Suedes Car Club
General => Project Reports => Topic started by: flatheaded on September 30, 2009 6:20 PM
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Well, hope nobody objects to me putting my project on here. It's nothing special. Just an everyday '50 2 dr. sedan we drug home last year. Has the typical rust in the floors, rockers and fenders. Bought all the patch panels from Mac's and have a couple running Flatheads but wanted to go a different route with the motor/trans. Ended up buying a 292 Y-block from Overspray. I'm leaning towards a AOD trans but not sure yet. I know many argue the fact that air bags aren't traditional but I wanted the car to have the lower stance when parked but still be able to drive it long distances and be comfortable so we put air bags on all 4 corners along with disc brakes front and rear. We found a 9" rear out of a '57 station wagon. Fit perfect! Stock 16" steel wheels with WWW were next. We finished up the suspension last weekend with just final welding to do. Next on the list is getting the trunk put back in and working on the rusted body panels and floors. Future plans include a 5" chop, frenched headlights and taillights (maybe '54 Merc, not sure), louvred hood, shaved handles and trim (might use'53 Buick side trim) and '56 Dodge front and rear bumpers. Like I said, nothing fancy since it's all been done before but we are pretty excited about it since it is our first custom. Pics aren't real good to start since the body is already on the routissery but you get the idea:
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Trying to get all our pics together of the suspension and air bag setup we did. Most of the brake swap was taken off the HAMB. Only parts purchased were calipers, bearings/seals, brake rotors, and air bags. All the brackets and radius rods/bushings were made. I'll list the part #'s in case someone else wants to do the same thing. I was pretty happy on the way it turned out.
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Your going to have to have shop tour, the place looks great!! Sounds like you got the coustom thing figured out!!!
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Took the bottom spring plates off the lower arms and welded a flat plate on it to mount the bag to. Used the same material to make a mount for the top of the bag and secured it through the shock mount hole. Because we wanted to drop the car 1" off the ground we had to cut some clearance into the spring tower. Not much meat was left so we reinforced it with a plate and welded it in. We're also using Jamco drop spindles and steering arms for a little extra drop.
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Front brakes were next. All the info is off the HAMB and shoeboxford.com We were going to go with a kit from ECI for $450 or just the brackets for $230 but since I'm a tight ass I decided to make them myself. Calipers are off late 70's early '80's GM, rotors are 11" and off late 80's Ford Aerostar, bearings and seals I'm not sure but I have all the part #'s if someone else wants to do this. PM me, would be happy to send them to you. It did take some trial and error for the caliper brackets though but they work really well and clear a stock Ford 15" steel wheel. I did have to turn a 3/8" collar to press on the inside of the spindle to take up some area for the bearing. After the collar was pressed on simply assemble everything as usual. Rotors, calipers, and seals/bearings cost about $200 give or take which I didn't think was too bad. I have patterns of all the mounting brackets if someone needs them. Disregard brake line in the pic. It didn't work but I'll explain this later.
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I don't have many pics of the brake brackets but you get the idea. Only thing was they had to be mounted towards the front of the car instead of the usual rear side. Some people argue the fact and others say it doesn't matter. Some say centrifigal force will lift the wheel or some BS like that. Sounds like a scene from Star Wars or something. Anyway, all the kits I looked at mount them here because of clearance issues on the upper arms. Like I said, if someone wants copies of the patterns let me know. I'd be happy to pass them on.
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Front brakes continued.
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We didn't have computers and cell phones in 1950 either!
Nothing wrong with some newer stuff to make the old work and feel better and be safer.
Looking good.
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Great project post Josh!!! When you say we, I bet your mean Robin. :wink:
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looks good. that bracket looks a lot like the eci one i used which used s10 rotors and calipers
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I want! Looks good- any kustom tricks in the future?
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Great project post Josh!!! When you say we, I bet your mean Robin. :wink:
Yup! My partner in chrime.
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I want! Looks good- any kustom tricks in the future?
Right now trying to get all the floor and trunk panels in. As far as custom tricks, I layed out the front and rear bumpers (we're using '56 Dodge bumpers) and noticed that they will have to be narrowed so we are trying to figure out that. After the floors and patch panels are in we're gonna start the chop. Decided on 5" straight across with leaned B pillars. But that's a ways down the road.
