Projects "Sexy Sadie" Custom Shoebox Build Thread...PICS!

I ment the Olds quarters,but how about using only the lower parts of the Olds quarters and getting rid off the original Ford windsplit?

 

I'm liking the olds quarters as well, ala George Cerny. '54 Merc's have been done to death and looks good. But to me it's like '59 caddy tail lights or '39 Ford teardrops tail lights. Looks good but relatively common custom modification. The olds stretches out the stubbier looking rear of chopped shoeboxes in my opinion.

 

Another vote for the Olds quarters... what will I do?

Please expand on your thoughts- I like the rearward slant that the Olds quarters have between the taillight and the backup light. I will get rid of the factory windsplit. They'll make good custom material for another project. I forgot to tell you- the rear bumper is a narrowed '50 pontiac.

Well damn, if I get a few more votes for the Olds quarters I may just use them... I know the '54 Merc lights have been done to death but there's a reason for that... they look damn good... and they're cheap!
As stated before, I also have an Idea utilizing '55 Olds taillight sections that would be a bit smaller. They would still have a protruding bullet-style taillight (not '59 cad) and some brass mesh backing.

 

I'm also trying to keep the timeline down to '56... like it rolled out of Cerny's shop in '56 or early '57... so I don't know if I want to use "brand new" '56 parts.

 

Well,i ment that use only the backup light section,forget the Olds tail lights and turn the backup light "windsplit" as a tail light windsplit.
I guess 50' Pontiac tail lights or something like that could work as with them,maybe as frenched...
That could be unique.Just a thought...

 

Looking great. Love a nice custom shoebox.

 

I wasn't pilling your chain Joel...I really think you should use the Oly quarter's! Do something truly original!

They're '56...so Cerny took them off a fresh totaled car and customized a shoebox Ford in mid '56. That kind of stuff was done all the time.

Go for it!

 

I think I'll comprimise and go for the '55 Olds lights... I'll put them on this week to see what they look like.

Any more votes for the Olds quarters?

 

Aye

 

This weekend I'm going to mock up the '55 Olds idea. I've been thinking about it a lot and I'm just not digging the '56 Olds quarters. I hope the '55 Olds idea works- if not I'll be looking into other options.

 

I'm also thinking about '51- '55 lincoln taillights or simply reshaping the look of the '54 Merc taillights with the surrounding sheetmetal.

At the same time, I'm thinking in the back of my mind, "Screw it, I don't need custom taillights..." ... But then it wouldn't be a full custom!

Anyone know if '52-'54 and '55 lincoln taillights are the same or different? Does anyone reproduce '52-'54 Lincoln lenses? I can find the '51 and the '55 lenses. Thank you in advance.

 

So,did you decide yet what direction to go with the tail light/quarterpanels?

 

My vote is for the Merc lights, you don't see shoeboxes with them. The Olds quarters look odd to me and take away from the smoothness of these cars. IMO

 

Great lookn shoebox ur makin good progess to. by the look of it so far id say how ever you deal with the tail lights will look awesome.nice job

 

I keep checking back but i find no new pics, get on it! less text and more pics!

especially if your in a contest!

 

I'm going to go with the '54 Merc lights, but do something a little different...

Thanks!

I've been working on my uncle's '39 Chevy coupe as well. I'll be sure to take some pictures by the end of the weekend... I better make it look like something's been done!

 

Ya enough bla bla bla. Pics are worth a thousand words. Details details.

 

Lol I'll get on it! I'll put some stuff up tomorrow...

 

Sexy sadie lookin sexy

 

Ok- so I'll make sure to post pics tonight, but last night I did a little shadetree engineering, and came up with a taillight mounting system for the '54 Merc taillights I'll be running... stay tuned folks!

 

Ok, so last night I put together the taillight housing idea that I have had in my head for the last couple of weeks. In the end, it'll take just two bolts to install each taillight. No screws, no "proper alignment" issues... no B.S.

I wanted to be able to mount the taillights in through the trunk, without having any visible fasteners, but also to do it in a way that some Shadetree Engineer from the past would have done it. I came up with a simple "taillight tensioning" system that consists of three basic pieces. A backplate, a top plate, and a bottom plate. Eventually, the top and bottom plates will be welded to the body when I form the rear taillight sections. The backplate is designed to simply slide into place from the inside of the trunk, with the taillight lens.

First, I made the backplate. I just used 1/4" round rod in the shape of the taillight lens, but a bit bigger so it would seal nicely later on. This piece will eventually hold the pigtail and lights as well. I haven't gotten that far yet. I put a tab on the top and bottom of the backplate with a 5/16" nut welded to each tab. These nuts are the basis for my tensioning system. I simply put a bolt through each one, and tighten in down onto my top and bottom plate. This holds the taillight in.

Please refer to photos.

 

Now, I don't like the squarish look of a '54 Mercury taillight, so I came up with something when I was at Eyeball's place. He showed me a set of Harley Davidson "Beehive" taillight lenses he was thinking of using in his bumper gaurds. I hope that's not top secret. Well anyways, I had a major "lightbulb" moment. I almost passed out. I thought that a '54 Merc taillight had a similar ribbed design, and would look good with the "beehive effect". I'll end up shaping the sheetmetal around the light where the tape is to mimic the beehive design. What do you think?

 

HMMMM You might be on to something there. Put it on the fence for awhile and let it sink in. One thing leads to another. I change my mind a thousand times before i get that fussy feeling.

 

Tedley- this is the best idea I've come up with yet regarding taillights for the shoebox (in my opinion)... I hope the mind-changing is almost over

 

Hey at least your back at it. What are you doing here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be in the garage? lol errr that's where i should be to. Yes it sucks when your doing a little project thinking you have something in mind only to discover half way thru ...wait i have a better idea. In the pile of after thoughts it goes. So it goes.

 

Gut feelings always payoff?

 

That's what I've been told, Skip!

 

I gotta get back out there! The internet is sucking my brain right out! I know how how frustrating Kustom thought processes can be... my solution is to build like 5 shoeboxes so I can do different headlights, taillights, chops, (maybe even section one)... I better just get back out there and pick up the welder...

 

Although you don't like the "squarish" look of the lenses in stock configuration they flow well with the planned rear edge of the fender. Rounding them off (a-la-beehive) doesn't really match any other lines on the car, therefore becoming a focal point. I dig 'em, I just think you need similar shapes integrated elsewhere on the car to pull it off successfully.

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

I like the idea it adds a element of movement or flow that should pick up the rear quarter extention shape especially if it tapers top to bottom. Hard to explain, but I like where your going with it.