Hi all. I thought a re-introduction was in order. Longtime member, 20 years and I'm looking forward to once again getting back to work on my deuce 5W. I’ve owned the car since 85. I drove it for a summer as I bought it but there were issues that had to be addressed. I removed the body, did a bunch of body work, patch panels, filled the roof and redid the frame. After a few more years, I put it back on the road unfinished and drove it like that for another summer to see how it drove. But then life changed, I got laid off in the mid-nineties, so I went back to school and changed careers. I tried on and off over the years to try to get back into it but couldn’t really seem to get any real momentum. I just turned 65 and retired at the end of the year so at the top of my priority list is getting this back on the road now that I will have time and more cash to work with. No excuse now. I wasn’t happy with the direction I took on it first time so now I am going to dis***emble it again. Plans are to unchannel it and go the hiboy route, this old body is not suited to sitting on the floor the way I could when I was younger. I am even considering going full fendered but not sure right now. I got a new United Pacific floor and firewall along with all the supporting brackets, etc., that were hacked off when it was channeled. The motor is a 283 hooked to a Muncie that is ready to be re-***embled, pretty much everything I need but just never got around to putting it back together years ago. I’ll have tons of questions as I’ve been out of the hot rod loop for so long and forgotten what little I knew to begin with. Excuse the rambling re-intro. I hung on to deuce because I knew I would regret selling it. You know how you always get someone walking up to your rod and they tell you they used have a something or other way back and they sure wish they still had it? I didn’t want to be THAT guy. I will start a build thread shortly but here are some pics of the way it sits now in my garage.
Here are a few pics of it when I first got it in 85. Looked OK on the outside but there were issues with the body and frame. Looked like it was quite the hot rod back in the day. Lots of chrome.
Here are some pics of a 20 something me during the rebuild. I replaced the badly mangled X-member from some donor car. Coil overs, Vega steering, four bars. Remember this was the 80's.
And some pics of the last time it was on the road, around 1990 I think. I know FUGLY tires but that will be addressed this time around. I think I may keep the full moons.
Welcome back and bring it on...you have some mechanical challenges going up again that's for sure...I suspect you will keep some of the things should the next gen owner want to reverse it after you have had your fun with it...its funny it reminds me of one of the Graffiti coupe stories...an old channeled Hotrod re-elevated with a sectioned shell...not saying that's what you're going to do...and AG was chopped to boot...I don't think that is in your plans as it would counter what your trying to alleviate... Is there 2 grill shells as one looks taller? It also looks to have had a Rollbar somewhere in the history... Look forward to the next journey back in time...
Thanks for the welcome back. Stogy, just one grille shell and its stock height and staying that way. Maybe our paths will cross sometime in the future as live in North Bay.
Welcome back. That's the type of car my mate wanted to build in the early 60's but we could never find a 32-5. Found out later that Ford never made them in Australia. He built a 34 instead, channeled, molded rear fenders, cycle fronts just like yours. Love the construction pics - do you still have all that hair LOL.
Believe it or not, I still have most of it, I just lost the colour. I also grew a bunch of wrinkles to go with the grey hair.
Well congratulations @deuceguy. You've kept your first hot rod and you've kept your hair. Two things that most members on here wished they had done. I've still got my hot rod but the hair is long gone LOL
I like your plan. Un-channel it and make it comfortable so you can pack the miles on! Do you still have the fender requirements in your province? If so, I'd vote for full fenders like Henry installed. But..... lose the taillights. JMO, YMMV....
Cool ... Great story, congrats on hanging on to it. "All we need is a left-hand monkey wrench". Check.
We have fender laws sort of. Seems if you aren't causing a problem they look the other way. With the proliferation of rat-rods lately I wouldn't be surprised if they tighten up those laws, that's what I'm thinking. Don't worry, I'm losing those 64 Dodge tailights in favor of something more traditional, just not sure what at this point.
Welcome ! Kool car ! Does not need changing IMO. I like the style of the old east coast hot rods. Enjoy !
I liked the older iteration when he first got it but its his fitting comfortably into the channeled body that is necessitating an un-channeling... @deuceguy were the newish tailights there in when you got it...perhaps there's hints inside as to what originally was there...I guess you didn't have any back history or pics on its past Hotrod history...too bad... If you really liked the referenced east coast look you could redo a ch***is to give yourself more room by zeeing the frame in the cabin area...just thinking out loud...still be a shiload of work but that's something that was done...
Welcome back to the fold, from the Soo. I retired a couple of years ago, turn 65 this year. Have had a 34 Victoria project for years, but working on Nomad right now. Only been through North Bay a couple of times, but one time, I ran into the Sudbury guys coming home from an event in your town. About 20 years ago! Good luck with everything.
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