So 2.5 years ago I sold my wife’s ( @babybluey) killer little model A coupe to buy her a super solid 32 5w project that had been in hibernation since 1960. well life gets in the way as it does sometimes and long story short I still hadn’t started on her coupe and she’s been very patient all the while… Then in December I went to go buy a hot 331 caddy engine from a guy that’s an hour north of me. Side note, once I got there he shared that the 331 was actually out of an Alexander Bros car that he owns. anyways, point is, while I was there I saw this 34 5w that’s an old survivor hotrod there’s little that interests me more than a survivor hotrod/custom. so I sent my wife a picture and asked her what she thought. to no surprise she loved it. I asked the gentleman about buying it and he said he had a guy coming in the morning to get it. I told him on the off chance the guy flakes to please call me. the next morning I was shocked to see a text asking if I still wanted it? I said of course but I need a week to come up with the money. he said no worries so I embarked on the delicate conversation with my wife of this car being a little quicker to be back on the road given that it’s a survivor and in amazing shape. Mind you her 32 was no slouch but this thing is hella nice. So she gave the go ahead to sell it, I called my buddy Russ down in Ga and a deal was made. That weekend I dropped the 32 off in Ga and picked up the 34 the next day. I thought I was going to drop an engine in it and be ready to roll but I never miss an opportunity to over complicate anything so here we are tearing it down for a body on the frame build… it’s got an 283 getting built by @hotrodderhaag that will be topped off with a 3:71 blower. hence the complications. We gotta do a little firewall surgery to make way for blower pulleys so I started getting it torn down tonight. looking forward to not only getting my wife back in a cool hotrod but also documenting it on here. it’s been a long time since I’ve done a build thread so this should be fun ☺️ Also the car is named Lil Devil due to its Titian red paint Was built in the late 50’s and had a 322 nailhead in it (unfortunately the running gear was long gone by the time we got it) anyways, if you’re still reading thanks for coming along for the ride!! so this was her A And this was her 32 and this is the Alexander Bros 331 here’s the new 34
This is my brother Walt's '34... Location (Chenango Bridge, NY). The next day, a 331 Cadillac engine was installed . Walt purchased a '39 Ford trans. adaptor from Honest Charley Speed Shop ( Chattanooga, Tn). Before he left for Langley A.F.B. (Va.) his car had the orig. fenders & running boards re-installed and a 2 four-barrel intake manifold and carb set, purchased from Honest Charley.
Looks like you are pretty good at trading Up…….and you have a Very understanding partner!! Let the fun begin.
I’ve thought heavily about it but that engine is pretty hot and is a survivor plus she’s driving this to the ROC in October so I’m trying to keep it as reliable as possible
Okay so let me spell this out for you since you like to be cheeky and comment like this is Facebook… the 331 I have is pretty rowdy,it’s punched out to 365, has isky adjustable rockers and a big cam plus high compression and 2x4’s. Also it was built in the late 50’s and has never been gone through since. While it runs great it’s not an engine that I want to put my wife behind for a cross country trip. This car is being built to be a long distance traveler not a bar hopper.
So I got the seat and carpet out tonight and the good news is there’s no rust! the bad news is it’s an old hotrod and has been cut on a bit. thankfully I knew that going into it so it wasn’t a big surprise and it’s mostly in the toeboard area and that’s getting reconfigured anyway with the firewall getting set back a bit. btw have any of yall noticed that no one that does a post on firewall set backs talks about the toe boards? I’m guessing it’s because it’s super easy but all the same I’m excited to get it behind me. Gotta work late tomorrow night but hopefully Wednesday I’ll get the firewall cut and drop an engine/trans in there and see how things are gonna fit! also check out the panel made to cover the factory hole for the battery. Specifically note the phone number!
Probably not applicable to your car; but on the three '33s I did, the angle of the toe boards changed. The new lower firewall sections angled to meet the floors but the angle was not as steep. The one in the picture had a hanging pedal; the others had non stock underfloor pedals I built to fit. Stock style pedals seem like they would require a toe board close to the stock angle to work; but the assembly would probably have to be moved rearward so the pedals would be behind the firewall. Maybe why Ansen pedals were popular.
that’s what I’m concerned about. I’d really like to keep the stock clutch linkage which requires keeping the stock pedals… I also do t want to make this into a science project. I’d like to keep it as simple as possible. thanks for the insight and the pics on the inside, that’s helpful
Around there; 3-1/2" sticks in my mind; but it has been a while. I missed mentioning that when the lower part of the original firewall was raised to meet the trimmed back top, it also raised it a little which also contributed to the steeper toe board angle. I always liked doing the firewalls this way as it looks more real than a flat or bead rolled firewall.
So as @Thulsa Doom said the other day, I’m in the archeology phase of the build… I can’t wait to be in a place where I can start moving forward. I feel like this project just keeps getting bigger and bigger everyday. but with that said I am grateful that I haven’t uncovered anything terrible. I’ve got a buddy that picked up a 33 3w that was an old show car and what started off as an interior update in the trunk turned into a full frame off rebuild. he pulled a thread on a sweater and is left with a crop top. So again, I can’t complain that much. I was just hoping to get an engine and trans in the car and get it on the road. Instead this is quickly turning into a full build. but it’s gonna be cool so that counts for something right? so anyways, we did shop night at my place this evening and while @sinticket and I wired my compressor up @hotrodderhaag and @Silvair @Crooked road got all the wiring out as well as the CF that was my toeboard!! hopefully I’ll have an engine and trans in by the end of this week and things will start to look like something! In the mean time check out this gas welded hodgepodge of a trans tunnel and admire the pieces of an old washing machine used on the toeboard!! Also take a gander at how they made the battery box on the firewall, the cut, flattened and folded in the original firewall and then used some thin tin to cover it. Grateful they didn’t just lop it out!! At least I’ve got something to work with…
The Jalopy Journal
