3w in chicken coupe since 1960 chapter II

Well we brought the old chicken coupe car to my place today. I guess this is about time for Richard to decide which route to take on his car. Richard and his grandfather built this car when he was a kid. After blowing up the built 270 jimmy 6 he pushed the car into the chicken house and joined the Navy. It stayed from 1960 till last year when it was moved to a ba*****t (see "just couldn't wait "thread)and now to my shop. I told the owner that I would help him get it back on the road if he ever decided to get it going and now starts the decision game.

 

BAD***! What front end id that????

 

wow that's pretty cool!

 

WOW! I wouldn't do a thing but get it running!!! WOW

 

Apparently the used a '48 Chevy for a donor car. At one time it had all 6 cylinder Chevy running gear and front suspension. The grand pa in this build must have been pretty sharp as there was lots of fabrication and some pretty good looking gas welds.

 

wow is that neat!

 

wow very cool!!!

 

Holy f f f f f f f f u u u u udge that is cool.

 

I'd think long and hard before I did a thing on that car........WOW!!!

 

The car deserves some dignity...lose the front end and put Ford stuff back under it...my .02

 

Not every 3window has to look like yours man.

 

I think it belongs back on a a Deuce frame with a dropped axle or a stock I beam with a suicide mount, but no matter what its a pretty neat old car.

How's that old saying go, "Coupes are for Chickens", now should be "Chicken Coups are for 3W Coupes".

 

And still some will never believe IFS is traditional. Great car!

 

I remember those pics of that car when I picked up the sedan. Glad to see he is ready to do something

 

I'd vote to leave it as is, just clean it up and rebuild it. It was built that way back in the day, and it's an example that not every Hop Up was a carbon-copy, by-the-book, cookie-cutter, me-too job. It represents a certain era in a certain region and should be preserved IMHO.

That's my .02 .

 

im all about early fords and all but leave this thing alone and get it driving, the way it is!

jeff

 

^^^

 

But to put a Deuce 3W with a '48 Chevy front suspension? I don't think it was right then or now......

 

looks like a Ford frame to me. '48 Chevs had box hat side rails.

Just clean it up & run as is.

:edit: I just remembered Ak Miller ran the same front end on his '32 roadster

 

great car! my vote is for keepin' it like it is. Sure the technology might be better today, but there is a lot to be said for preserving the past, which is really what each of us does with our old rods.

 

jimmy b is right....100%

put a motor back in and drive it. its a real survivor and you would ruin it if you changed anything...................-jordan

 

i disagree with all of you!, cut it up with the rest of them chop if 10 inches and put the shifter thru the roof and make sure its bare metal when u give it a bath, then it will be a traditonal rod..o yea put a sbc with a blower on it too thats what everyone else would do..





Nah only kidding, I like it how it is id make it run and drive it for a while.. Its a good find.

 

what the hell is it with every one wanting to change survivors these days??!!! its sickening!! you all want to preserve hot roddings history by honoring it and mimicking it... yet... you are so quick to want to destroy its history by altering and changing these cars that are found in one piece. ****in hypocrites.

1 vote for leaving it here..

 

Leave it alone! ..change the things to make it drivable! not livable.

 

I'd change it...

I'd change the gaskets if it leaks...

I'd change the rubber if it's dry-rotted...

I'd change the bushings if their worn out...

And that's about it.

 

Funny, everyone talks tradditional and when one shows up the" PRO'S" want to change it to thier likes, the hell with how it WAS built!!! IDIOTS!!!!!! Make it run and drive it as is!! AL

 

nice find,dont care for the front fenders but cool none the less

 

The body is welded to the stock length '32 frame. The Chevy front crossmember is welded under the frame with no cutting. The '32 radiator was moved forward 8 inches and down. A new hood was fabricated and it measures 40" down the center as opposed to 32" stock. I feel like it would look better with the shell in stock position and a beam axle but I can't see changing such a survivor either.
Fortunately I don't have to make the decision and I'm sure the owner will appreciate everyone's input.

 

Survivors are part of the hot rod history, when they are changed the history is ruined. To me that car would be a tough decision, but perhaps I would replace the Chevrolet IFS with a "period" Mordrop I-beam and move the radiator...

Thanks for posting. It's a cool car!


--mika

 

Sorry guys but sometimes what was cool and thought to be cuting edge in the early 60's is just plain ugly now,,,and in my opinion probably was then.

That early chevy front suspension doesn't look right same as a mustang II doesn't look good under a open fendered car,,,HRP