My 41 Chevy Coupe My dad bought this car in Okinawa, Japan while stationed there in 1967. He had it shipped to the U.S. and has owned it ever since. It was running as recently as 1992. But it has been sitting since then on my uncles farm. I have always loved this car and asked if I could go get it and make it my project car. He agreed. We have been working on it for about a year off and on and he has filled me in on the mods he has made to it. Here are the details: 1941 Chevy Coupe Super Deluxe 64-66 283 SBC (It had a 301 in it but cracked the cylinder wall. Maybe another project.) Muncie 4 speed not sure of the year. Studebaker truck front axle (Not sure of year) 49 Pontiac rear axle (Maybe...more to come) 55 chevy master cylinder and pedal setup Converted to 12v generator I love the straight axle on this car. It is going to need some body work and a little frame work but I have seen cars in worse shape. I have found a lot of helpful info on the HAMB but have more questions that hopefully you can help me out with. We have put the motor back in the car. (It has been garaged for the past 17 years.) Hoping to get the car running and then work on the body and floor boards. A couple of questions: I have to replace the outer rocker panels, which I have bought. I would rather not put the inner rockers back on, because I don't like the enclosed space that seems to always rust. Alternate methods of reinforcing the outer rocker?? Any other advice for floor boards and body work?
Cool 41 can't wait to see the progress. I have a 41 sedan that I am currently working on (avatar). Post more pics as you go and have fun with it.
Thanks guys! The plan is to get the car running again and then fix the body/floor boards. I bought the front floor boards, outer rockers, and trunk panel. I have never put patch panels in before but I have been reading up on it. The hood of the car was leaded and I think I am going to have to do this for some of the locations where the seams have been welded. Not sure if I should do a new thread for this, but trying to also figure out what gear ratio the rear end is and nail down the year. Here are a couple pics. Thanks again.
Squirrel I do know my dad had a lot of body work done to the car after he bought it in Okinawa. Had the floor pans, door bottoms, trunk bottom and rockers replaced. Said he spent about $60 for the work. The car used to be green too. Would be interesting if Don remembers it. Thanks
Awesome having a car that's been in the family for so long. We have my wife's dad's '47 Dodge 2 dr, and my Grandfather's '57 Ford Pickup.
I would use the inner rockers. You could use a 2" hole saw to "ventilate" them, so paint can be shot inside them & they can breathe. This would retain the structure and serve the purpose. Neat car!
I showed Don the pic and text you wrote, he does not recognize the car...but we had fun talking about the stuff they did in the 60s on the island. turns out one of the guys standing there was stationed there in the late 60s too
You need to put the inner rockers back in it for strength..Its a structural part of the body..It helps support all the floor the door jams and all that stuff...Just make sure you put some good epoxy prime between them to seal all the bare metal up inside the rocker... The floor is pretty simple just make cardboard templates and transfer it to steel and go at it.....Its cheaper to waste cardboard than sheet steel....Buy a cheap Harbor Freight bead roller...If you use 18-20 gauge but if you use 16 gauge beads aren't really needed.. Heres one I did a while ago...I was just starting to put the beads in it in the pic...Different kind of car but the same idea
Thanks for all the suggestions on the rocker panel and interior. The rolled and pleated interior is actually in very good shape. There is one small tear in the front seat, but should seal up ok. The back seat area is in very good shape. I love this interior, and will probably focus on the headliner and carpet and try to leave the rest alone. Try to keep this car old school. Any help on the rear axle gearing? Year? Dad said he thought it was out of a 49 pontiac. It is 60" wide (Plate to plate) Take a look at the pics I posted for front and back view. Looks like they moved the perches out 6" to accomodate this car.
Any help with the rear axle? If it is a 49 pontiac, what gear ratio might that be? Does anyone have any pics of inner rocker repairs without using the inner rocker panel? I know I have seen pics somewhere of this type of repair, but can't seem to find them. Thanks
seriously, what kind of hell are you going to subject this car to, that makes you think you should not put the inner rockers back on? Put paint on the parts before you weld them on, make sure it has drain holes, and if you ever get into salt make sure to flush it out well with water. Should last a long long time with some minor care.
Not really going to put it through anything special. Just trying to think ahead to see if anyone has any different ideas. Hell I thought about stuffing oily rags in the rockers too. Just hate to close an area off and have it start rusting again. Plan on coating the underneath side of car with POR-15 when all said and done, but don't want it rusting from inside out. If I put the inner rockers in, I will definitely paint them before welding.
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