Projects ‘34 Ford Cpe Project Direction Temptation

For several years, I’ve collected parts for an early 1960’s drag car inspired 1934 Ford 5 window coupe. Through many false starts and other life project(s) distractions, I’ve held firm toward a pretty specific project vision. About a year ago, I finally bought the most perfect original frame that one could imagine finding. A friend bought it in Southern California, back in the 1970’s. This thing isn’t pitted, nor butchered. So I’m now set to finally begin assembling my car.

last week, I get a call from a friend telling me of a deal on a complete chassis out from under one of Bobby Alloway’s early cars. The chassis utilizes a 5” dropped tube axle, 4 bar front suspension, Mustang steering box, & a Jaguar rearend (including a Mr. Roadster quick change style cover).

Niw, I’m tempted to stick my 5 window body one this “StreetRod” chassis, drop in the 307 & Powerglide from my 53k actual mile 1969 Nova and start ridin’ & driving’.

You just never know when temptations & blessings are going to come your way.

 

Bugger that, that roller in the pic is hideous. Leave the Nova alone and drive that. Go with the OG frame, take your time and build a hotrod. For the price you would pay for the street rod you would be close to finishing your 34 frame into a nice roller, especially as you have already started.

In short dont be distracted by shiney things. Especially street rod shiney....

 

@4ever18
Thats what I would do, 307 & drive !
The rear not my cup of tea ,
maybe pick a part $100 s-10 rear cheap 4 bar or leaf spring ,
Finish collecting parts for green frame
Swap later

 

Hault...!
Disable a 69 Nova daily, To build a street rod with a 307.
There's plenty a sbc around for starters, An as mentioned a rear change I'd go 9" , An the rest could fall together, The jag setup will pay for 90% of what You need.
Bad A$$ coupe by the way..

 

That roller is still quite a lot of time and money away from driving. I guess it depends on what you're driving now for hotrod kicks. Time waits for nobody.

Chris

 

The fresh 1969 396 & Muncie is ready to go into the Nova, which has always been the plan for the Nova. The 12 bolt posi, multileaf rear springs, & correct Big block front coil springs have already been installed in the Nova. Removing the 307 & Powerglide is the next step in the Nova’s transformation.

 

Then put the 307 and glide into the OG frame. Build that.

 

Six months ago, the rolling chassis was under this car.

 

Having a 34 coupe with the wrong front end and rear end, you will be dissapointed not to do it the right way the 1st time. I know those two factors let me car down even though they were done in the early 70s.

That chassis might be passable somewhat under a full fendered car, but wont look so good under a highboy. Go back and read what you initally posted about your goals. This chassis doesnt seem to fit that.

 

I guess I'm wondering why the original owner of the car went through all the work to switch out this chassis ?.... (There might be more to the story). Jag rear ends were a pretty big deal for a while in the "street rod" world,... But some of them were problematic.. A lot of geometry going on there.

A friend of mine has a 36 tudor with a jag under the rear, Well it let loose (Thank goodness he wasn't going very fast) and it tore off the left rear fender.. Originally he was going to replace the Jag with a nine inch ford. But he just found another fender and has it up for sale.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I've never been a fan of Jag,Vette or any IRS on hot rods... IMHO

 

I agree that it’s pretty much the opposite to what my goal has always been. I bought it because it was a good deal and figured that I’d eventually sell it, once the “real” chassis was finished. This is where the “temptation “ thoughts came in, considering all the various components that I already have in my parts stash.

My decision to share this temptation with the group is part of just “thinking out loud” and kicking around the pros & cons of the possible directions & distractions. I already have the components for the ideal chassis. This rolling chassis was purchased as a somewhat expensive body dolly, allowing the body to look like a “car”, while waiting to be installed onto its real chassis. It’s when it occurred to me that I already have the seat, steering column, radiator, wiring harness, tires & wheels, etc to make the car operational that the “temptation “ thoughts began stirring excitement for a new endeavor. In reality, these “simple” bolt ons have a way of growing into big, involved projects. This is why I described this new chassis as a temptation/distraction/blessing. In reality, given all my other projects, I expect that I’ll just set the body, hood, grill on the rolling chassis, along with big & little tires & wheels (from my existing stash) so that it looks better sitting in the corner of the shop.

 

Dad had a Jag rearend in his 32 tudor. It was a “lot”. Very pretty, but required much specialty stuff that kinda took the fun out of it.

 

There's not many people on the HAMB that will approve of the jag rear l would keep your frame you have now give the car a salt flat shop stick a vintage mill in it and give it a killer stance.

 

You’re not raining on my parade, at all. The new owner of the Alloway 5 window wanted a radical hot rod, so he commissioned a local shop to build a new chassis to accommodate the nearly $30k blown big block Chevy. The old chassis was offered to me at an attractive price, so I figured it would make a cool body dolly for my coupe body, until I finally finish my ideal chassis. I’ve always thought of the Jag rears as pretty, but not something that I’d ever spend the money on purchasing, converting, and installing. It will look cool, even if it never sees eventual use by me on the road. My chassis that I’m building for my coupe uses a ‘59 Pontiac 9.3” rear, FabCraft axles, hairpins & drilled Model A axle, & a Neal Jennings steering box.

 

I remember my mom purchased dad a 41 Ford pk. Someone swap the rear spring for coil springs. The truck was really clean, but that rear frame job drove him nuts for years. All he could talk about was finding another frame and getting rid of that Coil spring job. Years passed and he found a stock replacement frame and rear end. I helped him swap it out. Finally no more talk about that coil job, which was clean buy the way. Well it started a new trend for my father. Now he spent years worrying about being pulled over by the Highway Patrol for a roadside inspection and getting popped for a illegal vin swap. He started slipping farther into darkness with talk of cutting the vin section of the frame and welding to the other. Trust me where I grew up the cops looked for this sort of crap, anything to bust your ass. He kept that frame on the side of the house for years Incase something popped up. Build it your way. You are in control. Can’t wait for the results. Don’t let Hot Rods eat you up.

 

That was a great looking car and the rear end is OK by me too. Shame to break if up but the prior owner had his reasons and I presume the funds to see it through, and of course it was his to do with as he chose!

Chris

Chris

 

The current owner has begun a nearly 6 figure transformation of the car into a blown big block beast. They built an entirely new chassis to handle the power from the new $30k engine.

 

I’m surprised no one has mentioned the best option… build a second full-fendered car!

 

I think Jag rears are cool lol. I would totally put that chassis under my coupe. Honestly if you have fun driving it, who cares? Maybe youll build it with the jag rear and like the way it drives so much you could sell the original chassis to another guy and drive the heck out of the "street rod" chassis 34.

I would have bought that chassis in a heartbeat if it was as cheap and well built as you say. I do agree it would look better under a full fendered car but I also like fenders more than fenderless cars anyway.

Gordy

 

No.
Cut it out.
You're scaring me.

 

I agree, but I was thinking about making the Jag chassis more complete and clean, then selling it off for seed money to finish the traditional 5/w. However, each of the following steps would make it's sale more valuable:
Step 1 - completely disassemble and repaint everything. Reassemble the chassis and drop the detailed 307/Glide in.
Step 2 - Make the chassis run, steer and stop. Radiator, driveshaft, tank, fresh brakes (pads, turn rotors, etc).
Step 3 - If you could get it titled, it would dramatically increase the value. You would have to decide if you were going to keep it or flip it, then start looking for a body. Cheapest would be a pickup cab and bed. Also the cheapest to build as the pickup grille and hood is much cheaper than passenger car.