A little bit trad, a little bit today.

Here’s some interesting shots of a friends 34 three window.
Built circa 1967 and state of the art for a good home builder at the time.

Some of you may think what you’re gonna see is a “barn find”, but it’s not. Just a nice little black 34 with excellent chrome that is rust free and straight. The black paint applied many years ago still looks good. In fact the car is a standout at any of the local rod runs. Not many know of the build date. A few know, but only long time friends or those who’ve seen the car up on a rack. Right now the car is undergoing some modernization in the running gear dept., but nothing is being changed up top.

The nice part to this car is that it’s not just another overly slick 34 three window. It’s more representative of the best hot rods, the really good ones, that ran the streets back in the day. Smooth running, good looking, low and fast. Fast being the operative word here. Today it runs what the owner calls a mild 327 in front of an automatic, but it sounds pretty darned healthy to me. Regardless - and staying true to his hot rod heritage - there is another engine being built for it and this one with even more horsepower. An SBC fwiw, but that’s ok. The SBC was one of the most desired hot rod engines of the day and a well built one didn’t have to take anything off anybody. A lot of us ran Caddy’s and Nailheads and Rocket motors, but when the little Chevy came on the scene the handwriting was on the wall. Some joined the ranks of the believers and became Chevy guys through and through. The rest of us stayed with our beloved ‘other’ engines and did well for a while, but after a little time had passed, racing the Chevy powered cars was like shoveling sand against the tide.

With all that in mind, here’s a little trip down memory lane for some and for others, a look at what was in days gone by.

First pic - and there are nine of them so hang in there before posting - is an original dropped beam axle, drum brakes and tube shocked front end.

 

This head on view of the front axle is a little washed out and since I had to hold the camera up high, point and shoot, I missed the axle end of the panhard bracket. I found it interesting to see a panhard on an older build. I brightened up the pic as much as I could, but it’s pretty washed out due to the light from outside. Regardless, the main point is the panhard.

 

I’m not sure where this pitman arm came from. Neither is the owner. Something out of a local machine shop he thinks, but since it’s been a while, the memory escapes him. Regardless, it’s been completely trouble free and a good way to go for the mid-50's Ford pickup box it’s attached to.

 

This shot shows the trans crossmember. A unit typical of the time and it works fine. Incidentally, front motor mounts are home-made pieces utilizing 48 Ford style cushions and bolts. Take note of the Derale style vented trans pan. There is no other transmission cooling system in the car. He keeps a close eye on the trans fluid and has never noticed a burned smell. The car has made the run to Reno’s Hot August Nights several times with no trans overheating problems. Granted, no trans temp gauge, but an observant guy can tell a lot. The owner is observant and experienced. The trans is not plumbed into the radiator either. Line out, line in and that’s it. The line being all of maybe 6" long.

 

Shown here are the parallel rear leaf springs. I took a close look at the rear mount to see if the frame was tweaked anywhere in the area. My thinking being that I would have boxed the area, but it seems to be working fine. Far as I can tell the frame is as straight as the day it rolled off the assembly line. He used to run Traction Master style bars for traction control, but doesn’t race it much if at all nowadays so they were pulled some time back.

 

He builds late cars as well. Here’s one for the Longroof troops.

 

Here’s another. The orange Suburban was extensively rebuilt. I’m not sure if the body was pulled off the chassis - don’t think so - but this is a more than nice car. He’s owned it for some time, sold it once, bought it back.

 

Back under the chassis of the 34. This shows the end of the split front wishbone. What’s real interesting here is the home-made deep channel piece the Heim jointed wishbone bolts to. The channel piece made out of three pieces of what look to be 1/4" metal on all three sides. I believe these are the original Heims. With 36 years of service that kind of puts the lie to the bit that Heims don’t last long on the street. This car has been driven a lot and has quite a few miles on it. It’s been down the last couple of years, but it’s being resurrected for the tail end of this years “cruising” season and the ones that follow.

 

This last photo shows the brake pedal, pivot and return spring. Simple stuff, but they work well and have lasted a long time. Looks like a shot of lube and it’ll be good to go for a couple more years.

I have some photos of the car proper, but they are fairly dark and wouldn’t show up well. You’ll just have to take me at my word that it is one very nice 34.
Next time it’s out in the sunshine - bout three weeks I’m guessing - I’ll pop some pics and you can decide for yourself.
I’m pretty sure you’ll like it.

 

I remember that state of the art. No 800#s back then! The piman arm looks like an F100 top welded into a plate. The metal finishing detail makes it appear original.

I hope the guy that wanted to graft a 39 pedal assembly into a deuce frame studies that pedal system. I believe that is exactly what Bruce L. was discribing.

Remember the magazine and NSRA panic over heim joints with out washers in case the ball pulled through? You buddy solved that problem nicely.

Boy do I like that suburban!!! Color and stance!

Give him my compliments. I can't wait for the shiney side!

 

I noticed the headers were open...
nice car.
r

 

The rest of us stayed with our beloved ‘other’ engines and did well for a while, but after a little time had passed, racing the Chevy powered cars was like shoveling sand against the tide.

THANK YOU
Great post Jay!

 

[ QUOTE ]
Remember the magazine and NSRA panic over heim joints with out washers in case the ball pulled through? You buddy solved that problem nicely.


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I thought so as well.
It looks like the way it's mounted goes a ways toward keeping dust out.
Looking directly underneath it didn't look like it had any felt dust protectors or similar.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I noticed the headers were open...


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The whole exhaust system was lying on the floor of the shop.
I meant to get a pic of that, but forgot.
It's a 2 1/2" system with nice smooth muffler shop bends - smooth meaning they weren't bent too far.
A pair of two chamber Flowmasters and some short tailpipes that end near the rear bumper.
All tied together with a 2 1/2" balance tube.

The builder owns a muffler shop and is regarded as the place to go for hot rod exhaust.
I see coupes, roadsters and early pickups in there from valley towns 25 miles away.

Sometimes I go by the shop and there's so much good stuff in there that it gets a little overwhelming.

I completely forgot to shoot pics of the 57 Pontiac two door in the back they're getting started on.
Right now it's in partially disassembled mode and a 350 Chevy engine swapped in.
Before the Poncho guys get bent out of shape, realize the shop owner is a Chevy engine enthusiast, has built more than a few and usually has some interesting Chevy parts kicking around or a complete engine.

He likes other engines as well.
Early Hemi's for one....

 

c9,

i've got a couple of questions about pic #1:

1. is the lower shock mount welded/molded to the axle? or is there an axle that came that way that i've never seen?

2. what backing plates are those? sorry, but if it's not late 40's ford i just don't recognize them.

my congrats to the builder. looks like a lot of thought and attention went into this one.

 

I'm pretty sure the lower front shock mount is welded to the axle.
From what I understand - and the local very experienced speed shop partner who does the welding/fabrication stuff is one who told me - the early Ford axles are forged and respond to welding quite well.
You didn't see it in the pics, but the passenger side of the front panhard has the bracket welded to the axle as well.
All done with a stick welder.

I'm not sure what the front brakes are.
I'm guessing F100, but not sure.
They are coming off and a pair of what look to be Camaro discs and calipers are going on.
He bought another front axle - dropped - that has split bones, original spring and the disc brakes adapted to the early Ford spindles.
The car is remaining sprung as you saw it.

Incidentally, if Walt - Buick guy is reading this, I haven't caught up with my Buick owning friend yet.
And for Mike, the shop with the F1's was closed yesterday.
I'll try again today once I'm free.