Hot Rods Let's see if Choppa can save this Tudor

I found this body sitting on a trailer about 2 miles from my house here in Queen Creek AZ. I was coming home from dinner with the wife and spotted it out of the corner of my eye, I told my wife "turn around" I think I just saw a tudor, sure enough it was a ford, 30/31 Tudor. I drove by every chance I could. Finally someone was home, he was a crotchety ol guy. After a couple days of bugging him and a lot of Bud Light, he finally sold it to me. His name was Phil Spangler, he had just bought the house and property and moved the body from his other property. I brought him over to my house to show him what I had and he wanted to trade for everything I had. I had an old model A frame he wanted so we traded and I gave him some cash and now I got it. What was I thinking. I have since rounded up all the patch panels (basically the entire lower 6 inches of the body) I do have a few ideas for the car: definitely a big chop, some wild color paint and black wheels and tires, for power I am thinking of a nailhead (I have a few of them) or maybe an early caddy with a 4/5 speed behind it. I think a 9 inch rear would be cool. I just bought my wife a industrial sewing machine so a vinyl tuck and roll interior is in order. Can I save it??? I do not know it's pretty rough, what have I got to loose right? follow along as I try










You can see I started with the drivers door, It needed the lower outer and inner panels. cut out the old and weld in the new warping as I go. I also did a little work on the windshield posts and the a pillars. I need a passenger door if anyone has one let me know, I think the one on the body is really to far gone it needs the lower and the whole top side is rusted.
I'll post more as time permits. I am a firefighter so this is not my job and I do not have the funds to pay someone else to do this but it is a hobby that I am really beginning to love. If you have ideas or comments or just want to tell me how stupid I am please feel free too

 

Looks like you're off to a good start. Keep us posted.

 

Subscribed!

Should be an interesting build

Spike

 

Looks like a good one to save, West Coast rust is a lot different than East Coast. The garage is a bit too neat and organized, then again I've had mine for 33 years now.

 

Great plans, and im thinking this will turn out great.

 

Just a little update. The other night I was at the local sonic show and this guy comes up to me and starts talking and asking questions about my truck (see my albums) anyway he says he has a 56 Chevy truck for sale and perks my interest. then he tells me he bought 3 to build the one he has for sale, he tells me that he has a inline 6 from one of the trucks, i think ok that's kinda cool, then he goes on to tell me the truck he has finished had a 58 caddy 365 in it and he put in a later model SBC. I really get interested when he says he still has the caddy mill. Today I went over to look at the trucks and saw the motor, I snagged it. 1958 Cadillac 365 complete he sez it was running when he pulled it out around 3 years ago. I have been looking for a while for a decent nostalgic style motor for the Tudor. I think I did good! $300. I really need to save this Tudor

 

Keep bringin the updates,sounds like a kool build.

 

If anyone can do it, Brent (Choppa) can....That is if I don't steal it from him first.

And yes, his garage is f**king cool. And huge.

 

That body is better than what I started with. Good luck.
My opinion, troubled with mocked as another slammed Tudor. Seems like a fad gone too far to me. Having said that, build it the way you like with your money and be very happy. Glad to see another kept from the crusher.

 

Looks like a cool build

 

i see your tudor is "above the influence" thats a start lol

 

Go for it choppa...

 

Dude-awsome shop/workspace. You must do the un-fun dirty work more toward the driveway!! LoL

 

Are you going with a 50's batwing air cleaner on top of that mill,
Or are you planning on a muti-carb intake. Either way, The caddy
will be a cool looking centerpiece.

Spike

 

Nice choice on the Caddy mill, and the body looks like a good score too.

 

good job. nice garage.

 

Oh yeah....the dirty stuff gets done outside. I try to keep it clean. Thanks for the comments about the shop. I worked real hard to get it. The day I can't go out to the shop is a bad day

 

Good thing it's got the up arrow on the door. You might have built it upside down.

 

Awsome good luck!!!!!!!!!

 

think thats, a nice start for a very cool project.and yes chop it

cheers

 

Good one.....I thought it looked like "go green" logo.....lol

 

I'm diggin on the shop!!!!!!!!!! My brother-in-law has a shop that looks about the same in Ohio. Climate controlled, the whole 9 yards. In my shop you work like you are in a mine field! And sometimes it takes longer to find the part/parts you are going to work on than it would normaly take to do the job. Unless you rememered where you laid the damn things down the day before!!! And that ain't as easy at 60 as it was 5 or 10 years ago!

 

just a little update. I found some cool parts out at the Good-Guys show here in Snottsdale. I scored the dash today, not sure what it came out of?? but I love the way the gauge cluster sticks out from the dash and the best part is it is just about the same size as the original. The second thing is the 32 grill shell and insert. it seemed like a good buy so I got it. I am not sure if I am going to use it on the Tudor, I might throw it on the coupe, either way I got it now. it's has been cut to run on a slightly channeled car so we will see

 

I like where this is going. Subscribed!

 

very nice project....
Good luck!!!!

 

still have not figured out how to subscribe
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

Just go to the top of the page and in the red bar that says thread tools, click on there and it will give you a drop down with the subscription tab.

 

old bone....just click on "Thread Tools" at the top of the page...hope that helps!!

 

Ok so just a little more info for the folks following along. I got the motor torn down.....bad news..rust in one cylinder. I spoke with a builder who says he can fix it, even if they have to put a steel sleeve in it. Cool cause I am running it!!! I have been looking at carbs and such and I will not be happy until I find a 4x2 intake for this motor. Mainly a CD-694, anybody got one???



I sure do like the looks of this one!!

 

Not a lot of progress being made lately. I am still trying to unstick the caddy motor and getting my truck ready for the Viva Las Vegas show. I am installing the Cal-Custom valve covers I have had forever. Stay tuned