Thread: Project '49 Shoebox.

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Dan and I went to the shop today and got in a full day for a change. Dan is still hot to get the '49 Ford project started, so that is what we worked on today.

Here are the plans as of now:

1) Convert it from a four door to a two door.

2) Chop the top 4 1/2 inches

3) Install an S10 subframe on the front end.

4) Airbag it front and rear so it can lay out flat on the ground.

5) Install a crate Chevy 350 and probably a 3 speed stick setup hooked to the existing column shift.

6) "C" the rear frame for clearance when laid out, and install a later rear axle.

7) Paint it some semi gloss color maybe with some flake accents.

8) Basically build it 50's -'60's style, wide whites, hubcaps, rolled and pleated interior, etc.

Anyway, after giving it some thought I feel this might be a good car to do a thread on because there are always a lot of questions from people about how to chop a top or subframe a car. Dan and I have never chopped a full size car before, nor have we ever subframed one, so this will be a learning experience for us too.

Converting it to a tudor is going to be somewhat of a major undertaking because we are going to do it the hard way. The easy way is to weld up the back two doors and pretend they were never there. The hard way is to actually use a pair of doors off of a two door , install them, and build an entirely new rear section complete with rear window. The reason we are doing it the hard way is because it turns the car into a true two door and is a little sleeker.

So, over the next who-knows-how-many-months I'll post updates as we go along. We are still going to keep working on his '29, but this is kind of a little diversion for a while to get some R and R from the '29.

Here is what we got done today. First of all we stripped the complete interior out of the car including the dash, seats, and all four doors. Then we cut out the spot welds and removed the door post that was between the front and rear doors. It will be moved back 5 1/2 inches to accomodate the new, longer doors from the tudor.

Once we got that done we started to install some crossbracing to keep the body from twisting out of shape when we cut off the top. Now it was rigid enough to remove the top without worrying about anything getting out of shape.

Here are some pictures up to that stage.

Don

Now we started the actual job of cutting the top off. The first thing we did was cut out the entire back window. We left the glass in it to retain the shape until we are able to weld in back in. We are not going to chop the rear window, but rather lay it down on a sharp angle to give it a sleeker look.

Here are some pictures of us starting to remove the top.

Don

Things get pretty scary at this point. You kind of say to yourself "what have we gotten into?" But if worst comes to worst you can always make a convertible out of it.

Once it was off we chopped 4 and 1/2 inches out of it and laid it back on to see how we liked the profile. We like it, and have some fine tuning to do yet, but at least we got pretty far today. We may take another 1/2 inch off of the front to even it up, but have to do some measuring first to see if that is what needs done.

So here are some pictures of how we ended up tonight. I have to say, this was one of the most fun projects Dan and I have done for a long time. I'm anxious to see this thing come together, should be a nice little lowrider.
Don

Wow you guys just dove right in. Talk about some major work. Nice cutting too. Lines are very straight. I bet that roof weighs a few pounds! I'd be soaking in the hot tub right about now!

You're right Steve, I'm feeling it a little. It's 4 am and we just ate dinner, so now it's a hot shower, some Excedrin, and BED!!!

I'm pretty surprised how much we got done today. Still a lot to do obviously, but we are having a blast doing this one. Nice thing about a $ 500 car, if you screw it up you haven't lost a whole lot of money.

Don

Don wrote: But if worst comes to worst you can always make a convertible out of it.

That's what a friend did. He actually intended to do it so it was not part of a mistake. His came out real nice.

BTW, are the legs in the first pix going to be a permanent addition? Looks like a good foundation for a console.

Things get pretty scary at this point. You kind of say to yourself "what have we gotten into?"

Don,

EXACTLY what I said when I lifted the roof off of my '30 tudor. Much simpler chop, but the "Oh S**t" factor was still there.

Are you going to cut it from side to side and weld an insert to slide the rear of the top back into place?

I think if we just pie cut it in a few places it should line up. We are going to have to take a little more out of the area above the rear window so we can slide it forward and up a little.

Then we need to build some additional metal up in the area right in front of the trunk lid because of sliding the top forward about 6 inches, but that is ok as it will make the trunk area look less boxy.

Dan just got home from work and we are both wiped out today after the time we put in yesterday, but we are going to head over there to just sit and study what needs done next.............that is, if we can get our chairs back.

Don

I think the cat on the right has not missed to many meals!! =)

By the way the car looks great so far. I love seeing the progress keep us posted.

Should have made him finish the other project first..........LOL
Everybody needs some distraction, but I want to see his truck at the next Turkey Run. I don't want to drive 15hrs and miss seeing his truck. The chop looks great.
BradC

Nice work! You guys came a long way in a short time. Even the bracing looks nice. I swear Dan was an artist in a previous life...

Thanks guys. Actually, I'm pretty surprised at old Dan, he is moving pretty quickly on this one. When I help him most times I go off and do some other stuff when I see him get to studying some aspect on the car because I know it is going to be a while before he makes his decision on how something is going to be done. He treats each part like it is going on the Space Shuttle or something. But on this project we just kept moving right along. We would briefly talk about the best way to approach something, make a decision, and out would come the sawzall.

He and I were planning on going to the shop last night to plan our next move, but both of us were too tired and sore from the day before, so maybe tonight. I'm going over today myself to work on my '27. I plan to continue cleaning up parts and putting them in baggies.

Don

Don,

I'm excited about this build. The nice work you guys crank out will really show here too, I'm sure. I've got a 51 coupe here in my shop so I'm very interested in how yours goes together. Keep up the good work!
Mike

Thanks. BTW, you better keep an eye on your doors, Dan is looking for another tudor door. After pulling off four of the ones on his car we have gotten pretty quick at it, so your's might disappear before you know it.

Don