will get butchered again shortly when you put your power plant in place. The dash is an easy fix. Don't sweat the little stuff. Gotta say I'm glad to hear you say the MII front end is leaving.

 

i would insure it then park it 30 feet away from a 60 ft. tall tree then get out the chainsaw and cut the tree down for firewood.seeing as how this is your first time cutting down trees how could you possibly know which way the tree was going to fall.

 

Glad u r NOT using the MII. I DID and it would have been much easier/cheaper to drop my axel. BE SURE AND USE A STABILIZER BAR.
Bodty looks great . Good luck and keep posting.
PS maybe u can barter some of ur talents for welding /fab work.

 

........what jambottle said post #308. Power brake booster is a comfort item, don't need it.

 

What worries me about this whole thing is whoever the guy is who did this to a ride is out there now working on another. That's truly the worst hack job I've ever seen and scary as hell.

 

Fixed worse and you can to. And as was suggested I would lose the firewall mounted m/c and put one back under the floor, much cleaner looking.

 

Any updates?

 

Just read the whole thread. As a member of the "Fisher Price My First Build and In Over My Head" Club aggieforester, I am glad you are tackling this and would like to know how you are making out too. Nice to know I am not the only beginner struggling but still making progress. To the D.C. area HAMBers way to step up and help him out hands on. If any of you are ever in NYC area beers on me, at my shop of course. I could use some help on my '55 Effie Panel.

 

did you screw up? yes but you can find a frame and do things right yes it will cost a bit but you should be ok if you shop right

 

Oldsman, you apparently did NOT take the time to read the WHOLE thread - you'd found that the OP reported the original frame was fine and what he was doing to fix the suspension, steering, and drivetrain nightmares.

 

Holy sh*t! I actually started laughing outloud when I looked at that coil spring set up.

My God man I feel for ya. Salvage what you can but this one is just going to end up being a loss and a lesson and that's all their is to it.

>>>>OH AND A LITTLE UPDATE ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER FROM POSTING THIS. I DID NOT read the whole thread. My apoligies. Glad things are looking up!</p>

 

I'd have to say that you brought the value of the car up even with or above what you paid for it when you knocked off the scabbed on suspension. Keep us posted, I think this one is on it's way to turning out pretty nice.

 

Update would be nice, car has plenty of potential even in it's goobered-up condition.

 

Wish I could be more helpful to the thread, but I'm more of the 50's era cars. But I want to reply to say I'm very impressed with the caring and sharing on this venture.

Looking at the scabbed up mess Aggie got stuck with tore me up. Breaks my heart to see people taking advantage of others like that. There's no way anyone could think there was anything right in that mess.

I got caught up in similar capers early and learned to look a lot closer for it. But to send someone out with something so unsafe is hard to forgive.

I really want to say I'm proud to be a Hamber when I see support and caring such as this for one another. Thanks to all!

Sir Woosh

 

Thanks for the positive motivation, folks. Been getting some tech advice from Mikeco and others along the way. Stripped old suspension and eng/trans out, got the body off the frame- both are in my attached garage now, out of the weather. Boxed the front and rear of the frame, installed a Posies front end kit with 4" dropped tube axle and disc brakes, traditional leaf spring. Got the front 4 link tacked in, going to get a better welder than me to do it right. Put in a 8.8", 3.42 ratio rear axle, fits up nice. Chassis Eng rear parallel spring kit installed, still got to put in the sway bar. In work on patching the x member so the new CE trans mounting kit will fit. Cut out around the butchered firewall, welded a new 3" recessed firewall in (pieced in, didn't replace the whole thing). Just got new tires and rims a week ago, got to get some fine threaded lugnuts to fit the Posies' front. Bought a donor car last weekend for the rebuilt SBC 350/TH350, trying to save money for now over buying a crate. Got to buy and install gages, brakes and plumbing, etc. Got a Mac's edge trimming for the fabric roof insert the PO put in- not sure if that will work (interior already had the liner, trying to avoid pulling it out for now- welding in a roof would be a challenge, don't want to warp it). Progress is slow but I'm getting there....and y'all were right, everything costs more and takes more time than I planned!

 

keep up the good work.when shes done you can wipe your brow with a smile

 

Thanks for the update. Sounds like it will be nice.

pics?

 

Slow progress??? Mate you are powering!

 

Damn good for you! I'm glad to see you took this on and are making good progress. Keep us posted and don't forget the pics.

 

I'm with panhead_pete. You're further along on your build than I am on mine and I've had my truck ALOT longer. Congrats. Thanks for the update and the motivation.

 

two thumbs up on the progress ....

 

Call Me. We may be able to put something together. 716 913-9631 Kevin