Chopped & Channeled 1932 Ford Sedan Hot Rod UPDATE 9/3/17

[Dennis Lacy]

Back in 2010 (2 years after my return to model building) I built the chopped '32 Sedan pictured below. The chop and paint turned out really nice but there were things about it that I didn't like, like the lumpy Buick engine from the AMT '40 Coupe and the way over sized front hairpin rods. I also rushed it together to make an NNL show and the final quality suffered. Sometime later I partly disassembled it to try and fix the "rush job" but it never found its way back together. Eventually i cherry picked the body shell and few other parts then tossed the rest. 

Last weekend I was messing around and ended up doing an unplanned project of adapting the Halibrand style wheels from Revell's '30 Coupe to be "bolt-ons" for Revell's series of '32 Fords. When I finished the wheels I mocked them up on a Revell '32 frame and axles. To see what they'd look like with a body I grabbed the old Sedan and set it on the frame.

Well, seeing the old Sedan body back up on a set of wheels got the juices flowing and another project was born! 

Here's where it's at as of now, a week later.

I mounted the engine frome Revell's '50 Olds Custom. To it I adapted the chrome oil pan and chrome timing cover/water pump from the Ed Roth Beatnik Bandit, modified the timing cover/water pump to take the pulley/belt drive from the '50 Olds, mounted the heads and pinned the '50 Olds chrome headers to them and added pins to the '50 Olds chrome intake manifold to mount 3 Ed Roth Tweedy Pie carburetors.

The body has been channeled over the frame 3/16" and the grill trimmed 3/16" to lower it down to match. The front axle mounting tabs were given the old Tim Boyd Trim to lower the front some more. The molded in gas tank was cut out of the back of the frame, the rear frame rails shortened to just under the back of the body, a chrome spreader bar fit, Revell '32 5-Window nerf bar bumpers slightly modified and fit and the tailpipes tucked up to just under the spreader bar with chrome tips added. Also, the previously mentioned Halibrand style wheels and tires from Revell's '30 Coupe.

Plenty more to do. Comments welcome!

Edited September 4, 2018 by Dennis Lacy

[Koellefornia Kid]

Nice looking project! The engine fits perfectly and I like the nerfbar and exhaust tip treatment

[afx]

Love it.

[espo]

I like that you're giving this beautiful Sedan a new lease on life. The Olds. engine looks perfect. The old Buick engine was very nice for it's time, but not of the standard we have come to expect today.  

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice work. 

[Scalper]

looks really cool with those wheel s

[Dennis Lacy]

UPDATE!

Not quite finished with the construction faze but almost. The extra day off this weekend helped give me a few extra hours at the bench!

On the left is the first version of the steering box and shaft in Revell's '32 series. In the middle is the version from the 5-Window kit which was modified to work with the optional Hemi engine. By combining the gear box of the early version with the shaft of the newer version and offset to the inner edge of the gear I was able to make the version on the right (tacked in the frame) that will clear the Olds engine starter motor and headers.

I further modified the '32 series exhausts by making extensions to the Olds headers and I added the tapered rear sections from a Revell '40 street rod pipes so that they would transition into the chrome tips nicer, which are also from the Revell '40 kits.

Did some more work on the Olds engine. Made a lower radiator hose and adapted a chrome fan from the Ed Roth Tweedy Pie. Also got the radiator cut down and test fit.

Started working on the interior. Cut away the rear seat portion of the floor pan and will make a flat deck back there as soon as I go get some more .040" sheet. Fit the bomber seats from the Revell '30 Coupe and made some butt cushions from some cut down AMT '32 Victoria seats. Also mounted a shifter, fuel tank and battery box from the Revell Model A's.

Cut down some Revell '50 F1 Pickup door panels and dashboard. Made a column bracket & column and a Bell steering wheel from Revell's Model A kits.

Another full mock up.

Comments welcome!

Edited September 4, 2018 by Dennis Lacy

[Dirkpitt289]

It was pretty nice then and is looking even sharper now. I like it

[Rider]

This is cool. Not sure if the yellow strips are working or not, maybe extend them along the entire body, lol.

[Phildaupho]

This is going to one righteous hot-rod when completed. Great job on the Olds engine.

