Customs 1949 Frazer custom... here we go!

Hey folks! So after years of being into these weird Kaiser-Frazer cars, the time worked out that I got my hands on the perfect project for me. I know these cars arn't popular, and seem to only hold the intrest of restoration guys, but I've always felt there was a chance for a good custom if the work was done. I've had an idea of doing a 1947-1949 chop top and two door conversion for a while, and finally the right project and time for it to happen came up.

I found this 1949 Frazer Manhattan in Idaho of all places. I have a 1948 that I was thinking of doing all of this too, but after a few messages about buying parts off this car, I decided it might be the one I just build. The old man had had the car for 20 years and was growing too old to finish it. Thankfully for me, he had done a lot of work: s****ed clean the under carriage, repaired rust on the floors and primered it, cleaned and blasted most of the front fender parts and painted them black. He even rechromed a few things. So I got a trailer and drove from California to Fruitland, Idaho to pick this guy up.

Photo Jul 02, 8 53 10 PM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

Photo Jul 02, 8 53 10 PM (1) by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

You guys know, first impressions arn't always right. I've never driven this far for a car I've never seen, so when I saw how many pieces it was and how ****tered through the garage the car was, I was a little worried. But after several hours with the man's daughter who was super helpful in helping me track down as many little pieces as we could find, I felt I had a pretty solid project for $1200. There isn't a hole of rust in this whole car. It only took me an hour or two to clean it out, sort the parts, shop vac it and she's literally already to start getting chopped up.

Photo Jul 03, 10 33 59 AM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

The rear end was locked, so that was a blast getting it off the trailer.

Photo Jul 09, 10 50 39 AM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

Photo Jul 09, 10 51 00 AM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

Thankfully I've got some killer friends that are going to help me with this, and I'm super excited. I've only seen two other conversions: photos of a Dutch built one from 1950, and then Nix here on the HAMB has been working on a Kaiser for a number of years. I hired the amazing Rik Hoving to do some digital edits, and these are the two I'm down to.... Three window or five. I'm leaning towards the three.

Photo Jun 05, 10 10 52 AM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

Photo Jun 05, 10 10 56 AM by Kojack posted Jul 12, 2021 at 11:23 PM

Thanks for checking out the thread and let me know if you guys have any pointers on this two door conversion; I've seen plenty on cars that have longer two doors available, but it'll be challenge as this never had a two door option so it'll be all fabrication. I'm going for '48-'54 period custom with some Westerguard and early Barris inspirations for sure.

 

Either one of those renditions looks great. Should keep you busy for a bit..

 

Cool. Something different. Sounds like you're going in deep. I agree with the three window treatment.
Love your shop!

 

There was one of those made into a custom here, but you could still tell what it was and it looked awful. BUT your photoshop looks Great! Go for it!

 

Nothing wrong with customizing a Kaiser, especially if it winds up like one of those renderings!

 

I've done a lot of 2 door conversions and a couple of top chops (never on the same car, though). My best advice is to do the 2 door conversion all the way through, then chop the roof as a totally separate operation. I suppose you wouldn't have to totally flesh out the rear quarter window of the 2 door conversion if you're going to make a 3W padded top type car but get the 2 door length doors to close smooth with good gaps before cutting anything into the roof. Both operations require a lot of bracing and things can get loose or lose their shape and trying to do both at once would be extra tough.

 

Dutch Darrin who designed the body, said they "ruined" it by raising the roof line at the back. The engineer responsible said he had no choice, Dutch messed up and did not leave enough head room over the back seat and it was impossible to lower the seat because it was over the rear axle.
So, changing the roof line might make it closer to the original intent, it was supposed to be a low sleek car by the standards of 1946.
The Carson style top looks good and is probably the easiest way to reshape it. You can make the roof shape of strips of steel or wood then cover with padded vinyl or sail cloth.

 

Rik Hoving does a great job at restyling and I really like both of his Carson style top renderings. But just for fun, here's one with a steel top, shortening and lowering the crown in the roof (but not the windshield height) and stretching the doors using the back portion of the rear door to make the 3 window door.

 

He does! That's a cool one as well.. it makes me think a lot of the Mopar business coupes of about the same era. Smaller roofs with a long back.

