Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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If ya like pictures of old cars---Here's a picture of me and one of my first model A's taken in about 1962. My dad and I built a wooden rowboat and traded it for this car. Now I,m 60 and have came full circle---the 31 roadster pickup in my avatar is my current model A.---Brian

Originally Posted by brickman

It looks very well built and should make a great hotrod. I love all those old cars, I am trying to think of what an Essex looked like.

Tony,
Essex was a division of Hudson Motor Co., built from 1919 til 1931. 1932 was a transition year when the name Essex Terraplane was used, and the following year the name Terraplane was used until the name expired in 1939. You can think of it as the "down sized" Hudson. Here's an index of some pictures; http://www.carnut.com/photo/list/flist.html Just choose the name Essex and it will give you a year by year selection page.

More pics of the teardown:







A funny story today of just how small the world is: While talking to a co-worker about building cars, (his car in particular) the question was referred to me, "What are you building?" Well, normally after I answer that question I get the question of, "A, what?". A Hutmobile? Then I reply, no, a Hupmobile, Hup, spelled h-u-p. His reply, Ive only seen one of those in my lifetime. It was located over in Fairmont, and had been in the same family for years and years. Fairmont, I replied. "Just where is Fairmont?" "Just over the hill here". I was shocked for a moment. My grandmother still lives in Fairmont, though its not referred to that anymore, and the car, yep, you quessed it, its the same one. He said the car was 'cherry' back in the day and he can recall of taking a short ride in it as a kid. He said my great-grandmother had all kinds of interesting things around, such as a real working minature steam loco, that the kids would ride on. He also said the he had bought one of his first cars from my great-grandmother. That was definitely a rare moment.

I have a build question pertaining to ride height. I have to redo my sill plates on the body because they are made of wood, and Im wanting to remake them with metal to stiffen up the body. Im wanting a low ride height with the wheels, 17" im thinking, riding up in the fenders. Im thinking of when I remake the sill plates to channel them so that the body of the car sits lower on the frame rails. What would be involved, and would this be a good idea? Im thinking I would have to drop the front fenders down to match the body lines, and would possibly have to shorten the engine skirts, and radiator to match with the dropped body. Thanks in advance.

this is a on going project. this is a 1936 Chevy master sedan. as some of you may know in the early 30's they use wood. all of the wood has been replaced. its setting on the original frame. it has a mustang 2 ifs, 400 sbc th350 trans. the seats are original just reupholstered. are plan it to get the floor in from direct sheet metal.
photos of car to follow at a later time

I am sorry the picture is so dark of the latest firewall on my '29; maybe DennyW knows how to lighten it up? I tried to use PAINT to lighten it but I could not figure it out. The point is that now the stainless steel plate has been painted the body color including a coat of clear. With the firewall being indented so much it is like in a cave. If you look up close you can see the edge of the plate and the smoothed capscrews but it will certainly not detract from the view of the engine. For Bob Parmenter, this is the best I can do in my situation and I also bought a tilt column without a key-lock from Brookville and had it painted at the same time as this plate. The paint shop painted the previous column as part of the original paint job but with a second column and the plate I had to pay for 2 1/2 hours plus materials so I am not going to mess with it anymore. I still have to finish up the inside floor board and try to make it watertight.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I gave it a try Denny. I couldn't do any better. Looking good Don.

BTW: I ordered a couple glass doors for the "Z" today. Got a tube bent for the tranny crossmember today also, so I should be able to get that installed tomorrow.

DennyW, Thanks very much, you did a great job on it! What software did you use? Now you can see the top capscrew heads if you look close but the important thing is that since they are smoothed and painted also they are not very noticeable. Once I get the distributor in there with the plug wires you probably won't notice anything. The main thing is that the foot room in the cockpit is now reasonable and I can move the gas pedal to the right enough so my right foot won't get caught behind the brake pedal when it comes time to use the brake! Thanks again DennyW! ProZ, let's hope I don't screw it up again when I cut the hole for the steering column (soon); your suggestion about using a wooden dowel was very helpful and I can point to the place on the firewall where the column will clear the header and spark plug as well.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

36 chevy master

36 chevy master

36 chevy master

36 chevy master

Really nice job on the '36. Solid and straightforward construction. It's going to be a great driving rod, I'm sure. Well thought out, too.

Don

Firewall is looking good Don, I like the color, very nice.

Thats a great looking humpback you got going there streetisneat, looking like you have a great jump on getting her on the road, whats the next step for ya?

Nice to see you proZ, was it hard to find glass doors for your car?

There are some great projects in the making out there! Nice looking Chevy!

Don Shillady---This is how much you are going to see of your lower firewall in an unchanneled model A with a 4" recessed firewall---Brian