Finally back on the 41. Decide to do the running gear first after we chopped it. I'm a lil short on money, so I decided to use a 54 chevy front cross-member on the car. the 54 front end ended up being a 1 1/2 narrower, and would make the car sit lower. after a few bolts removed it was out, and the 54 was in. the stock steering box worked perfect for the 54 front end. For the rear end i talked to a older fellow about gears in the 41, as it has 411 stock. He told me to find a chevy with a power-glide in it. To my surprise, the 54 had one. The damn thing bolted right in place. so now she sits about 5 inches up front with small tires( it will raise with the big ole Firestone's i have planed) and the back which will sit the same at 4 3/4. now I'm trying to decide skirts or no skirts. jebo
look'n good jebo. hey i got some 54 chevy front end part's your welcome to them if you need them just let the ole man know.....B
no skirts it looks killer with the old wheels on it. It looks like a time capsule with old tires on it. Love it. leave skirts off.
like the skirts too...iF YOU HAVE THE 54 Steering gear consider using it as the ratio is better and it's almost like power strg compared to the 41-51
The project is coming along nicely Jebo. I like to see those '40s kissin' pavement. I'm interested in more detail about the '54 suspension swap. When you typed you're car sits about 5 inches up front after the swap do you mean 5" lower or 5" ground clearance? Was that a direct bolt-in or was cutting and welding involved? My '47 Chevy sedan handled much better than my '38 Coupe so I've been contemplating swapping the knee-action suspension in the '38 with a '40s chevy suspension but IF the '54 turns out to be a bolt in for the '41 then there's a chance that it will work in the '38. My old '47:
if your draggin the *** end, then skirts-if you're thinkin skinnies in front and fatties in back, rake her forward
cutting and welding is required for this. no where close to a direct bolt in but was a easy swap for sure. It lowered it 2 and a half inches from where it sat with the old suspension. i would use the 54 box but it is way less effortless to keep the 41 box. thanks for the coments. more pics to come if i ever get done fixing the rusty rockers. too cold on the floor stillin kansas
you have improved it the way they would have back in '54. I thought that you had already pinstriped the firewall but I guess that was wiring. LOL!! Skirts or no skirts? I would have it set up where you could run them or not. If I had to choose one, skirts..... No skirts.......Yes with skirts.. Hard decision. Sorry I'm not any help. Keep it up it is going to look killer. Happy Trails, Mick
Thats a hard one, skirts look cool, but i like it without as well, Like straykat said "I would have it set up where you could run them or not." either way its looking pretty damn cool!
We're getting ready to swap w/ a 51 frontend. It looks like a direct bolt in but now you have me wondering. What had to be cut and welded? Pix? Thanks
Answer: We are notching the frame to fit the 51 frontend, so's it sits at the correct angle. Should make it sit a little lower too.
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