Projects 1934 Chevy Coupe Build.

Cool project. Keep the updates coming!

 

Well, the coupe is still on the back burner, but I did get a different engine for it. A couple of weeks ago my brother and I drove to Indiana and picked up a 390 Cadillac V8. The seller had pulled it out of a late '50's style dragster. The plan is to replace the 331 Caddy, that is already installed in my '34.

 

Actually the master series outsold the standard series 8--1 and there is plenty of them around and parts.

Is the 390----59-60 cad motor any longer than the 331 ? Look at the size of those valves and the intake ports, monsters. Reminds me of my 57 olds with 59-60 heads. These motors barely fit into the early 33-35 Chevrolets, about 1" clearance to the radiator with fan installed.

mike lynch

 

I'm not sure how the overall length compares between the early and late Caddy engines. The early Caddys, (1949 - 1954), had extended bell housings, like the early hemis, flat head Fords, etc. The late Caddys, (1955 - 1962), did not have extended bells. Since all of the early Caddy engines require a transmission adapter to run a Muncie 4 speed, the design of the adapter will enter into this, as well.

The 331 that is currently mocked up has the extended bell, and there is plenty of room between the stock Caddy fan and the original 34 radiator. The original radiator probably won't be used, though. There is enough room, so that whatever radiator is used, the radiator will have to be moved back to be close enough to the fan. By the way, the stock firewall did not have to be modified to fit the Caddy engine.

Actually, the tightest spot is the driver's side rear of the engine, ( at least with the 331). The steering box & column, header, and clutch linkage are all right there. In addition, the plan is to use the original brake & clutch pedals, so the brake master cylinder is in that area, also. The next closest place is the front of the valve covers and the hood sides.

 

It's been a couple of years since the last update. However, there really is very little to update. About the only thing has been to get a 283 Chevy, (out of a 59 Impala), to possibly use in the 34, (instead of the Caddy V8).

It's been on hold for several years, mainly because I've been concentrating on finishing my 55 Cameo....And the garage needed a new roof. By the way, the Cameo is getting REALLY close to being finished. It's down to the rear bumper / spare tire carrier, and exhaust.

Projects - 1955 Chevy Cameo. Build Thread | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

I've got a decent build thread for my '54 in the social forums and on a couple of other sites but, there's one or two aspects that aren't completely HAMB friendly. I'm afraid if I post it on the main board.....it'll get whacked!

 

As TFoch said back in 2016, "Keep the updates coming!" even if they are small and far between. They are still of interest to the bowtie bunch.

 

Well, it's been 2 years since the last update. The front suspension problem is figured out. One of the first things to go when I started on this project was the Knee Action front suspension. It was replaced with the front axle and springs from a 1950 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. Unfortunately, the front axle was installed too far back in the fender opening. Since the front spring eyes were as far forward on the frame as possible, the springs couldn't mount any farther ahead.

Over the Christmas holiday, I loosened the axle U-bolts and slid the axle forward on the springs. To get the wheel centered in the front fender, required to axle to go ahead 2 3/8 inches.

Last Tuesday afternoon, I ordered a set of springs from St. Louis Spring in St. Louis Mo. The rear springs are stock 34 Chevy Master. The fronts are basically stock 50 Chevy 1/2 ton, but with the center locating bolt moved forward 2 3/8 inches. All four springs were delivered yesterday.

The springs were ordered last Tuesday afternoon, (Dec. 26). All four springs were hand made with American Made steel. They were shipped on Thursday, and delivered yesterday, Dec. 29.

From order to delivery, it took three days for all four, brand new, hand-made springs. That's GREAT service... Especially considering that they are for a car that's almost 90 years old.

Here's a link to their web site.
Leaf Springs - STL Spring Company (saintlouisspring.com)

 

Not sure why the last two photos posted 90 degrees off. They are correct on my computer.

Here's a link to a short video on YouTube. It shows a short tour of the spring shop. Perry is who took my order and Jim is who handled it. VERY good customer service. They can make leaf springs for basically every vehicle that was built in the last 100 years. Stockers, Hot Rods, Customs, Big trucks, Pickups, etc.

The Hundred Year Legacy of One of America's Original Leaf Spring Manufacturers (youtube.com)

 

The original owner built midget race cars in the 1930's and 1940's.

An American Entrepreneur: Howard Emge (youtube.com)

 

Cool build, keep at it bro!

 

Slow and steady

 

Wow that’s cool about the spring shop! I need some rear springs for an OT British project I’m working on. I’ll have to see if they work on foreign junk!

Coupe looks great!

 

Looking forward to watching this project .

 

Great looking coupe, and build!
I had to do custom springs front and rear on my '39 Chev coupe, but I built them up from spring sets I had laying around. My front axle is a '58 Chev truck axle I narrowed 5", and I found a main leaf 30" long and just drilled the centering hole where it needed to be, then cut other leafs to length to make up the spring pack. In the rear I used the stock main leaf with hole driller 1.75" forward, and then added other leafs to make the stance I wanted.

 

Here's a small update. I mocked up some different rear wheels to see how much the rear fenders will need to be radiused. Also took it to it's first car show. Trailered it behind my 55 Cameo pickup. It's the first time it's been out of the garage since about 2013. Whenever it gets running, it'll get driven to car shows, but trailered to the drag strip. By the way, I'm not sure why the first two photos are sideways. They're correct on my computer.

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

Another fine Chevrolet in the works - keep your progress going!

 

Nice build! Thanks for the spring links.