Projects 49 fleetline custom build

Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted a lead sled. I've always admired them, and back in December I finally had a chance to get a fleetline to start customizing.

The car itself is in remarkably good shape for its age, and will make the perfect canvas to work from. Progress has been a bit slow so far, but once I get harvest done on the farm this fall, progress will pick up. The plan so far is to chop the top, lower the car, swap the inline 6 to a V8, add Buick tail lights and fins and install a Buick waterfall grill. So far I have gathered a rear end off a wrecked 1956 Buick Special that gives me the fins and tail lights I'm after,

I found a set of La Salle turn signal/marker lights,

and a Cadillac 331 V8 for the car. I also have a 350 SBC for it as well, incase I wimp out on the caddy rebuild. For the chop on the top, here's the look I hope to go for-

 

Go for the Caddy engine, thousands of cars with SBC in them, be different.

 

Agree with BJR. You are already doing a major change in the lines of the body. Why drop in a common engine when you have that CAD.

 

definitely watching this thread, certainly an exciting plan

 

good challenge for metal working skills - as you likely know, chopping this foof involves lowering rear of body to help save rear glass. Buick tail lights will certainly be different

 

This will be a fun project to watch! Post lots of pictures. I am working on a 50ish Chevy Sedan Delivery. It is made up of three different cars. a 1950 Sedan Delivery back half, a 1952 4 door, and doors off of a 1951 Sedan. A lot of metal work has gone into the car, so I can see where you have a long road ahead of you if you chop that thing! Good luck and I will be subscribed and cheering you on!

 

Thanks everyone. After thinking it over the last few days, I think I'll go with the caddy. It does need a little help first though, as you can see in the picture.



Most of the major parts are present, including a 4 barrel intake manifold. I will have to track down a set of valve covers, rocker arm shafts and a cam.

 

Please don't use the Buick taillights, they will ruin the look of this streamlined car, something like that would never be done in the 50's

 

I'll be following this. I have a 1950 Chevy 2 door sedan. I also have a Cadillac mill I hope to swap in it some day.

 

A set of late 50's Corvette tail lights would look good on your car.

 

Your on the right track

 

Never say never there have always been innovators, people who are willing to try new things by pushing the envelope or who simply did the things they liked not what other people liked.

I have heard people say they that 4 links are a new street rod thing..

...Jim Frankland's four bars Big (Indy) Car in the late 40s


Duffy Livingstone's Eliminator had a 4 link in 50's

 

Grabowski's "T" and Iskanderian as well had 4 link front ends.

 

You missed my point and that is don't make blanket statements, the late 50s were a time of one upsmanship in the kustom car world.


If someone grafted 58 Chevy quarter panels with 57 Mercury taillights on a on a chopped 50 Ford than why couldn't someone else have grafted 1956 Buick quarter panels and taillights on a 49 Chevy?

 

It's a matter of good or bad design, not if it is possible to do, the Ford above is not a good design. As would be the 56 Buick taillights on a fastback Chevrolet.
Somebody from the Art Center School of Design please explain it to these people.

 

I wonder what’s wrong with me, I think that ford is bitchin.

 

Nothing is wrong with you, unless it's wrong with me too! That thing is located in Koolsville!!!

 

But that's not what you said, you said it would never have been done, furthermore good or bad design is a matter of option.

Personally, I think 56 Buick taillights in a fastback Chevy would look cool, I also think the way rear window and taillights were done on the Hirohata Merc are about the ugliest things I have ever seen.

I am sure I am in a slim minority on that one but is my opinion, but I respect the car for what it is a piece of history and Sam Barris didn't ask me for it when he built the car, nor did @Masterclu ask you for your opinion on his build.

Now let's drop it and let @Masterclu continue on his build thread.

 

That's what a mock up is for, sit back look at it, walk around it for a while & decide, we all have mountains of ideas, not all are good ones, some need to be put in the furnace & refined or be removed as dross.

Looking forward to seeing where this project goes @Masterclu

 

Masterclu, you should head over to the photoshop thread and ask to see those Buick taillights grafted onto a fleetline. I'm intrigued to see what it will look like. You can see virtually before you start cutting metal.

Art & Inspiration - The Photoshop thread to end all Photoshop Threads! | Page 943 | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

How about making it a tail dragger with tombstone tail lights? I have to agree with not heavily modifying the aerodynamic flow of the car, but I may be a bit prejudiced. There is a two door ‘50 that comes to the local cruise in which has a chopped roofline that works well with the flow. Not the 2dr!

 

Are you going to swap the steering and front suspension for something else? I know with my 350 with 55 Chevy exhaust manifolds I had fun fitting the exhaust around the steering. Not as familiar hands on with your caddy engine but I could only imagine it be more..... interesting.... to fit around the steering

 

Sorry for the absence guys, I've been busy and haven't been on in a while. Over the winter I also acquired a complete 4 barrel 331 cadillac engine and hydramatic transmission, and this past weekend Austin Kays came down and we started the chop on the 49. It went well so far. I'm going to redo the back of the car, change some angles but so far I'm pretty happy with the rough draft

 

Thank you sir. I haven't been around in a while. I saw a couple cars that were done up like what I am wanting to do but they used the old Packard tail lights. I will mock it up before I make any final decisions, but I personally think it will help the car look fast sitting still.

There are several cars out there that I think are just plain ugly, but I still respect the time and effort that went into them.

 

Here are some more pictures of the work this weekend, the complete caddy motor and transmission, and a set of beat up 56 tail lights sitting in place to get an idea of what i see in my mind.

 

Well, I'm sure I will run into similar issues like you experienced. I'll know more once I set the engine in place, and mock it up. The situation might not be as bad though, the drivers side exhaust manifold on the 331 I have resembles the SBC ram horn manifolds, and the down pipe would hug the block allowing for steering column clearance (I hope).

Yes, I do plan on swapping the the front end out, and I bought a notch kit to modify the rear frame for clearance.

 

No going back now... I had a stock job (Navy poor) 1950 Fleetline, miss that car....Think things thru, and have fun...

 

Glad you’re back at it! I’ll be back over to help some more!

 

Wayment. You're in higginsville? Dude I'm like 10-20 miles away in Warrensburg. Was actually in higginsville yesterday lol

 

No way! Small world! I'm about 3 miles west of town. I had no idea someone was in Warrensburg, literally down the street!