Thread: How to build a '33 Ford???

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Hey, guys.

I have a few newbie questions that maybe some of the gurus here can answer. I"ve been lurking for a while and am in the planning stages for a '33 Ford coupe. I like the look of Outlaw bodies as well as the ones from N&N. N&N seem to have the price advantage, but you probably get what you pay for, so I would appreciate any input regarding the products of these 2 companies.

For a chassis, TCI seems pretty good, again, looking for opinions. Pete and Jake seems to crop up pretty often as well. I also would like to plan out the front suspension (straight axle versus ifs). To the guys that built with a solid axle, is the ride and handling what you wanted? If you were to build again, would you go the same route?
I want to build this car to be what my FFR is not. Comfortable, enclosed and rich in creature comfort.

Thanks for any input here, hopefully, I can learn a thing or two from those that have been there.

Matt

As far as the quality of the bodies you have mentioned I can't comment. As far as the straight axle, I have yet to hear anyone bragging about how good they handle or of the quality of the ride they get. There is a reason the car manufacturers cam out with the IFS.

Ed

I am building a roadser right now. I opted for a TCI chassis and I am running adjustible Aldan eagle shocks on all 4 corners with Wilwood discs all around with polished calipers, drilled/slotted rotors. I am running IFS and never gave a straight axel one consideration because I have ridden in deuces with them and others with IFS which helped me make my selection. As far as bodies go I am using a Brookville body which I got a killer deal on. I've had fiberglass before and have decided to go steel this time. Good luck and do your research so you don't end up with saying "I wish I would have went a different way!"

Matt,

Look up Iceburgh's profile on this site, and you'll see a finished N&N. If I were doing another project, I would look seriously at N&N.

I've had both TCI and P&J chassis. The TCI was fine, but that was years ago - before they really went into mass production. I firmly believe that Jerry and Jason Slover (P&J owners) have better quality control than TCI. Also, remember that the P&J equipment design harkens way back to Pete Chapouris and Jake Jacobsen - the original Pete and Jake.

If you're looking for creature comforts, don't go with a solid front axle. I used IFS on my '30 A-Bone (click on the camera to see it), but I went with a solid axle on my '34. My choice of solid axle didn't have much to do with ride and handling. I just wanted an older style, fenderless, channeled hot rod - not a cruiser. It has too much horsepower, too little room inside and questionable street manners . . . wait . . . that was exactly what I planned on.

Hint. You live in Virginia. Do NOT, repeat, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT consider a body/chassis from the guy who took over Gibbon.

I've built them both ways for customers. The straight axle has the nostalgia look----for ride and handling the IFS is the only way to go. I would not, however go with a cheap IFS, IMO either a Kugel or a Heidt's is the only one's to consider... They're the most expensive, but you get what you pay for!!!!

As for the comfort level of a coupe.....I guess it would depend on your definition of comfort. I'm only 5' 9" and never could get comfortable enough in a '32-'34 coupe to actually say I enjoyed a long trip in it..... Many years ago when my kid was just a pup and I was married, I built a '34 Sedan with 3" of stretch in the front of the frame, IFS front, and an equal length, parallel 4 bar rear with Carrera (now QA-1) coilovers---that was a comfortable car on any length of trip!!!!! The coupes are way kewl, but just not a lot of room to stretch out, recline the seat, and get comfy!!!!

Matt,

Check out this thread posted by me a while back.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30639

I have looked their cars over pretty good and besides the great craftsmanship and Pete and Jake parts, they are good down home honest street rodders building products for street rodders. I have spoken to Duane and Don for a good while at the SRNats in Ok City this year and they are who I am going with, if I can ever get my shop finished..lol

Dave is right about the suspensions, course he's usually always right about everything he says, I love the dropped axle old school look, I think it adds so much to the look of what a street rod is. And with todays springs, and bushings on the four bars, the ride is pretty good.

Jeff

matt, I will leave the advice to the pros, but I noticed you live in Ashburn. I work in Ashburn and live just down the road in Centreville. My dad and I are building a '35 Ford coupe.

It sounds like your a relavtive newbie as am I...maybe we can pass some rookie mistakes back and forth in the future haha.

Thanks for all the input, lots to consider. I thought about the look of the straight axle (great traditional stance), but I want to build a car for long cruises from VA to NY fairly often. A full fendered ifs seems to be the way to go, and from the cars I've seen the N&N bodies seem hard to beat, both in price and quality. The only catch is at 6'4" getting my carcass to fit. I haven't ruled out a Vicky style body, but the coupe is the dream (not much around for the Vicky repros anyway). BTW, Henry, your yellow ride is what finalized my decision on the 33/34 body style over the '32. That thing is gorgeous.
Matt

I have a 33 3window coupe and I always thought there was plenty of room for me. Im 6'1''. My coupe has no chop.

Uptown, is that a gennie Ford body? I haven't seen a repro without a chop. Any photos?
Matt

Yes its a ford body... I am at work and dont have any pictures on this computer.

I figured as much on the Ford body. Unfortunately, I can't see me finding a clean '33 that didn't need a ton of body work. Fiberglass is my only out. When it comes to the fine art of tin repair, I follow the sage advice of Clint Eastwood, "A man's got to know his limitations".

Matt

Here's a site where a fellow put almost his whole build on for the world to view; http://www.project33.com/ While you may have a different goal in mind there's plenty to learn there.

As for room, once you eliminate the shelf behind the seat you gain close to 4" more seat travel, and if you went with a short height seat back that would tuck under the turret for a couple more.

Edit: hey, a little tin repair ain't so bad................look in my gallery.

Yeah, Bob, I looked at that site. The guy turned out a real piece of art. That site was where I saw N&N for the first time. He seems real happy with their product. I have seen the bodies Outlaw makes and they look pretty good, at least to the eyes of a novice. The best part of the '33 build site, IMO, is the detail of "how to" finish an interior. If you know of any pictures of that seat arrangement, I'd like to get a look. Thanks

Matt

Originally Posted by Matt55

I want to build this car to be what my FFR is not. Comfortable, enclosed and rich in creature comfort.
Matt

Matt do the FFR guys know what your up to?? J/K.... are you thinking of using a Ford engine?? I hope??