He did a chopped version for me as well, but I just found myself partial to the Carson-style top.

 

I get it’s a custom and not a hot rod, but my Dad had a 48 Frazer with a Cadillac and a hydro in it. They removed what was necessary with a torch, and put it back with a stick welder on a brand new car. So if that fit, anything will.

 

I think this will be very cool. The rear quarter kind of reminds me of a '50s Merc. Though th three window rendering looks cool but I would not want to drive a car with such blind quarters.

 

The Carson top'd Hoving design with quarter windows reminds me of a chopped Muntz Jet.

 

I think it's going to be like trying to lower the lid on an egg, one way to do it right and a thousand ways to do it wrong.

 

Great - best of luck on the build ! As a paper boy I pasted a Kaiser and Farizer sitting side by side on that long driveway to the carport steps where Mr. Goode wanted the paper dropped off - wasn't a problem as he had other old **** sitting around.

 

And it starts! I’m not sure my length yet... I think I’m gonna get some measurements from friends with two doors that I like the proportions...

 

I like the Carson top, but am split between the 3 or 5 window versions. Either would work for me. Enjoy the process.

 

Loosely based on the photoshop I did and comparing the door lengths of other 2 door conversions I've done, I'm going to say 10 inches, give or take, in added length to the doors. On the long side of that estimate if you're going for the 3W roof configuration.

 

I was kinda eyeballing that length too. The challenge that’s critical to proportion is how long I make the front door and how much catwalk I extend. That’ll determine the size of that “blind” spot to make sure it’s not too big.

 

I like the Carson topped versions. Heck of a project. Definitely watching this one too

 

And it starts! I’m too excited about this damn project and the only thing good about Covid is I have more time then normal. I took the advice and about a ten inch extension looked good to me… pretty much trying to make it as long as could before the rear seat didn’t get enough room. Looks like I will have to get a second set of doors, as I’m about an inch too short and the amount of fabrication to splice that piece in seems like a un needed amount of work.

 

Proportions look real good to me. A second pair of front doors cut right will mean only one seam in the door which will be cleaner and less bodywork later. Looking forward to seeing updates.

I will say, on the 2 door conversions I did, it's easier to hang the door and make the B post line up to it with good gaps than it is to put the B post in first and make the door fit the hole. Granted you've got an extra step here with the lengthened doors but before you fully weld in your B pillar, consider getting the doors in one piece and then fitting the pillar to them. It makes it really easy to get nice straight gaps that way.

 

Ya know -- iffen you're really careful w/the door extension for proportions(& I think you're there), you could do both of the Carson tops, for almost a quick-change look. Leave the windows rolled down for the full top.
Marcus...

 

UPDATE!

Life happens, but I finally got the doors I needed and we are rolling. Unfortunately, the drivers door I got was terrible... I was able to barely use the skin. Oh well, if I need to re do this again it's fine. I need the doors and such established before I can move forward with the chop, as I need to start bracing the frame for the cut.

I think I got the proportions not too bad for my first time doing this! It looks SO much better with one door and that window frame open... I was debating a post car, but seeing all that open space makes me want to go ahead on the hardtop idea.

I found a '55 Chevy rear end that bolts in, a 350 auto and a 327 to keep at least the drive train kinda vintage. SO much work to go, but it's so motivating to see how it's shaping!

 

I don't know if a chop will look right with that slab-sided body. Do the doors, then stand back and take a hard look at it. I think shortening the top (front-to back) a bit would look great, but a hell of a lot of work. JMHO, YOMV

 

Before chopping it, I would visit the photoshop thread for some of their magic to actually see what it will look like before cutting any metal and they can do multiple different dimensions to help decide just how much to chop it.

 

Glad to see it coming together. If you can get a picture of it directly from the side, I can cut the picture up and give some ideas on what different roof heights and lengths would look like.

 

I have a straight-on side shot of a '47 Kaiser-Frazer if that will help

 

Great project, I always liked these cars...worked on a few of them when I apprenticed for Red Mayfield's Garage, Santa Clara: 1946-1966. I worked from '56 to '61, then onto Cadillac-Oldsmobile. (Whew!)

 

great project,. .love your shop, can we see a few more pics of the shop inside and outside?