We recently had our annual swap meet, and I never miss it. I had nothing on my list this year to buy, except a new egg crate grille to go on my '69 Suburban. Located one at the swap meet for $5, so I can swap out the '71grille in the Burb, and get back to the correct '69.
We were almost to the end of the swap meet when I walked past a car trailer with a '39 Chev coupe sitting on it. My buddy and I were talking, and I told him I had a '40 in high school, and always wished it was a '39 as I liked the grilles better.
So we're looking it all over and wondering if it's for sale, as there's no signs, or price. Figured that late in the opening day it was sold, so just daydreaming about it. Then a gentleman walks up and asks me what I think of it? I told him it was pretty cool, but although very straight, it had tons of rust repair needed too!Most of the front/rear floors, rockers, and lower doors. He tells me he's too old to do it, so decided to sell his project.
He begins to tell me all the extra pieces he's got inside it, and how many doubles he's got of various items. Then he asks what I think it's worth? I told him I didn't want to say, as he'd likely tell me to take it, and I didn't need another project! He tells me he'd take $2200, and I told him it was fair, but I didn't want it. We talked back and forth a long time, and he asked me to make an offer, so I offered him $1500. He countered with $1600, and we shook hands.
So here's what he delivered to my house:
Along with the car is a one piece tilt nose. And a pair of fiberglass fenders, running boards, and a few other fiberglass panels. An original hood that looks great. About 4 boxes of parts including original radio, hood ornaments, headlight and taillight housings, and buckets for those lights. The original steering wheel, steering column, and box.
A lot of these parts will get sold off once I know what I will use. But not until I'm sure of my plan, and direction! I've got tons of extra parts from various builds, so I'll try to use many of them. Have a '59 Chevy truck straight axle and new springs. A 700R4 custom built AOD trans to make it better on the highway. A spare 3.73 limited slip 8.8" Ford rear axle. Plus various intakes, carbs, etc. for SBC engines. Have a pair of stainless steel fenderwell headers, so they'll work their way into this build also.
I'll try to use some original parts like the old steering wheel I think looks cool. And a nice hood ornament.
Of course the radio whether it works or not, since it fills the hole and looks neat too.
Wont use the running boards as they're an invitation for small children to climb on them!
I ordered all new floor pans, rockers, etc., so have all I can need to repair the floors. I also picked up a sheet of sheet metal, and a shrinker-stretcher so I can teach myself how to move metal for the small patches I can't buy pieces for.
Wont be updating often, as work will likely move slowly at my age! But I'll post some pictures as it moves forward. Plan is a mainly street rod, but with a little "gasser" competition look. Not one of the higher stance cars, but more like the older gassers that weren't nose bleed high.
Have a friend who has a ZZ4 crate engine, and his project went away. So hope we can work a deal to use it on this '39 coupe!
I'm hoping to begin actual work by the end of this month. I'm putting new roof on the work shop first before the car goes inside. And have a fun trip planned for middle of the month. So when I return I'll start on the floor and rocker repairs.
I'm amassing a large amount of parts so far, and not much else. I want to get to a point on parts where I don't have to stop because I run out of something I need. I hate stopping because I'm waiting on a part that's not locally available.
Still looking for a SBC engine for the project that wont eat up a large part of my build budget.
'39 Coupe! Awesome!
I might come into possession of a '39 sedan a few years down the road from my brother. I ran across this modified "Double-Take" '39 and would use it as a "template" should this ever happen. I think it's a way cool mod. Notice the B pillar mod? Makes it look way better.
'39 Coupe! Awesome!
I might come into possession of a '39 sedan a few years down the road from my brother. I ran across this modified "Double-Take" '39 and would use it as a "template" should this ever happen. I think it's a way cool mod. Notice the B pillar mod? Makes it look way better.
Yeah, that angled B pillar is a lot of work, but certainly makes a nice looking design. I'm pretty sure my build will be a much smaller budget than what i see in your picture!
Im glad for ya, im still in the thinkn stage on mine, I have it for sale $4500obo, but my chassis works been done, if ya like mustang II fronts.
I always think straight axle, and leave off the front clip minus grill and build a semi stock car style or jus leave the front off and the radiator in the rear trunk and make an altered look, got a big block and a blower and 2x4s to make that look happen. Mines a little tail pan rust, but not much.
Eva time i look at mine naked i think it needs twelve inches more frame extension in the front.
Thought about slicing the top off mine, or jus pulling the body and putting a shorty tri five on that chassis, hahaha, theres a hair puller, for those that hate shortys, :sign0020:
Half the floor needs to be done, maybe you can enthuse me to work on mine after i finish two bikes an a front end rebuild on my 55. Ugh, Texas heat is upon us and my new shop no ac yet, jus those lousy big fans, i hate. Best to ya an ur project young man.
Definitely looking like a fun build , more I see the ole coupes the more I add to the want list which seems full at moment but we make room when we can:shakehands:
Well it wasn't when I first started scratching my head. I've owned a lot of gassers since the late 60's forward, so I thought street rod. But then I started looking around the internet at images of old late 30's Chevy coupes, and I keep getting drawn in by the look of the gasser style cars.
