Well after years of building cars and lurking around I've decided to do a build thread. After 20 or so years in the Air Force we decided to start a rod shop in Indiana and in between working on customer cars were going to try to build my own 3 window. I started with an idea to build a 32 a couple years ago while I was building a 31 coupe. I ***umed I'd start building a frame and eventually going the Brookville route as they're only an hour away from our shop, not thinking I'd ever find an original let alone a 3 window in my price range. Last year that changed when I heard from a friend that there was a 3 window available only 4 hours away, and even better an old hot rod! We immediately loaded up my 31 in hopes of trading and we struck a deal. I became the proud owner of the 32 and all it cost me was a perfectly running and driving hot rod lol. The 32 dream started a couple of years ago so I had been stashing select parts and drawing up plans in the meantime. As of now were slowly chipping away at the build and hope to do***ent everything as we go. The plan: Bonneville style build with heavy mid-west influences. All parts (with minor safety exceptions) sourced from pre-60 cars or custom made. Simple, fast, heavily chopped, track-nose (maybe). I little Pierson Bros. mixed with some mid-west style and speed influences. Pinched and bobbed frame w/tube axle, salt discs via so-cal coupe inspiration. The parts on deck for the build: 324 Olds, 37 LaSalle Trans, 40 rear end, V8-60 axle, new rails, 32 wishbone, LaSalle Grille (for cut-down track nose), 40 brakes, Dirt-track tires, Lund br*** headlights, SW gauges, F1 steering box, Weiand 6x2 log intake, 371 heads, etc. What I know about the 32: The story goes it belonged to a shop teacher in NE Indiana. It was kept in the back of an old church and stored since the 80s and was clearly a cool car in it's day. The car is channeled over a heavily stepped frame with an early 327 and Dago "ish" dropped axle. 40 brakes and a tri-five rear end. The rear fenders were heavily bobbed and leaded in. Unfortunately the driver side body work became unattached at some point but the lead work is impressive as well as the leaded roof insert and cowl vent. The original dash was replaced with SW gauges and an aluminum panel and early GM buckets were used as the seats welded to the floor. If anyone has any info on a three window that matches this in the Toledo, South Bend, Ft Wayne, Chicago area I would absolutely love it. The lineage stops at the death of the last owner and not much is known. The first pic is the night we brought it home (three days and 2 flat tires later) we brought it to the shop and the body off the frame. More to come!
The first few posts will be a catch up to where we're at now then I'll be updating as we progress. Being that we build frames at the shop it only made sense that we built one for the 32 especially considering the plan I had for the build. The rails were ASC blanks that we started with in the jig. I considered not even boxing the frame but ultimately decided to step box the frame and blend the boxing welds for a more hidden look and flow. The rails were pinched via a pie cut a total of 6" making for a narrow nose in hopes of a track nose. 3/8 plate was welded behind all of the holes along the rails for later tapping into for the body. The rear crossmember is an R-Jays as well as the center stamped crossmember. The car will be a torque tube to the LaSalle transmission and the rear end is a 40 with a Model-A spring I reversed. The rear end also has the 3.54 with Hot Rod Works axle conversion using 40-brakes so from all looks of it it will be a 40 rear end. ---still trying to figure out how to upload old photos that are too large
Keeping the channel? Proportionally will work better with a tracknose and be more in keeping with the Mid-West aesthetic
So I’ll have to hold off on uploading pics of what I’ve done so far until I can find a more efficient way to resize photos. But today I started cutting the discs for the front wheels. I’m using a front wheel off of an early Willy’s mainly because of the 5.5 lug pattern and narrow width plus they’re easy to come by. I’m running front15” ribbed tires so the 4.5” rim works great. I ended up using 1/8” aluminum plate and a jig saw at low speed (Lennox metal blades) to get my initial shape. I’ll file them to perfection at the shop this week. The next thing to do is id my center and mounting holes. I’ll most likely use studs on the lip welded on. Once that’s all done I’ll start the fun process of polishing and engine turning the face
It'll likely keep a channel just not as severe as the original. I've been toying with the idea of a taper or wedge channel but agreed I think it will help with the track-nose in bringing town the overall shape and flow of the front
Finally moved the frame into a spot where I can start working on it and was able to get the motor temp mocked. Next on the list is to start getting the front end done right in terms of geometry. I’ll be using 32 spindles on the V8-60 axle so going to reach out to Lacy today and get the bearings in order so I can get that going.
If you are on your phone you can screen shot and crop your photo and it will/should be small enough file wise to post. car is cool as hell! Thanks for sharing
If you take a wood bandsaw and slow the speed down to 200 rpm and a bi-metal 10-14 tooth blade. I have been doing this for 25 years. cut 1/2" mild steel. Must be slow and bi-metal blade.
I haven’t updated in a bit but good progress over the last couple of months. I’ve been working on the rear end and trying some ideas I’ve had over the years. For the rear I went with 32 front rods and used an old model A axle and cut the centers out of it for mounts. The rear is a hot rod works conversion on a 40 with a model A spring we reversed. I went with lower shackles from Carrillo customs and used an old hairpin as a torque rod. Shocks are 39 with the arms bent to match and model A shock balls welded in place. The tube and driveshaft got cut down and mated to the Lasalle. The front end is just mocked up for the time being. The goal for the rear was to keep it all inside the frame rails in prep for the belly pan. This month I’m hoping to get floors made for the sub rails so I can start getting the body ready to sit down on it. No real work up front other than bending the 33 spindle arms to fit and getting a few things in place to make it a roller. The spring is a 31.5” from roadster supply which I may swap for a 29 depending on shackle angle once it starts loading.
After you get all your pics loaded on the post, there’s one ****on asking if you want them all full size. Please do.
A few more updates. I built the exhaust and finally got around to polishing the motor parts and rebuilding the carbs. I was also able to work on the from sway bar setup using an idea I’ve always wanted to try. It’s 3/4 bar with model A shock arms and dogbone links. Hoping to reduce the risk of breakage with the spring behind split bones on a tube axle. I also built the slave cylinder mount using an early Toyota slave cylinder. Next up I’ll be finishing the front end completely and adding the scoops and vents to the 40 brakes. Headers are going out to get coated tomorrow and linkage and fuel system parts should be in this week. Also I should get around to building the floor structure soon so we can start getting the body ready for initial fitting.
A few updates on the build I was able to get the ch***is finished out along with the carbs and some new wires from Noble Speed. The Goliath shocks also arrived and I got those fitted for mock up but the biggest win was grabbing the body from the shop and getting it on the ch***is! There’s a ton of work to do so I moved it back to the house for the winter and got started on the quarter panels this week. I will say it’s nice having brookville roadster 20 minutes away! Great guys that were able to get me a drop piece that was just what I needed. The fit is really good too! Just some progress on the panel this week until my door wood shows up.
Love the big pics, thanks! Nice build too. Looking forward to following along, especially when its time for the chop.
I'm not going to be running any fenders and actually found someone that needed them for their build so I was able to p*** them along. They must have had 100 lbs of lead in them lol '
That’s some nice work! The age old challenge of making a silk purse from a sow’s ear. You’ve certainly done that! Thanks for sharing the journey. Keep ‘em coming!
Nice work! I'm really liking the way you did the rear suspension and the incorporation of the sway bar.
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