I typed a long description of this mess and then my computer crapped. Anyway- 51 vic that I bought and was already om Merc Marquis chassis and pan- too wide and too short. Quarters had been hacked off so the rear wheelbase would fit. I cut it all apart and started over w/ an 85 monte pan and stretched the Monte frame 6 inches. I used some leftover parts to make new quarters- you can see that I am still perfecting my welding so have quite a bit of grinding to do and will probabaly take 5 gallons of mud. I whacked the roof 6 inches and slid the rear window forward and had to fill a 6 inch gap between it and trunk. I removed the drip edge just above windshield and the sectioned an inch out as it was too heavy looking and now the side glass will appear at same level when stainless glass channels are in. This what I have so far from what everyone said was just a parts car.
bout time honky! u left out the part about putting it on a lengthened g-body frame, redoing the flooors ,trunk, wheelhouses, wheelwells etc. now that you finally posted this, you know we all want more pics or its all just a lie!! im gonna see if i can find some u sent me..
That is good. I thought I was the ony person who was bugged by different lines of the side glass and windscreen on some cars. It looks like all your hard work will pay off. Cheers, Drew
Hey! Lookin' good! I ended up using that shoebox roof we talked about on facebook to panel a '49 Merc chop last month, but by the looks of it you don't need it haha.
Hey Guys, If I post more pics then you will be able to see what a Shitbox this this really is. It is a great exercize in customizing though. It might be like Frankenstein but it will ride nice and certainly be safe. I needed the roof for my '50 Tudor project that is on deck. It had a dash fire so the roof is pretty much beyond fixing. Really warped and buckled. I think that it is pretty much beyond the skills of Glassguy.
With enough bondo...the Assguy can fix anything! Come on now, break out the pics, Tristen...I said please!
more like...the voices in my head made me do it...but I'm feeling better now!! Lookin good, Honky. What are the wheel openings? Oh yeah, thanks for the pics!
Hey Keith, Those wheel openings are from 49-51 shoebox front fenders. I just flipped them side to side. The previous owner had cut them out as he was going to move them back on the front fenders to accomodate the shorter marquis wheel base. He was off to a reasonable start but the Marquis wheel base is too wide and too short. You should have seen this body hanging from the rafters in my garage when I cut it loose from the marquis pan and slid it out. I am too Impatient to stop and take pics, you know? Later man, T
ahhhh thats better!! if they ever saw both the tools you have to work with, they would be as impressed as i am!! it really is gonna be one of the sickest sleds around next summer. i hope some one posts some other pics of chopped vickys to keep you lit up..
Hey thanks for the pics man. I really like your car. It's got the right stance. Keep us up to date on the progress. Dick.
ok princess time to throw a few more pics up!! i cant find the ones you sent me.. i WILL be up this week!
OK Paras, I am gonna hold ya to that. Get over here and help me get some of this bodywork further along. Both quarters are ground and a coat of Mar glass has been finished out. rear bumper filler piece is molded in. so really just some skim coat in a couple areas. Drivers vent window is done. Column and seat are in for mock-up positioning, etc. I just picked up a "slightly used- Yeah right" 350 and 200-4r. Gonna give them the rattle can refresh soon. I need a name for this car... El bondo is taken.. Shitbox is taken.. How about the suede loafer
"suede loafer"...that's you all the way, Tristen!! Get the Assguy over there and it'll have a shiny coat by tonight!! We need update pics!
Hey man, how about you? Any updates on the coupe. Not much progress here other than passenger vent window and welding up some ods and ends. I dont have heat in garage and just got it insulated so soon I hope to be back at it. I have been hoping to get the car over to Dave Paras' shop as he said he would take on some of the bodywork for me. We will see- I know that he typically hibernates in the winter months..... Dave- you out there?
dont worry honky.. you will be in here soon enough! all you have to do is come finish these caddy floors!
I am in the process of puting a '51 Chevy coupe on the same exact chassis and floor pan ('82 Grand Prix, in my case). I've got a question for you: how did you locate the body on the floor pan before welding it all in place? I'm worried about getting the body too high, too low, or too far forward or backward when it's time to button it all up. I'm a smart and careful man so I know the real answer is "be really careful and look at everything before welding" but I'm hoping you came up with some clever tactic that made it less difficult?
Nothing clever here, I am too impatient for that. Measure, measure, and measure again. Really, I knew the chassis needed to be lengthened so I did that first. Then once I had the body suspended over the frame, I figured that I needed to lose the late model firewall and I still ended up changing how the late model pan is sitting on the late model frame. Once I figured ride height of body- really it was about looks but the fact that the late model pan sits inside of and lower that the related frame rails, you are able to really channel it down over the frame and pan quite a bit. I have to say that with the monte bench seat and tilt column, it sure is comfortable. I went with tilt purely out of function, I prefer the old school look but hey, this is a hodge podge of stuff and the exercise in the build is fun as hell. Oh, btw, if you are going to cut the stock floors out to use the late model pan then be sure to weld the doors shut with washers or scabs of steel. Dont open them up till body is securely welded to its new pan.
Hey Mr. Paras, Just throw some urethane and chicken wire at that damn Caddy and get it the hell outta there. What are you storing it for the winter or somthing. Waiting....
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