East Coast 32 coupe

[modelfink]

Hey guys, I've got a new project on the bench. It's a 32 five window coupe built in the East Coast style. Something you may have seen around 57-63 in the pages of Hot Rod Magazine or in the Little pages of Rod and Custom, Rodding and Restyling, etc. It's mocked up in these pics but the specs so far are: Unchopped body (cowl vent and door handles will be smoothed, hood smoothed) Channeled over the frame, radiator shell dropped, cycle fenders (They will be positioned better than the mock up pics show) wide whites, custom wheel covers, 50 Olds 303 Rocket engine. 37 ford trans, 48 ford rear end, rear crossmember, rear spring and X member. Dropped tube front axle. 

The plan is to have lots of chrome, tuck and roll, bucket seats, and nerf bars.
I will post build pics of the sub assemblies as the project moves along. 

 

[Jantrix]

I really dig the plan, especially the unchopped top. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

[dino246gt]

I love that East Coast Style! Cool project!

[GMCMAN52]

1 hour ago, dino246gt said:

I love that East Coast Style! Cool project!

 

[Matt T.]

It’s got the look! Nice work so far.

Circa ‘58. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

I saw more than a few of this build style while I was growing up in the East. Nice job so far.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

East Coast Style, channel, no chop. Never really liked the look, too top heavy to my eye, but it is a thing. Your rendition is looking good. Will be watching.  -RRR

[PARTSMARTY]

Will be definitely watching !!!

[vintagercr]

I will be following this one

[modelfink]

11 hours ago, Rocking Rodney Rat said:

East Coast Style, channel, no chop. Never really liked the look, too top heavy to my eye, but it is a thing. Your rendition is looking good. Will be watching.  -RRR

I hear what you are saying and respect that opinion for sure. For years I thought unchopped and channeled rods looked goofy and cycle fenders seemed to be silly add ons to comply with the law. However, the look has really grown on me lately, especially after seeing how much coverage they got in the magazines at the time. The west coast style looks a lot tougher and definitely means business, but the East coast style has a certain cool factor that you don't see that often. 

[Ramfins59]

I'm loving it Travis.

[modelfink]

I cut a thin plate out of styrene to adapt the 37 trans to the 50 Olds. (kinda hard to see in this pic). The starter will be kept in the stock location. I fabricated a motor mount for the Olds that mounts to the front of the block just under the crank pulley. RB motion bolts are being used for the bolt/nut combo. The front frame horns will probably be unboxed after further test fitting of the radiator shell. I'm using the steering box and cross steer set up from the Revell 5 window. This is a nice piece that accommodates the big Hemi supplied in the kit, however the Hemi has block hugging headers that make for a better fit. I think with a little fabrication on the steering box end I can tuck it behind the Olds headers. I'm going for a clean profile but over the frame headers are not out of the question. Speaking of headers, The exhaust situation will be a little tricky. Ideally they would snake through the 48 X member. Currently they dump below the frame so either I cut and fabricate a sharp bend through the X member or find another solution. Suggestions welcome. The frame modifications are a page out of the Dennis Lacey book of hot rod model building. 48 X member, rear cross member, spring and rear axle. The spring was cut from the spring/radius rod combo in the 48 Ford custom kit. I gutted the Revell 32 frame from the front cross member back. Tweedy Pie rear radius rods will be used to clear the back legs of the 48 X. Brakes are 48 ford also. The wheel backs look a little thick, I may need to pull them in closer to the tire.


 

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Nice clean work going on here. -RRR

[Modelbuilder Mark]

This is gonna be cool!

[HDDan]

Can't wait to see it done

[modelfink]

This weekend I began sorting out the exhaust system. I decided to do turn outs just past the headers that hang below the frame rails then turn up and continue rearward through the X member and out the back. For street racing or drag strip purposes.  I used styrene for the cut outs and caps with Grandt Line railroad bolt details. The mufflers are from the 50 Olds kit. Wire brackets keep the cut outs snug against the X member braces. Next step is to figure out what happens from the mufflers back, considering there will be rear radius rods and shocks to navigate around. 

I also added mounting points for the hairpin radius rods up front but they still need some finishing work. 
 

[DumpyDan]

Looks real good, gonna be watching

[Foxer]

I have to like this one as I have an 'East Coast rod' in the works, thou it goes slow for me. Not to chop is a big decision with many telling me I should chop!

That's some good work going so far and I'll be following, of course. 

[geewhiz]

Very clean work, Travis!!!  I really like your solution to the exhaust issue and the turnouts are very cool.  I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress.?????????

[modelfink]

Update: I finalized the rear shocks and completed the exhaust system. I still need to bend and tweak it a little, add exhaust tips, clean up the rear spring, etc. but I'm satisfied with it enough to move on to other issues. stay tuned. 

[modelfink]

Update: I worked on the east coast coupe this weekend. I glued in the trunk lid, then took 2 hairpin radius rods from an old AMT 25 model T 3 in 1 kit and made a rear bumper/nerf bar with a license plate holder from the Revell 32 kit. I also roughly mocked up some tail light choices. Let me know which one you like: A: from the 48 Ford custom by Revell B: A La Kart by AMT. I'm not sure the make or model of either tail light so if you know, chime in. 

 

[66belair]

Very cool Build, I just got my hands on 32 5 window kit.

[Foxer]

Keeps looking good. Those bumpers are classic.

[modelfink]

Hey guys, I have a hurdle I need to jump over here. After locating the body over the frame and positioning the radiator/grill shell, I'm noticing that the hood seems a bit short. I can't move the radiator back due to fan clearance and I don't want to angle the grill shell back to meet the hood. Have you guys had this issue before? how did you solve it?

[Foxer]

That looks like an accumulation of clearances. Is there some added clearance of the grill against the radiator that could be made by scraping the shell? I can see the large gap of the shell against the frame ... should fit tight there.

The engine mount seems very positive. Everything in front of the engine looks tight, but a lot of space could open here by filing all mounting surfaces, especially the fan belts mount.

Just food for thought.