Featured Hot Rods Making the Unexpected '34 my own

@anothercarguy That looks AWESOME! How did you attach the stainless rod to the aluminum panel?

 

What a transformation on that dash! The ideas just keep coming.

 

Proves there is hope for billet after all! Very nice!

 

Thanks guys, I too was pleased with the outcome.

I tack welded 4 small (about 3/4" wide) "L" shaped tabs around the perimeter on the backside of the stainless steel trim ring. The tabs hold the ring from coming forward, and between that tabs on the back and the offset/overlap of the ring to the aluminum billet in the front, it clips into place. Here's a quick sketch of the sideview to try and show my explanation. There is enough flexibility in the ring that I can unclip it one clip at a time with a gentle pry from the backside.

 

GENIUS!!

 

What a great idea and an even better look! Thank you for sharing @anothercarguy!!!

 

@anothercarguy
Wow great work, what steering wheel is that?

 

Thanks Pete...It was in the car when I bought it...but I believe it is a Juliano's Banjo wheel.

https://www.julianos.com/Banjo-Styl...QdghZC57A7WGMweRo6_VEIBE663mt1fCrarM3NBrbT9gI

 

I have 2 orange cones stuck together and put them on a little turn table with plywood so you can spin it,then put the rim on top of the cones and whala you got a wheel painting rotisserie. And you can flip it over and do the back,I clean tire with lacquer thinner and duct tape around the lip and use black trash bag to cover rest of the wheel.

 

Well, if you know me, parts collection started pretty quick...even if installing them isn't. LOL I have most everything to eliminate the billet....finned aluminum borrowed from the Merc for the motor, new steering column stalks to get right of the mix matched billet knobs, wiper arm, etc. The highlights are these.....

'39 style banjo wheel for a GM column....but it will be a while before me and the current holder of it can hook up to bring it home. For now I'm still going to swap in the wheel out of the Mustang since I have the adapter on hand.


This should take care of the billet gauge panel and not working 80's VDO speedometer...


.....aaaaaaaand.....


Picked up the mounted tires at lunch. 3 of the 4 are already on the car. I had the rears mounted with one on an 8 inch rim and the other on a 7 inch, not knowing if the 8 inch would fit....it do.....

 

Very Kool! You are making all of the right changes. Looking forward seeing it soon. The kool part of the story, you piked up the wheels while driving the Impala. You the Man!

 

What's that funny looking tank in the trunk of the Impala?

 

Looking good!!!!

I can’t wait to see the new results

 

Two mounted wheels in the back of the Impala now....along with the last two boxes of train cars I picked up from dad's.

That tank is where I keep the Coors on tap, Jeff....don't you know nuthin'? Hahahaha

Pictures of the new look hopefully tomorrow....gotta find my center caps. LOL

 

That’ll do pig….





You can put a kustom guy in a hot rod, but you still can’t get the kustom out of him….bullet center caps and lug nuts. Lol



Obligatory run to Home Depot after dinner… lol



I wouldn’t mind the tail down a bit to tuck the tires up in the fender a bit, but not sure how to do that on a four bar, coil over rear end. I’ll have to look and see if I can adjust the shocks any I guess.

For the curious…those are 195/55/15 up front and 235/70/15 in the back. The steelies were 185/65/14, which are pretty much the same size overall as the new 15’s and the rear were 225/70/15…the new ones are 1/2 taller and an inch or so wider…and now on 8 inch wheels.

 

You sure have a great eye for what looks good, great rim addition! You should have some adjustment on the coil overs but will be limited by the frame to axle spacing. I’ve got mine at 2 1/2 inches but that’s required a pretty stiff shock so rides on bumpy roads are a thrill a minute! Hope you drive the hell out of it!

 

@drdave The wheels are PERFECT!!!!!!!

 

I totally agree with Brett, nothing would have looked better! HRP

 

Thanks guys! I really like the look. Torque thrusts are probably my favorite mag wheel. And of course, who doesn’t love polished, but I think the grey centers really hit it with the paint in this case.

Thanks for the info @wide34, I’ll have to get under it and look to see if there is any wiggle room back there. …and don’t worry…it’s getting driven plenty, between the Impala and the Tbird. I could be driving the A, too, before I take it apart to finish the interior install I guess, but since it’s leaving I almost don’t consider it mine to drive. Weird. Lol

 

Who doesn’t love Torque Thrusts? Although I prefer the straight spokes. Great addition to your car! And the non polished look suits the car much better IMHO. Gorgeous car, what’s next?

 

Next up will be swapping the steering wheel and the billet off the motor. Be a while before I have time to pull the gauges out and swap them over. The other big thing to decide is bring this or the Pratt ‘58 to the Stray Kat. Lol

 

That's a nice looking car, what is the chop amount ?

 

What’s the thing on the front bumper?

 

Christmas wreath holder

 

Haven't a clue. Previous owner had the car about a year and the guy he got it from didn't have any real info on builder or history. Hope to run up on a stock one to be able to measure the window height to compare and see if I can figure out the amount.

Accessory bumper guard.....

....or that. LOL

 

Got a little time to fiddle around last night...

First thing I did was remove the wreath hanger as @Tim called it. LOL. I didn't hate it but probably doesn't fit the hot rod look so I'll try it with it off.



Then, after an inordinate amount of time looking for the new wiper arm I bought (why couldn't you find it, Dave? Shop looks immaculate and so well organized...... :/ LOL) I got that swapped out. The new one won't seat down all the way on the splines, but it's still better than the squaredy billet one...





Also robbed the finned aluminum engine goodies off the dead Merc motor and switched them for the cheap chromed diecast "billet" that was on there (see first post). They need cleaning of course, but the whole engine needs a degrease when I wash the car next week for the Stray Kat, so I just threw them on.



I also switched out some of the billet steering column levers and knobs, but will finish that when I swap the steering wheel, so didn't take pics of that. Also have an original style rear rear view mirror on order that will mount to the header to replace the billet one glued to the windshield. I think we are coming around the corner and getting this thing in shape.

Also sectioned a '49 Ford coupe quick last evening....I doin't know why everyone says sectioning a car is sooooooo hard. LOL

 

Getting better all the time!

 

Much less welding when they're that size!

 

Haha! True enough!

 

This gonna be for Mick's common kit build at Lead Ain't Dead??