Here is what i am starting with . Wanting to build something looking similar to what they would have back in the day when ww2 ended and they were buying stuff from the junkyards. Was thinking about keeping everything on the body the way it is fix just the worst of the lower sheet metal and blend it with the patina. Finish upholstery on the wood panels. Find a dash and gauges (do not know where to start with that even ) Then put a small block chevy and a th350 in it. adapt to the original rear end and put disc breaks up front. Drums in the rear if possible . Also have an original style 4" drop axel for the front . Want it as low as possible with the original suspension setup. Would love to use the wire wheels that it came on . Do not know what spindles can be used to use disks up front or what to do with the rear to make it at least drums . I dont know if i need to box the frame x brace it or if i need to do more metal work for it to not be a total pile etc . I like it the way it sits just want it lowered front and back with a rake look to it and have a v8 setup really . Very new to all of the roadster stuff . Heres a walk around video
the search engine is your friend. but i'll tell ya, you'll have a hell of a time finding that 350/350 combo right after WW2 in any junk yard. Or disc brakes either for that matter. A 'traditional' build is a STEEP learning curve.
And one more piece of advice. If you want to play in this sandbox, you better have real deep pockets and real thick skin. This place just loves spending your money, tieing up your time and telling you what to do..
The cheapest way to build is starting with as complete a car as possible. What you spend up front can save you both time and money looking for parts... At one time older restorations were cheap and a good place to start , but I don't know what they are going for now...
Once again... You need to study this book if you are serious about your endevour. Then you'll be much better placed to ask more specific questions. Enjoy the ride.
Figure out the drivetrain you wanna run and buy a cheap donor. Im running a lincoln 337 flathead in my roadster, bought a 49 lincoln with bad cancer for 400 bucks with a decent drivetrain....sold the bumpers for 500, radio for 125, cpl other bits for 150.... s****ped the rust for 100, i got paid to take my drivetrain!
If you truly want a car done at the WWII style, study the book shown above. For a first build, keep it simple. Use early Ford hydraulic brakes up front. Find a flathead or early 50’s OHV engine (Olds, Caddy,etc). Also check out Joey Ukrup’s roadster and how he has been slowly progressing it.
You're going to want to use 37 thru 48 spindles in front and that gives you some hydraulic brake options. You can buy a kit to go disk or you can find front brakes from a 40 thru 48 ford to stay drum and be more period correct. With the disk, you'll need some adapters from Speedway to run those wire wheels or they'll bolt right on to the old drums if you go with those. As for rearend, you can go with an S10 rearend which is narrow enough to use the speedway adapters and use your wire wheels or to be period correct, you can find a banjo rearend from a mid 30's ford and either use the closed driveline or buy a kit to make it an open driveline rearend. If you go banjo, you'll need to find the brake pieces from a 40 thru 48 Ford for hydraulic brakes. That also gives you options on transmission like the S10 T5 manual 5 speed. I built my roadster with drum brakes in front and an S10 rearend.
Hey man, you're local to me and about the same age. I've spent the last two years learning a lot about what you're getting ready to learn, as I'm in the process of building an A roadster on 32 rails. Shoot me a DM
I see you mentioned turbo chevelle, I think we may have even parked next to each other at Street Rod Nationals last spring. I had the only pre 48 car in the 29 and under corral
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