This is what I started with' This is with a new roof on it that was sitting under one of my trees for a couple years. It will need a center section and widened 1 1/4" and shortened about 4" and chopped 3" with the back window notched up 3". Then I started the chop and took off the bent up fenders. Here is the top filled, a filler panel made for the back of the door where the roof was short and the window notched up and a new trunk lid made. Oh and a 3 3/4" channel and a built 4" Z'd front frame. And after I got the rear frame built, suspension set up, 1940 Ford 16" rims powder coated and new tires, bullet caps and studs, grill and headlights sitting in place , here it is!!!!! My first ever build. I might do some fins on the back for a custom but time will tell. Also the Hemi is in progress with the crank set in place, the heads done and the rest of the parts sitting in boxes for the next step!! Getting stoked as its now sitting on its own suspension!! Whoooo Hoooo . I pushed it out of its spot and man is it light!!. Anyway, I'm having fun but the back end looks too straight across. It looks like something is definately missing so I need to work with that part and the front grill is too short but I have another grill exact same and am thinking of flipping a portion of it upside down to extend it closer to the ground. I didnt notice these things until the car was outside. Also I dont know how low the front will drop after the Hemi is in so that may lower the grill enough. I will be continueing the belt line onto the trunk lid out of 1/4" X 4" and sort of pattern it like the felt marker and then take a roundover router bit to make the same profile of the existing belt line. I have a 1956 Mercury dash that I will graft into the dash also. Hope you like it.
What rear axle are u using? Are you going to notch the firewall much for the Hemi? Looks good so-far.
The only thing that would fit for the rear end is a 1965 Ford 9" truck rear end. I also have really wide drum brakes that go beyond the backing plates by about 2 1/2" so it will be even tighter to the body. This is a wide *** car!! As far as notching the firewall, theres no need. I had the trans and Hemi in place and it looked good where it sat and gave me a ton of leg room and I also have about 6" of headroom and I'm 5'-10. It has a ton of room inside.
I see you've used a pair of 40-41 Ford 3/4-1 ton and 40-47 Cabover headlamps and stands with the parklamps built into the stands...nice. The lenses for the parklamps are the dome/post lamp lenses used from about 1937-40 in P***enger cars. I like the coupe in general and am glad YOU noticed the blahness of the tailend. Your solution should make it right for sure. BUT I think using the Dodge trim with the grille is not such a good idea. If you used just the grille, taller as you mentioned and lengthened at the bottom for a finished look but without the stainless trim you would accomplish two things: eliminate the Dodge name from the front of your car and make the grille into a nice puzzle for the viewer and admirer. Great work, good concept, good execution.
The trim is just hanging on there. Also the grill is pretty equal with the cowl so I dont want to raise it too much but could go 1". I really try to visualize the car as different than the average Model A build as its a Whippet and try giving it a flair that is different but not too far off the deep end where some people get carried away and their project becomes gaudy. Theres a fine line between the two. The grill was and is one of those close to the edge deals but seems to work as it has the exact profile of the cowl. The headlights were another thing. I got so use to seeing the car with just the grill, every pair of headlights I tried didn't work. Then I found these and the pedestals had the same curve as the grill shell. I ended up buying about 8 pair of lights before finding te ones that worked. The extra lights I have now plus a few more I bought are going to be used for my pool table lights . I will install a socket and dimmable flourescent bulbs. It will add to the look of my barn. It is amazing how many decisions you need to make on the car. The rear end was another one that I had to visualize. I made the arc of the tires follow the arc or the body when the back is at full height. It could have gone back or forward but it just seemed to look good right where it is now. So many decisions!!!!
Yes I picked up the lights for $40 and nobody knew what they were. So I posted on the HAMB and within 3 minutes I had 3 answers!!! Go HAMB!!!
Hey I kinda like the look of that whippet, never knew they could look that good. Though, I'm not too sure of the grille choice, but hey its your car dude. Enjoy. Doc.
I am using a 1940 front axle with the spring hanging on the front of the wish bones and couldnt get any grill to fit and look right. This one dropped on but I am going to add something to the lower part of it to close up the emptyness. I just dont want it to look like a typical Model A. Nothing wrong with them but my car isn't a model A. I have a dozen or so different grills and they are easy enough to change but I'll see where this one takes me.
OK witha few minutes of Photoshop, how's this look? Before... After... Like I said, I have another grill to work with to close the void. Excuse the poor Photoshopping as I spent just a few minutes but this is sort of the idea.
The Jalopy Journal
