Hot Rods Leave as is Kustom or go Hot Rod

you would be wrong.
its a mild custom right now, nothing major done body wise... has 40 Ford bumpers, bull nose... The interior is fully custom. curved gl*** SW gauges , Lincoln Steering wheel.. chromed garnish moldings.

 

Right...which is why I stated "outside appearance looks like a stock..."
No interior pics were mentioned, or provided.

 

don't presume

 

I mentioned previously that my '36 had a taildragger phase. Here's how it looked during that period:

DRD57 photo

I liked the way it looked, but I felt like an imposter when I drove it. I had "graduated" from the skirts/taildragger look years earlier in favor of the low rake, and felt like I was backsliding. The car voiced its opinion by throwing off one of the skirts and running over it, so that sealed the deal. I put it back on the big/little rake, and it stayed that way for the remainder of my ownership.

 

My question is, what difference does an engine choice make in a cars status. A trans and rear end change can be done to not affect looks. Why not a fast Custom? If anyone can distinguish a 283 from a 327 I will tip my hat to them. As for need, If you want to be overly *****y, you may want to consider upgrading the trans and rear. If your not doing drag strip launches, why change what works?

 

I misspoke when I said I put a 4-speed behind the flattie in my '36. It was in fact a T5 5-speed OD, and it was by far the best performance modification I made to the car. Effective synchros and overdrive made the car vastly more pleasant to drive than the Ford 3-speed had been, and I would enthusiastically recommend it for your car as well.

 

You say you're bored with it. Here's my offer. When the weather clears I will fly up and drive the car all over the country. I have a spotless record and am a professional parts delivery driver for a national auto parts chain. When you start missing the car simply call me and I will return it. The 36 3 window has been my favorite car for 55 years and I will never have my own.
But since that ain't gonna happen please don't chop it. Perfect as is.

 

not going to chop this car since the interior has been done and the headliner is killer.. garnish moldings are all chrome.. maybe saying bored was wrong,,, may tired was better. word.. I know how you parts delivery drivers are., no way !.

 

Hello,

I am not sure why you are getting tired of the 36. It is a very nicely done coupe. It would look good in our small 2 car garage. An outstanding hot rod for our daily drives would work for us. But, your choice dilemma is understandable. More power!!! For the past several months, I have been drawing 36 Fords for some reason. When I took this photo of a blue one in a So Cal coastal city, it sparked something different than the boxy 32 or our favorites, Model A coupes/sedans/station wagons/sedan deliveries.

It is probably the swoopy way the factory designers made the transition from the boxy look to the more streamlined way of the future. But, for me, the 3 window had a better look and was easier to modify as I drew each one.

Jnaki

The five window proportions are right for leaving the standard top without a chop. But when a chop happens, it becomes out of proportion. The 3 window can stand stock (cool looks) or accept a chop and still keep the proportion in the “good” category.

For inspiration, I used the Manuel Reyes 36 three window as a model and made my own changes. For a custom, I liked the purple with yellow scallops best. For a hot rod daily driver, I like the dark purple one with the purple outline flames and Halibrand wheels.

For the Ed Pink Tribute drawing, there was not much to do with a chopped 5 window to keep the shape and proportion. There is still the problem with the chop…

Finally, the chopped orange 3 window was an attempt to have a Bonneville traditional hot rod set a record for appearance. And, fit in with the times with a radical chop and cool push truck/van.

But, there is a difference driving around in a stock height window surround than in a chopped coupe. Despite what others say is a cool way to cruise, short or long distance or even as a daily driver, one tends to feel cramped all the time. YRMV

Note:

As we were taking photos and getting information for the photo story, I sat in the sedan delivery in the photo location. Being 6 feet tall was a tight fit. But, Lee Bright was taller and bigger, so he must have had a different outlook on long distance or even short drives in his chopped sedan delivery.

The funny thing was at the time, my wife wanted to buy the chopped sedan delivery just because of the way it looked and drove on the streets. So, there is that!!!

