Projects winter project - "so let's chop a 40 coupe (and fab everything else possible...)

Thats a good fix for my addiction to this thread Are you sure only 1000 of us will know ? Lookin good...its not gonna be too long now and this is gonna be a solid car with no holes!!

 

As usual, Travis, great looking work!

 

Floors look awesome!

 

Good to see the updates Travis, nice dash idea. Really makes me want to get back on my 40, but 'life' seems to be gettin in the way.

 

Thanks guys for all the positive comments,
even though it's a little rough around the edges!
I'll be happy when it's all buttoned up and hidden under some thick rolled epoxy...

Hey Neil,
the last months I had a similar thing happen.
Actually I realized I just like hanging out with my kids!
It feels good to get back on the project though,
sometimes it gets a little obsessive but that's how things get done.

XXXXXX

I was able to get a couple hours in today.
Not much but every little bit counts.

Basically it was just setting in the battery box,
and making the reinforcement frame around it.
Very strong even though it's 16 gauge sheetmetal.

There will be some kind of lid on it,
maybe hinged or something I'm not quite sure yet.
The important thing is I don't have to visualize where the battery is going.
For months I thought it was going under the seat.
Funny how plans change when the work starts.

More soon!
TP

 

Impressive....

 

Nice work as always!

 

Zibo, Sorry for the late reply. Life has been getting in the way.

Floor is looking good. I like the simple kind with rolled in ribs or offsets. Really make the build. Will stay tuned as you finish the floor.

Have a great week !

Dave

 

Thanks Nick and Mike!
It feels good to get back on this project.

Yeah Dave I'm new at this bead rolling thing,
and I've found that even straight lines are tough!
Especially with a hand cranker.

I tried to make the back part easier by making simple rectangular panels.
The front part has a hi/lo angled piece that took a little more thinking.

Now only the hard parts are left.

The driver area should be removable,
at least to be able to have access to the pedal assembly.
Hopefully an idea will come up tonight!

TP

 

Nice floors! Yea, wrangling a piece of 18 ga through a bead roller with one arm and cranking the handle with the other makes it a bit difficult, they look great though nice job!

 

Thanks man.
Yeah I learned quick to make smaller more manageable pieces.
I'm way too cheap to waste any so it goes in no matter what!
TP

 

looking good, nice work

 

WOW. just WOW

 

That sure is an awesome project and is an inspiration to a lot that think a few patch panels or a floor is a big job, shows a car aint dead till its a total pile of sweepings, great save and a majic chop. A while back you were considering a chev dizzy out the front of the caddy motor but it rotated the wrong direction, I just had a 59 GMC truck recently with a 389 motor and suprisingly the dizzy is much the same as the chevy but rotates in the opposite direction, same cap and some internals so to front mount it just chop the long shaft off and mount on the front cover. This may be of interest, keep up the great work..

 

I'm confused here! The Chevy dizzy rotates in the proper direction, clockwise- I have a Chevy mag on the front of mine.

 

Awesome, inspiring work Zibo!

I lost track of this thread for a while, guess I'll have to subscribe
Nice work on the dash simple and clean.
I'm interested to see how the heim joints hold up as door hinges. I doubt they'd be a problem, just curious to see how they perform over the next few years.

Keep at it!

 

My bad then 38flattie, I must have read it wrong, cheers

 

Great project mate..What color are you planning when everything is done... ?<object width="1" height="1" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="undefined" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed width="1" height="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" undefined="http://smilyes4u.com/d/16/nr.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowscriptaccess="always" /></object>

 

I'll probably turn down a chevy distributor to fit in the stock location.
I've collected a couple,
an accel to practice the cuts,
and a mallory to probably use.
When it comes to it I'll be asking for advice!

Thanks for all the interest guys.
Really helps keep my momentum up!
It seems so close,
yet so far...

No update photos though.
There's been a bit of pedal work,
and modifying the firewall a bit,
than I can finish the floor.
I'll update soon!