[Jantrix]

I dig it!

[Dennis Lacy]

Thanks, everyone! 

I've began getting stuff painted for this project. Should have a picture update in the near future.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

Not sure how I missed this one! Coming along swimmingly. How have you been? Hope all is well with you and the fam in So Cal.... -RRR

[oldrevellfan]

willl you keep the wheel chrome?

very cool build !

[Dennis Lacy]

4 hours ago, oldrevellfan said:

willl you keep the wheel chrome?

very cool build !

I'm struggling with that. Do you hope I do or hope I strip and paint them? 

[Phildaupho]

21 minutes ago, Dennis Lacy said:

I'm struggling with that. Do you hope I do or hope I strip and paint them? 

Hey Dennis - Are those two sets of front wheels like I used on my Lo-Boy? I plan to dull coat the centers.

Edited November 10, 2018 by Phildaupho

[Limeyglue]

Really liking this Dennis.

 

Lee

[tim boyd]

Wow.....not sure how I missed this one.....lookin' great, Dennis!  

BTW your work has captured the attention of the 1/25th scale RodFather himself, Mr. Tom Woodruff.....and he heartily approves.   

Looking forward to seeing further updates when you are ready.....TIM 

[Dennis Lacy]

On 11/10/2018 at 3:44 PM, Phildaupho said:

Hey Dennis - Are those two sets of front wheels like I used on my Lo-Boy? I plan to dull coat the centers.

They sure are! Yeah, dull coating the centers might be an option. I'll be able to decide easier once I make a decision on the color scheme which I'm also going back and forth on. 

[Dennis Lacy]

2 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Wow.....not sure how I missed this one.....lookin' great, Dennis!  

BTW your work has captured the attention of the 1/25th scale RodFather himself, Mr. Tom Woodruff.....and he heartily approves.   

Looking forward to seeing further updates when you are ready.....TIM 

Wow, that's extremely flattering to know! I've got loads of respect for him and have enjoyed his models for many years. 

[Hoffman]

Dennis, I really enjoy watching you mock things up. I read the article about your full size '27 roadster, with all period correct parts from various old Fords. Your approach to modeling is very similar, picking and choosing just the right vintage components from various kits, and bringing them all together. Your fabrication in styrene seems to mimic a traditional full size approach as well. I know you build rods with your Dad, so basically you put down the torch at the end of the day, drive home, and pick up the exacto knife and razor saw, right? Same style, only smaller. Very well done! Keep up the good work.  

[Dennis Lacy]

On 11/11/2018 at 7:03 PM, Hoffman said:

Dennis, I really enjoy watching you mock things up. I read the article about your full size '27 roadster, with all period correct parts from various old Fords. Your approach to modeling is very similar, picking and choosing just the right vintage components from various kits, and bringing them all together. Your fabrication in styrene seems to mimic a traditional full size approach as well. I know you build rods with your Dad, so basically you put down the torch at the end of the day, drive home, and pick up the exacto knife and razor saw, right? Same style, only smaller. Very well done! Keep up the good work.  

Thanks for the really nice message! I really miss that T Roadster sometimes. I wish circumstances had been different but buying a house and getting married in the same year (6 months apart!) was a bit hard on my wallet! At least I still have my hot rodded '32 Pickup, though. 

You're right, my approach to building models is the same as full size hot rods both in design and execution. After settling on a pile of parts I build them twice. Once completely in the raw and only when every last detail is figured out do I break them down and do paint & finish work. Regardless of scale, it's the only way to work. 

[Snake45]

Very nice work! I like where you're going with it, although I prefer the original wheels and tires. 

[Tom Geiger]

9 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

You're right, my approach to building models is the same as full size hot rods both in design and execution. After settling on a pile of parts I build them twice. Once completely in the raw and only when every last detail is figured out do I break them down and do paint & finish work. Regardless of scale, it's the only way to work. 

Agreed!  Back in the day I wondered how people got their models assembled looking so fresh.  I was damaging parts struggling with fit and not happy with my results. Then I met Joe Cavorley who showed me how he would assemble his trucks completely in primer, mainly by pinning it all together with bits of straight pin, then breaking it apart to finish and reassemble.  I've worked that way ever since!

[MeatMan]

I like!!