Working on modifying the "dog" brackets he he ........no seriously I'm looking at widening the rear wheel wells as much as I can without getting into the frame. I've been gathering parts, materials, and I've been studying on the best way to do it, but I haven't cut anything yet.

 

Thanks for your positive comments on my project even though you are having a rough time yourself!!

 

I put the booster under the floor on my build (39 Chevy) just like you did. Did not want to heat up the M/C so I looped the exhaust under the engine over to the pass. side then looped it back just behind the driveshaft universal joint. Kind of going around your elbow but it keeps the heat away and can sorta act as a driveshaft safety loop should it fall out of the trans (like that's going to happen!).

 

Very nice!

 

I figured a mock up wheel would help determine what I needed to do on the rear wheel wells on the body. I looked all over the place for a wheel to use as a starting point. 17x8, about 5.25 backspacing, center hole to clear my axle hub, 5 x 4.5 bolt circle, and CHEAP! The reason for the backspacing being more than I really need is so I can move the wheel out until I figure out what it should be using washers and spacers, and then I'll have a good number for the real wheel. Luckily I have "Daddy Bills" wheel sizes for Clarence to get me in the ballpark right off the bat. I had to knock out a couple of studs and use some longer bolts for the time being, and also come up with some lug nuts to work with the wheel. It took some time to track this stuff down, but maybe there won't be any surprises later........such as tire rub.

 

Assembled the chassis and dropped the body back on it. I have all the body mounts and hardware labeled, and already had the hoist/straps from when I took it off originally....so I had it back on by myself in about 2 hours. Glad I took the time to get all the stuff rigged up the first time.

 

Had some caged nuts that were rusted out so I had to run down some parts and take care of those so I could mount the fender. I searched and found the exact tire I was looking for that was used up and cheap - its the exact size Ken had on his 37 Coupe. I just guessed at the lowering blocks when I put the rear end in the car since it won't have much weight on it. I was shooting for the top of the tire at the fender and didn't miss it by much. SO the tire fits as is, but doesn't have much clearance for suspension travel in the front area of the wheel well. Stay tuned for mini tubs...actually they will be more like a micro tub with a taper .

 

Your firewall looks nice. I must have missed it in an earlier post. Hurry up! Spring is here! Clarence needs a running buddy for all these spring time shows.

 

Allow me to introduce Daddy Bill. He has owned an automotive repair shop for many years, actually several decades now. I walked into his shop at 13 years of age and asked to sweep the floors for a summer job. It was there that I became a "car guy". I cleaned the shop and started helping the mechanics there and eventually started screwing things up "all by myself" . I worked there until I was 22 and a college grad. Nowadays I live an hour from Bill's shop, but we have stayed in touch for the last 25 years or so. I proudly claim "Daddy Bill" and "Moma Donna" as my second set of parents. Bill has built many cars with LT and LS packages for himself and customers, and currently rides in a 37 Ford (Clarence) that is one of my all time favorite cars. Even though he mostly lurks on this board following my project, he is a GREAT resource!

Bill I will be honored to run with Clarence one of these days. Lately I've been ordering parts like crazy, but me and the shop dog still have many challenges ahead before my ol' beater is road worthy ....

 

Welcome Daddy Bill! I always enjoy learning new stuff from people that know better....

Andrew

 

Some preliminary prep work. If someone knows an easy way to make this 79 year old undercoating disappear please let me in on it

 

Starting point. Studied on this quite a while as I could see several ways to create more tire clearance.

 

Fender installed outside. Bracing installed inside. Wheel well ready to cut. Note the front arcs down to barely miss a body mount - pics from bottom side to follow later.

 

Able to stand up the wheel well and make quite a bit of room in the front.

 

The rear pretty much follows the frame already so it tapers down to nothing in the trunk.

 

Going to pick up some steel next week and starting mending it back together.

 

I've never tried it myself, but I saw it on another thread I think it was on here somewhere, I can't remember, but the guy had the same issue with old undercoating and he bought some dry ice and set it on the undercoating and did a deep freeze on the undercoating and then just tapped it with a hammer and it fell off in big chunks. In theory it sounds like it could work?

 

Looking great! *Really* enjoying the build from afar.

Curious, will you use some form of traction bar so as to avoid axle wrap? I had removed a single leaf spring setup from my truck in exchange for a triangulated 4-link I built with coil overs.

The axle wrap I experienced following my swap with the single leaf was absolutely horrendous and if representative, I'd suggest building in something to pro-actively resolve that.

Thank you,

Doug

 

Perfect!!!!!................Should have done that on my 37........Great Job !!!!!

Ken

Gonna be down your way in October for the Goodguy show in Ft.Worth .....

 

You mentioned this idea early in my build and I've had the plan filed away until now .... THANKS!