Technical Buying Fiberglass Bodies and Chassis from Different Companies

Never seen the patches on your seat covers before, nice! You gained a few more points.

Not just fatties but treadless tires as well. If you might get 'em wet, chose your rubber carefully. I got caught twice in the rain this last weekend at the beach far from home in my roadster. Might as well have been black ice. I didn't wreck the car (or my shorts) but it weren't fun.

 

I am a proud Vietnam vent. Did my year at Cam Ranh Bay working on Caribou aircraft, 12 hour shift, 7 days a week. I think I had off on my birthday. Our aircraft supplied everybody. I was told the Caribou could fly backwards in a 30 knot head wind. Also heard that one landed in less than 10 feet. Messed up the wings though! So I witnessed the BS. Hence the patches. This country is worth fighting for!!!

 

Amen and thank you for your service to that cause.

 

Splitbudaba,
Thank you for your service!
And thank you others for the big tire advice. The tires are a non-negotiable for my build. But, I will take your advice to heart. I plan to rarely get more than 25 miles from home but when I do go out of my small town, I will remember you and make sure I take time to pull over and wait it out if it rains.

 

The humor in this, is I got my draft notice, when and where to report to the Army. Next day I talked to the Air Force recruiter. The previous week I had taken the aptitude tests. The Air Force wanted me. Next day I was sworn in to the A F Reserves. That was June 1, 1968. That put me in a delayed enlistment. Didn't go to back in till September 17, 1968. Got the summer at home. Everybody was happy! Me included!!

 

I appreciate & Thank any One that
Served ,
@Bandit Billy , Before Modern weather
Technology , been several times Caught in rain on M/H , McCreary's tires , Full Slick , spooled rear
Big M/T I do not know If there was many Rodder /Racer doing this
I think there was Ahh !! , Under Ground
of us D D Race Rod's Race car's on street , Still to this day Still driving On slick , Some of sets on Rear Drag Radial
Cutting Single line/ groove @ 45 deg Tire Groover
Some not .

Here Snow , Rain
The 35 DD year round 50 years
32 5w DD 93- 2012 untill sold
But replace , another 32 3 W DD in FLa, & another DD 32 5w 3-4 times week , anyone been to Central Florida and on the East Coast knows it rains pretty much every day.



These 2 Below
No connection just showing

 

Good thread, the OP is taking a logical route
in have the chassis completed and then
sending it to the body builder, that approach
should minimize the margin of error.

Jim

 

Hello Kansas Gary,

I completely respect and applaud your ability to take the responses then think through each one in regards to your mission. This before responding defensively, and/or disrespectfully. A wise man is quiet when seeking the path and listening for the direction.

Glad you decided to stick around!

Trailers, Fiberglass, LS things, etc. There are many taboo's here. We are after all a very independent cantankerous narrow focus bunch. I am 100% including myself in this statement. Personally FG makes me itch, Trailers are for broken shit. Pathetic is the Hot Rod that is capable of making it across country and never gets the chance to prove it or its owner the joy of doing it.

LS engines are the ugliest things ever made, period. But good lord horsepower on demand for relatively cheap.

But having said that: Nothing is set in stone around here.

Let's take FG for instance and Trailers. Booo Booo Booo, but wait! Hey I go race at Bonneville in a FG '29 that gets there by Trailer? Hmm a rift in the thinking for certain. But it is a purpose built Hot Rod. No it is not LS powered. SBC, because that is the best Engine ever made for the masses. See I just threw the Flathead under the bus to many, I own those too. But nothing compares to a SBC pound for pound, Inch per inch.

There's several really Bitchin' Cars that are quietly FG around here. They do pull it off though and would be hard pressed to be Identified as such by the masses (again we are a picky bunch, but have keen senses towards the mundane). And your choice of a Three Window is SOLID.

What it boils down to is "the Look" Wheels/Stance/Sound/and Finish. It is amazing how forgiving we are if it's "Right". Not that you need forgiveness. You've proven your ability to act in a manner few have the mindset for. Unabashed curiosity with the open thought of learning to get exactly what you want. Admirable Traits.

