Hot Rods 1938 Chevy 5W coupe build journal.

I have always had a soft spot for pre-war coupes and as much as I will always love the early Fords I also liked the 37/38 Chevy coupe. The panel line that runs down the cowl and door looks awsome. So I picked up this 38 Coupe. It has hardly any rust but was wacked at some point on the p***enger side. It wasn't fixed very well so I will have to deal with it. I have a very good friend that is a experienced auto bodyman and he says it will be a pretty easy fix.
My plans: 283/Saginaw 4 speed. M-II front end and a Nova rear. The car came with a *****en firewall and front floorpans. Not that it needs them but it will really clean things up. I would like to run big and littles. Kind of a late 50's/early 60's hotrod vibe. Most guys do g***ers out of these which is cool but I want to go in a different direction. I really like LeadSleadMercs 37 but I've seen that car in person and trust me it is in a cl*** all by itself. Here are a few ****py pics. I will keep posting as I progress. Todd

 

Cool car, keep us updated on your project.

 

todd good luck with the 38.looks solid.im building a 38 pu.same colour im subscribed some more photos when you can nunattax...ireland

 

I love these coupes too! looking forward to seeing it come together

 

Ive loved this one since 1974

 

Thanks fellas. I have a pretty long road ahead, but not as bad as my 50 saedan wa when I started. I'll keep this updated as I go. Todd

 

Man that's awesome Tuggie!!!! I love the plans....but you know that. That thing'll make a killer hot rod. In 1939 Chevy offered a factory Independent suspension that could be used I think also just to keep everything chevy.....but it might be harder sourcing one then just getting a MII. As of right now it reminds me of our friend *****er's '40 Detroit Drag car that he found a couple months ago.

[/IMG]

Anyways man, I am super stoked for you and can't wait to see some progress pics! Did someone say 283 and a 4spd? Yay!!!!!!!

 

JJ,

That's a cool ride. Just thinking a M-II will be easier in the long run. Finding parts for a 37-38 is not as easy as you would think. Todd

 

I hear ya. My father in law was over tonight and we were talking about his '31 Chevy and we were talking about how he's going to get the front end of his car down. It's definitely not as easy as one would thinks. Anytime you see a Cool chevy on the road more then likely it takes a little more work then your average ford to make it that way. But damn when you do see a cool one.....well you know it.

Stoked for ya man.

 

Yea, Not as much stuff out their for these as their is for Fords by any means. Its gonna require alot of extra hunting around. It will be well worth it in the end. Todd

 

Daggum, Tug....you're all hot potato with your cars, man! Did you get rid of the t-bucket you traded your 50 for last year, or is this a new addition?

I like the Chevy, it looks rad!

 

Nope the T-roadster is gone. Gives me some $$ to put into this. I enjoy the build as much as anything.

 

Todd when i did my 2 dr sedan back in 1980 i had to buy a 4dr for parts. I see I&I is still around they had some hard to find parts. good luck with it and the New Business.

 

The car came with a new *****in firewall, front floorpans and trans hump. So today I drilled out all the spotwelds and pulled the NASTY old firewall and hung the new one. Thank god for Clecos!! I'll weld it up and grind the welds tomorrow. Todd

 

At one point in this cars life it took a pretty good whack on the p***anger side. After pulling the doors and doing some measuring I discovered that the p***. side door opening was 1/4" less than the drivers side. That explains why the door gaps on that side vitually did not exist. I've never done this kind of repair before but I don't have a choice. I decided to start from the rear and move forward. When the car was hit it moved the door a liitle rearward and put a crease in a portion of the door pillar. It also put a good size bulge in the sheetmetal just behind the pillar. I decided the best way for me do do this was to cut out the bad section, straighten it and weld it back in. It came out well. Time to start on the door. Todd

 

