To channal or not to channal

I need to make a decision on my 1931 5 window Olds. It was channaled 4 inches over the frame before I bought it. I just bought an absolutle perfect original gfrill shell for it. The car is also chopped 3 inches. After doing some rough measurments, I would need to section the grill shell 2 1/2 inches so it would fall approx a half inch lower then the cowl. I really don't want to chop up this shell. Also, It was re-chromed and I am interested in seeing any pics of chromed grill shells on hot rods. I know most everybody paints them. I could cut out the floor and install a new floor to sit on top of the frame rails. Is this a ton of work. I think I like the "high boy" look sittin on top. I could use some expert advise.


Brian

 

I vote for the highboy look myself, but then again I'm biased because that's what I'm building. It seems most guys channel, but I like to be "different".

Bill

 

I am leaning in that direction. Has anyone removed a channaled floor and restored it to the original??? Is it a ton of work?

 

i love that grill shell. wow! leave the channel. dont section that grill. find another grill and hang that one you have on the wall.

 

I bought it from someone who had it hanging on a wall. It will need a "hair cut" if I leave the car channaled. Any help from someone who has sectioned a grill shell???? Any tips or maybe and earliar post?

Bc

 

I personally would leave it Channeled. The cost of Chrome is a poor reason not to cut the Grill Shell if that's what it takes to make it look right. If You like the way you fit inside the car and want to un-channel the car, skip the work of cutting the Floor and dropping it. Build some spacers and raise the Body up to where you want it. Sure will save time and re-aligning everything. I've cut many a grill shell. The toughest was a 32 Rockney, impossible to find another and very Complex. Once done the most common comment is "Didn't it have a Crank Hole?" I guess it just looks correct. Go ahead and Cut your Grill Shell.
The Wizzard

 

Has anyone out here brought their high boys back to normal height and used spaces without cutting out the floor. I love the idea if it can be done. I have enough head room on the inside and would love to dop this without cutting out the floor.

Brian

 

Can't you just move the radiator forward enough to drop in front of the front crossmember enough to leave the shell alone, or will ir throw the proportions of the car off too much?
I would not cut that beautiful shell unless I just had to do it as a last resort. Even so, don't whack a chunk out of it and weld it back together, simple notch the sides and let it slip down where it needs to be then fit your radiator to it.

 

I normally say go with the "high boy" look but lately I have been drooling over a bunch of channeled Model (A)s. I guess if it's already channeled and the work is good then I would leave it. BUT, if you have your heart set on "high Boy", then I would cut out the floor and do it right. You will be much happier in the long run. Hey I just noticed that you live in Buffalo. I lived in Buffalo my whole life until about a year ago when I moved to Charlotte, NC. I always like to see people from back home on here.

 

Nothing wrong with body spacers. I've raised 2 projects this way and no problems. Think about Lift Kits for 4X4 trucks. Nothing but spacers and there are thousands of them on the roads. Keep it simple and get it done.
The Wizzard

 

Here's another thought. Why not just move the Rad forward of the front crossmember and drop it down to where it lines up? I did that on my '29, runs a mustang rad and an unchopped A grille shell.

 

Thanks for all your help. DOes anyone have a picture of a hot rod that used spacers to restore the original height?

 

channel that damn thing
they look like you just took the fenders off MOMs ride in 1959 if they are left stock
just my oppinion, yours may differ

 

All East coast Hotrods are traditionally and should be channeled.
The traditional remedy is to move the radiator (shell) out in front of the crossmember and down.
Looks like it's too short an engine compartment for an Oldsmobile anyway.

 

I agree with DrJ, someone spent a lot of time doing a decent channel job, you are lucky to have that part of the project already done! Besides, it looks killer.

 

I don't have any work in progress photos of what I've done but when done right and the bottom of the Body is flush to the top of the Frame you shouldn't see any of the spacers you make. I used heavy wall tubing for the jobs and made each block about 3" long. On most cars the body subrails do not sit on the complete frame front to back anyway. Each body bolt is shimmed to get door gap and hood alignment. Most common shims are about 1" square with a slot makiing them a large U. Makes body to frame contact spot pretty small.
The Wizzard

 

I will mock it up and see if I like it unchannaled. I live in the North East but my idea was to build a So Cal style rod from the mid fifties. In Calafornia, I trhink most of the cars were chopped and left high on the frame rails. The East coast boys channaled and left the cars unchopped. I prefer both the West Coast 'rods" as well as their weather when compared to Buffalo NY.

Just my thoughts. I will post the new pics with the car sitting high on the frame rails.

BC

 

Also,
Dr. J The car has the golf door option that was filled in. This can be seen by the duplicate picture if you look closely. I also extended the factory wheelbase if 112" to 115" in order to fit the Olds big block 455 rebuilt engine. I was told this is a 1931 Oldsmobile when I bought it. However, I am very new to hot rodding and this is my first build. Any help identifying the car would be apreciated.

Brian

 

Dr J is a RULER
east coast cars are cl***y

 

From what I understand, about half of the residents of Buffalo have moved to the Charlotte area!!!!!