i am glad to have stumbled apon this site.. i see there is a ton of people can source for info and pictures. i am looking for some idea's for my 31 chevy 2door sedan. its been in the family for yrs.. while it was my fathers i have had dibbs on it for a long time. i dig the ,,get it road worthyness of the rusto rods.. the car actually has a killer patina right now.. its all stock...and needs some wood work...(which is why its still on the back burner..) What i would love to see is some cutom,and modified 31 specifically but 30-32 is fine..CHEVY"S i dont know if i want to keep it full fender'd or not. since we are sort of the bastards...being these model chevies.. it seems there is alot of users here with Chevies.. id love to see pictures...some for insiration..and some for ideas.. i am not a big glam-rod type of guy..but pictures of those would still be fine.. i have a ton of stories about my cars...some that will make you cry. but for now i just would love some ideas..and pictures thanks in advance. "Cheapstreet" Ps..if there is a model distinction for this perticular body? id like to know...i just call it a 2 dr sedan?..dont know the trim level or if its a specific model..from what someone could determine from this picture.
keep the fenders i would replace the wood esp the door frames and cowl with steel tubing. makes for a safer ride
on the wood i am using this guy. http://www.chevywood.com/ but id like to modify it.. When my father drove it ..it had an aluminum buick with a covette 4spd box i have ponderd this car my whole life and it has changed over many many times in my minds eye.. i used to play in it...in the garage when i was a small boy... but looking at it with the full fenders ....just seems to be wearing... i see all the time..Fords dun up...nicely... but the chevies i come accross are always stock...which is fine... id just like to see some ,hoodless, or fender mods, or chopped.. to see ...ive read some posts so i know you guys are out there. Cheapst
Whats the power train currently? I would take the hood off, drop the front end and make sure it's fast as hell.
there isnt one..its in storage with the chasis removed.. but id like to either do a rover/buick motor again.. or ...i love the drive train in my ol 96 gmc pu...efi 305 and a 5spd manual.. would make a real nice drivetrain...except the valve cover bolts are in the wrong place and the aircleaner would have to cratively hide the throttle body. its got a olds rear in it.. cheapst
have the brakes been changed out or are you still running 6 lug? first step remove the mechanical brakes if not done already. pick a new drive train, install, fix up the wood and enjoy..... here's my 31, just not a cdan..... BTW we built it in GA last summer before i moved....
i have always gravitated to "High boys" but i like your truck.. the old man...is very reluctant for me to cut the body... i am not totally sold on having to cut it..but again..the ideas..are what i am after... hopefully i can build the new 900sft garage out back and go hook the car out of storage in New Jersey.... cheapst.
The way that I see it is that in the end your father will probably like it no matter how you do as long as it's within reason. A nice traditional sedan perhaps on Deuce rails or a Z'ed stock frame would look good up high or down low. If it's going to be yours you really have to make it your own. That kind of what these things are about. These two pics are somebody who is selling this model a on the Hamb. I think his sits perfect and has the right tire and wheel combo.
the pictures i posted of it are from around 1962..that was my Dad's parents home on Centanial lakes in New Jersey (south jersey) the car along with a list of others where stored in a barn at my mothers parents Farm/home in Marlton.. We had a 29 dodge 2dr sedan,28 dodge 4dr,a 39plymouth 2dr,a complete front clip for a 35 plymouth complete with period flames and my beloved 30-31? pontiac coupe.. these cars where stored in an old live stock building for many yrs...when my Grandfather passed away she(Grandmother) gave the farm to my cousin... about 3 yrs ago..he sold all of these cars off...for $1500 ... i had moved to Georgia in 1990,,and had not known of this until 6months after the cars where gone.. the Pontiac was astonishing...(they where all in great shape) it was a early 60s driver...had chopped top,filled roof, filled trunklid was orange and a highboy it had Chrome reverse wheels and a pontiac overhead valve v8(i think it was a 326?) had 3 2bbl carbs and a laSal transmission.. the frame had been hit lightly but the front rail was tweeked.. Picture-ing it right now in my mind it would fit right in as a "ratrod" that are soo popular today...with a killer patina.. i am so upset about this situation it makes me sick.. If my cousin wasnt 6,4" 235lbs i would have clocked him upside the head..but id prolly loose that battle. Hunters used to trespass and rumage through the barn.... they struck up a conversation with my cousin in a bar..and over a short period of time...convinced him to sell.... Son of a Bitch..had no clue...it was just some quick money... and done reall hush hush... I cant even tell you how many nights i dreamt about that car growing up with the ubiquidous "some day" in my mind... but its all gone.... after some investigating..i heard the stuff was offed at Hershey.... the guy who bought it grew up with my mom...and had no remorse... i am getting sick right now thinking about it. asssmack didnt even know what the car was.... but i digress.. luckily the Chevy was in an other building and coverd up with a bunch of junk... Junk which was pilled up around it by my Uncle....who i constantly bitched about putting crap all around it and on top of it.... this actually turned out to be a god send..as that is what eventually saved the car...they couldnt or didnt have time to uncover it ...and planned to return later...for it.. when i got word,,, i high taled it up to Jersey and promptly hooked it out of there. so now it sets in my fathers car/storage garage...but its taking up space.. its still a "some day" sinario..but i WILL get to it eventually. cheapst.
