I just picked up this 1931 Ford coupe to build with my son. I am deep into building a 32 for my wife and I, but came across this 31. I originally was going to flip it and make some cash to help fund the 32 but my son mentioned he would like to have a hot rod. My son is 20 and has interest in cars, but hasn't really ever worked on anything. This will be a project I'm looking forward to building, especially with him. Plans are to chop the top and put it on a pinched 32 frame. I told my son I will pay to build the car but If he wants it shiny and chrome that's his responsibility. I plan on ordering the roller this week and probably wont see that until late August. This should give me some time to button up the 32 or at least get it running down the road.
Good luck with your build. I hope the experience is a good way to become even closer to your family. I have a little experience with family projects. I did a build project with each of my two sons. One built a '30s era tub, based loosely around a Model A frame with a home built body and a 302 HO V8 / toploader 4-speed / 9" 4.11 posi. The other built a '48 Anglia with an inline Ford six / C4 / 9" 3.08 rear. The outcomes of these two projects were entirely different. Several years into the tub build one son's interest waned and he turned his attention to pursue other interests. Not wanting a half finished project laying around I decided to offer to buy him out of this project and take ownership of it myself. I had been buying him parts for birthday and Holiday presents. I added up all the money I spent on these gifts and other purchases and presented him with that amount. He was happy with that arrangement. I ultimately finished the tub and it is licensed and a ball to drive. The other son finished the project to the point of having an Anglia that could be drag raced. It is not yet entirely streetable. His life changed when he moved to the West coast. The car stayed with me and is kept garaged and in race-ready condition so when he visits us he can take it out, drive it around the neighborhood and drag race it at the local strip. I occasionally move the project along a little towards the end goal of having it street legal someday with little jobs like further wiring, etc. We have talked about the time when we / he will have it completely road worthy and we will drive it and one of my hot rods across the country together. I guess the reason I am relating this experience to you is don't make any assumptions on the final outcome of the project car itself. His passion for hot rods may exceed your own... ...or it may just be fleeting and his interests will turn to other pursuits before its completion. The car is secondary to the time spent with him and the shared experience of having a project together. Good luck with your build.
Thank you for the insight and sharing your story. My son and I are very close and I have been trying to share my mechanical skills with him all of his life. He has a nice Mustang and is starting to add some personal touches to that car and go to small car shows. I will do my best to keep him interested in this project, that's why I chose to buy a roller so he sees progression sooner than later. If he decides to loose interest I will keep the car and park it next to my 32. Both of your project came out cool and I'm sure you were happy to share that time with your boys.
This will be an interesting build to watch. When my son was a teenager we built rice burners because that was the popular thing to drive back then. He moved on to other cars but still interested in them. I look forward to your build, keep us posted with pics, please. That is a good looking start you have.
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