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I guess I got carried away with all the pics yesterday so I'll keep it simple. After we decided where the rear should set off the ground we made 4 C notches and welded them in above the centerline of the rearend. Rearend is out of a '57 Ford station wagon and is about 1" wider that stock so no worries there. After notches were in we boxed them and added 2 pieces of round stock to tie it all together. Flat plate for the bag top mount and same material for the bottom mounts and axle saddles. Gussets were added later for strength. Pretty straight forward.
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Made my own trailing arms and bushings just because I don't want to spend the money. Some DOM tube, threaded rod and polyurethane and your ready to roll. Other brackets are just simple flat and radii are cut on a mill. Here is the bottom bars installed.
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We ended up making three sets of bars untill we had it right. Being we are dropping 4" there were some things to consider which we didn't the first two times. One way to learn, I quess. Ended up mounting the front of the bottom bar right behind the seat riser support on the frame. Reinforced it with 2 pieces of plate welded to the frame and them ran a bushing through it and welded it to the plate. Extended it with another brace and gusset and the whole bracket was nice and strong. Top links were done the same way. Mounting points are on top of the frame so the rear floor will have to be raised about 2". Not too big of a deal, the rear seat will cover it. Was debating running them along the inside of the frame but didn't have alot of room.
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Looks good man, can't wait to see it finished.
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Well, this is how the frame sits when all the way down. It's about 1" off the ground which puts the body about 1/2" off the ground. Pretty close I know but to me when the sedans are chopped it is the only way they look right when they are parked. I don't know why but the long roofline does something. After bags are at ride height I gain about 4" so there is plenty of clearance, I think.
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Here is a shot of the rear and the amount that had to be removed. Had to take out quite a bit of material but most of the trunk was rusted out anyway. I threw on a front fender last night just to get an idea. I'll post more when I get some of the trunk and patch panels on.
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Great project post Josh!!! When you say we, I bet your mean Robin. :wink:
Yup! My partner in chrime.
You probable heard this before, does she have an older sister?!! ( just kidding). :wink:
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looks Great.
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It's definitely low now... what's next?
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It's definitely low now... what's next?
Been working on the trunk floor, narrowing the front and rear bumpers ('53 Dodge) and finally found a Volvo steering box so I'm working on a mount for it. Pics to follow.
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What are you doing for a master cylinder? Do you want to run yours on the firewall or on the floor? Jamco's got a frame-mount setup for a late 60's mustang dual-reservoir, but it's spendy- I think I'd at least try and make all the brakets and stuff first. Intersted in what your plan is...
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Been thinking the same thing. I pulled some pics off the HAMB on one a guy did with a Mustang cylinder. Looks pretty straight forward as far as the brackets go. I was thinking on going this way too. Also saw something one time on a Jeep master for a firewall mount but I'm not too crazy about that. They seem to be big $$$. I'll see if I can find the underfloor pics on my computer at work and post them to get an idea. Finally got my Volvo steering box @ $175, just need a double joint from Borgeson @ $150. Gotta save some bucks so I can finish it and get back on the body.
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I think I'm just going to enlist help to help me figure out the mustang m.c. . I don't want to pay Jamco for their dumb kit and it's pretty straightforward. Post up those pics when you get a chance- Hopefully they're different than the ones I have. I didn't find much on the HAMB.
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To whom it may concern:
This is a bracket for a 49-51 Merc. I don't remember how the shoe box one is set up but this may give you some idea of what to fab if it is similar. This one is one that Tokyo on the HAMB has for his Merc. I had him post some pics of it and then copied it for my 51.
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To whom it may concern:
This is a bracket for a 49-51 Merc. I don't remember how the shoe box one is set up but this may give you some idea of what to fab if it is similar. This one is one that Tokyo on the HAMB has for his Merc. I had him post some pics of it and then copied it for my 51.
Those look familiar to the ones I came across, I think. It wasn't much of a bracket if I remember correctly. I do remember it had a really long pushrod though. I'll get pics of what I have up in the next few days once I get back in my office.
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here's the jamco setup.
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Well I finally found the pics of the setup I found on the HAMB. I was mistaken, this kit is from ECI Hot Rod Brakes and uses a '67-'72 Mustang or '67--76 Corvette dual manual master cylinder. Their kit is $219 and the master cylinder is another $75 which, to me, is high enough for just a few brackets. It uses the stock brake pedal and moves the master cylinder back behind the crossmember. Looks simular to Jamco's kit. This the way I think I am going to go. Master cylinders from Speedway are about $35 and about $50 anywhere on E Gay. The brackets don't seem hard at all to make and the pushrod can be made out of just about anything. A few bucks for the rod end and away we go. I'm gonna start mine during Thanksgiving and I'll post pics as I get them. Here is the link to the thread on the HAMB:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397986
The only thing I am going to try and change is move the cylinder down a little so I don't have to cut a hole in the floor to check/fill fluid. Later!