In high school I bought a '40 Chevy coupe with plans to make a SBC powered gasser. Then my neighbor rolled his Chrysler, and asked if I wanted the whole car for $50. It had a 413 with 727 trans, and the posi rear axle. I dropped it all into my '40 coupe over a two week period with a friend's help. I eventually sold it to another friend after I got out of the military, and always regretted that.
So I'm leaning towards another gasser build, but with a SBC, and not too high in the air. I also plan to put a nice 700R4 I pulled from a friend's '55 Chevy when he switched to a T56. The 700 has been rebuilt, and the whole case polished out. It will give me a nice low 1st gear launch, but the OD 4th will make it easy to cruise the highway at lower rpm's.
I already purchased the '59 Chev truck axle, and a Speedway disc brake kit for it. Have the 8.8" Ford limited slip 3.73 rear axle, and will pull the peg leg 9" Ford 3.08 axle out of it. I like the 8.8" Fords as they're the same as a 12 bolt Chevy axle. Not sure what the rear suspension will be yet. Might be simple leaf spring, or ladder bars with coilovers.
So a gasser look, but not street freak high, and cruiser OD trans.
Thanks. When I had my '40 Chev I always wanted to find a '39 nose to put on it. Just thought the '39 grille was the best looking grille of all the old Chevs.
I think I'm in the same boat as the guy who sold you the car. I've got a 47 Chevy, torn down, in a million pieces. Frame's been blasted and primed. The 350/700R4 I had for it is in my 56. Took my 12 years to get the 56 on the road, and I don't think I've got another 12 years left to do the 47. May just slap it back together and take it to a swap meet.
I think I'm in the same boat as the guy who sold you the car. I've got a 47 Chevy, torn down, in a million pieces. Frame's been blasted and primed. The 350/700R4 I had for it is in my 56. Took my 12 years to get the 56 on the road, and I don't think I've got another 12 years left to do the 47. May just slap it back together and take it to a swap meet.
At 69 yrs. old, this will probably be my last full build. I'm doing a '35 Plymouth coupe for a neighbor now, and I'm not sure how focused I can remain on his car with my '39 calling for my attention! But I just finished his chassis, and the body will be going back on it soon. So once that happens I can focus on this '39 more.
This is the chassis we put together for his coupe. It will be fenderless up front, so an open engine bay. I extended the frame rails 10" with '29 Ford frame horns to eliminate the ugly Plymouth stubby horns. It's coilovers all around, and 4 wheel disc brakes. 383 stroker, with super T10, and an 8.8 Ford with 4.10 gears. Just mockup tires/wheels now as it's getting 12" pie crust slicks, and skinny front tires.
At 69 yrs. old, this will probably be my last full build. I'm doing a '35 Plymouth coupe for a neighbor now, and I'm not sure how focused I can remain on his car with my '39 calling for my attention! But I just finished his chassis, and the body will be going back on it soon. So once that happens I can focus on this '39 more.
This is the chassis we put together for his coupe. It will be fenderless up front, so an open engine bay. I extended the frame rails 10" with '29 Ford frame horns to eliminate the ugly Plymouth stubby horns. It's coilovers all around, and 4 wheel disc brakes. 383 stroker, with super T10, and an 8.8 Ford with 4.10 gears. Just mockup tires/wheels now as it's getting 12" pie crust slicks, and skinny front tires.
I'm about to turn 73. Started on the 47 before I got the 56. The 56 was my best friend's project. He sold it to me just before he died of cancer (Charlie, 12-7-47.5-5-07). I got it as a roller. It was further along than the 47, so it took priority (plus the sentiment factor). Then I got diagnosed with cancer in 09. Long story, but a big delay. I'm glad I got it road worthy, I'm sure Charlie is up there smiling. I still need to do new interior, all new glass, and maybe paint. When that gets done, maybe work on the 47, but will probably slap it back together and see if anyone needs a project..........we'll see.
Still gathering up parts, and of course checking local ads every morning! So this morning I check Craigslist, and in my "SBC engine" search, up pops a new ad for a 350 Chevy short block!
Ad says it's been honed, and is stock bore with a new set of rings, and bearings installed. Also states it's a 1990 van engine, and comes with a set of roller lifters, and a cam of unknown spec? Plus Edelbrock Performer intake, and stock HEI distributor. $100 for everything!!!!!!
So I called the seller, and arranged to meet him at his workplace, which happens to be 10 blocks away! Checked it all out, and he even pulled a couple main caps to check the bearings. Of course I'll do a more thorough check before it ever gets assembled and installed, but it sure saved a bunch of money on the build, even if it needed work
I'll keep the roller lifters, but swap in a performance cam to use with them. And I'll see what I can locate for decent SBC heads to top it off.
Another item crossed off the list of needed parts!
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:congrats:SCORE!!
