Hello gents, I have just purchased a 1937 chevy coupe what are the most effective chassis, rear end and brake modifications to be done to this coupe? Thanks I. Advance for your knowledge!
i have a 37 coupe also. got disc brakes to fit orig. axle, from Butch's Rod Shop (now defunct, everybody sells em) took a few leafs out, rides well. stock steering. have a Chassis Engineering rear set-up with a Nova rear and their shock mount crossmember. rides nice. stock gas tank, fuse block in the trunk. 292 six with 200R4 OD
before you do anything ,,,, 1. do a massive internet search and find pictures of what YOU like print em cut up magazines make a scrap book of ideas . 2. do not listen to others opinions on how YOUR car should look 3. if YOU pick a era or style buy ebay magazines of that year to get the look right 4. the sooner YOU do this the less you will do things twice 5. YOU are the one paying and working on YOUR car 6. keep with a common theme digital gauges dont go with tuck and roll all these things will save you money and headaches , simple suspension mods are great upgrades and easy/fun to do lots of bolt on's available for your car ,, just make sure you dont want a mustang 2 with a rack and pinion after you did somthing else , PLAN ,PLAN,PLAN,PLAN will save bux time and headaches even if it takes longer to get to where you want to be ,, simple is better always , motor and trans ? you can do a killer sb from blueprint cheaper than you can build one with warranty ,, just my opinion spent 3 decades building cars for other people Fabricator John miss you dad
I didn't have to when I built my 38, I did have to add a couple of inches of "hump" for the transmission but there was plenty of driveshaft clearance.
1/2 a life ago I used to pass by one that looked alot like what @fastcar1953 posted above. The guy didn't even want to talk to me " go away kid" 37-38s look so good with the nose up a little, big meats out back, and a big bullet under the hood
I can only tell you what has worked for me with my 37 Chevy coupe. I have a Buick Regal (GM-G body) rear end with leaf springs, less two leafs. What is good about this rear end is its width and simple drum brakes. I had 8x15 Corvette rims, now mags. There is plenty of room for the tires. Be careful with the rear springs that you use, not much weight over that rear axil. Good luck with your build.
Rear springs were designed to support the weight of the car , not torque , it had a torque tube for that . I twisted up a set of springs , into an S shape , added traction masters to fix it with new springs .
If you go the gasser route be careful because I believe that the original I-Beam axle 37's had different frames....Stronger in the front for the spring perches....
In 1969 I had a pair of 37 Master Deluxe Coupes, with the "Knee Action" front suspension. I put a 283, with a 62- 3speed trans, and a tri-5 rear end in one and left the other stock. Very easy swap, found some 6 hole 15" wheels for the front.