starting a 32 Ford build.... need advice

X2 P & J's would get my vote . I think it's very hard to stay under 30K for building a deuce from scratch these days. Maybe look for a unfinished project.

 

I have a TCI under my coupe. Bought the frame in 93. You can put a jack under a front frame horn and raise the car level. Solid frames. But the frame needed to have several hours of metal finish done to make it pretty. I chose not to do that then. Now I'm old and lazy and just drive it that way.

 

.. I see you want to build a Deuce, not buy one! Good for you!
Sounds like you know how to research and do things right.
Are you going to use an I Beam frt Axle?
Along with the same sbf power plant are you going for a toploader 4spd & a Ford 8”or 9” 3^rd member? you will be able to use all the attachments from the same Car; I’ve even used the wiring out of the Donor Car (66 Mustang).
If so - I would order up a pair of repo Deuce Rails $800., Model A frt Cross Member $100, Some square tubing and have at it.
On the Body question if you cant afford a Deuce Coupe Body right now get a Sedan; I see 32 Sedan Body’s around for the same $ a quality Fiberglass Coupe Body goes for; and now that they are repoping the rear 5W Body Parts; in time you can turn that Sedan into a 5W. In the interim pursuit of a Deuce Body you could always get a temporary Model A or T Bone Body.
There is no need to get into the topic ‘Fiberglass’ there are plenty of threads on HAMB and elsewhere about the disadvantages of Fiberglass Body’s.

 

I was on the same ship as you and that ship sailed. I couldn't afford to build a 32 so I found a 29 roadster body and fenders, it's glass and it's not a 32, but I had alot of fun doing it and I'm all done for well under 20 grand. You can see pic's in my 29 roadster album.