Well It seems that its time to start with the ol build thread for my 1931 coupe. Its a titled 31 coupe...5 inch chop/5 inch channel. The body isnt in too bad of shape just have some door fitament issues to tackle but besides that its alright. Its as good as a coupe as I could afford at 25yrs old. Its going to be a really slow build compared to the PRO builds on this site but Im doing the best I can on a budget! Its sitting on a boxed frame with a 7-8 inch upkick in the rear. The guy I got the car from did th frame work and I have spent the last week going through and finishing the work that he half a$$ed. Finishing up welds moving the body back etc. The front suspension is spring behind with tubular drop axle/hairpins and disk brakes...(100% traditional is kind of out of the question) it also has an S10 rear with chrome coilovers and a panhard bar. Interior is bare bones and NO Chevy steering column is not staying just for mock up...steering is partially complete with vega box. I have so much stuff to do! I would really like to have it on the road even if still really rough by billetproof FL 2010. Im also building this car in a 1 car garage....making it a little more difficult....I talked to coker tire today about getting some chrome steelies and bias ply blackwalls Im just dealing with the S10 rear being narrow and fitament issues....dont know how thick of spacers/tire size that I can fit well. I know that I have 5 1/2 inches from the drum face to rear panel "not the top arch"...I will post pics as much as I can and keep you updated. Tonight I got the body moved back about 3 inches and both doors (surface rust etc.) grinded off
Looks like a real nice start.I've seen some real nice cars built in 1 car garages.Keep up the hard work,and it will be worth it.Keep us posted.
Thanks...this is my first "real" hot rod build. I raced fox body mustangs for about 6 years and built a couple so I have a little knowledge base to start with but nothing like the guys on this site! Lucky for me I have this site for help...
Finished cleaning up the doors last night and got the body moved back in place. Need to get a longer steering shaft now but it was worth it for the overall look of the car. My son woke up this morning saying car....car....car so I had to add this pic
Nice start...sounds like my morning when my son wakes up pointing at the picture of evels car above his bed saying "Car Car" start them young
Dirtythirty you gotta get into another one....once you have one you...well you know Seeing my son smile and laugh in the car is worth the world....hes only 14 months but he still trys to help!
Nice car man. Way better start than what i'm piecing together. What motor combo are you putting together? Whats your overall plan? and one car garages make you keep your attention on the car better!!
Looking good and your making some headway and pull the binkey out of the boys mouth and he is smiling so you did good!
you have a great coupe to work with. take is slow and look around the site for other coupe builds....there are plenty to gain knowledge from. keep up the good work and POST build pics
Overall plan right now is budget......did I mention I am on a budget? Im going to try to get wheels and tires ordered this week from coker (chrome steelies "15x5 and 15x7's and 560 fronts and ? rears (bias or hurst cheater slicks) for the beast so at least I can get a general look for it....its so ugly on the roller wheels right now I could puke.....The crossmembers in it are for sbc/th350 so since im on a budget I may go with those for now with vintage dress up and either three dueces or dual quads. Interior is going to stay pretty bare bones (need dash rail and prob gonna get a 32 steel dash and finned insert) I also need a window frame and hinge......If anyone has any... I love the really traditional builds I just cant do it on the budget that I have....I want to get it on the road and then when the budget allows add more vintage....if I could only afford a hemi and all that goes with it!
there is nothing wrong with a SBC. I hate when people act like its the plague, thats more traditional than any other motor besides the flatty (but only RICH people have quick ones). Just do what I'm doing, buy really specific speed equipment for the SBC and it'll be just fine. I would say go with a manual trans but if you have an auto stick with it i guess.
wow looks like a great start. I hope i find a body in that good of shape when i start mine. I agree with the last guy theres nothing wrong with a sbc hey they came out in 55 so dont tell me no one ran em in their rods back then. keep the build pics coming
Thanks...Im really trying to get a move on it!!!! Hey skunx64 you savages have any shows or anything coming up?
nothin much goin on now. theres cruise ins every weekend, but its so damn hot i havent been goin out to em much. ill let ya know if anything pops up
Talked to coker about some wheels and tires today....looks like the oem ford chrome steelies ''wheel vintiques" and firestone biasply 560s on the front and either 710's or 820's on the rear oh and they have them in stock "OH YEAH" and I talked to eric from riley-automotive the other night and you want to talk about good customer service!!! How nice to not be "rushed" off the phone for once...and actually talk to someone that wants to help..WOW
Got some chrome headlights in today....looks like Im going to use the headlight/shock combo upper mount and weld a bung to my lower crossmember. Should be ordering a host of parts this week...I love when the UPS man shows up...its like christmas!
Got some more grinding done on the doors tonight......nothing to post pics about! Measured the back window and side windows to see what I want to run...prob some tinted plexi...Sure feels good to walk out the garge door to see a chopped 31 looking back at me! I keep telling myself that someday there will be a loud roar, and my single car garage will open and out will roll the white devil and children will hold their ears and cry!
you are like my twin or something - boutha from anotha mutha - I raced fox body mustangs and now am on to a '31 coupe! Cool progress so far man!
Well I finally did it! I put in my order to cokertire today...dang that hamb alliance membership pays off!!!! Final order was oem chrome steelies all the way around...15x5's and 15x7's with 560 firestone blackwalls up front and 820 firestone blackwalls out back boy am I excited to get em mounted up. Prob get another set of rears with pie crust cheaterslicks when I wanna change the look up. When they get here I will be sure to get some "new" pics up!!! Also got some wheel spacers coming via chopperman!
Well got a good amount of parts on the way!!! Ordered some stuff from Eric (riley-automotive.com) and a couple other sources and man is Eric easy to work with! Some of my stuff will be showing up this week so I can have the weekend to get going. Cant wait to get out of the firehouse and get back into the garage!
The Jalopy Journal
