Looking at a '51 Chevy Coupe

Hey Guys,

I am going to look at a '51 Chevy Coupe tomorrow and want to know if anyone knows of any "hidden" trouble spots to look out for. The car looks pretty solid from the (low-res) pics and I am really hoping I can pick this one up.

It's a complete car, minus rear bumper, and the interior is supposed to be in useable shape. It's got the original 6 cyl. and the good 'ol "three on the tree".

It's been a good while since I had a project and I am really looking forward to bringing it back to life.

Thanks,
Ernie

 

id lookout for the cl***ic spots-floors, rockers and trunk. also inspect the frame. good luck

looks like that'll be a cool project to ge back on the road

 

Check the body mounts underneath it. They're not a deal breaker (well, they weren't for me, your mileage may vary) Not a horrid fix, but just something you need to know before peeling off Benjamins

 

1st drivers front floor, almost always rust holes, if just in front of the brake /gas pedal this is very good shape.

2nd the bulge on the lower rear 1/4 almost always rusty will rust faster than front floor and can have holes even if the rest of the car is cherry

3 rocker panel and behind the the rocker

4 bottom of the rear tailpan probally will have rust about 2" high

these 4 areas are pretty normal for this car, if only 2 of these area's are rusted you got a real good car

 

is thata 39-46 chevy/gmc truck in the background

 

Every one of these I've seen, up here at least, has rot under or around the stock battery tray. I have a K member (I believe that's the name....short piece of the frame that comes out at an angle from the trans cross-member) that has some rust-thrus on it. Not a big deal to fix. Some of the smaller cross member parts get mud and grime inside even though there are drain holes.

One other place are the firewall supports where they meet down at the frame. both of mine have the rot....snagged some good ones from the hacked up body of one going to the crusher.

 

Thanks a lot, guys ! I really appreciate all the pointers.

Not sure what kind of truck that is in the background, but I will find out tomorrow !

 

The inner rear wheel wells catch alot of road salt n sand (not sure about Texas) and usually rot front n back....headlight buckets and front of fenders also and as ems said above always the rear tail pan in the trunk...nothing really to hard to fix tho..good luck bro!

 

yup, everything he said, plus the battery tray like the other guy said, and also the bottom of the doors.

 

Inner Rockers! Rear Wheel Opening!

 

I bought a 51 Chevrolet Business Coupe out of the Fort Worth area about 2 years ago. The car is in good shape, only one rust through spot the size of a quarter in the body; the front p***enger floor was repaired with galvanized tin and roofing tar, and under the rear floor plywood (Business Coupe) was rat and mouse droppings about 3" thick. The floor under the droppings is rusted, but no rust through. Up here in Washington State, it would have been a total rust bucket. There was also red dirt/clay everywhere! I think that stuff pretty much sealed things up. Yours looks pretty straight. Hope you get it for a good price. I've given mine to the nephew. So far it has a mild build SBC 350, built Powerglide with a 2500 stall converter, 56 rear with 4.88 gears and Positraction, traction bars, overload rear shocks, the front suspension has been blocked up, new gas tank and lines, new brakes and master cylinder/brake lines, one piece windshield, and a ton of little parts. His dad had a 49 Coupe in high school (1969), so that's been his incentive. I'm just trying to make a hot rodder out of him. Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Thanks again guys ! I am heading out in just a few to take a look at it and will snap a few pics.

That '51 sounds nice 56sedaldelivery !

 

Body mounts????

 

Well, I went and looked at the '51 yesterday and it was in pretty good shape overall. It had rust in pretty much all the places you guys mentioned, the headliner was pretty nice and the dash was untouched. The seats were there and not too bad looking for an almost 60 year old car. The motor looked liked it had ran in the not too distant past and seemed like it wouldn't take much to get going.

My brother has a lot more experience with these cars and he's going with me to give it another once over on wednesday and hopefully we can bring her home !

I believe he said the truck in the background is a '41 Chevy ? He had some really cool cars and was definitely a Chevy guy. He even had a '31 Chevy coupe body and frame that was sold already.

If all goes well, I will post a few more pics on wednesday.

 

I would look out for Rattlesnakes and spiders.