1930 Chevy Coupe Questions

Hey Guys,

My name is David Green and looking for info on my 1930 build. I have inherited a complete 1930 Chevy Coupe that has been in the family since it was bought new. I have the car and the original ***le. I am wanting to build a street car out of it, something I can hop in and drive to California I my wife & I want. I am really wanting to replace the wood body frame with metal. Is there a kit available to do so or am I going to have to fab one my self ? Thanks for any and all help !!!!!!

 

Hi & welcome. As far as I know the only body frame kits are still wood and most rebuilders just make their own. Two great part sources for the older Chevies are www.chevsofthe40s.com and www.fillingstation.com . Both have online catalogues and will send you their huge paper catalogs on request. All sources are limited in original new old stock items and many are repop. When I need an original part I usually find it on ebay.
As your profile does not show where you are located if you rebuild it original plan on the trip to California being way too slow for the Interstates. No matter what you do remember that car was built when most speed limits were 45 MPH and that was considered fast then. The engine, ch***is, suspension, drive train & tires were no built to be safe at todays interstate speeds.
For example I an nearing being done with my 46 Chevy Coupe but I am driving it every day as I move along with the rebuild. It has stock original body. I upgraded the tires from 600 16 Bias ply to 600 R16 front and 700 R16 rear and changed the ring & pinion from 411 to 355 and now it will purr down the Hwy thinking nothing of 65 MPH. Rebuilt brakes & front end and added tube shocks all around & it drives like a dream now. Replaced the original 216 engine with a later 1957 235 six cylinder that is bored out, hot cam, 2 two barrel carbs, HEI ignition and a 12 volt system and added a vintage A/C unit. It has enough power to pull the A/C and and zip along at 65.
The only thing that does not look stock while zipping do wn the Hwy are the 2 chrome exhaust tips below rear bumper.
you may or may not take a stronger approach in your rebuild with ch***is & suspension & brake rebuild but the way I went does ok for me.
When you start you build post a build thread with photo's as you go.
good luck with it. Jimmie

 

Jimmie,

That is a sweet ride and thank you very much for the info. I will check those places out. I am in Oklahoma & I will be building a tube ch***is for this car so that it can be driven. I also plan on building a LS twin turbo 408 stroker for it and WILL have working A/C. I want a car that I can drive and not one that lives in the garage.

 

About building to drive - I am leaving in the morning for Stephenville Tx for a week long VCCA - Vintage Chevrolet Club of America national fall tour. Likely between 5 & 6 hour drive each way to get there & back and then driving to different locations for 5 days touring with the group. Likely around 500 miles touring + there & back home. Should be at least 1,000 miles next week. Taking 1 quart of oil and a gallon of water in case stuff happens.
I made a little over a 600 mile round trip two weeks ago in it to Decatur Tx & back - 7 hours each way because I did not go up I 35. No way will I take it thru Ft Worth with all that construction on the freeway. In the last 3 years I have racked up over 8,500 miles on it. I plan for it to be wore out when my kids inherit it & hopefully that is no time soon as I am having too much fun with it.
My next shop session after this trip will be to replace door window channels, door weather stripping, 1 cracked door gl*** and all rubber weather seal around windshield, rear & quarter panel windows. At that point I should be around 99% finished except for the stuff that just happens from driving 70+ year old cars.
Next year in addition to my yearly tours with the AACA & VCCA I plan to work in a couple of the big Hot Rod events like Lone Star Roundup and perhaps the roundup in Layfette La. Or others.
Jimmie