Newbie. Just a little about my car

[Jefscoupe]

I know this is mainly a stock restored forum, but I needed flathead help from people I can trust. I was directed here by several sources, so here I am!
The pic in my avatar was taken at a car show here in Memphis, TN back in 1955.
The sign on the windshield reads:
Jack Friend
1932 Ford Coupe
Chopped 5 1/2" Channeled 7 (I think 1/2" )
276 Merc 3 5/16 Bore 4" Stroke
Full Stewart Warner Dash
(fuel line blocking name perhaps Isky) Drag "International" Cam
(fuel line again but looks like) Weber Flywheel 13 1/2 LBS

This car was shown, driven on the street and drag raced regularly.
Jack was one of the founders of Memphis Rodders back in the late 40s.
He bought this car in 1952. Was featured in Rod and Custom July 1954.
He experimented with nitro and scattered the engine sometime just after the pics were taken for the magazine. (not the avatar pic) The Rodders were the first to use nitro east of the Mississippi River.
Jack sold the car sometime in the early 60s.
While not a stock original car, it's still an historic vehicle. At least in the Memphis area.
I bought it in 1979. Still under reconstruction.
If interested I have a thread on the HAMB. Not sure if posting a link to another forum is allowed. You can Google: Chelsea Auto Parts Coupe.
There was a recent online article done on the Memphis Rodders webpage.
Google: Time Traveler Memphis Rodders.

[Talkwrench]

Kool ! We need a few more pics...

[V8COOPMAN]

Jeff...It's fine to post a link here. Love the car in the small pic. Any current pics? Welcome aboard! DD

[felix37]

Welcome! Most everyone on this site has a modified Flathead in one way or another!

[Vic Piano]

That car is very cool; with a neat history. Please post more photos of it.

[Jefscoupe]

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By popular demand, here's some pics. We'll start with the PO back circa 1954.
These were part of the magazine photo shoot.
This was not in the magazine, but shows Jack in his best outfit with the car.

Here's a scan of the July 1954 Rod and Custom article title page.


And a colorized (by Rik Hoving) version that appeared in Rodder's Digest (can't remember the issue at this time)



A larger version of my avatar.


Another show in the early 60s after a color change. This was a B/W pic that I colorized using samples of the original color from the car.



Notice the photo courtesy of Marshall Robilio. He was another founding member of the Rodders club and an avid photographer. He owned the roadster in the above R&C article. Here's a pic of that car today.


The day (or two after) I bought the coupe. April 1979.


The race flathead had been taken out by Jack before he sold it and a stock 48 engine was in it when I got it. At that time, I couldn't afford to build a flathead, so I gave it to a friend.
I took it apart and it sat in my Dad's barn for 10 years. During that time I found out who owned it back in the day and finally met him. He gave me some of the B/W pics I've posted and told some great stories. That gave me the kick I needed to get it out of the barn and get started. I took the body to Jackson, MS and had it dipped at Readystrip. Then shot it with epoxy primer.


Then built my own frame out of 2 x 4 tubing.


With some updates.


Knowing more about the history of the car, I kick myself for letting the original frame get away. But I still have the rear axle, transmission, trans X-member and some other small parts. But at least I kept all of the body.
It needed a few panels replaced. The lower quarters behind the doors and the rear valance under the deck lid showed damage in the 1954 pics I have. It was rusted out as well by the time I got it. So a new piece was bought and welded in.
The corners I made by hand. That's all I had to replace. Some small pinholes to fill, but it was really in great shape even after sitting beside a house for many years, out in the open.


But life gets in the way and it sat for some time again. Here's what it looked like when I got back to it last spring.


The pontiac came out and a Cleveland went in. But it just wasn't happy.
A friend brought me this.


The story goes that this intake was hanging on a wall for years at the junk yard Jack worked at for many years. So long in fact, Jack had passed away and no one really knew what it was for. It was snapped up by my friend and he deduced it must have been meant for the coupe.
So. Here begins the 4th or may be 5th beginning of the rebuild.
Flathead. Yeah. It'll have a TKO behind it. Since I already bought one for the Cleveland motor, I just had to get a different bell to fit it to the flathead.


The beginnings of the 276, Merc cranked flatty.



As the car sits today. With new wheels/tires.

[Vics Stuff]

Nice start and great history. Keep us posted.
Vic

[TonyM]

Vintage Hot Rods always good.

[flatford8]

Awesome !!!!! I love original old Hot Rods. Nice car.

[my4dv8]

Absolutely super cool a vintage hot rod . We have a vintage hot rod 3w as well but a PO decided to un channel it etc so some vintage history is gone but the memory is still there and the historic pictures.

[Ross6860]

Love it.

Keep us posted, and a link to the H.A.M.B.

[felix37]

Nice car! keep the pics of progress coming!

[Jefscoupe]

Thanks guys. This has been my dream car for over 30 years. One of these days....
Here is the HAMB link below. A few more pics and info as well as pics of progress over the past year. I'm not a fast worker. I'm not a "midnight oil burning" kind of guy. But I'll get there eventually.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=696492

[ford38v8]

Having a photographic history of a car is so valuable, it's a definite factor if you ever decide to sell. History for sale, not just another car. Makes you aware that you're not really the owner, but the caretaker.

[Carl]

...you're doing a good job restoring an old hot rod; but to replicate it to match its condition and look in the "Chelsea Auto Parts" pic would be perfect. Just my opinion.

[Jefscoupe]

Yeah, but I'm a bit passed that. Best I can do is make a reasonable facsimile.
With some modern touches like 5 speed trans and A/C.
Say what you will but in the south, I gotta have A/C or leave the car home during the summer.

[Jefscoupe]

OK. Time for a Labor Day update.
After getting both engines torn down, finding one nearly worthless and one I think will be good, I decided to go ahead with a mock up and make the motor mounts for the "new" flathead.
I pulled the body off and rolled the chassis outside to pull the old Cleveland out.
Then it got HOT and humid outside again. So, I spent time inside the cool shop banging away on the body. Not much to show really, just sorting out some warpage that occurred while welding in the floor.
I also took the time to assemble the new bellhousing to the old Merc block and bolt the Tremec up to it to form a unit.
We got a break in the heat long enough for me to set the flathead/tremec unit in, blocked up and then rolled the chassis back into the shop.
Today, I made up yet another set of engine mounts.




Then rolled it back out, bolted on the heads and other ancillaries for some pics.







I've decided to wait on building the engine for a while. No use in a new engine sitting around getting dirty (and in the way) until I need it.
I've got plenty of other things to do. Brake lines, clutch set up, rear brakes, more body work etc, etc. Plus it'll give me time to search for the parts I want. Namely Offenhauser heads and a couple Holley 94 carbs. Pretty much everything else will be bought new. The block will be bored for 3 5/16 (276 CI) pistons, bearings, gaskets, rings and so forth.

[41panelmark]

great!!!

[Fredb_]

Nice bit of history, thanks!

[2 deuces]

Cool old hot rod...Glad to see it is still around.