going to try to build a 33 terraplane

been screwing with this n that no 32 frame for the a . so it sits in the garage. searching craigslist for garden trains found a 33 essex terraplane someone tried to chop it and filled the back windows in before the chop. traded a 1/4 scale rc sprint car and my trusty 12ga mosberg 500.. now the molested heap is mine.. so i decided it is time to go for gusto. i can do anything that i put my mind to so its time to build some hot rods instead of watching them rust away.. so for the last 2 weeks me and my trainee are setting things up to set something done
so between odd bs jobs coming in we are trying to be hot rod builders

 

i also have a video of the car just before cutting off the top but do not know how to do anything with it new laptop recognizes video from my phone so its the first time i have ever one to even post. if anyone wants to see it i will try to put it up..

i think i am going to stretch the doors to make it either a delivery or a sedan with windows depends on how the frame work around the windows turns out. as the rear window has curve and then the rear door has curve so it was bubbled per say and that will not fly it has to flow good it is blasted inside and out roof back in 4 pieces new breaker to hook up wire feed so the learning begins

 

My goodness that thing looks HUGE!
Would love to see the video. Delivery would be my choice.

 

It's worth the time. What a great ride. Good luck.

 

You can make it better than you found it. I like it!

 

Hudson built the '33 Terraplane with a 6 cylinder or 8 cylinder. Yours came with the 8. Very rare car.

 

There is a lot of satisfaction in finishing what someone else started/gave up on. Good Luck.

 

That car would look fine as a 4 dr if you want to save a ton of bodywork to stretch doors, fill side panels, and making a delivery rear door.

...of course, if you are handy with metalwork, the delivery would look great.

 

A cool build indeed! I always had a soft spot for the big 4-door 30's cars.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEGb8ceKjfQ

tried to put it in the post but heres the link

 

yes its a 8 but the griffin i have says six but needs to be restored its self some how. it is a roomy car.. it tis going to 2 door... i know nothing about metal shaping at all. i just bought a lap top last night to bring to the shop for help. i have a couple of metal books . that dip into this and that.. watching videos on you tube .. it will be better than it was i think getting the fenders to be perfect will be the hardest , but thats my non knowing opinion. im not afraid can. fudge up whats already f up..

i think i found the vin # on the frame it seams like 73781 or something anyone know about that?

jason

 

Yes. Definately mute it when you watch it
Sorry, but we do not share the same tastes in music it would seem.

 

Hell of a swap!! Good Job!

 

The old car book I have says this for 33 Terraplane:

"serial numbers on firewall, right side of frame, and right door pillar"

 

An RC car and a 12 ga? Seriously?

 

I'm in the process of finishing a LONG term project 34 Terra. Pretty much all mechanicals, the body was restored. Typical Street Rod stuff, though, not exactly HAMB territory. But that's what the customer wanted.
If you've got any questions, just PM me. Did a M2 front end, Chevy 383, TH350, Ford 9 in rear. PW, A/C, PB, aftermarket tilt column.

 

Wow, I'll be watching this! I wish you were a little closer as I am cutting into a mess of a 34...

 

Is it large enough to do a herse out of and leave the front doors as they are?

 

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here is the 1/4 scale car and the 12 was just a 12

 

Try www.allmetalshaping.com and www.metalmeet.com , those 2 forums have some good stuff!!

That looks like a gangster car

 

that would have been my kind of trade! you def came out on top. cool terraplane.

 

got to work on it for 30 min. today tacked on one rear door got real good lines on rear door but i have a gap in between to front and rear door it was like that before i took the top off nothing was ever braced. but i do not know if it was like that before the guy who first cut it started.. the only thing i can see is that the bottom door hinge is bent or am i suppose to have more gap in the rear passenger side was way better...

so i have to figure out the gap problem

and i am thinking panel keep the doors as they are . the only thing i didnt like was sitting in where i am suppose to sit and would have to lean forward to see out the side window. thats why i was thinking of stretching the front doors narrow the rear.

i do not know how to post the pics bigger i will remember the camera tomorrow as everything so far has been my phone.. jason

 

thanks i thought the one one the right front under cowl was the vin. firewall gone unless its stamped on the inside. as the door pillar..

73871 is the vin # jason

 

Jason, have you found any wood in your car? I havent found any in my 34 and I am wondering if it originally had wood bracing the body.

 

the only wood i found was in the center door pillars for interior/trim mounting

 

Starting with the '32 Essex-Terraplane models and the '34 Hudson models, there was no structural wood in the body or floor of any Hudson Motor Co. vehicle. The latch pillars of the doors had a thin piece of vertical wood inside the steel to give it a solid "clunk" sound but that is all.

What is the wheelbase of this car? That is without a doubt an 8 cylinder hood. The longest Terraplane chassis was 113" in 1933.

Gonna be a very special car when you are done!!!

 

Nice project, you're the first one on your block with one, right? If you stretch the doors it sure would be nice to just move the B pillar back and add to the front of the doors.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

I realize I'm probably out of step with the majority here on this, but I'd keep the thing as a honking big 4 door sedan, myself. Assuming you plan to keep the back seat it'll be a lot easier to get into the back that way.

I mean, it's a big, spacious, long-wheelbase car, so instead of fighting that, I'd glory in that and make it a big, full-fendered luxury rod (if that makes any sense).

But then again it's not my car and it's not my place to criticize or offer unsolicited suggestions on aspects of the build.

 

everyone is entitled to their opinion no harm done .. if i didnt want any opinions good or bad i wouldn't post on the internet some like stuff one way others this.. but any way this ends up as will be bad a@$

i am sure there will suggestions i like and dislike im here to show what i am doing and get some help if i need it..

like why is there a gap inbetween the front and rear door . some i have seen do not have the gap?

my dream build for it would be to add 8 inches to the front doors tin the back windows and ad a door in the rear for the final delivery touch we will see..

i know i can do it..... ordered the tex smith how to chop tops to hopefully learn the right way.. of blending in the a pillars and other non lining up lines..

i did clamp the rear roof sections on i got 9 " on both side windows and 6" on the rear window so its already better as the rear window/roof section in thew rear did do a lot of v action in the middle would have been hard to make a window for it L.O.L