Well this is going to be a very slow build but figure y'all may want to see it. This is a very special car to me I have been around it for a long time and finally got a chance to buy it. This is the first time it has moved in 20 years. . Bringing it home. Really really dusty . I started putting the windows back in
Nice '50 - you know I'll be watching. Looks like it's already got a custom start for ya. Wish mine was that solid at the start . Link to my shoebox build below ...
First order of business stop the rust from getting any worse. Its pretty solid a few pin holes but nothing to bad . Only one place that is going to require a patch panel. O and the white in the picture is rust in its best form..... Dead . My goal for tomorrow is to pour 15 everything I can.
Still can't believe I now own it. I have been trying to buy it since 2005. When I was bringing it home I couldn't help but look in the rear view mirror and smile.
remember, POR15 sticks to rust, not clean surfaces. I've been using OSPHO, then painting over with an oil based paint. have been using older Rustoleum. this is on the underside of fenders
Well I used the rustoleum like Mr Chevrolet said laied down pretty nice . I still have a lot more to paint before I am satisfied that the rust is dead. You can see in the corner a rust hole that needs patching.
Well got a little more work done. Cleaned the 20 years of dirt off of it and patched the rust hole. " forgot to take pictures of rust repair. My goal for tomorrow is to start repainting some bad spots.
I like those coupes. Congratulations. Felt the same way about my 55 Chevy. Waited since 1986 to get it.
Well got some more work done today ... Sanded , primed.. Repeated a lot . Had some bad spots in the paint so I fixed them. Had 7 spots in all. Did find out the color is off of a 1968 Chrysler.
The steering wheel is in really bad shape I am going to a white int down the line and was going to paint the wheel white . How strange do you think it would look with a tan int and a white wheel for the time being. Or should I just paint it brown and then go back later and change the color. It will be a year or so before I can finish the interior want to get it on the road first.
In my prior post when I had asked why not paint it prior to installing the gl*** that was because I thought when you first pulled it out in was in that Buff primer color, now I understand. Looks good.
Haven't decided on the motor yet don't know if I want to mate a 350 to the three speed or drop another flat head in it and use a modern trans. Ahh so many choices . My delema is I do a lot of cruises so long trips at highway speeds. But on the other hand I do love a three on the tree and I have a 350 out of a 67 laying around.
Why not toss a 289/302/351w in that ****er ? They fit great, run great and (take it from me) are a great conversation piece when people come up to you and say how happy they are to see you didn't just throw a belly ****on sbc in it. I have pics in my build thread below , even pics of my el-cheapo rad install (fox body mustang).We have built 2 shoeboxes with that setup in the last couple years and it works great.
Well more painting its going to be fun finding out how to put everything back together. I have no hardware and no clue what order things go in.
Make sure that hoop is square. If it is , that will be the first piece to install , with a bushing/spacer under it, on top of the frame. Then you start installing stuff from there. I believe the inner fenders attach with 1/4" nuts and bolts, the fenders attach to them with 1/4" fender bolts with tinnerman clips on the inner fenders and (I think) 5/16 nuts and bolts up front. I think the hood latch panel is held in there with 5/16 nuts and bolts - that goes last, IIRC. I'd have to tromp through 3 feet of snow down to the garage to be sure, but that should get you started
Well I am almost done prepping the engine bay once that is done I am going to hang the fenders and hood and mark everything and see what is missing. Then comes the new engine so before I figure that out have to get a little info. After kicking around a few ideas the three speed is gonna stay . Pretty sure its an od unit but not sure. I know speedway makes adaptors to fit modern motors to these but all I can find is trans up to 48 . Who is a vendor who has the adaptor plates for the 49-51 three speed to sbc or ford.
My the number of little things to paint are getting smaller by the day. Hopefully I will be able to start my dry fit of the fenders next week.
Do yourself a favor, and don't try using the original weak flathead transmission. Use 55-56 Ford & Merc to replace for a much stronger transmission. Everything fits the same & was available in overdrive, too.
Well I had figured out my motor combo I was going to do a 318 and 747 combo because you don't see them very often in shoeboxes. But then the car gods smiled apon me. Got a free 700r4 to go with the 350 I have laying around. Then to top it off I was looking a an investment property and I looked down and a new holly 600 was sitting in the gr***.
Well figure since we are flooded here in north Louisiana and I can't go anywhere time to play in the shop. Here is the before of my motor for my box it was rebuilt about three years ago and never fired . And here is my rebuilt 700r4 . I do have a question about mounting a torque converter. I got it to click all the way Down on the splines the t/c is a little hard to turn. Is that normal.
The Jalopy Journal