WOW!!! It's been awile. Well, after tearing this thing down it became real obvious this car was in a pretty good accident once upon a time.The p***anger side was a friggin mess. The forward door post was pushed in about 2" and back about an inch. The door has a big *** bow in it. I was really down on the whole project. I've done rust repair and some simple fabrication but this was WAY over my head. I did'nt even know where to start. I was going to cut my losses and just sell it. Well I let the dust settle and let my big boo boo lip subside and made a call to my friend Randy. He has been a mechanic and body man his whole life. He came over and took a look at it and said "no sweat" We loaded it on his flatbead and took it to his place. We have been chipping away at it a few nights a week fo the past month. We were able to cut a complete right side cowl section out of a 37 2 door sedan (same cowl) and I scored a p***anger door from a fellow HAMB'r for a killer price.
We are well on our way to getting it back together so I can get it home and hit it hard. As soon as we get past this hurdle I am going to pull the body and get the frame squared away. I have a Ch***is Engineering MII front end, motor mounts, rear leaf springs waiting to go in.
Here's a few pics. It's not as bad as it looks. Actually it is FAR better than it was. Todd

 

Its good to see that you are going to such lengths to fix it right. These old chevys are jewels. Ive had my '38 since 1974 and its the only car I never considered selling.

 

I'll be watching this one. Not that I've got one but I looked for years to find a really nice one to redo for my folks. This was the car they had when I was born in 1944. I still have memories of riding up on the package shelf when we traveled.
Both of my parents are gone now, with my mother p***ing away just 4 months ago.

Frank

 

Lookin good Tugg! Is that Randy on 165 in Voluntown you speak of? If so, i live about 10 minutes from him, very cool cat!

 

Yea thats him. He's a great guy. NO WAY I could do this without his help. We should have it wrapped up in a week or so.looking forward to getting somemore headway on her. Todd

 

I agree. Only made for 2 years and who knows how many were lost to WW2 s****drives and stock car races. You just don't see alot of them out their. Todd

 

Real nice start, Todd...keep the updates coming!!

I know you've been up in the air with a direction for your project...have you decided where your going?

 

Kieth,

Yea I'm going to hotrod it. Probablly keep it real subtle, steelies, spider caps, nice rake, stock looking motor. I'm sure it will evolve as I build it. I see most of these done as g***ers and some like yours done as taildraggers. I think it will make a nice looking hotrod. Todd

 

This is going to be cool! There is a guy in my neighborhood that has a '37 that I lust after. I would have to say that the '37-'38 coupes are one of the best designs Chevy had.

 

Todd, I have some parts left over- if you need anything, holler!

Car is looking great!

 

Sounds cool, Todd. When I picked my '37 up it was being built as a g***er. There were so many g***ers and hotrod 37 and 38's around, I wanted to do something different so I did the taildragger. I guess in the end a lot of other people had the same idea.
Have fun with your build and keep the updates coming!

 

All the hotroded 37 and 38's I've seen have been 70's billet rods, Except for Grouchos and Lobucrod's. I kinda heading the same direction you see alot of the Fords of this era. I would do a taildragger but no one can come close to yours. Todd

 

Great to see you didn't sell it. I've had the same feeling come over me during a project, stalled for a while then found inspiration again. Mine stall was due to the motor taking so long at the machine shop, bad weather [all my work is done in my driveway/carport] and lastly the realization i spent wayyyyy more money than i should have, and may still not be able to drive it this summer.

I then realized i was being a baby and got to work, 4 weeks later[aka this past tuesday] i got my motor back, and now that the weather is nice im haulling A$$, and everything is finally falling together.

 

Made some real good progress tonight. We got the new cowl piece tacked in along with the inner cowl brace. We need to do a few more little things before we hang the inner rocker. Then I can bring her home and do all the finish welding and intall the new front floors. After that I can pull the body and start on the ch***is. I got a Ch***is Engineering front and rear sus*****on waiting to go in. This guy really saved my *** on this!!

 

Looking good Brotha! I did see it in the garage over at Randy's last week when I stopped by, but nobody was home. Good to see you are moving right along now
Chuck