TP

How about perfect shiny black?!

TP

 

It's a pretty complicated and time consuming process! You cut it short, and turn it down, and put the Caddy spud gear on. Honestly it will only take an hour or so.

Black would be perfect!

...but then, so would FlatCad red!

 

Great Thread Zibo . Lots of ideas for guys in the same predicament . More people work with rust than dont . Youd think by the looks of the coupe from the start , that you lived on the east coast of Canada LOL !!

 

Im amazed with your motivation to complete this after all this time. Keep up the great work.

 

Lookin' Good!

 

hot damn this is a killer build. you sir, do great work.

 

This body came from Kentucky,
and the guy brought it west to Oregon where I picked it up.
I'd love to see the hole he dug it out of!

Thanks guys for the other comments!

*******

I've been a little distracted lately but little things have gotten done.
Very little things.
Here's a quick update.

A while back I did the last permanent panel in the driving area.
I was trying to hold back on this until the brakes were lined up,
but that took too long so I screwed myself and just made the panel.
Now the MC bracket and linkages will need to be done from underneath.
Oh well.

It is hard to see,
but the pedals had never had enough clearance to work,
and now there's some cutouts in the firewall so the pedals are set up.
Not sure why it took so long to do that part.



The pedals need to be rebushed,
so it was important that the most forward floor piece is removal,
as the pedals need to sneak out of the crossmember at a weird angle.
I still need to thread some holes for the aluminum plate there.
Also there will probably be an angled kick plate under the pedal area,
like on a normal car.
First I'll need to set up the clutch and brakes,
and modify the pedal lengths.



Last night I set some time aside for the 40.
A quick bellhousing frame was made out of some pre-bent 1x1 14 gauge sheet metal.
Than all the seams were stitch welded up.
Since it is the floor,
I'll do the seam sealer trick after some primer.


The bare sheet metal had flash rusted in spots,
so it was time to roll some epoxy primer on whatever parts of the floor I could.

It's rolled on nice and thick.
How do you like it Ole_Red?

The paint sure has a way of hiding some of the rough work.
I hope it cures!



Meanwhile,
there is another engine option.
I picked up this rebuilt 351 windsor from a Mustang guy who was going with a 428 instead.
It's a '74 block with '69 heads,
and the plan is to attach it to a T-5 from a later model mustang.
If I can set it up to the same driveshaft spacing as the Caddy setup,
than it will be an easier swap.
Yeah right!

It's not that I don't want to run the Caddy Flathead,
I just want a highway driveable engine option if the Cad has issues.



Also I scrounged this hood up from a fellow Hamber.
It is huge!
I'll definitely have to pancake it a bit.

Anyway now we're current!

TP

 

Travis,
Your chopped/laid back/divided windshield completely changes the character of the car. There's nothing familiarly Ford about its appearance now, and it's more noticeable with the hood on.

I don't mean that critically, it looks great. But I think Cord/Hudson/Navion before I think Ford.

 

Hey 50,
I've been studying what you and Don did with your hood pancake/section job.
It's a tough cut with that reveal line,
since it travels front to back.
The good thing is this is the best original metal I'll have worked with on this project!

TP

 

digging it! What is the brand of epoxy that you used? Looks like it would be just the ticket to use in my 65 when I get to that point. Might be at that point for the trunk as is.

 

here's the update so you guys don't have to back page...

hey Ole Red,
the primer is a solvent based epoxy,
AMERCOAT 235
you should be able to find it in the industrial/marine type supplier.
the stuff is awesome.
its thick out of the can but can be thinned,
and it is bulletproof.
the first day of cure it is possible to hammer and dolly without cracking.
in 2 or 3 days the stuff sands with a d.a.and barely clogs.
about $65 a gallon.

TP

 

Travis, Coupe is coming right along. I think that a mount set up that will fit the Caddy and the Ford may be a fab challenge. I think you will be able to handle it. Will be waiting for ffurther updates from you.

Dave