Thread: Texas boy inherits a 34 5 window!!

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An old high school friend died in an auto accident last summer and I have inherited a 1934 ford 5 window coupe in barn find condition. There is a 302 (BOSS valve covers?) in the car with an auto tranny. The frame looks to be rust free and the cab and rear deck area are intact and relatively rust free.

Missing:

Hood and front fenders,

Grill

no glass

Needs everything done!!!

I was told I could take her an build her and the title would be mine. I have also offered to see what I could find out about her worth and selling her to give his family some $$ they could use.

I am really at a loss as whether to build it or sell it. If I build it could I ever hope to be able to get my money out of her? If I sell her as is what should I look to get for his family. I am leaning towards building her.

Fiirst thing I need to find out though is the 302's lineage. Is there a way to tell year built on these engines and how to tell which tranny (C4 C6?) is in her as well just so I know what I am dealing with.

Glad to find this forum and hope to find it useful as a tool in my rebuild!!

cool car,lets see pics,must have been a very good freind,sorry for your loss

I will get pics as soon as I can. He bought the car in 1978 when we were in High school. Had a 395 Olds in her , a high rise manifold and two Carter AFB's.

Sold the motor and spent the money on putting the frame back to original(was opened for the Big A** Olds motor) and set the engine and tranny in her. College, girlfriends/wives and all the other things I gues stopped him from working on her and I would love to be able to put her together just because!!

It will take a while and a lot of sweat equity but I need to sweat and I got friends that are more than willing to help!!


Thanks!!!

Nice cars, still may fav, chopped a bit though.

If you need anything let me know

Build it & drive in memory of your friend, because that's what I believe he would of wanted you to do...Joe

Sorry to hear about your friend. Now, I'm going to be the damp towel on this situation, but just trying to save you some grief down the road.

There are too many "ifs" in this story. The thing about fixing it up, then getting the title is one. The second is "maybe giving the family some money if you fix it and sell it later on." This thing has problems written all over it.

Here is the only way I would do it.

1) Come to a FIRM understanding about a price you can buy it for. Get that contract in writing.

2) Make sure the title is clear and that the proper people have the legal right to transfer it to you.

3) Pay them with a check or certified check and keep a copy, along with a copy of the contract, bill of sale, and title.

4) Do not spend one red cent on the car until you have all of the above in place. Some relative who feels cheated can come back on you later on and you will be caught in the middle of a family dispute, and possibly lose the car you have spent a lot of money on.

5) Someone has been assigned to handle the deceased man's assets and liabilities. You need to make sure you are dealing with that person.

I know it looks all rosey now, but this is not like buying a car from a living person who legally owns it. You are dealing with his estate. If you do it otherwise, I will lay odds you will be back here sometime down the road with a tale of woe.

Don

BTW, you say you "inherited" this car. Was that clearly spelled out in a formal will? or just told to you by the family?

Damn Don, that's hardcore.

But you are absolutely right.

Kitz

Originally Posted by kitz

Damn Don, that's hardcore.

But you are absolutely right.

Kitz

And I totally agree.

Don,

You are absolutely right and I will have that straight before any "real money" is spent. He was a widower and the only family left is a brother that has been a family friend for 30+ years. All that said you are still correct in that I need clear understanding and a clear title before proceeding. There is no title to be found but I have access to a couple of avenues to get a rebuilders title. I am very much in the fact finding mode at the moment. Do I rebuild the engine or trade it on one that is ready to go. Frame off or not? Updates to the brakes and steering box? Many things I am mulling at this point. Finances will dictate most of my decisions as they do for most folk. Its exciting to ponder but I can see many places for pitfalls. I do appreciate this forum being out here and will use it and as many other places to find info as I can.

Thanks again for any and all advice!!!

John

If you do end up with the car a thorough inspection of all systems would be very high on my list. After 30 years a complete rebuild of most everything should be done.

John, nice to see that you are receptive to comments that some might find offensive, or at least contrary to what their heart is telling them to do. You are being smart, and it sounds like you have a good rapport with his family.

Now, to answer the other questions about how to proceed, I agree with NTFDAY about going over everything. As to doing a frame off or not, depends on what it all looks like. Shoot us some good pictures (lots of every angle and underneath) and we will be in a better position to offer a suggestion or two.

The biggest part of the decision is how much are you willing and capable of doing on your own? '33-34 Fords are one of the more expensive cars to do, grille shells alone are mega bucks anymore. You need to take all of that into account. All that being said, you are one lucky son of a gun!!! I envy you.

Don

Listen to Don.

It would be insane if you spent thousands on it, got it cherry, and some piss -ant relative took it away from you in court.

In all my years of business, my two biggest non-paying write-offs were to a cousin of mine, and a friend I went to school with...... I've decided that when you deal with family and friends, they expect everything done for nothing, and you should also donate the parts, cuz they're family!!!!!! Hope your dealings on the '34 go better!!!!!

As Don said get a clear title first,and then come up with a plan for what you would like to do with it,taking inventory on what's there and whether it's still servicable. Take your time and think things through,it will save you money in the long run. Hank

First 4u2 welcome to CHR .

They all have the legal part covered . Now to somemore important things like do you have any mechanical experience and fabrication . Will your friends have the time to help . The well experinced guys here can pop out rods left and right and its intriguing. I am a first time builder but have been around cars all my life and there is alot of thought in this. All here will help and thats a plus on a build , they guide us thru rights and wrongs and the mistakes with ease. If you have to have work done by a pro the build cost will exculate fast but a home build can be done lower and have a profit at the end if this is your goal.