Well it’s been some time since I updated my 1939 coupe build but I finally took a break from a m***ive landscaping project at home and started working on the car again. I picked up some tires at Hershey 7.10 x 15 for the rear and 5.6 x 15’s for the front. I finished welding the rear spring perches to the rear after I got my pinion angle set and also welded the shock brackets and installed the rear shocks. Then took my original ‘55 Chevy driveshaft to the shop and had it cut and balanced. After installing the driveshaft I moved to the rear brakes with new brake cylinders, drums, emergency brake cable (used but excellent condition) and made some new brake lines across the rear. I rolled the car out of the garage and mocked up the front end to get a better look. I love the way the rear tires fit but the stance is not to my liking as it’s way too high up front. I’m guessing I need a dropped axle.
Ok, now that the leaves are off the trees I have a better view of Oyster Bay on the North Shore that is 45 miles away as the crow flies.
It's always nice seeing things come together but, looks like you still have a lot of weight to add before your at loaded curb weight. I'd hold off ordering the dropped axle yet myself.
Back to work on the brakes. I went with Speedway’s ch***is mounted master cylinder mostly because I didn’t have much room to work with on the firewall. Overall I was pretty happy with the install as it bolted up quite nicely to the pre-existing holes in the X member. The hardware in the kit however was complete junk. Even after using a thread chaser on both the nuts and bolts they still were not going together without resistance so I just used some from my bolts bin. The rear brake lines are now plumbed. I picked up some F1 hubs, backing plates, and drums so once I get those installed I’ll work on the fronts.
Tom, Set the car - all 4 tires on the ground - to really see how the wheels look in the wheel well and fender contour. Make sure fenders are bolted tight.
The Jalopy Journal
