New project- low buck but lots of elbow grease 1946 coupe

[Chris]

Hey everyone, figured I show a project I've been working on for a couple months. It's a tad hot roddy, hope no one is offended. With a son who's a year and a half old (and growing every day), I ended up with a 1947 Ford coupe in a trade that I thought would be a great family car. It was very strait and dry, but needed most everything. A couple months after I got it, this 1946 Ford coupe appeared in my V8 club chapters monthly news letter. Because I'm weak, I went and looked at it

[Chris]

it ran and drove but was not my style. Tires and wheels are easy but the paint finish...not my favorite. The owner said it was painted hot rod flatz, which is a basic enamel with a flatner added. I looked the car over and decided it was actually a pretty nice old car and decided to for it






I bought it April 29th. First thing I did when I got it home was pulled the 14" wheels off. Drums had been redrilled to 5x4.5, so I cleaned up a stock set of drums and rebuilt the entire hydraulic system while I was at it. I put a loaner set of 16" wheels and tires on it. The car had a rechromed rear bumper on it, but was missing the front bumper and gravel pan. I asked the owner why and he said "real hot rods don't have front bumpers". I lucked out and found a nice pan on Craigslist, and bought a rechromed front bumper at the Monroe swap meet a few weeks later

[Seth Swoboda]

Hey Chris, nice '46 coupe. I have a '46 3 passenger coupe. You will have lots of room in that car.

[Chris]

I had a fresh upholstered set of seats in the 47 coupe, so I swapped them out as the modern gray was not doing it for me




I also painted a stock steering wheel and installed it, along with an all chrome dash a friend of mine scored me at the Portland swap meet for 80.00!

[Chris]

My car painter friend Dusty came over and staring with 1500, then 2000, and finishing with 3000 we wet sanded and buffed the pint, finishing with a polish. The "flatz" paint flatner goes to the top when it cured, wet sanding it cutsnthatnoff leaving a nice glossy enamel finish. This process took a couple weeks of an hour here and a couple hours there. Got it done, but we will respray the tail light housings, front and rear gravel pans and grill.

[Chris]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

That is where I am at right now. The car was relatively cheap because of the finish it had, I am in it about half of what a decent one goes for. Tomorrow it goes for some paint touch ups and then I can finish putting it back together. It runs and drives nice, has all new rubber seals and such, so saved a lot of time and money buy buying a car like this but changing it to suite my taste. The previous owner did a lot of work to it, and had pictures of when he got it. Looks like a nice old survivor. It will be getting a dropped axle, it currently has reverse eyes springs and longer shackles front and rear. Aside from that, it's a pretty stock car

[sidevalve8ba]

Wow, the paint polished out real well. What's under the hood?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

Wow, the paint polished out real well. What's under the hood?

Stock 59AB.

[Chris]

Also guys who know these cars will notice some trim and front marker lights have been shaved...I will be re-installing all of that eventually. I have everything except the passenger side front fender stainless...if anyone has a nice one, please let me know.

[RalphM]

Sweet ride! Amazing how that paint buffed out.
I'm working on a 47 business coupe that was painted in the 60's, I was able to buff out the laquer to a decent shine as well.
That thing looks 100% better than when you bought it, better not show it to the seller, he'll want it back

[40cpe]

You seem to have an eye for fixer-uppers. You brought that one to life!

How are you coming along with the shoebox convertible?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by 40cpe

You seem to have an eye for fixer-uppers. You brought that one to life!

How are you coming along with the shoebox convertible?

That project is no longer. A couple days after I got it, I got an a trade offer for the 47 coupe I had before this 46, so I sold the 51 convertible tub to my brother who also bought a pretty decent Vicky for a parts car. He also traded up and bought this nice old 51 convertible at a small swap meet last month. In fact he, my dad and I spent Father's Day pulling the stuck flathead out and assessing what needs done before his runner gets dropped in. So the 51 body tub and Vicky will be for sale shortly

[flatford8]

I like what you did!!.... And ya, what about the Shoebox drop top???.... Mark
Im dealing with the time change or I type too slow!!!...LOL.... Mark

[FlatheadTed]

Nice work good to see younger people in the hobby in one form or another ,Ted

[41panelmark]

Originally Posted by Chris

it ran and drove but was not my style. Tires and wheels are easy but the paint finish...not my favorite. The owner said it was painted hot rod flatz, which is a basic enamel with a flatner added. I looked the car over and decided it was actually a pretty nice old car and decided to for it






I bought it April 29th. First thing I did when I got it home was pulled the 14" wheels off. Drums had been redrilled to 5x4.5, so I cleaned up a stock set of drums and rebuilt the entire hydraulic system while I was at it. I put a loaner set of 16" wheels and tires on it. The car had a rechromed rear bumper on it, but was missing the front bumper and gravel pan. I asked the owner why and he said "real hot rods don't have front bumpers". I lucked out and found a nice pan on Craigslist, and bought a rechromed front bumper at the Monroe swap meet a few weeks later

Very nice!!

[Chris]

I loaded it up and took it to my friend Dusty's paint shop last night. Hope to have it back together in the next week or two

[Grandadeo]

Chris when I grow up I want to be just like you. So I better get on the stick cause I'm twice your age. Nice work.

Lee

[Chris]

Got it back from paint yesterday, the fender they fixed looks great, as well as the pieces they repainted. Started bolting it back together, got the rear of the car done.

[Chris]

Got it all buttoned up and drove it about a 50 mile drive Sunday with my trusty copilot Lucy. It's still not done, but on the road at least. Very comfortable car to drive!

[40cpe]

That's NICE!