Hello, fellow hot rodders! I've been a lurker on and off here for years, and often come in and read the build threads, trying to get motivated to get back to work on my old project '33 ford 5W coupe... I grew up going to garages, hanging out with my dad and his buddies, watching/helping lots of rod builds and repairs, and picked up the cherry '33 right in my home town years later, to get a start with my own project... Well, as things go, life and stuff got in the way, and the car project got shoved back in the corner, and covered up... that's been 16 years now... Recently, I slipped on here, and followed D Rod's heavy chopped project, which was badazz, and it gave me the spark I was looking for to rekindle the flame for the project... I was always a model 40 fan. I loved the Socal salt car, Holmann and Moodys' drag car, the California Kid, Pete and Jakes' model 40's, but my all time favorite was the Cop Shop Coupe, as far as bad*** stance goes... I loved the heavy chopped, slammed low, semi-channeled, no-fenders look, and when I bought my car, I proceeded to turn it into something resembling the Cop Shop Coupe...
Welcome from Oklahoma. I have several projects myself that have been on the back burner for years because life stepped in the way. Glad your back on it.
Well, for the money part, I plan to liquidate some of the cash I have tied up in dirtbikes, and street bike... I sold the fenders off this car years ago, as I had always planned to do a true hotrod build with bigs and littles, a quickchange, and lots of at***ude and rake... Im kind of stuck in a little dilemma now, as I have a '46 flat motor, that I was going to use for the project, but have sold all of the speed equipment over the years, to help fund other ventures.... I'm thinking I would get the **** rotating crank ***embly, and pick up another set of Navarro heads, a RotoFaze crab-style ignition, and for induction, I am leaning heavily towards having a Hilborn mechanical injection converted to EFI, stealth mode style.... Well, the dilemma is I also have two old chevy motors, a 302 mouser, and a 355 4 bolt... I also have a mechanical Hilborn injection system for the chevys too, and it would make a decent rod mill... One of the issues, is it is extremely expensive to build the flatmotor now, compared to the chevy... However, I dont think the chevy has anywhere near the appeal of the finned flathead.... What do you guys think?
Gonna go with the flat mill... sent my stock cam off to get it reground... Winfield SU-1a, here we come!! love the sound of this cam! Got some parts in for the quickchange, to get it converted to accept the early style steel bells... on our way!
Welcome! I visited your state last year, was impressed with the rods around there! Lots of skills in the mountains.
Thanks, guys... as I cruise some of the build threads, there's quite a bit of talent everywhere it seems... lots of great builds, with crafty ideas, and good workmanship... im a bit rusty, but will get back into the swing of things in no time... I bought this car in '95, and found an old book in my dad's rod mags/rags collection, that had some top chopping stories... I read them over and over, then set out to chop this top judiciously... I did not lay the posts back, as I did not want to rework the windshield seating surface, at the back of the cowl...I filled the hole with an old '50 ford roof, which trimmed and fit wonderfully, when turned around backwards...Now, Im reading and learning how to do lead work, and this top will be leaded back to beauty hopefully. I had knee surgery in January to replace ACL in right leg, and fix a big tear in meniscus caused by late in life need to be an offroad dirtbike racer... now, im getting around again, but not well yet, and still have to fix the left one in a bit, too... bikes are for sale, and my sights are set on working on the car again (which I could never afford to do while riding/racing motorcycles).... I will miss racing and my friends, but I look forward to going to a national race in the old car, and freaking all the guys out!!
Welcome bro! Here is a pic of a mock up from a year ago! Get healed up so we can thrash on this hot rod!
Some updates since we last spoke... had to have left knee acl repaired also, so am back on crutches, until all healed up... sold most of one bike, and have been busy gathering speed equipment for the flathead...!! got all the quickchange parts cleaned, and ready to ***emble, so just need to get rehabbed enough to do the long hours standing again, and some lifting too, then we will be digging in deep... Sold the ET III's in pic above... still kicking around using the frame that is in that pic, but re-doing the front half of the rig, to bring the cowl up slightly, and run the frame horns past the grille like Henry did it...
That will be one bad ***ed coupe when its on the street. Took 18 years to get my car done, just keep plugging, and dont let the dream die. Life thru me some curves along the way, but with a neat wife that is into the scene as much as I am, we are having a blast. I am 69, and she is 64. Get healed up and finish that car. We are only allowed so many summers.
Hey man, whatever it takes! As we all know......the longer something is delayed, the sweeter it is when it's finished! I always wanted to do a "Pro-Street" styled Panel Wagon and about 10 years later, finally got my chance. I took my chances on E-Bay (Yeah I'm gutsy like that! LOL!) and actually found a pretty good deal with minimal rust, to say the least. Best part? After investing many, many hours, it's actually turning out to be the "best" company car I've ever had. That doesn't mean it hasn't given me a few headaches within the last 3,000 miles (Drove from Springfield, MO. to Las Vegas, NM for a Trade Show) but I always enjoy a good conversation piece when stretching the legs and filling up the tank! THAT's why I choose to drive a Hot Rod! It's also fun to have another Hot Rodder check out your ride, and his parting words are "Man, I have GOT to get home and start turning a wrench on that project sitting in my backyard!"
The Jalopy Journal
