Projects 33 Ford 5 window coupe build - 50's style

Thanks, Dave. You do great work, so that coupe of yours will turn out fine!

Here is a shot of my coupe from the front showing the firewall modification so that the 1953 Cadillac 331 cubic inch motor will fit.

 

NICE! Glad to see your making progress. Farther than I've come so far, but winter is here now so I started on my 33 again this week.

 

Lookin' good!!! Keep up the good work!!!

 

Steve, its looking beautiful. Incredible work.

 

Sweet, man after my own heart. Very similar to my 33 build... I kinda got carried away with the flake and chrome though!

 

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

Lono - I've been following your builds with interest. You always have something good going on, but you haven't done a 30's hot rod since the Model A roadster. Any plans for another "old" one?

Englishrodder - I followed your build as well. Your coupe turned out great, and is an inspiration for my own build. Nothing better than an old Ford coupe with a Cadillac motor!

 

Nice

 

I really like your project. Nice save. I do have to agree with the sentiments of a few of the other guys that responded though. The 32 grille shell looks way out of place. Kinda of a weird eastcoast thing that never worked very well.(like tractor grilles) I have been seeing a lot of halfway decent 34 grilles on Ebay lately that might be had. No 33's though. Keep at it your making good progress.

 

Great job, I have been watching this build with interest,cant wait to get mine to this stage,and look forward to your progress

 

Pure inspiration! Thanks for the posts

 

I like the look of the 32 grill shell on a channeled coupe, and have seen it on a lot of these cars that were built in the 50's and 60's (from magazine articles). On post #72 of this thread are pics of the car that inspired my build. That rod was built in Utah in 1957, and still exists today. It used the 32 shell, 53 Cad motor etc that I am using. But of course everyone has their opinion, and that's what rodding is all about!

 

Hey Steve, I dig the look your going for! Your makin great progress, keep that focus.

Heres one with 32 grill, that I thought you would enjoy!!!

 

D Rod - that coupe is nice! I see that its also for sale now on that site. The builder showed a lot of imagination and got everything just right!

 

So I am back at it - this build is slow but it is coming along well. The body is ready, so now the chassis is going together. Here is the frame with the 40 Ford rear and dropped front axle. Using the Hot Rod Works rear axle update kit - with machined bearing ends and Dutchman axles. Man, this is way over the budget I set for the car, but at least I know these axles will handle any power that the 331 Cad mill produces. Hot Rod Works are great guys, and I highly recommend dealing with them.

 

hey good to see your back at it, i have to stop by and check it out.

 

Budd - drop by anytime, I have to check out your projects as well. How is that dragster restoration coming?
Here is a shot of the Vern Tardel steering arm hooked up to the Lincoln backing plate. I have a thread on how it went together, so check it out.

 

Glad to see your back at as well. Looks real good.

 

Was going to use this Cad-Lasalle trans, but don't want to cut up the stock trans mount. So I will go with the original plan and use a 39 Ford trans. Using stock pedals I got from Hamber Rob Paul, now just have to figure out how to mount a master cylinder.

 

Pritty cool build man, sure is alot of work. I'm doing the body work on my pick up and that sure sucks doing.

 

Right on, DynoDanny. that is one great looking truck build!

Here is a shot of the 40 Ford rear end with 40 spring. The 33 rear crossmember was widened just enough in the center portion to allow
the spring to fit. Tube shocks are mounted using all Ford parts from about 1947-48.

 

Dont worry about the budget, you can always collect beer cans to support the habit.
Sure is looking pretty.

 

Looks good Steve.
Your thread should provide some inspiration when we get to work on our 33.

Sean

 

Fred and Sean - thanks for the kind words. I hope the coupe isn't looking too purdy, because I'm going for the patina look - have to scruff it up some more - where did I put that Scotchbrite?

 

This pic shows the motor mount pads that were built to bolt to stock holes in the 33 frame. NOS Hurst motor mounts on Ford rubber biscuits will allow the 53 Cad motor to sit on these pads.

 

Cool! I also started with a beat racecar body...34-5 window. ONly body part I saved from the original purchase was the top..traded a 53 stude coupe for a pretty decent chassis...got almost all my parts from the HAMB but had to go to Steve's for subrails, quarters and rear-lower panels...inner and outer.
The caddy engine sounds like fun....I'm using a 370 cu in Pontiac with a T-5 and winters QC...it's been a fun project for me.

 

Rocky - I have been following your build, you are doing a great job! Can't wait to see the finished product. Like you, I was only able to save a portion of the original race car body - the back of of the roof and most of the quarter panels.
Got a floor for free and traded a hood a some other parts for a good frame.
These bodies can be put together from parts, and with the good quality aftermarket replacement pieces available from Steve's in Oregon, Donnie Smart, and others, you can end up with a good quality body. This is the third coupe body I have built, and the parts collection has already started for the fourth - a 34 five window. So far I have both doors, the B pillars, most of the floor, two good firewalls, front fenders and a hood.
Good luck on your project!

 

you have more doors? dam it

 

Lookin good ..will we see it at duece days 2013?

 

I actually like the green 33 with a 32 grill and full hood, looks classy