 

Since it's already swapped to a 283, I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade to the 327, and the stronger 4 speed, and a 9" of 8.8" Ford rear axle. How you mount it is u to you. You could leave the transverse spring though, and still use the upgraded rear axle.
I'd leave the exterior alone, and only change I'd consider is maybe different tires and wheels. It's too nice to mess with it.

 

If it were mine, I would first change the wheels/tires, then drop the front axle and add some headers and nice sounding exhaust. Its already a hot rod since its not stock. And looks danged near perfect as is.

 

leave as is ! sure I'll fix that.. lol

 

well the 16" Lyons Caps are hard to find , and I like Firestone Deluxe Champion Tires... may just leave it "as is " The exhaust has a great note already... without being stupid loud..

 

Outside of Bubba factor, for me swapping to the 327 with or without the 4 speed and stronger rear comes down to the questions of is the 283 getting on the tired side and need work or replacement and or do you just flat need more power to keep up with your running buddies on the big long roads on road trips?
Those of us who have done a bunch of road trips with a group before usually learn that your cross country trip's progress is usually done at the speed that the slowest car in the group is comfortable at running at. I'm talking legal freeway speeds in the western states that are usually 70 and sometimes 80. Not running with the guys who think every road trip is a road race.
Now down to the nitty gritty of swapping a Muncie 4 speed and a nine inch.
A proper set of radius rods with the cross leaf seems to be a lot better to me than installing parallel leaves but to each is own.
On the trans, not only will the center of the crossmember have to be altered the shift handle is now going to be right back at the edge of the seat and may actually require a notch in the seat to clear. You will most likely also have to have a special shift handle on the shifter to clear a bench seat similar to the one I have in my 48 that I had on my M21 before I put it on the three speed shifter in it now.
An S-10 T 5 or an AX 15 out of a two wheel drive V8 Dakota does put the shifter back up close to where the original handle goes (you need a Novak adapter to hook the AX 15 to the Chevy bellhousing) and it isn't all that hard to adapt a stock for the car looking shift handle to the 5 speed rather than having a "modern" shift handle in it.
Still unless you plan on burn outs or entering the drags with it the box that in it should be fine.
Changing the look? I see no reason to change the look just because you change engines and drive train unless you are just flat tired of the look.

 

Do what you need to do to "make it your own". Beautiful car!!!

 

I love the car and I would love to see some skirts on her. Otherwise, it looks killer.

 

maybe a change of tires, or even different wheels is all i would do. that is a fine looking ride.

 

^^^This^^^
Before you even think about touching the driveline, get a set of Torq Thrust or Cragar SS wheels and tires, and drive it that way for a year with a plan to remount the original wheels at the end. If on that first anniversary date, it turns out you don't feel like changing back, that will be a big clue on whether to uptick the driveline. I say, take your time, and don't burn any bridges.

 

Mild SBC with early Ford drive train. I drove a 39 deluxe coupe with a nailhead and stock 39 trans and rear about 40,000 miles in the early 70's never had a problem. How about that 2 inch haircut for your coupe and a slight lowering all around.

 

TT's or Cragar's would be a hard No...I had TT on my 62 Safari Wagon and 56 Nomad and lookes great.. don't like them on these cars... Looks like 36 is going stay the way it is for now... I appreciate everyone's comments on the car and suggestions... but feel free to still chime in... I'll keep the pole going... Thank you !

 

i voted keep it, until i read how its already been swapped, personally i'd think a ford in a ford would be a good idea, but a corvette motor? that'd be pretty nice.

 

was already swapped with the 283 when I got it.. on its second 39 transmission now...

 

LOL, I can't imagine how a 283 powering a 36 coupe would not have the guts to keep up with any running buddies on a road trip. That would be some real fast road trips! LOL!

Good choice, don't eff with perfection! Enjoy that sweet, sweet car.

 

yep I think so... LOL

 

We knew you had good taste or the car wouldn’t have looked so “right” already.

 

Some things just don't need changing..........

 

Leave the look, add the power.

 

you are correct sir !

 

the pole is fun, and is still open to vote on ... all the comments are very appreciated... Thank you all again...