Might be off topic but please allow me to suggest that an old chevy thread should have a little bit of good news about wood too! I agree, generally, with using steel to replace the wood. For the average person it's easier. However, the '31 I restored with all recycled/scrounged/free wood, except the door hinge pillars and dashboard crossmember that I bought from KC wood in NC. As we speak I know of 3 cars just like it, slammed, IFS, V-8 Hotrods, with the wood intact in the body. I scrounged the rest of the wood in that car for FREE. The top slats are 1/4 inch plywood from a wood crate I scrounged, the sills were foundation for a crate that a lathe was shipped in. It took me about 6 months to scrounge up enough scrap oak and other hardwood and did it all with a crosscut/rip saw, bandsaw, a joiner, and glue and clamps. My '29 custom has mostly recycled wood at no cost, combined with steel in selected locations. As far as durability? My dad drove a '30 chivvy coach (bought it new) from 1930 until 1951 when he finally broke down and bought his next new car. The '30 was still running strong, (only 21 years old) and I don't recall anybody ever even bringing up any issues with the wood. Fact is it was ovedr 40 years after that that I realized they had a lot of wood in them when I started restoring that '31. My '29 custom has 7,000 miles on it since built and doesn't squeak or have any issues with the wood whatsoever. Would (wood) I do it again? If I was paid enough, yes! , otherwis, I'd use steel, everything considered.
Yea.... Nash I agree with you that the wood is probably just as stable, as the steel in most of these cars if done correctly. It's just when I look at the wood in the condition that it is in now. Well it's not for me. I admire the guys that have the talent to replace it like your self. It's just I like working with steel. And I feel that I am faster, and better, with steel. Plus welding gives me a buzzzzz. No what I mean...ghost O.K. GUYS SHOW US YOUR WOOD WORKING SKILLS. THEY CANT ALL BE STEEL STRUCTURED.
He, he......like I said, (wood) I do it again? Only if paid verry well! Steel is quicker, easier, no doubt. .
I know where there is a 35 it seems to be in good shape just a little wet Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY3aCSm591I Gary
Did they make a 35 Std 5 window? I had a 34 Master 5 window. I wonder if that car would just crumble if taken out of there. I hope he closes that door when he's done.
Everyone thinks mine is a Chevy at first, but it's Chevy's big brother-Pontiac-a 1931 ( pic in front of old house). Same wood as a Chevy, but it's now a hybrid, replaced all the bad wood in the floor with square steel and sheetmetal as well as put steel in the rumble seat area. But, I left all the solid wood in the sides, top, and doors, replacing only some small pieces in the bottom of the doors. The other pic is my other Pontiac coupe-a 1930 that has all the original wood including the spoked wheels. Some of the wood in the top around the fabric cover is getting alittle crumbly but still pretty solid thanks to sitting lost in a barn from 1959 til 1999. Since then its sat warm and dry in my shop unless I feel like taking it out for a spin on sunny days.
My '34 sedan was originally a four door. I shortened the body and frame about 7 inches. When I got it most of the wood had fallen onto a piece of plywood sitting on the frame rails. I got it cheap, which was good since it was pretty far gone. Knowing what I know now, I would probably pass on it. I agree, the frame is really well built. It's sturdy. I Z'd it and boxed it. From what I was told it was the mailman's car originally. It's just a good feeling to take something that was rotting in a field and drive down the road. Kind of like giving it a new life.
This is Sinister Purpose. It's a 34. It was sitting in the woods in Columbia. It changed hands by a few people who where gonna "do it". My house was definately the last stop for this lost soul. I even looked it the first time and said no way. Then went back months later and for some reason it looked better. All the wood was gone and it was still sitting on the old frame and leafs wich kept the body off the ground and prolly saved it. I used the front half of the frame and did a bleed sweep on it. I stuck a coupla pics of it on here. A foggy morn on the way to the Rust revival Racing in the Chop Suey Scramble Setting the rear end and frame heighth A shot of the interior
The chop , The wheels, The body in line with the grille, The interior, and THE FUN YOUR HAVING WITH IT. NICE LOOKING CAR...ghost
Perfect alignment of the radiator shell with the cowl and beltline. Doors fit. I appreciate it. That takes careful planning and execution.
I wonder if I parked next to your car some of the kool would rub off on my car? just a thought...ghost
Thanks for the words Nash and Ghost. Funny you guys both said the same thing. The grill HAD to line up with the cowl so the hood would work. It all sucked cause the 300 is so tall, but I wanted the body low, but the radiator had to be this high......you guys have all been there.I half assed a few things to get it on the road last spring, right now I'm fixin what needs to be done right. Should be back on the road in a month or so. That's my son in the pic on the last checkpoint on the Chop Suey Scramble thinkin we were gonna win! HAHA we lost so bad!
Yep, and a lot of guys don't think of that, or they think they aren't going to run a hood and just let it go.......sometimes to be sorry later on when they change their mind about running a hood. Best to think about both possibilities, and of course it looks better if it lines up anyhow. As far as that ghost goes,,,,,,if we disagree, I suggest you consider what he says over what I say
I know back in the 70's I had to fab everything for my chevy and just when I got done some company would come out with a better part. Must be because they were running out of fords.
I wish mine was drivable. wed, thur, and fri, of last week. Here in denver colo was in the 60s to 70s A lot of guys, and gals. Had em out cruising. And now it is sunday and again cold, and snowing...ghost
Here too. I did a lot of cruisin' last week Today , (because of being too tight-ass to buy a module) , Iv'e been working on window riser relays and harness for Hotrod Nash. If it works, I'll upgrade the cardboard box to something more durable..............
here is a photo of a 34 chevy sedan delivery that we built in 1978 when I worked for california street rod, It had a454,T400,cruze,ac,ifs and irs. It was owned by chuck lombardo.
Here's my '37 PU. Didn't know there should be any wood in it. I did find a small block of wood in one door just today. Guess I need to do some more research. Willys grille and Buick straight eight power. In progress.
The only wood in my 37 cab is two small pieces where the lower cowl section and floor meet,mine had none near the dash.
My mistake. I thought there was wood behind the dash that had the same curve. And that is where they secured the dash. right below the windshield. I had chopped one awhile back. But I have slept since then...ghost
My present project is a 36 chevy short cab that was hopped up by a father and son in the early 60's. The truck is complete and sports an original 331hp 348 tri-power out of a 59 impala. They put an early 50's Olds dash cluster, tranny, and rearend in the truck aswell. After an unforseen loss the truck sat in storage for 30-35 years, When I got the truck we drove it in the garage, parked it and started to work (engine runs great, center carb did have to be changed out, old carbs and linkage needing to be rebiult). The goal is to make it a cool little 50's style hot rod shop truck, while staying true to the first changes made in the 60's
I think the 36 low cabs had the wood in the area where the dash mounts and possibly a very early 37 could of too but mine only has those two pieces where the body parts meet. I did have a wooden removable floor board from a 35 untill I found the correct metal one. Jeff
The only wood in my 36 low cab is behind the dash, and below the A pilars down to the bottom of the cowling which the door hinges bolt through. It also had wood spacers for the bed mounts and the cab mounts. Hope this helps.
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