Projects Newb to traditional hot rods

Just getting into traditional style cars. Or actually more the trucks. So im here to learn before i begin my build! Just picked up two ford pickup cabs I was told one is a 1935 and one is a 1936 but not which is which. They both look the same to me! Anyway hope to learn lots and see lots. Here are the cabs im going to be working with.

 

They are both 35, see the sharp line where the windshield post meets the cowl, a 36 would be smooth....Welcome aboard.

 

i guess i must be a idiot! i dont see whats different.

 

what Harv said...

 

i mean the guy must have been an idiot* i assumed they were both 35s by the inner doors but wasnt sure

 

Take the top belt line from the back of the cab and follow it around to the front...see how it follows all the way around and under under the windshield?...they are both '35.

 

Welcome. What he said was both cabs are the same. The sharp body lines by the post point the 35 way. No crease or smooth starts the 36 model.

 

got it! i hadnt ever gotten a good enough discription to teach me! thank you!

 

On a '36, the top belt line stops at the door and doesn't follow up and around under the windshield.

 

Also, '35 cabs have two inner roof braces that run from door to door...'36 has one.

 

good to know. I dont care they are both 35s exspecially since i suspected that all along but i really like the look of them and plan to build the yellow cab.

 

now that i look at 36 cabs i cant believe i didnt see the line before!

 

The '35 cab has always been more desireable than the '36...$$$

 

i got the pair for 1000... not sure if i over paid but i like them so im okay with it

 

You got a good deal....$500 each is fair to you and the seller...win, win.

 

Here is a beautiful fendered 36 truck showing the blended windshield post. The general feeling is that fenderless trucks should be no newer than 34. I tend to agree but there may be a couple of nice newer ones that have been done.

 

So whays your plans ? They are great trucks for sure.

 

Welcome from Kentucky and good score!

 

Something about a fork lift stuck in the window that makes me cringe.

 

I love them full fendered but im not sure ill have the cash to buy them at the moment.


Being I only have the cabs i plan to build a full chassis maybe bagged so i can get the stance i want and still.drive it everywhere. Most likely just put a 347 in it and aod gain because i want a driver. Fenderless hoodless with small chop.

We had door foam when lifting the cabs and they are very rough anyway.

 

The operative phrase here is

A fendered truck will look lower and still be drivable than a non-fendered truck. The rounded cab lends itself to the fender look more than it does to the non-fender look.

The parts can be found and what you don't waste on late model mini-trucker stuff can be spent making your truck right. Better to walk and make it right than to crusie in it wrong.

 

I guess its all a matter of opinion. I like the both ways. If I had a truck complete there is no way id get rid of the fenders but being all i have is a cab it alot different. Can someone tell me a good place for reproduction fenders and boards? I dont even know what kind of price differance im looking at. Ive seen one truck no fenders and hood that i love and would love to have mine look similar but im all for building it fenderef also.

 

Nevermind after looking at a website it looks like an easy 2000 or more just to buy fenders and running boards and a hood... Not to mention all the peices i would nee to fabricate or buy to mount it all...

 

If it was cheap and easy everybody would do it and it wouldn't be special. That's why rat rods suck, anybody can build one. Seel one cab and you will have a big chunk of yoru fender money.

P.S. Is a 347 a 5.0 Mustang motor bored out? I would definitely cover that up with a hood...

 

Actually opinion is very important on a 21st Century hot rod or custom site. But the thing that you have to remember is that this is not a 21st Century rod and custom site. We are an early to mid 20th Century rod site. There is a lot of opinion bandied about as some of us are extremely opinionated, but our opinion will always be steeped in tradition.

There were no doubt fenderless late '30s Fords built and I have actually seen some that were quite tastefully done. But that does not make them what is commonly accepted as traditional and the fenderless trucks would be the exception to the rule. Sometime you actually see a picture of a fenderless truck that is what we used to call custom by collision. It got rumpled and the fella removed the bad parts so he could keep driving it while he raised the cash to buy a new fender or grill. Other than show cars most hot rods or customs were also dailey transportation.

If you get serious about looking you can find the fenders and correct grill shell for that old truck. you can without a doubt find them original instead of repop. That said there is probably someone out there that repops panels and pieces for the truck and all you have to do is try a google search.

You can start right here in our classifieds. You may even be able to adapt later ford sheetmetal to it for a total custom. Something along the lines of '40 Ford perhaps is usable, or lincoln Zephire rear fenders. A 35-41 bed may also work well for you. But now I am up into the spaceship relm if you are a newb and just want to put one together.

Just start looking you will find what you need. Maybe everyone reading this thread will be willing to keep an eye out for the bits for you as well. We would like to see you cruising a smooth one.

It is easy to be a dork but being cool sometimes you have to work at.

 

Exspensive doesnt mean cool...

 

You are not going to come back with the poor mouth crap are you? It never flies with me. After taxes and health insurance I live on 900.00 a month. I don't cheap out on my cars or my bikes. I am not poor by any means.

You have to learn to shop, you barter, you look until you find the piece at a price you can afford. You scrimp and save until you can afford to buy the parts. Sometimes you find something that you absolutely don't need cheap because the fella that has what you want needs what you found. Being a rodder is all about being creative, it always has been and it has never been cheap.

 

I understand what you mean. This is a straight up traditional site I get that. But to say one looks better than another is still an opinion. Not saying its correct or incorrect for either just saying i like both fendered and non fendered. Seems like i may need to go to another site with what i want to build. If i had the money to and cared to build a truck that you guys would appreciate id buy a complete truck to start with.

And dont get me wrong i respect what you guys do and like i just am not building a truck for what you like.

 

I have money. I spend most my money on my car. This project is simply one i dont care to spend alot on.

 

We are just trying to steer you in the right direction. When you come to the Y in the road you still have to decide which way to go. We all pretty much end up in the same place when all is said and done don't we.