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Thanks for that link to the `49 build, I had missed that. Have you been up this way to pick up the Y block??
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Not yet, gotta get a hold of Reed when he has time. Feel bad, thing has been setting in his shop for about a year now. Gonna have to do it soon to make sure my steering box (Volvo) isn't in the way. I'm sure he's been on the ChooChoo lately. Anyone seen him around?
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. Anyone seen him around?
I hadn’t see him for a couple of month, than last Friday night I ran into him a Birthday party at his neighbors house.
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Any updates Josh?
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Well things have been pretty slow cause of work but I am managing to get some of the patch panels in. Cut out the lower rear quarters and got the new ones tacked in. Also started to replace the floors and trunk area. That's been a little tricky trying to get around all the suspension and stuff. Also got a Mustang 20 gal. gas tank that will have to be fitted into the trunk. Was messing around with the doors last week and determined that they were in pretty rough shape so I stole some off one of my donors instead of trying to patch and straighten the old ones. Front fenders will receive the same lower patches and am trying to decide if I want to french in '52 Ford headlight rings like Joel did or go another route. Last year on the HAMB i remember seeing a '50 sedan that had '55-'56 Oldsmobile headlight sheetmetal grafted on the fenders. I really liked the look, still had that little peak that the '52 Ford had but used a chrome ring. I have '55 and a '56 Olds out in the trees that I am thinking about cutting them out of and trying just to see what it looks like in person. Am getting antsy to start the chop since I saw Joel's but have a ton of other shit to finish before I even thing about that. Still need to get the Y-Block from Reed too. Oh Uncle Reed, where are you!!!???
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Josh, I would like to put a mustang tank in my 40 merc but can't get a real good measurement online. Sometime can you tell me what size hole I would need in the trunk floor for it. I need to see if it will fit between the rear cross member and the rear spring cross member. Thanks!
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The tank I got is for a '64-'68 Mustang, 16 gal. Not 20 gal. like I thought. Anyway the hole you would need for the tank to fit in would measure about 30 1/2" x 22 1/2". It has a 1" flange around all sides and is about 7" deep. Mine came off Ebay for about $110 plus shipping and included the sending unit, filler tube and hose. The outfit selling them was Kentucky Mustang.
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Ok thanks. I used one in my 48 chev but there was alot more room since it didn't have the transverse rear spring.
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Falcon sedans used the same type and size tanks also if you're searching for a used one. Comets should be the same also.
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New ones are so cheap that I don't think it pays to find a used one.
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Any updates??
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Well, our summer was super busy doing everyone elses stuff so we can't say we got too much done on it. Did start to put in the usual patch panels. Quarters, rockers, and floors. Worked on the bumper a little. Shortening a '54 Dodge Coronet front and rear bumper. Dont ask why, just like the look. They are basically smooth like the stock ones but have bumper gaurds that kinda look like mini caddy dagmars. Anyway our plans are to run the exhaust through the rear ones since our plans are to have the car so low. Also picked up the Y-block from Reed this summer and am trying to get that and the Volvo steering box to work together. Not much room for the box, linkage, and exhaust. May also look at adding a Chev. Cavalier rack and pinion instead of the Volvo box but the work is a little more to get the pack and pinion to work. Found some pretty good pics on the HAMB and might do it just so I have the pieces for future use/projects. I'll get some pics up in the very near future. We ended up buying 14 more cars this summer and some have been put on the project list so that is another reason for the slow progress on the 'box. Wife picked up a '52 Dodge Coronet Wagon and a '47 Dodge coupe and I finally found two '54 Chevy 2 dr. sedans worthy of combining to make one good one. So we have been doing alot of planning and dreaming on what we can do with the new additions to the project list. The wife is pretty stoked about the '47 Dodge she found. We passed up on the chance to buy the car about 7 years ago, actually we didn't have a pot to piss in so we couldn't afford it. But it came up for sale again and we snagged it this time. Of course, it's in a little bit worse shape cause it was stored outside but everything is there and saveable. Joel, sorry I didn't reply to your PM. Haven't been on here much lately. We'll get some new pictures up very soon.
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Looking forward to pics- sounds like there's been progress!
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I am partial to Shoeboxes, any updates?