Hot Rods 34 coupe..Dismembered to drag coupe.

I say drag coupe because that is the style of the build but I am building this car for the street with a heavy 60’s drag car influence. I like all kinds of hot rod eras, 40’s, 50’s, 60,s and the one I grew up in, 70’s but I always go back to my favorite, drag cars from the 60’s. I guess it was all the magazines and model car building from my formative years that hooked me on speed equipment, magnesium wheels, wild engine and body combinations etc.
This car has been in my head for a very long time. I had started building it 20 years ago, that is how long ago I acquired the body or should I say body pieces. One of my first threads on the H.A.M.B. was on putting this body back together. That was in 2006. Here is an explanation from that thread of how I acquired the body and why it was cut apart.

 

Great find. Needs a DOHC 427 on alcohol ( moonshine that is) . Hehe.

 

Awesome, another build thread from kiwi kev. Epic.

 

First I got the body welded back together in one piece.

 

There’s libel to be a very wicked 55 Chevy lookin for you.

 

Long time ago but this picture tells me I had it mocked up like this for a while. Picture is from the book about the Choppers CC called The Electroline Diaries. this book came out in 2007. I like to call this car the worlds longest mock up.


Next came the top chop. 5” with laid back posts.



Then it sat mocked up like this for a while.

 

Then all work stopped on the 34 when I had an opportunity to buy a very solid 37 Willys sedan. I. Already had a Willys coupe body with no floor etc so by combining the 2 I could build a Willys coupe much quicker and easier than the 34. That was the beginning of the Nasty Habit Willys that took my focus both building and enjoying for several years to follow. Nasty Habit is well documented on the H.A.M.B.

 

The 34 coupe mock up was dismantled and the body sat in the back of my garage for quite a few years waiting its turn. The chop was not finished. I built several cars over those years as well as a ton of work for other people so I could eat and keep the lights on. I didn’t care how long it sat because I knew I would get to it one day and I was just happy to own it as I acquired it for not much money, 34 coupe bodies have always been out of my price range.

 

Eventually the Willys was sold and I now had a spot in my garage to build the 34. I dug out a bunch of parts I had been saving and started to get busy. This was several years ago.



The frame I am using is a swap meet special old hot rod frame. It was in my price range, I think it was $150 from memory. I think it is a 35/36, inner rockers will need a little modifying to make it all work.



Sides of firewall trimmed and body sitting in position.

 

This is what I have been waiting for Kev. Going to be a great hot rod. Just the style I love.

 

Here we go, it’s game on!

 

A Kiwi Kev build thread, reason to check the hamb every day!

 

I punched 160 louvers in the deck lid saving a space for my SCROUNGERS (NZ) club plaque. To get the competition look I was after I didn't want
the rear wheels hanging out so I positioned them where I wanted so I could measure for rear end width.
Rear frame was the perfect width. I got the rear section of a 34 sedan body when I got the coupe body parts and it turns out the sedan inner fenders are 1” deeper than coupe inner fenders. I will be welding them in and will end up with the look I am after.






Next it was time to position the engine. Years ago I bought this 354 Hemi and another disassembled Chrysler Hemi and a Dodge Hemi for $800, sold the other 2 and only have a couple hundred invested in this one now. It had a carburetor. I was told it came out of a shoebox Ford that rolled. Don’t know anything about it, pulled a valve cover and it is super clean inside. Eventually I will figure out exactly what I have. I don’t want a race engine in this thing but I do want it to look like one. The 6.71 blower core I got when I traded some parts for the 34 floorpan I got when I got the coupe body parts. Everything is just mocked up. The headers I bought at a Fathers day swap meet for $50. had no use for them at the time but they were too cool to leave. I positioned the engine where the headers worked, it was like they were made for this car. I wanted plenty of engine setback to get the competition look I was after, I am 5’8” and test fit to make sure I fit, lucky I am not 6’. There is nothing practical about this car and that is fine with me, it will be more mellow than it looks however so I don’t expect any wheelies. Should make plenty of tire smoke! I expect there will be a baffle in each pipe eventually.

 

You build cool stuff.

-Abone.

 

I really like the fact that this is a project/collection that has been years in the making, I can truly relate to that. Bob

 

You are killing it again! Cool.

 

Very cool, looks bad ass, engine tucked in, wide tires tucked in, weed burners pushing out, scoop poking up

 

️ I’ll be watching - Excellent!!!!
Dan

 

I decided to use a Willys front axle. I converted it to cross spring, stock it has 2 parallel leaf springs. I chose it because I liked the light weight spindly look compared to a Ford I beam axle. I had been saving a pair of SP radius rod brackets and a pair of PSI batwings for this project. The Stainless steel hairpins are from Speedway motors. I mocked up the front end where it looked about right and fabricated a spring mount.

 

Just as cool as I’d expect!

 

Before I sold my Willys I removed the front brakes and wheels. I put JFZ disc brakes and skinny slot mags on and kept the magnesium Halibrand kidney beans and Hurst Airheart disc brakes that I had converted to Willys spindles. I am running the front wheels reversed as I think that look suits this car. This was not uncommon (see pics), even the first version of the California coupe ran reversed kidney beans.



I haven’t decided what front shocks to run yet. I have a beautiful pair of small vintage Konis or lever shocks, also regular chrome shorties. Hopefully I will get the front axle chrome plated one day.

 

Is the Willes front axle an early or late one? I know the drop is different on one.

Bob

 

Later one, 41 I think. 37,38,39 and not sure about 40 had more drop……..I think.

 

He always does ! Who, but Kiwi Kev would consider using a 35-40 frame, another stroke of genius.

 

Marty, Ha! I thought it was a 34 when I bought it. It is close enough so I will make it work.

 

Kev, I have been helping a young friend with a similar car, built him a cage that's legal, yet looks like an older design.
Glad to see you back at it, my friend !

 

That car is awesome! I followed that build a while back. Pretty sure I met him at a Bakersfield swap meet a few years ago.

 

Fantastic. Glad your health scare is behind you.