Being that channeling has Bennett done for decades and there are several folks on here that have done the 32 chevy, I am wanting some advice. The only issue that I am having is trying to figure out where to cut the firewall on the bottom since the factory frame is as wide as the body. In order for the body to set down around the frame it looks like the frame would need to be pinched or the body to be cut back to the outer sheet metal to drop around the frame. Any insight would be appreciated. Pictures would be awesome. Thanks
There should be some pics on carnut.com . on that site, you go to car pics, then to the make, then year. If there are a lot of pics, they sometimes break it down to groups like full fender, or channeled, etc I have a 30 chevy roadster pickup that was channeled/built in 1959. Mine must have a narrower frame, because the outer front of cowl slid down by cutting the firewall notches. I would not be able to tell if they pinched the frame. I have seen what you said about cutting the outer lower cowl sides, and then some cars had a box built around that piece of frame, moulded to the cowl side and painted like the car...but it's up to personal tastes. I might look into pinching, if it does not cause the rails to get narrower than they are at the radiator. also, your rear frame and spring hangers won't really work with channel. The springs have too much arc, and the rear frame ends will be farther back from the body back panel. You may want to Z the rear rails like mine has. You can do a Ford buggy spring or do light duty coils like mine has. Coils need more drastic Z that a ford spring
I looked in carnut, but the few channeled ones are listed wrong as highboys. I also looked at 32 Olds, Pontiac as they are almost the same. I did find this one there in 1931 highboys: It looks like they did not pinch the frame; I think it sure looks like they cut the lower cowl side loose at the front, then pulled the cowl skin out enough to slip over the frame. It is a mini channel, but you can see what they did
I'd be it's pulled out as well, reason I was interested in this thread, on my 31/32 Dodge PU, the cowl is very similar, just went and looked at it a bit ago, actually looks like the cowl is just inside the edge of the frame...I think my hood covered that (my guess anyways).
So bring me up to speed here. I've been working on a 34 Chev Sedan for a while. I'll admit I know nothing about a 32 Chev. My 34 had a total wood inner structure with the Body Tin just nailed to the wood. Even the main Body inner sub rail was nothing but a 2"X6" wood plank. I hand built an all steel inner structure and while doing that could have dropped the body as far over the rails as I wanted. Is maybe the 34 just wider at the firewall? If your going to do what's involved with a Channel job you must be doing some chassis modification. Why wouldn't you just pinch the frame if needed? The Wizzard
I was definitely planning to z the frame in the front to give more drop but I also had intended on keeping the exposed part of the frame rails as "stock" looking as possible. The Pic Above Shows That The firewall was cut completely out on the bottom corners which isn't too awful. I have built a few frames from rectangle tube but not modifying a stock frame as far as pinching goes. I also plan to cut the back of the frame off where it starts to angle up for the rear axle and z that too. But that's not an issue to make that straight. I guess what I'm saying is I'm not certain how to pinch the frame equally on both sides and keep it straight.
Okay, I'll****ume your starting with the stock Channel type frame rails. My personal feelings are that if you can Z a frame front and back then giving a little Pinch at the firewall should not be much of a challenge. For me it would be a simple cut of both top and bottom frame flange and pull it in the needed amount. What it takes as far as cross member relief I don't know being I don't know what a 32 frame looks like. I see frame mods done here quite often on no more than wooden saw horses and often just jack stands. Again Personally I think that's a Hack Attack and not a good way to go at all. To get and keep things level and square you need it fastened down to something solid and flat. So back to your Firewall issue. A couple photos of what you are actually working with would help getting you headed down a good path. I think my 43 is a lot different than your 32. Here are a few photos of what I have. As you can see plenty of room to drop the Cowell down over the frame rails. The Wizzard
To my eye the Chevy firewall was an eye sore... ,i put a 14ga flat firewall in it and shortened wheelbase to tighten up proportions and give the car more of a ford vibe, origionally I was going to rivit a polished stainless or aluminum pannel on it but I thought it looked ok white I can't remember where I pinched the frame , probably somewhere by the fire wall I pinche the front so the rails came close to the grill shell , for the rear I cut a pie section out and changed the kickup so it was deeper Check to see if frame is straight first then weld tubing crosswise before the area you are going to pinch then cut and move each side in same amount , do some diagonal measurements , make it square again and weld your crossmember in
I agree, the 34 stock Firewall looks like****. I did a flat one also with a 1" recess. The before photo is in my post above. The Wizzard
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