Projects ???? 36 5w Custom or Hot Rod ????

Over some beers and relaxation today with fellow Vultures, conversation turned to the 5w I've had for about 15 years. I bought it planning to build a taildragger in the '40s style. Life got in the way so it has sat all that time without a spanner being turned. I'm under a little pressure from the boys to drag it out and make a start so I'm going to arrange a club day to help me get it out of the back of the shed and do a mock up or two.

I always thought "Taildragger". But I do love 36s as hot rods too.

Show me your pics and convince me which way to go. Can I have both?

Pete

 

I like them both ways too Pete...have you got a pic of yours you can post?

Is it a complete car? Can you hot rod it easily then decide which way to go?

Dave.

 

The only pics I have are oldies. Pre digital stuff. That's how long I've had it.

It is what I would call good condition but it has to be built. It's not a car that can be fixed up a bit and driven. Some bits are missing and it has been apart so it's a ground-up build.

 

i reckon those cars look aweome as taildraggers. plus over here a proper 40s style custom is a rare thing, theres alot of hot rod 36s on the road. that being said if its anything like your modified it wont matter which way you do it, it'll be killer. good luck

 

Thanks Fuzzy

I agree on the rarity of these cars done as customs over here. That's probably why I was thinking that way in the beginning. I was always more into customs than hot rods. Now I swing both ways.

Your comment about "proper '40s style custom" begs another question. If I go custom, does it have to be flathead, banjo and transverse spring? Or can I hide a OHV (maybe Cadillac) and ladder bars under there? Airbags? It's all up for discussion at this point.

 

I would probably go in the cad later rear direction if it was me, or maybe an early olds.

You could build a custom with a hot mill and get the best of both worlds.

 

Really it's all in what you want, and since you've stated that you were into customs more then hot rods that's probably what you originally planned for the car 15 years ago huh? For me I love hot rods but I think the snout on a '36 lends itself to a custom more so then the '35 so I might lean custom in your case as well.

As far what engine you're running, I don't think it matters one bit really as a custom. Cadillac would be awesome, so would a flathead and even a 283 Chevy. If you're going for complete correctness the flathead would have been the only real choice as they were not building the 40's type customs in the 50's when the Cadillac power plant became a viable option. But since it's a custom again I think there is a lot more leeway allowed then say on a hot rod. Hot Rods should be correct from head to toe or as much as you can possibly get them. But customs can have the outwardly appearance of being true to form traditional and they work just as well. So whatever what you choose to get your car down in that case would be cool. I'd just keep it simple and run the transverse spring setup though like they did.

There are a lot of customs that go too low and lose the look. By using a restraint and going with old ford parts you'll be better off and have a better outcome in the end.

Can't wait to see where it ends up!

 

I already have the Cad. You're the second person today to suggest an Olds.

I like the idea of a kind of sleeper style with a sneaky 390 and modern auto in a slow looking taildragger.

 

My hot rod doesn't fit any period...except the one it was built in. I'm not really too concerned about period correctness. That's why they invented restorers.

I think I'll be happier with a more modern driveline in this one but I do want to build something with a flathead.

 

If you give a wink and a nod to the old original customs they mostly had warmed over engines. Remember that high end touring cars had a lot of engine in them and the idea behind the original customs was to mimic the high end touring cars on a working mans budget.

The wife has a '38 sedan that will eventually get built using some of the early custom tricks. She is using a high output 390 FE because she has one. A wink and a nod.

You have the Caddy in your stable use it. That's what I would do.

 

yeah if you've already got the cad use that (customs are meant to be shown with the bonnet closed anyway are'nt they) you could have the outward looks of a period custom with real world drivability. BTW please dont bag it, most cars with bags just look stupid IMO. plus it needs to be a custom coz you've already got a *****en hot rod, why not have the coolest custom on the block too??

 

Fair enough, then build what ever you want to build more? Why ask us what you should build? You have **** dialed in and what ever you build will be cool so just get out there and have at it!

 

Yuppers, and having a custom means that it isn't a requirement to jump out and open the hood as soon as you turn the key off when you stop somewhere. Having a nice tail dragger that will run with the big dogs and show the pack the way home sounds like a good thing. But it depends on what shape the flathead is in too unless you have another home for it in another project.

Somewhere I have a photo of a black 36 tail dragger that showed up at Bonneville in either 1988 or 1998 that I took and that car would and probably still does look right on the money today while a rod might look a bit dated if it wasn't done to match an early era.

 

That's a good question. Two reasons I asked really.
1. I needed a bit of a check on what I think is cool. When I first decided to do this car, as I said, I was more into customs. I never saw it as a hot rod. But in recent times my tastes have changed a bit. I still love customs but I see more and more '36 hot rods that catch my eye.
2. I searched for a good picture thread of '36 coupes and didn't find one (there are lots of nice '36s on here though). I thought it would be good if people posted up their pics and discussed the finer points of Ford's nicest ever body style.

I think you guys have straightened me out a bit. Looks like what I had in my head all along will be the way to go.

I'd still like to see some pics though. Maybe I'll go and pinch them from other threads and stick them here.

 

Here's one. Together with another one of my all time favourite body styles

 

Here's another. It even has the Olds porkn****** asked for

 

Custom! No wait-HOT ROD! No WAIT-CUSTOM!!! Jeez, this is hard...

Either way those cars rule.

I vote hot rod. No wait, Custom. Damn.

Put up a poll and see what happens.

 

I'm not keen on chopped 5 windows, I'd even loved a restored one.
I'm sure you'll do it right whatever way you go Pete.

I love the colour on this 35 even though it's chopped.

 

That is a great colour. I could live with that. Yep I can see something just like that one in my shed. And I do like a chop.

 

Wow that is a beautiful car..

 

Ls1,convo pro's , commonbore interior & a dayglow pink paintjob .You do live in Kilmore .

 

I don't even know what language you are speaking pommy git

 

Well since my car doesn't have a grille shell in this pic it could almost p*** for a '36 right? Building it as a hot rod.....

 

You'se could build a custom or a kustom out of it.I think it would work either way!!!!!!!

 

Hot rod

 

taildragger!!!!

 

my plan exactly. . . i don't get the idea that the motor doesn't matter in a custom. . . it's a motor. . we like building *****en motors. . . who cares if nobody ever sees it. . I want to know I have a great motor hidden in there and I want to work on a great motor when something needs fixing.. . it's even cooler if nobody has ever seen it but me!

 

She's coming along nicely JJ

 

food for thought...

Kirk Hammet, Jon Fisher, Mchael Crump (taken from the Drag-Ens hot rod club website), Jim McKinley and one from evil bay that i dont know the owners name.