Technical Buying Fiberglass Bodies and Chassis from Different Companies

Hello All,
Within the coming months I plan to buy a fiberglass '34 Ford 3 window coupe body and a chassis kit. For the chassis, I'm leaning towards https://www.peteandjakes.com/parts/...e-complete-with-independent-front-suspension/ -or- https://hotshoehotrods.com/33-34-ford-chassis.html#/ But, I'm not locked into these two, they just look good and are both within 3.5 hours from me.
For the body I'm still looking at several companies.
My questions are:
1) Are most repro fiberglass bodies made with frame attachment locations to match most repro chassis kits? I know that is a broad question. I've read posts about steel bodies not fitting on repro frames and vice versa, but haven't seen this question addressed before. I hate to get that many thousands of $ into the project before I find out they won't go together.
2) Anyone care to offer opinions about good or bad fiberglass body and chassis company experiences?

 

Why not look around and find a steel body, in the long run the car will be worth a whole lot more when finished. Or buy a steel one that's someones stalled project. They are out there.

 

...and welcome to the HAMB

 

Thanks for weighing in BJR. You make a valid point about the end value. But, I've pretty much made the decision to build out of all new body and chassis parts. I want to spend the first couple of years of my retirement putting together something nice and drivable/enjoyable. I don't want to spend a lot of extra time rebuilding something.

PS Am I barking up the wrong tree here at this forum site by talking about repro fiberglass body builds?

 

MATE!!!
Have you not seen the 34 Vicky in the classifieds???????
10k
paperwork?

 

Thanks Bandit Billy!

 

Thanks for the tip Nobby! Looks like it would be a great project for someone. Just not what I am after.

 

It was kind of a "tongue in cheek (mouth not arse)" post. Yes, welcome. But also asking a question and getting responses that are not what you wanted to know is a HAMB tradition.

That said I bet every glass body out there is made to fit a factory frame. Replacement frames are built to the same specs as the original. Ergo, it ought to fit. Does that mean without work? Nope, some assembly required.

 

Thanks Much BB, I don't mind some head scratching and modifications, I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't work myself into an impossible situation. Thanks again!

 

Fiberglass can be fine around here, but the ifs is a no no, so keep that under the radar.

As regards mounting points, broadly they will be in stock locations, but expect no holes to be drilled in a body, and possibly not in a frame either. Lots of working stuff out to build these things!

Chris

 

Thanks for the tip Chris!

 

1934 Ford vicky | The H.A.M.B.

 

New clean stuff "sounds" nice. Getting it to mate together correctly takes some work.
I'd start by confirming ( talking to) both the body and chassis manufacturer if the both use stock mounting points as reference. It's your hard earned money, have a conversation

I'll throw in the standard thread response... let's see some pics.

 

I appreciate everyone's friendliness on my first day here. After some soul searching, with some assistance from Moriarity, I've determined my hot rod intentions don't really align with what your forums are about. No worries, I'll move on and look for a forum more in-line with what I am doing.
Again, thanks for your hospitality!

 

If it was me, I'd get the P&J chassis rolling. Then arrange to take the chassis to body manufacturer and have them mount the body, before bringing everything home.

 

Hang around here for awhile, you may realize pro street is not what you really want.

Traditional looking rods can have a glass body.

 

That is about the most mature way anyone has ever responded to this situation.

BUT, you should stick around, I bet you will find you like it. As for Pete and Jakes, they make a very nice chassis with a dropped I beam that will ride every bit as good as a MII (well, you know...almost every bit...) and look way cooler. Stick with Pete and Jakes and stick with the HAMB and you will be just fine.

-Abone.

 

Before I bought my model A, aviator. I asked a fiberglass body company if it would fit my original frame. They told me that it wouldn’t just bolt on, it would take some work. So I sold everything that I had and bought this one already built. Is it perfect or the way that I want it to be, no, but it is a good start. It’s drivable.

 

Actually, I’ve had an I-beam car and an M-II car and the I-beam rides better.

 

Thanks Phil and Abone for the invite to stick around. I'll do that. And who knows, maybe I'll end up going with a more traditional look.

 

Thanks Alchemy! That's a pretty strong endorsement for something that would look way cooler.

 

My M-II actually had stock cushy rubber bushings, instead of firmer smaller ones and sometimes urethane bushings found in the new parts. I can only imagine the new stuff is even harsher.

 

You have to have kind of thick skin to stick around here...... but you will NEVER find a group of hot rodders with more knowledge than the members here on the Hamb. That 34 Vicky would be a very cool car to build. For 10 grand you have a metal body, and a frame, that already fit each other. Plus front suspension. And another thing to consider, stock parts such as window moulding, windshield frames, door latches, hinges, all fit the body. With a fiberglass body it's a crap shoot if stock parts will fit.

 

I'd also encourage you to stick around, I've got a fiberglass car that doesn't totally fit the guidelines here, I just don't show the "off thread" features, and as others have stated the MII front suspension isn't that great, it's fifty year old technology (my 38 has the MII suspension, it's ok but really doesn't ride or handle much/any better than the stock I beam).

 

If you post in the off topic section you’ll be fine asking your questions and getting answers.

 

Like others have said Welcome !!
You can post On off topic ,
Many of Us have to post on both sides of Forums ,

When It comes to Glass bodies
""""Choose Wisely""" There are Good ones!
& Nightmares !!!!
Same with frame & Ext ,
No matter if Steel or Glass , Building a H-R from
Scratch , skill , knowledge , Tools Needed .
But I can be done ,,
This one ways done For around 20K
4 speed , Ac, ( minus labor )


Being around H-R for a Life time so far it
Has its advantages, with 50 plus years of experience

 

Glad that you're going to give it a try. Here's an idea for you. Why not post up some pics and thoughts of what you have in mind? Bit like info you might share on a first date. If your intentions are bright pink, stacked blowers reaching for the sky to really draw a crowd at the local cruise in there won't be a second date! The first hand experience, advise and info around here is truely immense!

Chris

 

My Dad bought a Ravon street rod glass 34 3 window. He passed away and didn't finish it. I bought a set of 34 rails and build the car to sell. I had a Heigts IFS laying around and set of shiny wheels. I was finishing this to sell. I still have it but the biggest mistake I made was putting the IFS on. I have a dropped axle I will be installing one day. I like the body from Ravon, the guy that owns the company is very friendly and helped me install the doors and door skins.

 

As someone has mentioned just go post on the off topic forum as far as glass bodies I’ve seen a hand full of the show me rod and custom bodies from down near Springfield and have been very impressed. They are sometimes available right on Pete and jakes show room floor so I’m
Sure they fit their chassis. If not you could always call and ask, that’s what they are there on the phones for