Thread: My 16 year itch

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Well as some of you know I sold off my old hot rod some 16 years ago for a down payment on a home in a better school system for my kids. It has been 16 long years without driving a hot rod. This past winter we picked up a 32 3 window for the wife and I drove it a couple times but it is just too small for me (actually it's the other way around; I'm too big for it). So the search was on for a car I liked that was bigger inside. That lead us to a 34 Chevy 5 window coupe in Ohio. I just about drove this poor guy crazy asking him all kinds of questions. Probably spent 5 hours on the phone BS-ing over a 2 week period and a deal was made and it was dropped off today almost 16 years to the day (2 days short). I'm very happy to announce that I actually fit in the car and drove it around the block a couple times (smiling the who time). It's an all steel car except for the running boards. It has tilt a/c PB, PS, mustang II, shaved doors and trunk and leather interior. A small chevy 350 (about 270 HP) with a 400 TH tranny. The cool part for me is it's unchopped and column shift so I can raise the seat a bit for more comfort and the shifter isn't in the way of my leg like all floor shifters are. Again; I'm a pretty big guy at 5'-9" and 400 pounds so most early thirty's vehicles are tight for me but I'm addicted to them (37 is about as new as I like with 33 being the perfect year). Some things I'm going to change are: I'm going to wrap the steering wheel, relocate the gas pedal that is half way up the firewall for some reason, raise the seats for more leg room, new headlight trim rings (the chrome on these are weak), and eventually it's gonna need a repaint. He told me just about every intimate detail on the car but left out the couple bubbles in the paint and the bodywork shrinkage so you can see where they filled the roof and extended the gas apron and moved the gar filler. The car looks great from a couple feet away and it really isn't that noticeable. Probably next to impossible to pick up with a camera. I have to check the dates on the tires too I think they are from 02. If so those will be changed too. I have the paint code as well as some extra paint he gave me. I may be able to get away with fixing the bad area's and not painting the whole car. So it appears I'm about to start scratching my 16 year itch!

And the photo's are coming 16 years later James ???

What about the '34 Sedan? Thought that was your big enough for me vehicle?

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

And the photo's are coming 16 years later James ???

Yup I'm working on it.

Originally Posted by rspears

What about the '34 Sedan? Thought that was your big enough for me vehicle?

That's kinda complicated. While I am building it for me; I'm not truly convinced that having a chopped car is the best (for me). While I still plan on finishing the 34, I still wanted something to drive now. If I find I can drive the 34 sedan just fine I will have a decision to make because I can't justify having 3 hot rods. Or can I ?

Here ya go Roger.

Aw c'mon Jim......................it's easy to justify 3 rods in the family...................room?, that's another issue entirely.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Aw c'mon Jim......................it's easy to justify 3 rods in the family...................room?, that's another issue entirely.

Yeah room is a BIG issue. I have the 34 and the 32 end to end in one bay and my 34 chevy all my seats and the tractor in the other bay with just enough room to walk around them. It's pretty tight.

Really nice car! Bet it will be worth another 16 years of driving!

Sounds like you have the perfect reason to build a shop with room to park some toys. Providing you have the room to build one of course.


Jack.

Yep on room---------------I got ski boat and old prostocker firebird under mulberry tree ( and yep, berries are falling now) rear deck has Robins 34 3 window, inside garage has cobra, and 2 34 roadster body/frames plus rear ends and 30 some engine blocks and related parts--------oh and 34 Cabriet in the race car trailer--------sure miss that 10,000 ft shop

Very nice ride Jim and congrats on being able to make it happen!

Thanks for the photo's Jim and what a damn lovely looking ride. It looks like a well constructed and finished car with heaps of smiles per miles in it.

Originally Posted by Jack F

Sounds like you have the perfect reason to build a shop with room to park some toys. Providing you have the room to build one of course.


Jack.

I wish Jack, boy do I wish!

Nice color on the new coupe, and a great interior, too! You're a lucky guy!