Projects Rickybop's 1931 Plymouth 3W Business Coupe build

LOL
Thanks, Gene.
Trying to live as much as I can.
So far, so good.

Got it.

 

Thank you, @Sharpone
But those have been spoken for. Besides, they were pick up only in Massachusetts. I'm in Michigan.

 

I work pretty good with fiberglass. The rear fenders I have are good starting point.

 

These fiberglass rear fenders actually have a pretty good shape to them. It's just the edge that goes against the body that isn't right. It's going to take some work to make them fit nicely. And I will. It'll be a fun project. I hope. LOL

 

Awesome project. I love that your keeping it mostly Mopar. Here is a couple inspiration pics for you.

 

1932 PB Plymouth, I had a friend that had one, these are well built cars and look like they were chopped from the factory! HRP

 

What were the rear fenders from/for?

 

I have no idea if they were made for this car or something else.

 

Curious about another thing, what’s you center to center distance on the front springs?

 

27 5/8

 

Going to measure my stuff for grins

 

Man, that’s a nice score! Looks like a really solid car. I’m truly happy for you. Now get busy! Lol

 

I forgot to replay back. Both mine are 27 inches.

 

Hey Mike. @Budget36
I measured between the springs. But I think they're slightly tweaked from being clamped haphazardly to the axle. Found my brain for a minute and measured the axle.
I was off 1/8
It's not 27 5/8
It's 27 3/4
You're sure yours are 27?

 

I’ll recheck tomorrow, I was going by 3 hour old memory.

I’ll measure both

 

Hey Rick, I see a dark, handsome presence in your future..........

 

Bad memory, bad, bad memory.
27-3/4 1-3/4 wide springs.

 

The reason I asked, I wonder if an AD pu axle would be the same?

 

Nice, Steve!
I hadn't seen that picture before. Pretty close to what I'm thinkin' of. A little more height to the stance, maybe leave the running boards off, trim back the fenders just a little...

 

I'm convinced that almost no axle meets every criteria in stock form. Modifications have to be made. Track width, spring positioning, spring width, bolt pattern, size of the concentric hub, types of brakes, etc. have to be considered So it's just a matter of what modifications we prefer to make.

This axle has a number of things going for it. It's one of the last I beam axles made. So it's good and strong, not all frozen up or loosey-goosey and the brakes are the best that drum brakes can be.

I think all that's necessary to use this axle is to narrow it, adapt to the springs and change the bolt pattern if necessary.

 

Guides look fine. Though I don't think larger headlights would be too much for this car.
Whadda ya think?

 

Guides are more hot roddy.
Not a bad thing.

 

Fine, by me, Avoid,, If You can,, the drop thing.
All the driving I've done ( It has been Lots and Lots ) taught me.
Low down lights look to be farther away than they really are.
Narrow spaced lights, such as Jeep or Hot Rod also do this. (compounding)
If some one, while hurried, at night, enters the roadway from a stop sign, side road,
they may mis-judge the travel distance, 'til you meet.

 

Hey Rickybop...be cool if someone can photoshop with lowered headlight bar for a look see...

 

Rick, I take it you are going for more of a gasser style look, My thoughts on that would be to keep the body pretty much stock, The headlights could go ether way, the big original style or the Guides, my personal opinion if going with that style, you already have a nicely plated headlight bar and it looks good.

What wheels will you use, mags or steel wheels? HRP

 

@Tow Truck Tom That's interesting about the headlight placement affecting depth perception. I see what you mean.
@choptop40 I like lowered headlights on some cars. But sometimes I really like the stock location, too. We see so many hi-boys with lowered headlights. A lot of us are old enough to remember when there were more full-fendered hot rods. Lots of full-fendered roadsters. And they often retained their original headlight bar and headlight position even if the headlights themselves were changed. So especially for a full-fendered rod, I've kind of reverted back to that.
@HOTRODPRIMER We were talking about how the project can kind of tell you which way it should go. And that I've got such a nearly rust free and complete car here, that I really should take advantage of that. And as you say, I've got a nice original headlight bar, and there's every reason to use it.
I don't think I'm gonna get too gassy. I want a higher stance than most, but not gasser style per se. More like a young man might have basically taken an old black Plymouth Coupe and simply did a drivetrain swap. And he didn't know how to lower it or just didn't want to. No mag wheels or little gas tanks. No big fat tires. No race stickers or red windows. No metal flake steering wheel or metal flake vinyl upholstery. So not gasser. Not street rod. Simple hot rod.
I even think about an almost totally stock looking interior with mohair and wood graining. But I like the all black look too, with an all black leather or vinyl interior.

Wheels?

With black wall bias ply tires.


With mid-60s-type drag tires.


And just for tongue-in-cheek fun sometimes with some original-style skinny tires.