Since its off the frame, z the frame, I would channel the body cause those chevy frames are pretty ugly, take the fenders off, swap out the rollers for some chromed reversed wheels and add some wide whites. I wouldn't touch the body either. As for the EFI....I will let the other guys string you up for that one.
oh i know id get a razz for the efi..but its so simple. and can be hidden sure enough. id prefer to drive it...as to wrench on it on the side of the road..or have to take vacume gauge and host of tools ..on this perticular car...because it would be something ill be taking my wife and kids in...She aint much for my cars when we get stuck on the side of the road..here in georgia in the scorching hot sun.. I am gonna do a coupe thats hard core...multi carbed period correct.. full on knuckle dragger..but the sedan has to be more user friendly and consevative... but i am definately a period guy...this would be a mid 60's effort (sedan) i actually have the spoked rims in the picture..but i am more of a painted steelie guy.. my thoughts are ..go with a base coat deep purple satin or flat...like an eggplant with cream chassis and rims with wide whites..prolly do the cowl cream and i havent decided on the motor color but period tin... the interior was a fresh diamond tuck and roll black..which is in like new condition...in storage...so that will stay..but i want to offset the interior metal with a contrasting color...some minimal pinstripe in cream and pearl purple but real sedate or lower key..maybe royal/cloyseen blue..like the blue enamel you would have found on the sinage of the day.. not sure yet.. but i like mechanical look of engines..so some aluminum and period arcraft type hardware under the hood...again mechanicals...like the race car motors would have looked like in the day...definately finned alloy valve covers but period...bright but not to shiney.. buick finned brake simulators..if i cant find originals.. machined acorn lugsnuts i also have a 392 hemi but may save that for the more radical coupe idea.. i have had these thoughts in my mind forever...and i am only 40 but.. not new to the Rods..its been a passion since i built my first model as a small child.. chepast.
i dont recall it having 6 lugs...5 is what i remember... the car is a long ways away...so i am going off memory.. right now i currently have the stock front axle and brake set up. even the hyrolic shocks. but am up for suggestions... the other issue i cant seem to picture ..in/on a street rod it the 2 leaf springs up front..how you guys do,what you guys do to this type of front end...to lower it ...you move the axle on top of the springs? how does it look finished..the only stuf i have pictured had coilsprings with rack front ends...(eeghhh) not my style... thats what i am hoping to see pictures for... cheapst
axle on top of the springs is what i did. if it's 5 lug, the mechanical brakes are gone and you have juice brakes, perfect start. dump a sbc in it make it a nice driver to keep the wife happy, lower it and drive. it's a nice car not to cut up to much. if you are making a crazy coupe, make that crazy and keep the cdan workable/drivable/realiable. my truck is silly crazy, but soon i'll be getting a 32 coupe to make a nice driver outta, one crazy one as a good dependable driver. if you do it right and leave it somewhat stockish, keep it reliable the wife and kids might have a better appreciation for old cars.....and yes i'm talking from experience! a few front pics.... hope that helps
he 29 ...nice delivery.... pbr....thats a buick motor? what is the bellhousing bolt patern on that..same as chevy? looks like a custom front axle? what can i put for brakes/spindal. on the stock I beam axle i have? earlier it was mention'd to Z the frame...this is a drop in the frame infront of the cowl? i am guessing..? will boxing the stock frame be enough for a v8? as far as strength? pbr..My father had a 3/4 ton chevy stake bed truck complete settin in the street when i was a child...used to play on it all the time....nice shape..would love to have it today...lol. cheapst.
Yah, it's a nailhead....401 bendsteins adapter plate to get a super t10 behind it. it's a bolt on axle from MAS using 49-54 chevy spindles, but notice on top of the leafs....it's kinda low. frame shouldn't need boxing unless you really plan on putting some power behind it or really plan on 'using' it....mine is boxed
31 2-door sedans were still called a "Coach" in '31 They were all called the Independence Series AE. My '28 Coach will be more of the highboy style but not tool high. I'll be posting a rendering of mine I'm working on here shortly. If it were me, I would stick to the style of the original inline 6 and put in a 235. Search out my other posts for pics of mine and look at "inkundone"s car as well. There are some pics of his Coach with the fenders off that will give you some more ideas. Let us know when you get into it what is already done with the brakes and what you still want to accomplish. There are lots of easy ways to update the car on the cheap and be plenty reliable. I'm guessing with those wheels that some updating has already been done. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for some pictures of its current form when you get them.
I went through my photo library,so here's some Chevies for you.Some are coaches like yours and others are just because"traditional Chevs" are hard to find in quantity. Enjoy and good luck on the build.
hey please post pictures of your ride...id be very interested to see it. and your progress.. cheapst.
i was just having a conversation with my dad.. he said..the brakes on the stock 31 front axle are from a C1 59 corvette..and that 50's chevy cars drums will also bolt onto the the spindles. thats what is on my 31...fwiw cheapst
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