In the end that is what it's all about. Get what you want. If you need help give a shout. After all it is about the people. I don't care if you paint it Pink with Purple Polka Dots with an LS and Dubs on it. If that makes you happy then by all means be happy. I won't want a ride in it, but we'll laugh with each other guaranteed

Just don't fall into the trap of switching up the build mid stream. It'll never get finished. Do all your research up front and develop a plan. Then stick to it to the end. I do know a couple of projects on the 40- 50 year mark which have had every new thought or gadget thrown at it. Never ever even rolling on their own wheels. Tragic for certain.

So welcome to the HAMB I'll look forward to watching your progress as the days progress.

- Tim

 

I'm going to buy a plastic 33-4 Tudor or Vicki to tow my banger speedster. I want the ride of a modern chassis and AC. There was (is?) a company that built kits. They are easy to spot by the hood sides. Start with one of those and then make it yours. This one is $23,000. You'll spend more than that on parts. https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1934-ford-el-cajon-ca-2895917
When building a car much of the time is spent fitting the parts. This is already done. Buy this one drive it a week or two to see what needs to be done then blow it apart and redo it into the car you want.

 

Call my Wescott roadster bodied HOT ROD whatever you choose, it's between you and your god...........just don't call it a kit car!

 

I consider a "kit" car one that contains (generally) all the parts except drivetrain and wheels/tires. Of late the term "component" car has entered the mix. It seems to be used for kit cars that require little or no fabrication and use parts from a specific donor car.
A "Hot Rod" (IMHO) is something assembled from a pile of parts from various sources.
All have their place in the market.
A hot rod takes the most imagination and skill to build.
A kit car needs refining and some limited fabrication/welding skills.
A component car only requires the assembly of parts.

The Factory 5 Hot Rod is good looking even if you have trouble seeing independent front suspension and a tube frame. A good looking car for someone with limited skills to build their own. Would a traditionalist like it probably not. Would the guy who built it love it and drive it - of course.

 

Thank you for the kind words Tim!

Over the last year I have done a lot of researching, soul searching, and cycling through many iterations of what I thought I wanted. From no chrome, to lots of chrome, and now back down to a small amount in strategic places. Shaved doors with poppers to door handles. From wanting to have all the latest electronic gizmos to a simple, clean interior and dash. I've looked at a ~million 33-34s online and it is obvious what decade many of them were built/restored in. I want mine to have a more timeless look.

I think I now have all the major design elements locked down and ready to begin executing the plan.
Thanks to all here who have provided input. It has been very helpful and I've given them careful consideration along this journey.

~Gary

 

You guys have really turned me around!
I just called Tony at Show Me Rod & Custom and changed my build from hidden door hinges to original style.

 

This is the way! Collect a thousand pictures, look them over, sort your favorites, and revisit. Keep doing this until you find the combo that becomes your own vision of the perfect combo of stance, mods, colors and details that make you think "that's exactly what I want."
Sleep on it, look at other cars and see if there are any other details that can be added without distracting from the core ideal. It's a lot cheaper to build in your head than in your garage!
If it's a big dollar design, you can even have an artist draw it up to confirm.

 

Go Gary GO!

PS - Less is always more on a Hot Rod

 

Everything we do is a Kit Car. As in an MPC Model Kit Leftover box. At least mine are.

How bitchin' would it be to walk into a Ford Dealership and drive out with a brand new model 40? Then rip all the non essential shit off of it! Reverse Assembly would be Faaaar Out.

 

Stay away from those classic motor carriage 34’s they were also sold under another name. The proportions are slightly off, the fenders are all molded one piece to the body and the chassis is nothing like a 34. At Least most of the other glass cars go together pretty much like a steel car using a chassis based on the original dimensions.

 

Street Beast. absolute junk.

 

Trust me you can hit a rain storm and hydroplane and spin out with big tires within 20 miles of home on what started out as a blue sky day within 25 miles from home and I have had it happen three times with N 50 tires on my 48. how far you venture from home all depends on how far you are comfortable driving it and if it sits right that might be a tank of gas worth of away from the house on a good day. Plus other hot rodders in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas seldom worry about distances except for where the gas and food stops are. You jump in the car and drive two hours just to get to a place with great burgers or barbecue and then cruise back without a second thought.

 

Sounds like what the future will be with my ride. Each nice day gives me new opportunities. Either that or start working on the interior, paint another area, or whatever. She will never be finished! I love the build, just walking out in the garage makes me smile!!