Folks Of Interest What we get up to in the land of OZ

I Thought it might be time that I started a Thread with what we get up to at John's Rod & Custom in Australia.
Here is a bit of an introduction to who we are
Been into hot rods all our life’s, John's Rod & Custom started in the early 80's importing and manufacturing Rod & Kustom accessories for enthusiasts in Australia, Having done over 200 top chops, Plus sectioning, Headlight & Tail Light Mods etc. we can do period correct modifications to your ride, including Hammer welding, Lead work etc, etc.
Our Parents John Katsanis (whom we sadly lost in 2011 ) & Tina Katsanis (whom we also sadly lost in 2001) co-founded Kustoms Of Australia, and promoted the largest and best loved events in Australia, including The PICNIC, The Kustom Nationals, and the Hot Rod Rumble, and we will continue there legacy that they have left for us.
We are dealers for SO-CAL Speed Shop, Mooneyes, Limeworks, Vintique, Obrien Truckers, Dales, United Pacific and Many More.

 

Some photos of the Channelled Aussie '34 Ford Coupe

Unfortunately I was not able to find any photos of when we first bought the car,

Here is the coupe after we put the chassis on the jig and squared it all up. g


Trying on an old bobbed guard to see how it looks


The wheel arches raised so that there will be tyre clearance


Around the boot has been replaced with all new metal



Some fresh paint.



We cut up some mint original rear guard and bobbed them

 

very cool I love seeing Hot Rods from around the world. Hobo Jim

 

The Hemi Powered A Roadster, It was originally being built by Peter from Top Rodz and by the time it came to us it had been through a few shops.
This is how we received the car

It only came to us to have the Schroder Steering box fitted, but as always there was a lot more worked that needed to be done.


Here it is with the new Brookville quarters & doors mocked up





The Schroder steering box set up under the dash along with the brake pedal & master cylinder & the remote booster

The Gussets in place




'32 Ford unchopped upper windshied post with 5" chopped A model windscreen


The cowl side shaped to fit around the output of the Schroder steering box


The Finished steel out and the massive trans tunnel that hugs the early hemi block



The floor from underneath




The hand made S/S upper steering arm


The Aluminum guards roughed out

The rear gaurd fitted and ready to be polished up


The front gaurd fitted and filled up



The Front guard brackets made out of polished S/S
The gaurds all polished up



The Gaurds Fitted to the Roadster, It Looks a HELL of A LOT BETTER than when it arrived!

 

Nice work!

 

both really cool cars but that coupe is off the scale!

 

Did you break the slot car track Luke?

 

Not to long ago we built another mezzanine floor to help get some of the junk of the ground


Yes They are Real Halibrands!



The Roadster on the Right is the Peter Thomas Roadster,
Australia's First Know Hot Rod. The car was finished in '48-49

 

Cool - Thanks for sharing

Sent from my VS985 4G using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Carry on, man. You folks always do it in style.

 

Great pictures, very cool cars, thanks for sharing!!

 

I like what I'm seeing. How about some photos of the Hemi Roadster chassis with the Body off.
The Wizzard

 

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the chassis on this computer, if I find some I will post them up.

 

Here are some older photos of the FJ.
Oddly enough we don't have any photos of the FJ that I could find. I decided to steal them from NEKRONOMICON (Luke) on the HAMB I think he stole them from Carps

Here it is not long after it was at the Victorian Hot Rod Show the first time.


Here we are getting it ready for Victorian Hot Rod Show the second time,
Mick Discoli from Rodders Life filmed this part of the build and had it on his show.


As you can see here we are working on the front, from memory this was about 10 hours before the show opened.



Here it is a the Victorian Hot Rod Show for the Second time. I was really not a fan of the wheels as I believe it made the car look like a Hot Wheels Toy

 

For reference here are some photos of Carp's Stock Bodied FJ Holden

 

Here's what the FJ Looks like at the moment

Chopped 5" & Sectioned 5"


389 cube '59 Pontiac Bored & Stroked to 480" Early Hilborn Fuel injection will squirt methanol & most likely a Vertex Magneto will light the fire.


Hand made Kustom dash houses a '51 Ford speedo cluster


Dean may be short but the car standing at 41 1/2" makes him appear a lot taller

 

Looking good Luke. You guys always have neat stuff on the go.
I have been messing about with old magazines covers lately. Here's one I did using probably one of your images I found online.

Geoff aka whodaky

 

Hi Geoff
That looks Great!
It has been quite a long time since we last seen you, how have you been?
I try & keep an eye on what you & Tony get up to on your thread.

 

really great stuff going on down there....that Holden is looking really great - you all should think of bringing it over here for a show or two....it's a trophy queen for sure...and with poncho power should have the go as well....thanks for posting !

 

What you really get up to in the land of OZ?
You forgot this..........

 

Thats breakfast! The J looks sweet, but what's that thing behind it in the second and third to last pictures?

 

When the car is finished the plan is to debut it at The Kustom Nationals here in Australia @ the Start of Jan, Then Send it straight over to the USA for the GNRS we plan to keep the car over there for all the major shows (Such as Detroit Autorama etc) Then send the car to the Yokohama Hot Rod Show in December, the car will then make it's way back to Australia.

 

That's a 56 Thunderbird.

 

This Single Spinner (Aussie Slang for 49-50 Ford) Started life as a 4 door.


Don't worry it won't be getting a SBC, Plans call for a SCoT Blown Y-Block
Cut down '51 Ford tail light lenses


The Bonnet has been pancaked & the Head lights have been hooded

 

Great thread Luke, you guys have done a tonne of work since I was last at your shop this time last year ...

 

Well the Kellerman Roadster is back getting a rebuild after being involved in an accident earlier this year

The Damage a first look does not appear to bad, but in closer inspection the frame had been tweaked & the body is twisted in the back from the hits it received


All four guards had taken a hit
Here you can see how badly bent the cast axle is

 

I like that Tag, Single Spinner. So does that make a 51 a Twin Spinner? By the way, Outstanding work!
The Wizzard

 

First on the agenda was some new rolling stock



Mounted on New Chrome 15" x 5" OEM Steel wheels from Antique Tyre Supplies

5.60-15" Firestone on the Front

8.90-15" Firestone on the Rear

Wheels Fitted, It all ready looks 100% better

 

Next on the agenda was to replace the bent 4" drop axle with a new SoCal 5" dropped axle to see what other modification we had do to make it work

The New SoCal 5" Drilled & Pre Polished (ready for chrome) Forged Axle


The Axle dummy assembled ready to go under

The Axle from under the car, here you can see just how bent it is

Front shot with the 5" axle under it

Compare it to how it sat before in the photo below