Customs 1949 Frazer custom... here we go!

Great project, nice to see something that isn't often attempted!
"Perfection cannot be rushed"

 

She's coming along! I've been really focusing on the show with Rod and Style TV, so thanks to those of you that have followed the build on there and watched. It's been alot of work but it's been cool to see the car in video format!

After all these months, I just about have a car! I got some miles on it so far, and while I have SO many bugs to work out, she's running and driving with a new running gear for the first time in 35 years. I'm really happy with how it's going.

Now that it's running... now the fun... CUSTOMIZING!

We did the Barris rear lights, but I plan to French the headlights, smooth out the bodyseams, something new on the grill, and of course... CHOP soon!

 

I must say that in 72 years that is the first time anyone has said that I don't drink enough!!!

 

She runs! She drives!

 

I am aware this is a fabrication and bodywork thread. Taking a four door to a two door but I got to ask what about the engine? Tell us more. You kind of skimmed over it in the thread and videos.

That engine color is great but what is it? Factory Kaiser color? I think I see an Edelbrock intake manifold, finned valve covers but what else? Any basic upgrades?

 

Oh damn! How did a YEAR almost go by! Thanks to all of ya that followed this and I finally got some updates.

I moved back to LA last year and it's been a BLAST with the car. I'll head back to where I was when we left off.

We got her buttoned up and the glass in it and finally got to enjoy some driving around with her and hit some local car shows. It's my first car that I've really built: this is from the frame up from what you guys have seen, so for a guy like me with no big tools or knowledge I'm pretty stoked I was able to build a running, driving car.



I'll be doing a series again to show you what I've been doing, but I'll pretty much show you a quick update on what I've been doing! So we got her running, lots of local gigs to try and figure out all the things I did wrong...


My uncle's sotck '47, so I could see the comparison.



As you can see, she sat SKY high... I want to say this car had alike a 9 inch or more clearance stock, so she needed to get lower... I couldn't handle it. My buddy helped me and we did a 4 inch c-notch, and popped two front coils out. Much better.



Now that the car was at my place, it was easier to get things done. I wanted to get the cheap primer off and put an actual sealer coat on it, but before I did I wanted to get a little more done with the body. I molded the rear splash pan into the body, before we blasted it a tan filler. I actually like that it made it look kinda like when I got the car... and how you could see the stark contrast from all this hard ass work.



I also took the front bumper, as it's three piece, and welded it all together as one and smoothed it out with no bumper guards. I might put them back on.... but I kinda like how it looks right now!



And she's off to LA to live with me and some new adventures! Just wanted to post and update, and soon I'll have more stuff to share and more videos on the build!

Matthew

 

Of course! Sorry for taking a year to get back to you LOL.

It's a 1975ish 305 and and automatic. One day I want to go fancy, but for now I wanted something solid and for the price I couldn't beat it. Other then modernizing with the intake, carb and electronic ignition, it's pretty much all stock. It's been moving the car for about a year now and I've no issues! The color was an industrial paint that many of the blocks for Kaiser and Frazer were painted, so I thought it would be perfect!

 

The problem with customizing a car like a Frazer is, that when you are done nobody has a clue as to what you have changed. Because they have never seen one before.

 

Thanks for the update on the car! I had forgotten about it but I enjoyed the reminder.

 

Smooooth.

 

Looks good. The 2 door sedan body is believable as a factory design, it doesn't look "converted", which is always the goal. I like the 1 piece bumper, too.

 

Not wrong! Kinda why my goal with the car is customizing for sure, but more like "re-shaping" the car to what I feel it should have been. But you have a good point, hence my hesitation for a custom grill. I think I'll leave the front pretty stock.

 

Dig the series. Ready for some more

 

I love customs. Like a previous poster said, you gotta get rid of the hump in the roof, then get rid of the ugly hump in the trunk. I like your front bumper

 

I've always liked the Frazer grille. I'm glad you're retaining it.

 

For those of you that liked the show, I have one more filmed that needs a little tuning but it's ready, and we are finishing up a second!

Also, I got a pretty cool update on the roof! I came across a one of 1900 or so four door hardtops. It's rusty but it's complete and will give me all the parts I need to turn this car into a hardtop, and I think it's going to make this old girl look amazing. The roof was designed in 49 and 50 for this new roof, and it flows SO much better.

She needs a lot of work but the bones are there and it's actually on the West Coast. I found another near Chicago, but it would be a nightmare to get here over here...

As you can see, the roof is way smoother and the nearly wrap around rear window is gonna look amazing. Here is the new photoshop of what we are thinking...



I'll be picking the car up on the 22nd this month, so I'm excited to see it!!

 

Or maybe do both Kaisers?
.
Marcus...

 

Kinda my thoughts too. I LOVE the idea of a hardtop'd 2 door Kaiser custom, and this donor car seems like an ideal one to cut up for the roof bits to make that happen. But the 2 door sedan conversion one already turned out good and it kinda feels like a shame to undo what's already been done to that one to make it the hardtop custom. If another cheap 4 door sedan body could be found (and there's gotta be plenty out there), I'd love to see that photoshop come to life alongside the post car.

Granted, that might not be feasable due to space or budget or time, but I wanted to throw that out there. Keep the current one on the road and start cutting up another body tub?

 

Well, we got the car and I'll have some photos soon! Bad news... we drove 12 hours and the guy wasn't very honest with us. The thing was BAD. From all the humidity it stunk like death and there was WAY more rot then I realized. But I was there, these damn things are hard to find, so we still towed it home.

You guys arn't wrong on wanting to save them both... I wish I could but this one is gross and it's toast. I'm BARELY going to be able to save this roof, so I'll update ya guys!

While you're waiting, I'm back to making shows about building this thing!

 

More episodes!

 

And finally… the chop begins!

I have been waiting for this for a year… do sllf got down with my buddy and started working on things. Been a long day, but she sits tonight with no pillars, with 2 inches out of the front and 5 out of the back..

 

Looking good! Have to say that engine paint caught my eye.

 

Subscribed. Dare to be different! Some company had a '52 or '53 sitting outside for years, one day it was gone, likely not saved.

 

Wow, that's going to be a whole different car!

 

I agree! The chop has been what I’ve waited for, I knew it would change the whole car!

 

Might be a crazy idea: think about moving the rear window forward so you have less C-pillar length. Then extend the catwalk to meet the new rear window location. It would emphasize the 2 door conversion vs stock 4 door more. It can also help take some of the rear roof hump out so it flows nicer.

 

I'm not familiar with the term catwalk on a chopped top. Can you explain?

 

Any car, chopped or otherwise. The area 'twixt the front trunk edge, & rearmost lower edging of the top.
Have heard of that panel referred to as a "tulip" panel also. Different slang in different areas of the country, I suppose. Or one/both is just wrong. W/o digging for a body repair manual, I don't know what the mfgr name actually is.
Marcus...

 

great minds think alike… guess what I’ve been up to all day?