Projects Welding together 2 33 34 coupe bodies - Build Thread

I wanted to share my build pictures of me putting together my 1933 3w coupe and my mixed up 33/34 frankenstien 5w coupe body. This will be me just welding together the bodies. I Should finish this year.

This is my first build thread so bear with me!

The 3w was my first hotrod. Didnt know what the hell I was doing and it was out of whack to begin with. So long story short I am going to fix it correctly now. Plus it was a streetrod that will be turning into a "restorod"

The 5w is just parts and pieces I picked up over the years and now its time to weld them together!

First thing I started with was building a nice original frame. Having a square frame is #1 building block. I tried once lining a car up on a croocked frame and never really worked. I didnt know it was crooked for the longest time either. But anyhow I made this frame jig probably 11 years ago. Used it once and now I get to use it again briefly


Putting my x member pieces in I had to use a floor to help make sure I was putting the x member in the right place. All of the frame diagrams only show measurement for the rails!
X member tacked in.


Fixed Cross Memember

As I was waiting to sand blast I made new rear trunk braces. Here is what I had between both bodies

Here is my 4 new ones. They are almost done in the pics.
Finally off to sand blast! The model A is my friends. My Frankenstein coupe though in the back of his truck.

 

Great start on your first build thread, great photos, look forward to following both builds. Bob

 

Looks like a great start and workmanship! Gary

 

Back from sandblasting. I sand blasted a bunch of things I guess I didnt take any pics though.

Fixed the original back piece. Bought another one for the other coupe

The front of the floor had been cut out. Since I am going for more original on the 3w I needed to buy this.

Cutting it up to fit

I wanted to add this because WTF!? I didnt notice the battery access hole hitting until after I tacked in the floor. Both sides have the same overlap. Oh well I will fix it later.
First glimpse of a body! Just placed the body over the floor. I cut out the old floor. It was one I made a long time ago. It*****ed.

 

nice work, this'll be cool.

 

I'm digging the nice couch in the shop, wish I had that much room. Looking forward to the build.

 

Looking forward to following this thread. Thanks for posting. Keep up the good work.

 

The back is lining up pretty good.

Welding in new nuts for the subrail. I did this in all the spots.

Garbage that will be cut out and fixed the right way.

The start of lining up the door. Beginning phase. I am using Don Smart door post

Here is the door as of this morning. It open and closes. Lines up. Needs a little tweak but it is very close. Moving on to the other side today. Will take pics!

 

Yeah I love having it in there. Was from the house when we got new couches.

 

I would like to add. 10-12 years ago the body was out of whack and I used welding rod to fix the gaps on the doors. All that has been cut out and I am lining up the doors like it should of been done.

 

patiently waiting

 

You are doing some great work here, saving two coupe bodies in the process. Will be following your builds, you are doing it right!

 

Will be watching along as you move forward. Very cool you are building it from pieces -- not a job for the faint of heart!

 

Wow, great job!

 

Great job keep the updates coming


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Dr Frankenstein would be jealous

 

I love the model 40's..thanks for sharing, looking forward to updates.

 

Great work so far! I'll look forward to following your progress. I started with a really rough 34/5 window (no floor, firewall, etc.) It's a LOT of work building a floor, getting doors to fit well, etc.
Ironically, I've also been collecting parts for years to build a puzzle 34 3/window...

 

Excellent start correcting the first build. It's amazing how many of us will take short cuts when entering this hobby. Most of the time it is out of necessity for lack of experience, time, money, or all of the above. Rarely do we have the opportunity to go back and start over. Your project represents one of the Holy Grails of rodding (a 3w model 40) and any effort you put into it will well be worth the effort/$$$$'s.
Keep us up to date as you make progress this is going to be a good one.

Frank

 

Well I was hoping I was going to get the passenger door on today. Nope. Spent most of the day messing with it and could never get anything to line up. I think I went backwards today.

I started off by getting side tracked by taking off the inner door skin. I wasnt the guy that originally cut this out. It was tacked it place and bad at that. I went ahead and took it out and took out some of the dents and put it back in. I por15 the backside. I also will be doing a new door skin on both doors. Waiting on patch panels.


There is a lot of work that is happening that pictures really cant show. I had the door hinges bent out from the first time. This time I have bent them all flat and starting with that. here is the door post on the door. Making sure it swings in and out correctly before I put it in.


Got the inner door skin back on. Its still tacked but much better. I still have work to do on it. I need to cut out the mid door handle area. I need to put a flat piece back in so I can put in the 33 door pull.

Here is me starting to try and line up the door. I tacked it in place but nothing was fitting right. I also and going to add back the original door lock. I welded it up the first time. But everything is still there for it inside the door.

It looks decent but its way out. There is no room for the rocker if you notice!

You can see why I cut the corner out. Garbage. Putting new patches in from Don Smart. Just gotta wait for them. What*****s about it is, I have no idea when I will get them.


I stopped to put the rocker in since my door seemed way low. Its funny how you have to notch the notches for them to fit the step outs for the sill. You would think they would have got that right when they made the stamp.
After messing with the doors for most of the afternoon I finally figure out what the hell is wrong. The passenger side is 1/2 inch lower then the driver side kicking the back of the door down. I even shimmed it first. Then finally I measured it and seen how out it really was. This is where I am leaving it tonight. I will continue tomorrow.

Also I am putting a stock firewall in.

 

You know I am a bit embarrassed to show my original work. It was my first project and I was learning. Learning on a crooked 3w is a bad idea to add. However I have gotten much better got 2 other cars behind me now, which came out great. I started when I was 17 or so. I am now 30 about to turn 31.

 

There will be those days that make you wonder why your doing what your doing.... we have all been there. Keep after it, it is looking great!! I know what your goin through, as a lot of guys on here could say. Looking forward to updates. Hang in there....tim

 

Nice job and cool projects!

 

Still working on door gaps. Passenger side is good, but both sides sag a little when you open either door. Trying to get it out.

 

Your attention to detail is evident.

The fit and finish is very impressive,I'm subscribed. HRP

 

Good stuff here!

 

You're doing a great job of saving this car!

 

Finally making some progress this afternoon.

Got bored messing with doors so I stopped and tacked the rocker in. You have to like press fit these guys in.

Went back to door. Got it! Lines up. No sag when you open the door. Feels good.

Time to fix the gapping hole above door.

Working the patch so it matches the roof

Tacked in

Patched tacked in. I will gas weld it fully in on a different day.

To explain the metal strip in the tack strip. Since the body was split at the roof and pushed out, I didnt know where or what the correct opening was anymore. So I measured the other side where the ribs bolt to and make a quick brace to hold it how the other side was. Not the most accurate place to measure but it worked out just fine.

 

I will add some pics of the door post installed later. So incase anyone else installing don smart door post want any pics for reference.